This is topic Reason number 756 why the US governement should NOT be bigger ( ON TOPIC ) in forum Letterhead/Pinstriper Talk at The Letterville BullBoard.
Yes this may be a political post but when it concerns your business, then it is ON topic.
What I am talking about is the USPS or for you non US'ers Unites States Postal Service.
I submitted a change of address order back in early November for mail to stop at my old address on November 30th, and the be redelivered at my new address the same day. I understand it may take 7-10 days they say for the change to take effect, but here it is December 14th and I still have no mail at either locations.
I DID however receive a "confirmation" letter stating the order was received and to go to a web site, enter the confirmation code, to confirm the order. Well that was done immediately upon receiving it. The day I received the letter and entered the code on the web site, it came back with errors stating the information was not correct. I figured that it still may take some time for the system to update so Iwaited until this morning to do it again. Same error.
So I call the nice number on the bottom of the letter to find out WTF is going on and low and behold they have no record of the order in their system. SO they opened a "case" and in 2-3 days "someone" should be calling me back.
You might have thought my name was Bin Laden or something,
I should mention I only moved a 1/4 of a mile if that, down the street in the SAME town.
And they wonder why the USPS is not making any money.
Bring on the Government controlled healthcare NOT.
[ December 14, 2009, 09:00 AM: Message edited by: Bob Rochon ]
Posted by W. R. Pickett (Member # 3842) on :
You don't have to be smart or competent to work at the post office. Just pass a drug test.
Posted by David Thompson (Member # 2395) on :
What are reasons 1 through 755?
Posted by Dan Beach (Member # 9850) on :
I did it online for my personal residence.
It was easy and effective immediately.
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
Online only works if you have a credit card with billing address already sent to your new address.
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
So someone could tell you the check is in the mail & you have no way of knowing if it really is? Posted by Michael Clanton (Member # 2419) on :
It has taken over 2 years (and still counting) to adopt our 2 kids (government adoption)- the biggest obstacle is the fact that the government offices keeps losing paperwork! It took over 8 months just to get a FBI background report that says I have no criminal record- although I am in the FBI database- my wife and I had registered with the FBI and had digital fingerprints made earlier when we were considering foreign adoption, and I had asked the FBI agent how long it takes to get a background report, she replied "oh, just a couple of minutes and everything is printed out"- so during this 8 month ordeal, I offered to drive up and get one printed out and just hand deliver it...
The day the kids moved in our house, our government adoption agent lost a couple of key documents and then figured out that they had let our state background checks expire- (my wife is a teacher, so she has background checks run on her every 4-6 months for school anyway, but of course they couldn't use those)
Nobody knows what is going on, just fill out a million documents and let the redtape fill the room...
I could give many more reasons than 755, just in our story alone- in one of the many conversations with the government agents, dealing with problem after problem, I just had to ask "...and you want me to let YOU manage my healthcare????!!!!" Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :
quote:Originally posted by W. R. Pickett: You don't have to be smart or competent to work at the post office. Just pass a drug test.
My son works for the post office and being a veteran gets you 10 points toward qualifying right away. Talk around work seems to be that it is done deal on 5 day delivery next year. Terribly run by management, but it's the government, what do you expect.
Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
Still, you have to be thankful for some things from our government... like where stimulis money has been specified to repave a 22 mile stretch of highway in our area... it's gonna be very nice and smooth. They're starting on it now.
Only problem is, it was repaved a few years back and is the nicest road in the area. The highway I have to drive on every day (almost as busy, and a route to the middle and high schools of the area) is full of potholes and not EVER scheduled to be repaved, as far as I know.
I can't begin to figure it out.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
What you DON"T want to hear is:
"I am from the government and am here to help you!"
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
Capitaleest dogs! Your words are being recorded by several agencies. You have forgotten all the trouble we had with privately run businesses. Now that the People's Republic of Amerika is in charge, there is no need for anti trust laws!
