US Postal Service idea

[myfreebees316]

Like many gas stations have joined forces with fast food places (Fast food and gas station in same building) to bring in business. Should the US postal service think the same way to bring in customers? Personally i think yes so it can survive and prosper & maybe they wouldn't have to go up on prices every year because of the possible income coming in with the help of another in the same building as they are helping to bring in the business they desperately need. It also cut down on costs for the building which would help greatly

What do you guys and gals think? Should the US Postal Service join forced with other business to help sustain it?

[patycake56]

Works for me

[kapeh12]

The problem is that the US Post Office is not a 100% private business.  If it was, your idea would be an option.  Unfortunately how it's structured, business/finance decisions need to be approved by the government as the government overseas the business workings/decisions for the US Postal Service.  Also, the way the government structure it, the government does not fund the postal service like it does other federal entities.

So the US Postal Service is stuck in a no man's land between being publicly run and privately run.

Best thing for the US Postal Service is for the government to either cut it lose so it can become 100% privately owned business, or start funding it out of the public funds.

Given the state of our current Congress, its doubtful that either will happen.

[monnee]

Yes, since their already billions in debt every year, so they might as will try anything it can to survive.

[6265AT99]

Well, it depends on the "business" it will join forces with.  If it's a "coffee shop" type of business probably would work but if it's another type of business that is sort of its' competitor, I don't think that would be too good.

[pressman]

Like many gas stations have joined forces with fast food places (Fast food and gas station in same building) to bring in business. Should the US postal service think the same way to bring in customers? Personally i think yes so it can survive and prosper & maybe they wouldn't have to go up on prices every year because of the possible income coming in with the help of another in the same building as they are helping to bring in the business they desperately need. It also cut down on costs for the building which would help greatly

What do you guys and gals think? Should the US Postal Service join forced with other business to help sustain it?

nds

I think coffe and doughnuts sounds  good  will never happen

[Gerianne]

I have seen articles about making the Post Office a banking system.
Did the post office used to be a bank years and years ago??
The Federal Reserve is a joke and hasn't worked for 100 years anyway.
Public banking is another positive trend!

[braggin]

Yes I think this is a great idea. The USPS could have little kiosks in supermarkets, for example, so that you can do your food shopping and your mailings all in one stop. Or how about in banks or drugstores? These might work, too.

[kingozzy]

so joining a gas station and remodeling and moving wont increase the costs?  I am pretty sure that it would go up drastically then

[bretay]

sounds like a good idea...

[bhiett]

I think the US Postal Service could be more profitable by just changing the way they market their collectible stamps.  A lot of people collect stamps and some of the commemorative stamps appeal to collector in their specific niches.  For example, the Elvis stamps.  They could sell them for a penny or two more than the face value (or more), which I believe collectors would still purchase.  That may even increase the appear for collectors.

[bowrunner]

USPS has a major problem in that the US government forces them to fund their retirement fund by way too much money.  For some reason, Congress won't change it and make it realistic.  If they didn't have this hanging over their head all the time, they could probably be profitable.

[bremer51]

I'd like to see a drive up window at the post office so I can buy postage, mail a package etc. without getting out of the car. 

[BJohnsonPP]

The problem is that the US Post Office is not a 100% private business.  If it was, your idea would be an option.  Unfortunately how it's structured, business/finance decisions need to be approved by the government as the government overseas the business workings/decisions for the US Postal Service.  Also, the way the government structure it, the government does not fund the postal service like it does other federal entities.

So the US Postal Service is stuck in a no man's land between being publicly run and privately run.

Best thing for the US Postal Service is for the government to either cut it lose so it can become 100% privately owned business, or start funding it out of the public funds.

Given the state of our current Congress, its doubtful that either will happen.

I agree that it may be time to cut it loose. It's necessity was understood at a point in time, but with so many ways to communicate now, I don't see much reason for it not to become a 100% privately owned business. It can be taken over by FedEx and UPS as a division specifically dedicated to letter carrying or have new business pop up to fill in the void. The US government can sell or rent buildings and equipment or something because the necessity is just not there anymore.

[bhiett]

I'd like to see a drive up window at the post office so I can buy postage, mail a package etc. without getting out of the car. 

That is an excellent idea, especially for areas of high population-- banks certainly make it work well for them.  Governmental officials need to think outside the box.  Unfortunately, their solutions seem to be reducing services and hours open.