The US Mint and PO?

Yes, it should be...but just like any other government agency; what it lacks is efficiency, has high overhead in paying federal employees, and is overly regulated. That's why it's more cost effective for the U.S. Postal Service to sub-contract fedex, ups, and dhl to ship some of their packages.

Private companies are not bound to the same rules and regulations as the feds. They can purchase the "best" cutting edge technology, equipment, resources and create efficient processes as they will. Whereas it make take the feds years just to purchase a new mail scanner. And they are bound by contracts to a limited pool of vendors from everything from mail trucks to pencils & paper. They have a lengthy process when filling a new position and have to provide robust benefit packages. And then it takes an act of God to change any processes to become more efficient. The list goes on and on...

-LTB

 

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Here's a very recent problem that I had with Mint fulfillment subcontracting shipping:

My order was processed very quickly but it took over 2 weeks to get to me... Why? The fulfillment center in Indiana shipped my order via FedEx Smart Post + USPS local delivery. Bad decision for customer satisfaction...

The parcel arrived from Plainfield, Indiana at a FedEx New Jersey sort facility in Edison, NJ and proceeded to sit there waiting for the Post Office to pick up the parcel, enter it into their system and deliver said parcel less than 30 miles away to an address in NYC. The FedEx tracking system cited weather conditions after the item had arrived 'locally' and after the storm had passed. Furthermore, it took the USPS the entire estimated nine days to deliver my parcel. During the time after the FedEx hand-off to USPS the tracking number for my parcel was idle as well, as there was no assigned way to track the unit in the USPS system once they had the parcel.

After my order finally arrived the fulfillment center had made an error and left one item marked shipped but not actually included in my order! Sigh! I promptly called the Mint to inquire and they sent an affidavit form for me to sign for the missing merchandise. This arrived by mail in 2-3 days time. I immediately signed and returned via mail. Within three days, via UPS Next Day Air I had my product in hand. Totally whacked system! Totally inefficient and unsatisfactory method of shipping. This one blunder used UPS, FedEX, USPS parcel post and regular first class mail (for the form letter I needed to fill out) Shocking waste of time and materials!

 

What I don't understand is what happens with all of those people collecting stamps.

I have at least $1000 worth of stamps that were never used. I used to love collecting full sheets of stamps but about 1 year ago quit buy them.

 

They have been talking about this for years, Who knows if they will go through
With it, But they did it to themselves by raising there prices forcing people
To use Alternatives!!

 

What happend is also what is happening to modern U.S. Mint coins. We see it all the time. Somebody buys sheets of mint U.S. stamps keeps them for 10, 20 years and takes them to a shop and is offered 40% to 65% of face value for them - it not quite as bad with coins because they have a face value that is at least worth that much (what it says) but other than that there is no difference.
One day (many of us have seen already) people will drag these rolls of state quarters in to shops and shows and will be offered $9.50 a roll for them. The .50 cents is for the buyers effort to take them to the bank. We have already seen it and expect to see it for the next 25 to 1000 years.

 

I don't know, if you look at both agencies side by side I think everyone can win from a marriage of the two agencies. I don't see a downside to it at all. I know that some will disagree with me and that's alright. It will be interesting to find out what happens in the end.

Some ppl don't realize it but the internet has definitely cost the post office a ton of money. There's no more ppl writing letters to each other because of the internet, they can email? When buying gifts on the internet, the gift no longer has to go to the buyer to be gift wrapped as the internet store can take care of that and mail it off to the person the gift was bought for in the first place. With the creation the US post office just created (stamps.com) to save users money has cost them dearly. Sure I don't think it was made simply so that we could save money but hey, still it cost dollars to do that stuff. Also if the two agencies were together, the US mint may have been able to issue that 2009 ASE proof, just think of the possibilities.

 

But stamps are still worth face value. I wasn't buying them to make a profit, I was just buying the stamps that I liked. I don't know who much it cost to make stamps but it can't be that much and if they never use them they are making a hefty profit!!

 

:eating:
I would say this is true but what about all of the packages that are mailed because of the internet. I do a lot of ebay business and spend over $300 a month mailing packages.

 

Stamps are only worth face value when used for mailing.

 

To that point, Krispy I had the exact same scenario involving maintenance medication! The vendor (non government) processed my prescription refill and processed the transaction using the FedEx Smart Post + USPS local delivery. I normally initiate a refill request a full thirty days before I run out.
In this case, I had less than a 2 day supply left when the product finally arrived! And this was after numerous e-mails and rather belligerent phone calls to the vendor and to FedEx!
That delivery system is shoddy and haphazard...

 

Question for the learned among you....
Does the Mint start production prior to the order date? Does the Mint accumulate orders and set production and delivery dates based on the orders? Curious to know?!?!?!(In regards to product availability if there was joint venture between the Post Office and the Mint)

 

Oh well, just an idea but it appears that some ppl agree with me. We may not be that important (coin collectors)but the two go together and they wouldn't just be doing it for buyers of coins. They would be doing it to make things work better for both agencies. I don't know why every time a subject of our government comes up there are ppl yelling that it won't work. Well, we will just see what happens and that is the bottom line. A government agency never contacts higher ups unless they need help. The US post office has contacted Congress, in a nutshell they are asking for help and my guess they will get it. :bow:

 

It is not just the internet, efficiencies, etc. I just finished reading an analysis on the financial stability of the USPS, and 80% of the USPS budget is used for salary, benefits, and pensions. Only 20% of their budget actually goes into operations. It is also interesting that they are required by law to have a balance budget. Which they have not had in a few years.

Perhaps the NALC (National Association of Letter Carriers - Basically the Postal Union) should consider this before eliminating mail delivery or increasing rates.

I am sure this will NEVER happen.

 

I guaranty that their competition doesn't have 80% of their cost going to Labor.
This is why government programs never work money isn't real to them...
Sheez imagine any public sector company trying to run with 80% labor costs. That obviously leaves no room for profits like a public company would have to obtain.

 

I wonder what percentage of GM's costs went to salaries, management compensation, pensions, and benefits including the health insurance for all their retired employees? (OK, it probably isn't 80% but. . . )

 

GM would not be a very good argument now would it lol
And no, not even they are not 80%

 

In a word if the government cant afford to keep the post office,s open
They need to cut salaries, Not cut services!!

 

stamps have a face value also, that is what they are worth. If someone offers you 40 cents on the dollar then you just use them. You cannot lose money if you bought them at face value. If you buy a kennedy half at the bank and save it 10 years then a dealer offered you 25 cents for it would you sell it?

Lack

 

The Postal Unions are not for eliminating a day of delivery. Doing so would eliminate app. 17% of delivery jobs. Tell UPS to deliver any package anywhere for in the country for the same price (set by Congression com) and see how well they do. That is the way your letters are priced. The post office needs more pricing flexibily, and that is what they want.

Lack

 

Step 1: Cut Benefits & Salaries
Step 2: Cut Jobs
Step 3: Improve Service
Step 4: Improve Price Model