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
It is very popular to denigrate the government and the services it provides...often I hear the anti-government mantra..."the government cant do or run anything right" or variations of that theme...HOWEVER...if the USA is the most powerful and richest country that has ever existed in the history of civilization...which history bears out...then don't you think it's government must have done more than a few things right to reach that status...that's all I'll say on the matter...I'm sure there will be rebuttal to this conclusion with numerous web sites, anecdotes, and statistics to back up claims of ineptitude by the US government...many I'm sure valid...but I'm not about to be pulled into another healthcare debate like the one of a couple of months ago...I do hope we get a good healthcare bill passed...though it's looking less and less likely...there is alot of anti-government sentiment out there...also I admire and respect way too much the people of Letterville for their talents and knowledge in the art of signmaking than to let this argument come between that mutual bond.
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
very well said Rusty and many valid points
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
Yea, like nobody gripes about UPS or FedEx
As far as the govt's ability to run healthcare, they do just fine with the VA! I think the majority of the vets on here would back me up on that statement.
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
Chris I already had that happen, Called a customer about his payment , he says he mailed it on November 30th. I can't even tell if he is telling the truth ...still haven't recieved it yet.
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
it will all come in a big old pile after about 14 days..
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
UPS and Fedex have their problems. But the USPS is unique and more deserving of scrutiny.
For one, we taxpayers subsidize the USPS. It is also facing rougly $7 Billion in losses for 2009 alone. The last time I checked, taxpayers subsidize neither UPS nor Fedex. Both are doing well and don't cost taxpayers a dime.
Another is the politicians. Every time the USPS wants to close a post office because it is no longer needed, they get a butttload of BS pressure for politicians to keep it open.
The best thing that could happen to the USPS is to make it go private and get the politicians hands out of it. Then let is sink or swim on its own just like the rest of us.
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Boy Glenn, are you ever mistaken. I won't touch the USPS fiasco because it speaks for itself.
However, FedEx is offered extra protection from unionizing by the federal govt. And, although I can't document proof, UPS was in line taking "hand-outs" from the Feds when the credit markets dried up last year.
Jon, the same thing happened here just about a month ago. The highway was like new. Meanwhile, other roads and bridges in the area are literally falling down.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
Brian, are you refering to the US News & World Report by Alex Kingsbury (12/08/09) titled "FedEx and UPS Feud Over Union Rules".
(I'd give you the link but doing so might offend the sensibilities of some here.)
[ December 14, 2009, 05:59 PM: Message edited by: Glenn Taylor ]
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
Glenn...nice one...you get points on that "burn"
[ December 14, 2009, 06:29 PM: Message edited by: Rusty Bradley ]
Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :
The reason the US became the world's most successful and wealthiest country is because for most of our history, government was limited to national defense and operating a judicial system - in other words, we became rich because it didn't interfere with people's lives. As long ago as the 1790's, government agencies, including the War Department and Congress, were perceived as corrupt and wasteful. The only saving grace was that under the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, government had very little power, and that remained true for a very long time.
But since this is not the place for what should have been everyone's sixth-grade civics lesson, and since the usual suspects will start blowing their mighty trumpets of flatulence and banging their cymbals of idiocy any minute now, I'm going to put in the ear plugs, shut off the computer, and go have a beer while it's still legal.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
No "burn" intended, Rusty. Just being the compassionate and caring person that I am.
BTW Brian, google "FedEx Ground vs. UPS: Two Worldviews" by Braunconsulting.com.
The two companies use entirely different business models. Respectfully, I'll have to disagree with your argument that Fedex receives protection from unionization from the Federal Government.
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
Cam...thanks for going easy on us in your last paragraph...I would like to give you the benefit of the doubt and say you were trying to be funny and it came out wrong...and that you really didn't mean to be offensive and condescending to your fellow Letterville compadres...but if you did...that's OK too...insults are usually counterproductive in civil discussions.
