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AK Forty Seven · Mar 15, 2012

Quote from Epic:

USPS is a worse option for anything but envelopes and the little flat rate boxes.

The majority of regular people send envelopes and small to medium flat rate boxes and USPS charges much less for those services

Epic · Mar 15, 2012

Quote from cgroupman:

Aren't FedEx 'routes' sort of a franchise thing with no guarantee from the main company? I see people bidding on routes and all that. Not sure about UPS, do you know anything about that?

c

Yes, it is a franchise by most standards. You can own one or multiple routes and trucks and hire multiple drivers.

By no guarantee, are you referring to no guarantee of profit, or quality standards? The first is true, but the success rates are high because of a well regulated business model. If the latter, that isn't the case. Both companies have very high standards for franchisees and drivers. Try getting on at FedEx with an accident on your record.

pspr · Mar 15, 2012

Quote from Epic:

Yes, unless you are talking "freight". Then I believe it is about 200lbs or over 8' length before higher charges. But the point stands either way. USPS is a worse option for anything but envelopes and the little flat rate boxes. Even then if you have a business account then UPS and FedEx get pretty competitive on price and will pick up at your location.

I found that to be true for USPS packages up to about 15-20 lb.

The post office will pick up at your location, too. I would just put a little 3x5 card in the mail box saying "Pick Up Package Inside" and the postman would come in and get everything.

Epic · Mar 15, 2012

Quote from AK Forty Seven:

The majority of regular people send envelopes and small to medium flat rate boxes and USPS charges much less for those services

Three problems with that argument.

1) They are only "better" in the category that they more or less have a protected monopoly in. How can you argue that the others wouldn't beat them if allowed to compete in that space?

2) They aren't making a profit in that space, even with a protected monopoly. Given the declines in volume they aren't even breaking even, and will require tax subsidies unless they raise their rates. The heads of their company are continually arguing that their rates need to be competitive with UPS/FedEx.

3) If we are now limiting shipping and mailing arguments to "regular people" as senders, you are counting out something like 90% of the market. Also, regular people sending letters is the fastest declining market segment, and is soon to become obsolete. So if they are the reason to keep the USPS functioning, then within about 10 years there will really be no need for it.

One last point.. the ironic thing is that USPS uses FedEx and UPS jet liners to accomplish it's express and priority mail shipments. Without those contracts, USPS couldn't maintain it's transit times or price.

AK Forty Seven · Mar 15, 2012

Quote from Epic:

Three problems with that argument.

1) They are only "better" in the category that they more or less have a protected monopoly in. How can you argue that the others wouldn't beat them if allowed to compete in that space?

With the exception of the 50 cent stamped mail Fed ex and UPS does compete in that space and charges 2 to 3 times more for those services

377OHMS · Mar 15, 2012

Quote from AK Forty Seven:

The majority of regular people send envelopes and small to medium flat rate boxes and USPS charges much less for those services

USPS is the best deal on small to medium boxes. I was shocked at how much money UPS wants to ship small and medium packages. They're outrageous.

Their PO box rentals aren't bad though. As I mentioned, I have one of those boxes to avoid junk mail but it is also very handy because all packages I received are signed for and I've never lost a package or received a damaged package.

When I had packages coming to my house some of them went missing and some were damaged (particularly FedEx).

AK Forty Seven · Mar 15, 2012

Quote from 377OHMS:

USPS is the best deal on small to medium boxes. I was shocked at how much money UPS wants to ship small and medium packages. They're outrageous.

+1

AK Forty Seven · Mar 15, 2012

Quote from 377OHMS:

When I had packages coming to my house some of them went missing and some were damaged (particularly FedEx).