Staples vs USPS

NJPOLKER

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2014/04/24/postal-workers-unionto-protest-usps-staples-deal.html


I like the idea of Staples being an option to going to the post office. When I can I use UPS or FedX instead of the USPS for many reasons not the least the attitudes and laziness I see with the postal workers. F'em I do feel for the dedicated employees who are victims of the bad apples. Yeah I know it's in just about every business but seems but it seems really bad when it comes to the federal government.

We stopped at a local post office the other day and they were closed from 11:00am to 1:00pm for lunch.

Can anyone defend the USPS??

Does anyone enjoy using the USPS over the alternatives?

I know Rhode Islanders are dumbasses in general but I continually get neighbors mail even after bringing it to the postmasters attention. No one cares and no one is held accountable!!!

Dumbing down of America is business as usual anymore I guess.

I get mail from NJ in two days however from central PA it takes 7 business days. WTF???? Pathetic performance to say the least.

Again no one is held accountable at the Postal service for piss poor performance unless I missed something somewhere.
I am sure you'll let me know if I did.

I gotta go get in the tub, have a drink or two and eat some chocolate before the Red Sox and Bruins kick butt tonight.

zane77

I live in a very rural area and we have a contract mailman, at least two times a week he doesn't even drive to our mailbox. He just goes right past our road and doesn't deliver the mail. Going to the postmaster is,worthless, they are all lazy slobs.

exalted512

Typical union. They're going to argue their way out of their own jobs.
-Cody

WilliamM2

I've never used USPS for packages, and haven't been to a post office in decades. I remember the long lines though.

But they will deliver a letter anywhere in the country for $.49, they even come pick it up. You won't get that kind of value from FedEx or UPS, so what if it takes a couple days longer.

F1nut

I don't have a problem with the folks that work in the PO's I use, everyone is friendly and helpful. I ship a lot of stuff with them, always gets there in one piece and now that they have tracking makes it even better.

Erik Tracy

I've used USPS, UPS and FedEx.

Lines exist everywhere.

USPS is closer, so convenience wins out.

Sometimes, the lines are short and I'm in and out. I have no complaints at all on the delivery.

UPS sometimes tries a delivery and leaves a notice that I have to drive to their hub to pick up - now that is a PITA.

westmassguy

My local branch Post Office is 1/2 mile from my house. I know everyone who works there. Very informal, friendly and helpful. I know both Postal workers who deliver my mail. Again, very friendly and helpful. The main Post Office, is less so, but still acceptable. It's when packages leave your local office that the trouble usually starts. Priority and 1st Class are handled differently than Parcel Post or Parcel Select as they're calling it now. With Priority Flat Rate, I rarely have a problem, Parcel Post however, is a crap shoot. I've had packages disappear, or arrive so damaged that it looked like it was thrown off the truck, and then backed over buy the same truck. If it doesn't fit a Priority Flat Rate Box, it goes out FedEx.

falconcry72

FedEx.

sucks2beme

USPS is cheap. FEDEX and UPS aren't. USPS is under pressure since
a bunch of yahoos in congress decided to kill it by requiring it to "pre-fund"
all their pensions. The surprise is they haven't gone under yet. All the guys
that wanted to get in on privatizing it are still hovering around.
I use FEDEX all the time for work shipping. They are far from perfect.
When they finally kill off the USPS, don't think for a moment that
suddenly the new guys are going to be perfect. At best, it will cost
more money, provide less service, and pay their employees minimum wage.
And a few fat cats that paid off their senators will stuff their pockets full of cash.

exalted512

Unless its a letter (and not one of crucial importance), it goes FedEx.
-Cody

decal

Not to bust anyone's bubble but, there are bad apples in every organization.

pitdogg2

NJPOLKER wrote: »

We stopped at a local post office the other day and they were closed from 11:00am to 1:00pm for lunch.

Can anyone defend the USPS??

Does anyone enjoy using the USPS over the alternatives?