Posted by Rodger MacMunn (Member # 4316) on :
Former postmaster here ....albeit Canada Post. Has it ever occurred to anyone that USPS & Canada Post both will deliver a letter to almost every point in their respective countries (both well over 3 million square miles) for much less than a dollar. Of course they won't make money ... it's fine where there's decent population density but flying the mail in & out of Chicken AK twice a week when there's only 2 people living there isn't the best business plan. However, I believe they're obliigated to do so. If they raise the prices to be profitable, people quit using the postal service. Ever wonder why there's so much labour strife in the postal service? Everyone is on the person below them to be more efficient .... no-one is EVER satisfied with your work. If the USPS (or Canada Post) was privatized, you would see UPS & FedEx rates for letters & daily service to remote areas would cease. It may not matter to some of us, but there's a lot of people who would be impacted. I was the last postmaster in my hometown, Mountain Grove, population 99. I still get mail (RFD) every day, but couriers come Mon, Wed & Friday.
Posted by John Byrd (Member # 825) on :
Paving projects were pretty much the only things that would qualify under the rules layed by the government in this stimulus bill.They wanted to see things happening right away and therefore wanted "shovel ready" projects presented within a short ammount of time. Anyone who has tried to get a government building project readyto present knows it takes months and months to get through all the steps needed to qualify a project. Paving is abouth the only kind of job that could be ready in the time alloted. Also, every part of the job and all materials needed had to be American made. We don't really make things here any more. Ductile iron pipe? Every piece of steel and every fitting? By the time you find a company, if it even exists, that produces the materials- you'd have to make sure they meet every guideline set forth already in the great sea of red tape that qualifies you to manufacture materials to be used in a federal project. And repeat that for every vendor. Can't get that done and have the paperwork ready in time. I think it was a six week deadline, may be mistaken on that. Here in Ball Ground we spent 5 years wading through red tape trying to redo our downtown sidewalks. A state highway is our main street and the ammount of paperwork and *** kissing involved to try and fix something that needs fixing is amazing. And that was with a state D.O.T. 5 YEARS getting the paperwork through all the offices etc. for sidewalks on two sides of a road and the whole project isn't a half mile long. I can't imagine the Federal level.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
quote:Originally posted by Rodger MacMunn: If they raise the prices to be profitable, people quit using the postal service.
I don't see where that would necessarily be a bad thing. It means that the postal service would have to compete. If it can't, then it should go the way of buggywhip manufacturers. That is how capitalism works.
But as I'm sure you already may know, the USPS was required to be self-sufficient in 1971 when it ceased to be the US Postal Department and became the US Postal Service. One of the reasons for its financial troubles is that the politicians in the House and Senate won't leave it alone and let it do what it needs to be competitive. The USPS is currently $92 Billion in debt. But will Congress allow the Post Master General initiate some of the cost cutting measures to help alleviate the debt? Nope.
quote: If the USPS (or Canada Post) was privatized, you would see UPS & FedEx rates for letters & daily service to remote areas would cease. It may not matter to some of us, but there's a lot of people who would be impacted.
Well, on that I do agree. A lot of junkmailers would go out of business. Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
posted in wrong thread
[ December 14, 2009, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
did i ever tell you........ I LOVE MY GOVT RUN HEALTH CARE??????? IF, and i say if,any of your CIVILIAN hospitals were as well run as the VA, most of you wouldnt be COMPLAINING ABOUT ........your appointment wait times, and cost of prescriptions. i went to jackson miss. its a 255 mile trip. I CHOOSE TO MAKE THE TRIP, i can have the procedure done in biloxi, but i really like the people in jackson. i arrived at 8:45am monday morning for a 9:30 am appointment. they was having a busy day and i STILL HAD MY APPOINTMENT STARTED BY 9:45 AM. i was done and out the dorr at 10:30 am!!!!!!
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Do I sense a new meaning emerging regarding the action of 'going postal'? Posted by bruce ward (Member # 1289) on :
you guys go ahead and enjoy that healthcare, ill keep BCBS even though they on occasion rape me and make me like it. I would LOVE for some group to open a private hospital just for cash, and insurance only. NO medicaid or indigent. Sounds selfish I know BUT how many of us make money on poor businesses that cant pay their full amount of the bills? You cannot operate a business like that.
you take out the indigent and "free customers" you have a smooth running facility, with great attitudes from the staff and better equipment.
the emergency rooms in Montgomery (if you have ever been) look like subways in NY and chicago. Trash everywhere, people laying all around, it horrible. And of course you have the one person with a gunshot wound that brings his 25 kinfolks with him to the hospital
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
hey does your post office close for a freakin hour at lunch??? wtf? i take it they can't handle rotating lunches...no, that would be too easy...so when people run errands on their lunch hour then too bad....po closed. i hate government...i pay online! it's rare i need a stamp these days. lol internet killed the po star!
