USPS To Slow Delivery Of First Class Mail

Most have seen this news article in some form or another suggesting that the USPS plans to slow the delivery of US Mail. However, this article illustrates some of the potential problems such a move might make, and in the end it could become counter-productive if businesses and consumers change the way they do business (i.e. move further into on-line bill payments) or use another carrier (i.e. UPS, FedEx, etc.):

http://news.yahoo.com/postal-cuts-s...1723847.html

I find it curious that this is going to be formally announced by the USPS on December 5, 2011 and coincidentally (or maybe not) there is a new 2012 stamp scheduled to be announced on that same day.

I WAS JUST WONDERING...

Could it be the USPS may be thinking along the lines of a premium valued postage stamp for those who want "premium first class mail" that would continue to be delivered in the 1-3 day range, but at an additional cost? Since the USPS has expensive equipment in place to make it happen, could it be a backdoor way for the USPS to profit from a new service that could be used by those who have dated materials (i.e. payment by check to credit card & utility companies, DVDs, medicines, newspapers, etc.) that would be negatively affected by the extended delivery times?

Obviously, I have no insider information nor do I know what the approval process would be to initiate a new class of mail, but since it is obvious the USPS already has the infrastructure in place to deliver mail in a more timely fashion, could this be a first step in that direction?

Maybe I'm totally off-base here, but it would be an interesting concept.

Someone somewhere doesn't seem to understand the concept. It is NOT to REDUCE delivery times, REDUCE opening hours, REDUCE personnel, REDUCE customer service
in order to save the post office, but just the opposite. If I were one to beleive in conspiracies, I might think that there has been someone bought off by the forces that want to CLOSE tohe PO. Just a thought...

There was an article in the paper today..where they are threatening to close our processing center in Newburgh N.Y. That would not be a good thing..we get excellent turn around time with that hub in existance..there are plenty of small postoffices that could go...Woodstock New York does not need 4 one room postoffices !!

Here's the official USPS announcement of 12/05/2011 about service cuts:

http://about.usps.com/news/national...pr11_132.pdf

Note they still have to request the Postal Regulatory Commission issue an "advisory opinion" on the matter and take it through some additional channels before it is in place, but they are certainly moving in that direction.

As stated in various news articles, I tend to agree that this move is going to be counter-productive and result in people finding alternative means of communication.

It also seems very inconsistent that the majority of people in the US would seem to have a favorable opinion on suspending Saturday mail delivery as a cost-saving measure, yet the USPS has apparently put that idea on the back burner in deference to this plan.

They are in Big trouble with pension and benefit payouts !

Gives new meaning to the phrase "Snail Mail"!