For me here where I live USPS is just like the DMV. They're doing "US" a favor by being there to serve us. Its really incredible the arrogance they exude towards the public. On the other hand I do understand the article I wouldn't trust the Staples monkeys with important mail one bit either so to me its lose lose situation..I have also had people send me items through FedEx ground and the post office delivers it the "last mile" so to speak. I've had items sit 3 days at the PO after FedEx dropped it off.

kevhed72

I work for one of the major package delivery services....yes there are bad apples everywhere.

I have never had an issue with USPS, whether it was customer service, damage, loss, delivery speed, etc. I always use the PO with no problems.

drumminman

The Post Offices in the towns around me are staffed by mostly friendly helpful folks. The one in my town is exceptional - even the driver who delivers our mail. The USPS is required by congress to do things which are not cost effective, which is one of the reasons they're in perpetual financial trouble.

DollarDave

I live in a community where we have a mailbox meet-point for about 20 houses. We each have our own. So to speak. For several years and several carriers they just can't get my mail in my box and my neighbor's in theirs. It is absolutely pathetic. EVERY DAY, I get other people's mail (and presumably they get mine). Every day, I put other's mail in the outbox. I have even gotten back the wrong mail. And, I used to live a couple of blocks from here a few years ago and had the same crappy service from a different route carrier.

Here's another - I have called the post office no less than 10 times in the last two years to beg them to stop delivering the prior resident's mail. I swear to God and to them that they no longer live here. I honestly believe they moved out some time ago... I cannot get them to divert their mail. Pathetic. For two years I have written "not at this address" and deposited the mail in the outbox. For two years, I get about 20% of those back in my box a few days later.

Two of my fat thumbs down for these yahoos. Privatize it, it can't get worse.

Geoff4rfc

Yeah, there are bad apples in every organization, but the P.O. stands out. And believe me, I don't think a lot of those carriers can even read much less deliver the mail with any efficiency. I work for them. It took me 10 years to figure out I wasn't going to change the backwards operating procedures on my own.

That was in processing and dist. Now, I'm the fat, lazy pi$$ed off slob at the counter

Seriously, I am at the counter, but cust, service is a pet peeve of mine and I'm in a position to see that my customers get the best I can deliver. My favorite compliment from a customer is; "You're not a real postal employee are you?".

The attitudes are the worst, like other places, you have the wrong people in positions of authority, I have actually turned to some fellow window clerks and asked, "You do want them to come back don't you?"

It pi$$es a lot of postal employees off when a customer says that they pay our salary, but that's true in most every profession, if business fails to operate, then a guys out of a job!

Not all postal employees are bad, but the bad ones are really bad, people will pay the extra money to just avoid the "postal headache" which IMO is very sad, I always tell my new recruits, it's a job, a profession that provides customer service to people that are spending money, your job is to have job knowledge and execute it with extreme urgency and friendliness to the degree that will bring those people back to spend more money.

I just crossed over the 29yr mark........almost done

Msabot1

WilliamM2 wrote: »

I've never used USPS for packages, and haven't been to a post office in decades. I remember the long lines though.

But they will deliver a letter anywhere in the country for $.49, they even come pick it up. You won't get that kind of value from FedEx or UPS, so what if it takes a couple days longer.

. Jog my memory....what the hell is a letter anyway??

WilliamM2

Msabot1 wrote: »

. Jog my memory....what the hell is a letter anyway??

I guess I should have said envelope. Things like birthday and Christmas cards. Maybe you don't get those?

jflail2

I take all my packages to the mail room in my office (pure laziness), so I'm stuck using UPS there. Have never had any shipping issues, but it is more expensive than USPS normally. That being said, the few times I've dealt with the local postal office have always been good experiences. Friendly and timely turnarounds.

cnh

Generalizations are not particularly useful. P.O.s around the U.S. vary in their personnel as do FedEx and UPS (note the many many VIRAL videos of people--UPS and FedEx employees--doing things that OP "limits" to USPS).