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Actually, the USPS has been "self sustaining" since Regan "privatized" it back in the 80's (maybe?). Unfortunately, it's still subject to heavy congressional oversight.
At the bottom of page 2, it states... "The Postal Service operates as an independent establishment of the executive branch of the government of the United States. While it does not receive government funding, USPS is subject to congressional oversight and regulation by government agencies."
I didn't read that story yet Glenn, but I'm lead to believe UPS did receive a short-term "investment" from the FED to help with "cash flow" shortly after the credit markets dried up.
And Karen, don't get me going on that. We have one of the largest mail facilities in the area right up the road from me and we still have a very similar problem - 2 out of 7 "windows" open, lines out the door and everyone's out to lunch. After lunch is over and the crowds are gone, there's 5 windows open.
BTW, UPS's busiest day this year will be December 21, where they are expected to process about 77 million packages that day. I'm not looking forward to it
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
I use the PO for lots of mailings. Every single time I go there I get a different story. I just spent 85 minutes trying to get the proper rate for a bulk mailing. After it was all done and a chat on the phone with some off site dictator I got the rate I expected. What a waste of time and resources. I spend over 1,000 bux at a time on mailings and one would think they would make it easier. But no,, its an ordeal.
Unfortunately this ordeal happens each and every single time i go there. If anyone uses more than just mail service then you will see just how much trouble it is.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
Brian, check my response to Rodger's post above. It wasn't Reagan who "privatized" the USPS. While the USPS was forced to be self-sufficient in 1971 by the 1970 Postal Reorganization Act, it is only quasi-independent and has never been truly private. It ceased to receive any taxpayer funding in the early 1980s as specified by the PRA. Reagan had nothing to do with it. He just happened to be President during that time.
One of the reasons why the USPS is suffering is because of labor costs. The solution to reducing these costs is to close unnecessary and/or redundant post offices. However, to do that requires Congressional approval. As I understand it, there are over 2000 post offices that service less than 100 people. The USPS wants to either close or consolidate them but they can't because of politics.
The USPS would save approximately $3.5Billion by simply ending Saturday delivery. Unfortunately, it can't because it again requires Congressional approval and no politician is going to do that. Just ask Rep. Jose Serrano of New York, who chairs a subcommittee that oversees the USPS.
Both Germany and Japan have privatized their postal service. As a result, they have become financially stronger and are providing better service. If they can do it, why can't we?
Posted by Steve Carter (Member # 494) on :
"The goverment is the only place where the blind lead the seeing!"
Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
Bob
I moved three years ago, same postal code, same post office, heck, SAME MAIL CARRIER! She continued to send my stuff back because it was not properly addressed...
I called the number, not the 800 generic spin the wheel and get a mindless bureaucrat number, but the actual phone number.
I was enlightened as to the miserable condition of this fine institution. I just gave up and got a PO box in the neighboring city where I do most of my business anyways. I informed all vendors and clients of this and let the junk mail fall where it may.
[ December 15, 2009, 04:05 PM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
In 1980, I moved my office from Carrollton to the next suburb over, right on Interstate 35. We printed up invoices, cards, etc., billed a bunch of customers and didn't get payments. It turned out that Interstate 35 is a valid address in Carrollton but not Farmers Branch. There, it is Stemmons Freeway. Never mind that Interstate 35 has run from Laredo, Texas to Duluth, Minnesota for almost a half century.
Posted by Mark Baty (Member # 9776) on :
Hey, take it easy on Uncle Sam and the USP. The only way to cut health care costs is to make health insurance illegal. Make doctors and hospital compete for dollars as do all small business owners.
While were at it, get rid of corporate wellfare, Tax incentives, etc. "A job bought with taxpayers dollars is not worth having".
Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
I've never had much trouble with the USPS, but this thread reminds me of a conversation with one of my buddies the other day.... he's been having a major problem.
