Well, we finally hit the green zone. I guess what I told you actually held water after all. In the end, we’ve just circled back to the fact that this was all just your subjective take anyway. Still, the lecture wasn't half bad; the whole situation is a bit more nuanced than it looks at first glance. Let me summarize. Market liberalization allowed new players to enter the industry. The USPS still holds a monopoly on UNIVERSAL POSTAL SERVICES (that’s the part tripping you up), but since the market is deregulated, there are more players involved. We don't have a total monopoly anymore because others are handling mail delivery and transit too (FedEx works with legal entities). The real question is when the shift will happen. If HP Inc. doesn't restructure and modernize—which is something I've already touched on—the outcome won't be pretty. And you were wondering why someone living where I do would bother rambling about modernizing the postal service. Also, you can't speak for "everyone" and claim that YOU (who exactly is "you"?) don't care about what I wrote. A huge number of people read this forum, and most of them don't even bother to reply. There's always an ignore button for those who don't want to read a certain person.
No offense, but companies like FedEx cater to corporations, not us mere mortals. Just take a look at their service fee schedule and tell me how they actually compete with UPS.
FedEx might be worth it if you're shipping a massive package, but their rates are basically identical to UPS. When it comes to sending certified mail, FedEx is way more expensive than the USPS, so don't try to sell me on this "competition" idea. What kind of competition involves paying $10this much☕ just to send a single flat envelope?
Sure, FedEx handles standard letters, but like I said—they do it for businesses. I've never heard of anyone sending anything through FedEx unless it was a bulky parcel. We could probably have a whole conversation about how FedEx's marketing is even worse than UPS's, if we're being honest. ☕
By the way, do you work for FedEx? Is that why you're here dumping your "expert" advice on us? 🥳
Look, corporate clients bring in serious revenue. If the USPS hadn't lost that slice of the pie to FedEx, they'd still have it, which is exactly why UPS isn't a monopoly. They were a monopoly once, until someone else stepped in to offer similar services. Besides, CityEx used to handle legal documents and they still deliver certified mail today. Why would the USPS even care about CityEx if they weren't performing related services and acting as competitors? The USPS is a massive organization and needs decent marketing, but that’s not the only thing they need to fix. A major foreign firm could swoop in and buy out CityEx tomorrow, or they might not—it doesn't matter. If the USPS doesn't adopt a modern approach to customer service and actually evolve, they’re going to lose profit, and they've already started losing it. They'll get eaten alive. Whether you want to admit it or not, CityEx is a competitor in this market. Remember one thing: markets are divided into monopolies, oligopolies, duopolies, and competitive markets. That's basic market structure. If there's only one player, it's a monopoly; two is a duopoly; a few is an oligopoly; and many is competitive. The hallmark of a monopoly is that entry into the sector is blocked, among other things. I'm not sure what part of this is confusing you. Maybe it's just lost on you. Anyway, I won't drone on; I think everything important has been said.
neonridge8 said:I’m not going to paste his entire post right here—that would be overkill. But regarding what Michael Sanchez7 said:
The USPS definitely holds a monopoly here. I mean, look at FedEx—the name itself tells you they only deal with express shipping. When I called them, they actually came right to my front door to pick up the package, and I’m already paying $30 just for the delivery service.$13 And just like that, the package magically arrives at its destination the very next day. So, yeah, this isn't exactly your typical postal service, nor do they provide anything resembling standard postal services. I mean, have you ever actually received a postcard or even a utility bill through FedEx? Because I certainly haven't. End of story. As long as nobody shows up to offer real competition to the USPS, they’re going to keep acting like they're in the Wild West. They couldn't care less whether you're satisfied with their service or not. You don't have a choice.
They handle express deliveries, sure, but they also carry standard mail. I get my bank statements all the time—for instance, I’ll receive my auto loan info from JPMorgan Chase and my American Express statement from my other bank. They've definitely carved out a slice of the pie for HP Inc. Now, they might not have the massive footprint that the USPS does, but they deliver mail all over the country, not just express packages. You see those guys on motorcycles constantly delivering letters just like regular mail carriers. As for that whole discussion about taking over business accounts, I don't have much to say; as far as I know, nothing has actually materialized there yet. Whether people want to admit it or not, HP Inc. needs to prepare for what's coming, and everything I just mentioned stands.
What are you even talking about? The USPS has a monopoly, and thank God they aren't messing around with stuff like that. Besides, why would they bother when their website is actually quite well-designed? It covers everything from A to Z—how to ship, dimensions, how to fill out forms, and so on.
