It's everywhere. The Post Office has been losing money and they are closing down branches. My local branch is gone (sob) and besides cutting jobs, they are now creating longer routes for the carriers. It seems they were better as a government agency, which didn't use to be saying much!

About 500 offices will be closed, and other cuts have already been made. Click

Seems the postal service as we know it is going the way of the newspaper.

Were better? What are they now?

Wow, thanks! I had no idea it had gotten that bad. Don't know how I missed those stories. Thanks for the link.

Scott, not sure what you're asking.

I think Scott is referring to Claire's remark about them being better as a government agency. They still are aren't they? I don't think they have been privatized or they certainly wouldn't be run as they currently are.

My post office(s) are still run pretty well. Busy times can occur but you can minimize your wait time by going at off peak times, first thing in the morning or mid-afternoon and tuesdays are the slowest day of the week according to a post office employee that chats me up occasionally.

More and more people are paying bills on-line and email now is the way to go for most invites (excluding special events like weddings) etc., so cuts will have to be made. Truthfully I would be fine with 3-4 days of mail delivery vs. 6. Mail on saturday should have been cut years ago IMHO.

If trends continue 'going postal' may be making a big comeback.

Duane

My experiences have been awful! Ask Annie. I sent a package to her in January, I think it was, she never received it. I foolishly didn't insure, but here is the real kicker: what she did receive was her address, my address and the postage paid cut out from the box. What? they found an empty box? Plus, they sent a request form to Annie to fill out what was in the box. Seriously...like she would know! She sent the forms to me and I filled out forms and sent back about 3 months ago detailing what was in the box and neither Annie nor I have received anything back from the USPS. I tried to address this scenario with my local post office and was told "The postal service never does that, cuts out pieces of a box and mail to customers." Right.

Brenda

The US Postal Service isn't subsidized by taxpayers. If it loses money it has to figure out a way to cover the cost.

I feel pretty lucky. We've had two postal mail carriers (both women) and they've been great.

The other day I (stupidly) dropped my husband's disability check in the mailbox along with two payments. I didn't realize it until I got to the credit union and couldn't find the check. You know that "Oh no," feeling and sinking as you realize what happened.

I went back to the post office and the woman at the counter nicely went outside and retrieved the check for me. We were just ahead of the mail truck from Portland, so I dodged a bullet on that one.

Maybe I just won in the post office sweepstakes, but no complaints here about the one we have.

Carol

I feel lucky, too. Our town has only had mail delivery for a couple of years... everyone within city limits had to rent a post office box. Delivery is still very limited, mailboxes can only be on certain streets. Our PO agreed to drive down a narrow alley so that library mail wouldn't be left out on the street. Our mail guy insists on carrying in all boxes and refuses our offers to help. On Christmas Eve the flag is up and there's a jar of jam in the mailbox for him.

We feel the pinch a bit at home....delivery is later. We think they are consolidating routes.

I live in a small town and love love love our post office. Never crowded, the staff is universally polite, helpful, and in a good mood. I actually look forward to it when I have to go there!

My little Post Office in my little community is wonderful, and it's not being closed. Service is great, the staff are always helpful and the postal worker carries dog biscuits on the route. We are far enough outside the 'big' city to need a local Post Office, even though "downtown" only has a few businesses along with the post office.

I use our local branch to mail packages to my daughter in Texas, don't do much snail mail anymore. I try not to use the larger branch in toward town - it's always busy, slow and understaffed. I'm dreading the day that they close ours and merge us with the bigger one - I'm sure it's coming eventually.

Other than that experience with Brenda's package, I've been very happy with the Post Office and I send all my swap packages and such that way. I even got a dozen eggs to New York City unbroken to Dishesdone, though the U.S. Mail and I've gotten baby chicks and ducklings through the mail unharmed and intact.

My little post office has cut their hours but the staff is great, friendly and helpful. Like Readinglady, I've had them unlock the mail box to get something I accidnetally tossed in with the amil and they've kept my keys and called me at the office more than once when I walked off with my keys left on the counter.

Annie

The post office near me is miserable. I understand that budget problems bring less staffing, but the staff they do have are S-L-O-O-O-O-W.
If you're only going to have one person at the desk, PICK A FAST ONE!!!!!! My blood pressure goes up watching them. Or hey, here's a novel idea: if there are 10 people in line, OPEN ANOTHER WINDOW! I decided that this is done on purpose, so you won't want to come in. It has worked with me....if I have to mail something that usually requires a desk visit, ie, priority mail, I do it online so I can just drop the package on the desk without having to take a number. You can also have your regular carrier pick up packages that you've processed online.

I will say that all of my delivery people have been nice throughout the years.

Our local post office is in a small town, which makes a huge difference when the clients the PO employees are serving either know them or their mothers!
The service is unfailingly cheerful; they go out of their way to offer pretty stamps for special mailings; the difference between types of services and costs are happily explained; and you usually get a run-down on how gardens are doing or who is celebrating a life landmark.
We are rural route, and our carrier is a great guy. He comes into the drive to leave packages under the carport so they will be dry until we get back to the house and makes sure that we know we got a package (notes stuck on the door). Our PO is in no danger of closing. It is too important to our small community and the surrounding farms.

I also have had nothing but good experiences with my POs. I have kids (and gkids) in Chicago, St. Louis, and several small towns in the midwest and mail lots of notes and packages just because it's cheap and the gkids love getting mail! Nothing has ever been misplaced or taken more than three days from my rural mailbox to the kids' mailboxes.

Once I neglected to put both the stamp and a return address on a bill. Two weeks later, I got it back from the PO telling me of my errant ways. They returned it to me because of the address on my check. Amazing! I always use the PO to mail or ship everything. Well, I pay most of our bills through email now, so I guess I'm part of the problem.

43 cents to mail a letter? I can't imagine how they do it. Cracks me up to hear complaints. I'm sure mistakes happen, but, sheesh, 43¢ to mail a letter? The rest of my life should be such a bargain!

Well, I hate to even say this, but most people don't write letters anymore. It's lovely of you sherrmann to send real snail mail to your GK, so they can experience it firsthand. Maybe they will be among the few who send cards or packages to others, because they enjoy receiving them.

Weed, I've been in PO like that before. Big cities are much different than small towns in that regard, aren't they? My suburban post office was part of the life blood of our community, and now that I have to deal with the drones, things are much different.

sherrman, I send mail to the grandkids and they only live 15 miles away, LOL, but they love to get mail.

I'll send a strip of stickers or a coloring book from the Dollar Store, or whatever little thing I find, they are always excited to get mail.

I also sign them up for every single freebie I can, from cereal samples to free pencils to trail mix bars, they just love it all.

Annie

Annie,
You reminded me of something. Grandparents like to get mail, especially those in nursing homes who don't have grandchildren. I send mail with little funny cards, photos of birds or a flower from our garden, or a small gift, to three nursing home residents in our town. They have no relatives and don't get mail, unless someone provides it. I try to do at least one mailing per person each week. I had never thought of trail mix bars and cereal samples, freebies! Bless you!