They live on a dirt road in the area... they have a long driveway which isn't the smoothest, but easily driveable. Their mail carrier hates coming up to their house, so if they ever get a package, she just leaves it out beside their mailbox, on the side of the road.. there's really not a ditch so the packages will actually be sitting ON THE ROAD.... no matter what the weather....
They have complained to her, threatened, called the main office, all the other customer service numbers, done everything they know to do.... they've been told that the mail carrier is 'on probation' but it never changes.
He said he guessed the next time he comes home and a package is out there, he's gonna run over it, then take a bunch of pictures and start working up the chain until he gets someone who can do something about it....
Insane....
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Today I got back one of the DVD packages that I sent out over two weeks ago. This one was to Peru, New York (the home of Bob Kaschak). The sticker said that there was no such place as Peru, New York. Sorry Bob, you don't exist.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Yeh . . . I revived . . . ok - ressurectected this thread . . .
Checkers! LOL Don'cha love legalese?
QUOTE: "The Postal Service operates as an independent establishment of the executive branch of the government of the United States. While it does not receive government funding, USPS is subject to congressional oversight and regulation by government agencies."
Translation: 'The government really has nothing to do with your mail, but is prepared to completely control it at any time for any reason.'
Man . . . I should ressurect my spelling . . . 'ressurectected'? What is that...? . . . maybe that can be a new word for ressurections which have been detected . . . .
[ January 09, 2010, 03:18 PM: Message edited by: Sheila Ferrell ]
Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sheila Ferrell: ressurectected ..... ressurect.... 'ressurectected'.... ressurections
Maybe 'resurrection' is the word you were fishing for?
/guess you can blame it on typing it at 2:12am.... sheesh, don't you sleep??
[ January 10, 2010, 04:04 AM: Message edited by: Jon Jantz ]
Posted by Steve Shortreed (Member # 436) on :
How come those old showcards that Bob Harper, Mike Stevens, and all the other other greats looked so damn good? Is there anyone here that can teach me more about that sort of thing? And how does that Madden kid pull such long, thin lines? Posted by Frank Magoo (Member # 3950) on :
Steve;
Bob Shepard is still out there, also Morelli's son, both highly capable of performing show cards at the same level as those you mentioned...and their secert? Practice, practice, practice, lol.......same as always...
Long lines? maybe long arms? Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Long lines? Clams are the answer Frank
Posted by Frank Magoo (Member # 3950) on :
Oh, you're bad Joey.... Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Edited to say: POWER TO THE PEOPLE !! (always wanted to say that..hehe)
[ January 12, 2010, 11:21 AM: Message edited by: Todd Gill ]
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
I'd like to see a close-up tutorial of Joey showing some pinstriping basics to us vinyl-jockeys.
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
is this close enough for a basic double line Todd? Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Jeez Joey - you've got the eyes of a well calibrated laser!
I actually think I might have the dexterity to become (notice I said "become") halfway decent at that.
Seems like one hurdle would be, when you need to get more paint on the brush - picking up from where you left off without it either growing 'fat' or having an 'hourglass' shape at the connection point? Or am I all wet there?
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Todd, when you positively got the feel of the brush as well as speed on your side, there is very little to worry about. The fat you speak of when connecting to a line which is halfway through is very rarely a problem if your feel is precise. I personally mix my own shades of color to make the opacity needed for coverage which few colors have straight from the factory and therefore only start and stop at the jambs. If I do stop in the center, I swish off the edge so to speak and start back a couple inches. Quite the contrary to what others may or may not think of how I do this doesn't really faze me but what I really enjoy is when I overhear, thank God he's not in our town.
I basically retired around a year ago for my own reasons which if mentioned here would start a ruckus. I have however found that my work hasn't suffered as much as one would think as I am not used to working day in and day out since I moved to the northwest.
[ January 12, 2010, 09:34 PM: Message edited by: Joey Madden ]
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Sort of getting back on-topic, did you ever notice the old "first day covers" of old postage? Stamps in general are basically what piqued my interest in art and design.
I still have my collection kicking around somewhere
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