Postal service considers closing nearly 10% of its offices
Filed under: Recession
How much is your local post office worth to you? Would you miss it if it disappeared? Do you depend on your local post office for services other than regular mail delivery and the purchase of postal supplies? These and other mail service-related questions will soon be a significant concern for many people across America.Due to the rapidly rising costs of doing business, the United States Postal Service is considering the closure of approximately 3,200 local post offices. That's nearly 10% of the post offices currently in operation. According to an article from MSN Money, most of the postal locations which are being considered for closure exist in metropolitan areas.
I don't know about you, but our local post office is very valuable to our household. First off, we live on a rural carrier route, which delivers our mail with incredible consistency and efficiency. Secondly, my wife has an active hobby selling items on eBay, and our local mail carrier happily picks up her outgoing shipments with only 24 hours prior notice. Additionally, we can always find needed shipping supplies at our local post office, and it's the only place where I like to purchase money orders.
For people who appreciate their local post office as much as we appreciate ours, there is some good news in this situation. When a post office is under consideration for closure, the process is taken slowly and there is generally room for public input on the matter.
It's fairly obvious that mail service in the U.S. is slated for change. Only time will tell how noticeable that change will be, and whether or not it will cause significant hardship for anyone. Consumers might be best advised to check with their local postmaster regarding the viability of their local post office. If it has been determined that your post office is one of those under consideration for closure, I'm certain that the employees of that post office will assist you in finding the ways to keep it alive.



Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
6-29-2009 @ 12:38PM
The Thrifty Geek said...
My long time friend at the post office took an early retirement starting this week from the Postal Service. She will be missed everytime I go in to mail my mass of ebay items.
Reply
6-29-2009 @ 3:29PM
lat me get this straight said...
if you are truly thrifty you would take advantage of the discounts available for using click and ship and free carrier pick-up. You are paying extra at the counter and you are wasting time and gas to drive there.
6-29-2009 @ 2:05PM
Phil said...
Have fun you unemployed folks when you drive you IMPORTED car to pick up your pink slips!!!
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 4:41AM
AC said...
Imported car? Would that be a Chevy from Canada or Brazil? Maybe a Ford from Mexico. 1. All cars are made in many different countries. 2. All cars use imported parts from around the world. 3. All car companies are responsible to their worldwide shareholders. Did you know that Harleys are 38% imported parts and growing? It's not the 50's any more.
6-29-2009 @ 2:10PM
mike said...
speaking of over paid lazy workers here is a bunch of them --fed govt workers
Reply
6-29-2009 @ 2:24PM
DeathToMike said...
What business is it of yours how much a postal worker gets paid? The USPS doesn't get your tax money. They have to make money by delivering mail and selling supplies. Is it your business how much the girl at the ice cream store makes? Is it your business how much an insurance salesman makes? No, it is not, so why is it your business how much a postal worker makes? It's not, so keep your ignorant opinion to yourself.
6-29-2009 @ 2:27PM
km said...
guess what mike? usps is not owned by the feds--hasn't been for years. now what einstein? get a life--do you have a job?? probably living off the fed'l government yourself...
6-29-2009 @ 2:28PM
Joe said...
First, the post office is funded by stamp and postage revenue, NOT your taxes! Second, Come to the post office for one day and do the various jobs there and you'll be out the door in tears! Third, postage stamps are the least costly thing on your budget! But you'll complain about a 2 cent increase in a stamp, then go out and buy a Japanese big screen TV, pay $1000, then charge it at 10 percent interest and pay the minimum payment and wind up paying $2000 for the TV! Brilliant you are! Wake up!
6-29-2009 @ 2:32PM
ttousps said...
how would you know do you ahve to work in all the elements and for you information the govt doesnt subsudize the po
6-29-2009 @ 2:32PM
Carolyn said...