Our Post Office is first rate, friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and it provides some of the very FEW jobs that you can actually LIVE on in less densely populated areas. Unions aren't always "bad". They helped build the prosperity of the 50s and 60s and a middle class that could afford to move to the suburbs, educate their children and better everyone in the process. The PROBLEM is when anything, and that INCLUDES CORPS. becomes TOO BIG and becomes concerned with ONLY with itself! That includes Unions, Business, and Gov't. Big is usually not a good idea. Because it leads to CORRUPTION.

Let me finish with a personal story. When I was in Grad School I took some time off to study for my Doctoral exams and went to work at a manufacturing company that had its HQs move to our plant. I worked at the lowest level of management so I saw things that the Union boys DID NOT. What did I see? Well before contract talks the VP would take the head of the Union to Atlantic City, wine and dine him, and perhaps slip some cash into his pockets, "grease" the vote. And of course, when the vote for a new contract came up, the CORPORATE boys got exactly what they wanted and the Pres of the Union sold his boys out. I don't know about all of you, but I find that distasteful regardless of what you think of "unions".

The entire affair was hush hush and no one in the union had any idea what was going on. And I'm sure this is not an isolated affair or practice. Those with "money" usually find a way to get what THEY want!

cnh

NJPOLKER

I remember stopping at the Charlestown PO one day when I was a new to Charlestown so I was a stranger to just about everyone.

The lady at the counter asked me what was in my envelope? I looked at her like she had fifty heads and ask her why she is asking me that!! Believe it or not she said she was just wondering!!!!!!!!! I didn't say another word and she mailed it and I walked away. I get home and I shared with Anne Marie my experience and she laughed and said that's how it is around here!!! Like I stated before the folks here in RI need some work LMAO

I do understand we have bad apples and really sour ones everywhere and in every business. Well not at Polk Audio but ...............

Msabot1

WilliamM2 wrote: »

I guess I should have said envelope. Things like birthday and Christmas cards. Maybe you don't get those?

not since the Internet came into widespread use!! I do get junk mail and bills though...

falconcry72

I don't mail letters. I have access to the internet.

For packages, FedEx hands down. I used to run a small manufacturing corporation in RVA, and we shipped ~500 packages a week. We used USPS, UPS, FedEx, Mail Innovations (UPS + USPS), and SmartPost (FedEx + USPS). FedEx Ground is the best. I'm talking in terms of speed and reliability... in terms of package handling "sensitivity", you have to assume that your package is going to be chucked, tossed, kicked etc. and pack appropriately... regardless of the carrier.

If you live in the Mid-Atlantic like me, FedEx Ground is 2-day to anywhere on the East Coast and as far West as Chicago. Seriously, Miami to Maine... 2-day via Ground. No need to waste money on express, 3-day, or 2-day... it will get there in 2 days via Ground. Check out the map: (red around DC is 1-day, blue is 2-day etc.)

F1nut

I used to run a small manufacturing corporation in RVA, and we shipped ~500 packages a week.

You were slacking, that new BOZO claimed he personally shipped a 1000 a day.......LOL

falconcry72

F1nut wrote: »

You were slacking, that new BOZO claimed he personally shipped a 1000 a day.......LOL

lol, our "team" was me, a couple chicks, and a couple dudes. We definitely weren't slacking, but we had fun. Drinking beers, operating power tools/saws, good times. I miss that job. Now I'm a suit... sucks. I miss working with my hands.

astar13656

sucks2beme wrote: »

USPS is cheap. FEDEX and UPS aren't. USPS is under pressure since
a bunch of yahoos in congress decided to kill it by requiring it to "pre-fund"
all their pensions. The surprise is they haven't gone under yet. All the guys
that wanted to get in on privatizing it are still hovering around.
I use FEDEX all the time for work shipping. They are far from perfect.
When they finally kill off the USPS, don't think for a moment that
suddenly the new guys are going to be perfect. At best, it will cost
more money, provide less service, and pay their employees minimum wage.
And a few fat cats that paid off their senators will stuff their pockets full of cash.

I agree!