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Do you think the United States Postal Service should stop delivering mail on Saturday?

What about closing the Post Offices completely on Saturday, or only being open until noon. Many government offices are closed on Saturday, and even banks, for the most part, are open only in the morning. Of course there are pros and cons, what do you think?
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twinpairs
twinpairs
Marked as Best! October 07, 2009 07:05 PM
Your question has two parts. First should the USPS deliver mail on Saturdays? Second, should the post office be close on Saturdays?

I agree with your idea of keeping the post office open half a day on Saturday. A lot of people only have time to do business with the post office on the weekend. People could schedule their Saturday to get there in the morning.

Delivering mail on Saturdays is a bit more complicated. In high volume areas it would not be cost effective to stop delivering. Just look at the figures after a holiday. In areas where the volume is small, closing would be a good option. So a financial analysis would have to be done in each area and it would have to be determined which option was more cost effective. Once established I think people would get used to the routine.

So, post office open half day and deliveries varying based on the economics, that is my answer and I am sticking to it!
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keepontryi...
keepontryi...
October 07, 2009 07:42 PM
Well I think that's a pretty good answer.
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cheapgamer
cheapgamer
October 08, 2009 02:02 PM
I was about to reply but you covered nearly everything I wanted to say. You bring up a great point about local economics. Some post offices that may run more efficiently I think they need to be given special considerations. If it becomes known that the more efficient operations will have greater availability for hours. It may help the less efficient operations take a good long look at what they can do to improve service.
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samid
samid
October 07, 2009 05:27 PM
Yes. The postal service is hurting something fierce right now and, frankly, most people have it set up to where they aren't in a really big hurry to get their mail. Most government checks are direct deposited now and most bills are paid online or via the phone. It seems publisher's clearinghouse and other junk mail is the only thing keeping the post office afloat!
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ferg2kk
ferg2kk
October 07, 2009 05:46 PM
Saturday, no; but one day a week, yes.

When I am expecting something to be shipped to me by USPS delivery, I would prefer to get it on the weekend. However, an odd weekday (Tuesday, Thursday, or both) I could do without. One example of this is when I got my college degrees by mail, they came via USPS shipping and were left on my porch in the snow until I got home.
Source(s):
Personal Shipping Experience
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ssmacd
ssmacd
October 07, 2009 10:49 PM
I don't know enough about the cost structure to make a decision on whether stopping deliveries one day a week would save money. If the volume of mail stayed the same, they might wind up needing more staff or overtime to cope with the increased weekday volume.

Since many people can only reach the Post Office on Saturday, I'd suggest closing on Monday instead.
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kty2777
kty2777
October 07, 2009 11:07 PM
In Australia our main postal service doesn't work on the weekend. Never has. Some couriers do but not all.

You are lucky to get a weekend delivery so if they want to save money and keep the service low cost for consumers then doing away with a Saturday delivery is not going to do too much harm - ie OZ survives quite OK without one :)

Better to have a reliable cost effective service than none at all

EDIT -they might save more money and retain staff if they closed the day of a weekend rather than a normal business day
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drivel
drivel
October 08, 2009 06:06 AM
What other business do you know which in response to fewer customers would increase it's prices and decrease the quality of its service?
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tranhawk
tranhawk
October 08, 2009 02:18 PM
No, they should not stop.
In fact, they should start delivering mail on Sundays.
Why? Because with email and globalization and business in the 21st Century means not wasting any time.
Also, think about the extra money that can be generated when people CAN go to the post office on Sundays.
Think about the extra jobs, overtime, and pay for postal employees.

Remember the post office runs its budget and makes its money without aid from federal dollars. As for the banks comparison, so much banking can be done 24 hours online and at atms regardless of being physically open.
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