As a former Federal government worker I take offense at your remark. I worked my 40 hours - answering phones, sending out job applications - sometimes over 500 a day. I got a half hour for lunch and coffee breaks were taken at the desk while I worked. As for postal workers, they carried mail sacks weighing up to 75 lbs - they walk up and down stairs all day or get your mail to you regardless of heat, rain, snow or sleet - they are underpaid and have to put up with biting dogs, people spitting at them, degrading them, etc - so don't run your mouth off about "lazy" federal employees.
6-29-2009 @ 2:39PM
andy said...
Excuse me but my husband is a postal worker and he works extremely hard....there is nothing lazy about his job long hours, in all kinds of bad weather and satudays which he hardly ever gets to see his children playing sporting events. Watch what you say if you don't know the truth.
6-29-2009 @ 3:13PM
Kas said...
As United States Citizens.. and Taxpayer..and voter. we have every right to comment.
If it were not such a gravy job.. why do you think.. it would be so hard to get into ? I remember GI's trying to do postal work, and not able to get a job.. ? Think about it!
I also had a postman.. go in early in the morning get his route read.. and then go home.. change clothes .. do his lawn have lunch what ever.. then about 1 pm he'd come out w / uniform on.. get in the truck and go do his route.. come back home I believe it was about 5 pm. Did it every day.. lol
Yeah tough job!
As far as closing down some of the places.. I go to the post office maybe 3 times a year. Maybe. At Christmas to mail my cards out ( buy stamps at the grocery) Occasional package that they insist be sent US postal.. Or if I have to send a registered letter .
Other than that.. never!
I do everything on the computer.
6-29-2009 @ 3:43PM
trina said...
Dont be so quick to judge something that you know nothing about.Not all Postal Workers are lazy. Most of them have tremendous respect for the customers mail. I start my job at 5 in the morning-sorting and distributing the mail, most days I dont get my break until after 10. Then I work at the window and in the back for the rest of the day. If you think you can do a better job -why dont you try it? you are probably to stupid to pass the test and you are jealous that you cant get a real job.
6-29-2009 @ 4:01PM
Caroline said...
Hello!!!! Postal workers are NOT federal employees. There still may be a few with that designation. But like saying all lawyers are crooks, to say that postal employees are lazy is irresponsible and ignorant.
6-29-2009 @ 4:34PM
nora said...
not all employees are lazy. there are ones that work their but off.
6-29-2009 @ 5:06PM
Jim Martin said...
I have worked for the Postal Service for 20 years and I can tell you that they for the most part are hard working and put up with a lot of stuff most people would not. I worked for 19 years from 10:00 at night to 6:30 in the morning running around to repair machines to deliver mail, usually 6 days a week, and yes on Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Years. Often having to deal with supervisors that had no clue what they were doing. What other service can you get something picked up at your home, sent to anywhere in the United States and delivered for less than 50 cents. I just get tired of people saying how lasy people are when they don't have a clue
6-29-2009 @ 8:17PM
George said...
Try it sometime nowhere man Joe. You wouldn't last half a day delivering mail here in Florida, or anywhere else probably. It is quite hard work actually....
8-04-2009 @ 8:56PM
k said...
Hello mike
SO please share what you do for a living so that we may all make a general statement of the job that you do. If you have NO clue on how we must work or do in a day maybe you should consider becoming MANAGERMENT so that you can generalize everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You should know something about the PO> before judging others, so please blog on about everyone else but yourself
6-29-2009 @ 2:10PM
Sandy said...
Go ahead who will miss them? Can always get stamps on line and If it keeps stamps from going through
the roof then cut your costs! If we need those offices back we can always add them back.
But to hold on to things that aren't working right is just a big
waste of money. But isn't that what our gov't loves to do with our
money? WASTE IT
Reply
6-29-2009 @ 2:13PM
Sandy said...
Go ahead who will miss them? If it keeps stamps from going through
the roof then do it! If we need those offices back we can always add them back. But to hold on to things that aren't working right is just a big
waste of money. But isn't that what our gov't loves to do with our
money? WASTE IT
Reply