Who hasn’t grown up with this saying about the postal service:
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
Actually, it is an inscription on the James Farley Post Office in New York City,[1] derived from a quote from Herodotus’ Histories (8.98), referring to the ancient courier service of the Persian Empire. But hey, who cares, it is now so ingrained in our collective consciousness that we believe it to be our postal creed.
It didn’t work for us in the mid-Atlantic in February as we were buried under 3 to 4 feet of snow! However, mail delivery really didn’t matter if we had electricity and our computer for our email and online bill paying, we were still connected to the outside world. And, for those without electricity for days on end mail delivery didn’t matter either because there was no one to pick up the mail!
These past few days there have been articles about how the USPS wants to cut delivery from six day to five days and raise rates. Just to show my age, when I was 8 years old we had two deliveries a day Monday through Friday and one on Saturday. In those days, Sunday was for going to church. The rate for a first class domestic letter was 3 cents. But, that was then and now is now.
Although I am an old crone, I am computer literate and I make every effort to use that capability because it is fun and fast and fruitful, as in “green.” I am now not only paying most of my bills online, but I am getting my statements online as well. I also signed up for two e-greeting card accounts and I send most of my birthday and anniversary cards via email. I do however buy a sympathy card because I want to write a personal note. But, what all of this has done is cut way, way back on the amount of first class mail I find in my mailbox. My virtual mailbox on the other hand has a steady stream of mail.
One of the articles stated that the USPS’ volume is off 13 percent. Therefore, I think cutting back to five day delivery is a good thing. Maybe even cut back to Monday, Wednesday, Friday and really save some money. In fact, I would also cut out any mail that is not first class or a package. And to add on to that bundle of savings, I would not allow any mail addressed to “Current Resident!” If they don’t know my name I don’t want their product!
Even the USPS is becoming more computer savvy as they offer online stamps. But, then, well, um, er, they still have to DELIVER those letters with stamps. Although the computer and the acceptance of e-signatures will cut back on a lot of touchy-feely delivered mail, there will probably always be a need to deliver those care packages to grandkids in college, a gift for mom on Mother’s day, and of course, all those things you order online or buy at E-bay! C’est la vie!
1. ^ http://www.usps.com/postalhistory/_pdf/MissionandMotto.pdf