Why not force senders or receivers of mail to pay extra for timely delivery? Conversely, why not provide senders a lower-cost option for non-timely delivery of mail?
If normal mail, which is 95% junk, were delivered only once a week, individual mail carriers could serve more locations, less fuel would be burned, and less vehicles would be needed. In addition, receivers of mail would only need to look at this junk once a week, which would be far more efficient.
If receivers really wanted daily delivery, they could pay a monthly maintenance fee. Alternatively if the sender really wanted prompt delivery (e.g. weekly news magazine),he could pay up for it.
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Evidently I am more interested in my mail than you are in yours.
Excellent idea. We could quibble over frequency (personally i think 2 or 3 times per week would be a good default), but i think you've hit on a huge potential cost-savings here. perhaps they could deliver to odd-numbered zip-codes on MWF and even-number zips on T-Th-Sat.
This makes good "cents" with the price of fuel as it is today. Maybe twice a week delivery only. Same for parcel delivery too.
weekday mail delivery is a pillar of civilization.
I think this is an idea whose time has come. People who want fast service already use fax and e-mail. People are moving to electronic banking and bill-paying. The USPS already takes more hollidays than I do. And I'm retired.
My impression is that the USPS is quietly phasing in something like that. Some days I get no mail. The next day I get a stack. Maybe they just skip me unless I have a lot of mail. Who would know? Who would care?
I think that would be too distruptive. If certain people elect to pay an extra charge to have mail daily, the mail person will still have to make daily trips to these locations which will be more spread out. They will most likely pay the same in gas and salaries. Also, the amount of money to store a week's worth of mail for th enation would be another cost. Not to mention many people and companeis rely on timely delivery of mail. What about people who recieve perscriptions in the mail, or legal letters, etc.
I think the problem is too frequent delivery of bulk mail - I want the first class stuff every day. But really isn't the problem that bulk mail is delivered at all? Up the price of first class mail to what it costs to deliver it and only subject us to bulk mail once a week, or do the reverse 900 thing where we have to be paid to accept junk/bulk mail.
That would be heaven.
Tremendous way to save the US Postal Service, the current system of ever higher postage rates just continues to drive users to alternative communication methods. US Postal Service should switch to M-W-F and T-Thur-Saturday for all residential customers (half get M-W-F) other half get alternative 3 days.
Business customers would only drop Saturday delievery.
Great idea, great energy savings and cuts the US Postal Workforce in about half which eliminates some of the most boring jobs in the US, and cuts the "Going Postal" rates in half :-)
It would be great to do this I get only get a few needed letters a month myself the bills and they only come once a month. (Hopefully) Best to slowly reduce the delivery days I'd even say once a month would be fine. It would save energy by cutting down on travel ease the load on the postal system and even with the removal of spam make getting mail something to look forward to again.
Users of Express Mail, Overnight, etc, are already paying extra for faster delivery.
I would pay to get bulk mail delivered less often: it would be easier to sort through (especially when I'm traveling). Of course we'd want to exclude truly time sensitive things like newspapers and magazines.
I think that just stopping Saturday mail delivery would help in several ways. We really do not need mail delivery on Saturday. If something is that important that it be delivered on saturday, sender could use special delivery. 1. Less fuel would need to be purchased; resulting in cost savings.2. Decreased vehicle maintenance; more savings.3. Less polution being released into the air.4. Decreased vehicle traffic on Saturdays.