In this day and age, you can't succeed without marketing. The era of socialism and communism is long gone. Not everyone lives online or spends their time scrolling through forums. I have to disagree with your take on the monopoly, though. There’s also FedEx handling a massive amount of mail. Plenty of major banks rely on FedEx services. Why don't you check http://www.fedex.com/index.php?id=12 and get the facts before posting nonsense about a monopoly? They have plenty of clients. Here’s the list:
* JPMorgan Chase * Wells Fargo * Bank of America * American Express * Ally Financial * Berkshire Hathaway * AT&T * Diners Club * Verizon * Citigroup * Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation * Citigroup * T-Mobile US * Avon
The real question is just a matter of time before a new provider enters the market, and they'll most likely be coming from overseas. Like I said before, the USPS still has a mountain of work to do if they want to actually function in the 21st century. Just look at how much AT&T, Verizon, and the others invest in marketing and how hard they work to keep customers informed about their services. Even retail chains blast flyers about their products. The USPS seems to think everyone already knows everything about their services and that nothing needs changing. But reality tells a different story. Should everything stay exactly the way it was 50 years ago? Just look at what some post offices look like. It's like time stood still there. This kind of passivity and lethargy comes with a heavy price. It's a shame not to tap into such huge potential by implementing radical changes. Since the USPS is government-owned, the state should really play a significant role here.
It exists, sure, but it’s far from enough. These days, the real game is about pushing services through targeted marketing and actually tailoring things to the user. Sure, keeping a client happy is important, but wouldn't you agree it's even more vital to build a client who keeps coming back because they actually recognize and value the quality? Most people don't even realize they can use www.usps.com or call a toll-free number, which is exactly where marketing needs to step in and point them toward the right resources. The Postal Service still has a lot of work to do if it wants to actually function in the 21st century.
The local post office could really use a better marketing strategy. Right now, customers walk in feeling completely lost because there’s zero signage or clear info on what services are actually offered. It leaves everything up to the clerk at the window, which creates this sketchy vibe—like you're being hustled rather than helped. Honestly, they should probably start by teaching their staff some basic customer service skills.
ironwolf52 said:I’ve got a question! I need to send a registered letter internationally, but I need to include some cash inside. And obviously, we all know you aren't supposed to do that. It doesn't occur to me to use Western Union just to lose $100 in fees $40! So, my plan was to put the money in a greeting card, tuck the card into an envelope, maybe throw in a little gift, and just say it's for someone at XYZ. Will they actually inspect the card, or once I seal the envelope, am I good to go? 🙂
Try sending it as a package with insurance. A insured parcel can contain goods, cash, documents, or other items, with a weight limit of up to about 4.4 lbs. Check out http://www.usps.com/ship/international.htm# and run the numbers for international shipping there.
Do you honestly think she didn't get a delivery notice? If she didn't, then it probably just got stuck in transit. Either the UPS driver forgot to leave a slip, or the notice itself went missing in the shuffle.
If you’ve already opened the package, repackaged it, and addressed it back to them, you'll have to cover the return shipping costs upfront. You'll get that money back later via a money order. Just a heads-up though: I don't think they refund the return shipping fee itself—only the original amount you paid for the initial shipment.
Of course you’re paying shipping just like you would if you were sending something to me or anyone else; packages don't just travel for free. When you order from a place like Amazon, you aren't paying a separate shipping fee because it's already baked into the price, right? I assume they have some kind of bulk contract with USPS or FedEx.
It really depends on what you're actually buying. You aren't technically "skipping" the shipping fee when you order from places like Amazon or Wayfair—they just have contracts with USPS or UPS. It’s still being paid; you just don't see the line item. Nothing in life is truly free, not even from your grandma. If a mail carrier shows up at your door with a slip, it’s probably not a package anyway; it’s likely just a certified letter or something sent with COD. Real packages usually get dropped off by guys driving delivery vans.
I’ve been running this thing for over a year now and I’m perfectly happy with it. Honestly, the fact that it isn't Free Windows doesn't bother me one bit—it's the same logic as using any other free OS. Am I saying it's the absolute best on the market? No. But does it get the job done for me? Absolutely.
Well, I got lucky. The guy decided to bail on the Windows XP SP2 upgrade since he doesn't have internet access anyway and doesn't really have any specific requirements. So, that whole workaround stays untested.