posted on September 26, 2001 10:19:40 AM
I had a thought about the new (in the next year) postal priority mail rate increases. I don't know about the rest of the sellers on ebay but I would rather find or purchase my own shipping supplies than have another rate hike for priority mail. The free supplies were nice, but maybe it is time for them to become a service that we pay for if we want it to continue. I for one would not have that much trouble finding free boxes and such to meet my shipping needs. I just sent an email to the USPS stating my position and I would suggest that anyone else that shares this opinion do the same. Maybe if we give them enough feedback before this thing is written in stone we can effect the outcome. Thanks for listening,
Deb
posted on September 26, 2001 11:21:05 AM
The problem is USPS makes money by giving us the boxes. I am sure they get the boxes in such bulk that they are dirt cheap. But giving them "Free" it encourages people to use the much more expensive service. My guess is, they have some studythat tells them if they started charging for the supplies they will lose prioity volume. They may be wrong, but I am sure this is their busness stratagy.
posted on September 26, 2001 01:32:50 PM
Some of what I have heard is that so many people are using the free boxes for something other than priority that it has cost them money. I know that in the beginning the free boxes were an incentive to get us to use priority mail but with the new increases for packages over 13 ounces there won't really be any other choice. The cost difference will not be enough to buy a stick of gum.
Also sometimes I think it is worth putting out the effort to try something instead of just crying about it. Thanks,
posted on September 26, 2001 01:56:11 PM
I order my free supplies for priority mail, the last time I ordered so many, that the PO sent me a letter that I had to sign and return to them before they would ship me any more. The letter basically said: You agree that you are using these supplies for only priority mail and nothing else.
posted on September 26, 2001 02:01:42 PM
Everyone gets those letters eventually. Sometimes they are right on top of things and sometime they aren't. The last time I got one it had footprints all over it. It looked like it had sat on the sorting room floor for a week.
posted on September 26, 2001 02:03:16 PM
Yes, I got a letter too, and signed it. When I moved last month, I had tons of supplies left over, so rather than move them, I turned them into my (appreciative) local post office.
I don't know what to make of the changes, except that it is incredibly unfair for certain people (Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico) come to mind. I thought the post office was supposed to offer universal service. This is just one of many steps in the direction against that. Ultimately, it will discourage people from mail order, which in turn hurts the post office's bottom line. I know I certainly can find another way to buy something that weighs 17 ounces, and would cost me about $6.50 for shipping. That is double the rate at the beginning of 2001, and it will mean less shipping, and less income. It's a nasty downward spiral. Maybe the are tired of delivering the mail, and are looking for ways to jeopardize their future. This certainly is one way to guarantee that.
