USPS

[daveismissing]

 The reason the USPS doesn’t work well for end users is because the USPS doesn’t consider us its primary customers. It’s oriented to delivery service for junk mail, and works for those firms ahead of us.

Evan recounts that US Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe “looked at us” and said “we have a misunderstandi ng. ‘You disrupt my service and we will never work with you.’” Further, “‘You mentioned making the service better for our customers; but the American citizens aren’t our customers—about 400 junk mailers are our customers.  Your service hurts our ability to serve those customers.”’

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/04/29/usps-tells-entrepreneurs-that-american-citizens-arent-their-customers/

[TexasT]

Follow the money and you get a clear picture.

[stevemon]

I send out packages only through USPS and they are by far, the best at providing that service. Faster, cheaper and more relaible than the others.

[Forzfed]

I'd rather have any package from the US delivered by USPS.  I remember Mike Savino saying how they suck and he doesn't like sending stuff that way because you can't find one in your local area.  It is to much work for some people to send items to Canada.

[earlbrown]

There's a few well thought out replies in the comments section that kinda debunk that article.

Plus those mail jeeps cover all the roads 6 times a day delivering junk mail.   Average Joes mailing stuff should be looked at as gravy since they've already allocated the funds to cover the routes.

I'm no big nutswinger for USPS but I will give them credit for one thing.  They send me boxes and envelopes to my door for free. Pick up my stuff at my door for free, and I get a discount on postage when I print it myself from the website.   It sounds trivial but it's a 22mile round trip for me to the post office and I get 17MPG in town....     Every time I don't have to fire up a car to mail something, that's the same as leaving $5 in my pocket.

[daveismissing]

 Every time I don't have to fire up a car to mail something, that's the same as leaving $5 in my pocket.

That's how I feel about anti-paypal sellers. If I have hit a bank for a US dollar bank draft,  find a post office and mail it - all during business hours I'm already $30 out of pocket.
Pay you an extra $3 for using paypal?-non issue

[daveismissing]

Pretty sure Earl doesn't need reason to nutswing.

[earlbrown]

The money order transactions do kinda suck now.   that does require me to drive to the post office and buy a MO, and a stamped envelope. Plus the additional lead time it takes to get my stuff.

At least that's still a little safer than Western Union.

[SuperSix]

I won't buy something with a money order. Paypal or nothing.

[daveismissing]

The old bidpay western union was the best, a godsend for Canadians.
Visa #on their website turns into USD cheque mailed to the vendor.
Shame the criminal element killed it.

[tb3]

I'm not a fan of usps either.
I only use them for light small stuff anymore

[earlbrown]

Their flatrate boxes are awesome too.     I can' make one of those $5.80  VHS boxes weigh a TON stuffing them full of SS bolt kits.

[Scoobum]

I sent a MO to the States...got there in 5 business days. The part from the seller...and it was a chip in an envelope via USPS and it took 11 business days to get here. Glad I got it...but a little slow.

[stevemon]

11 days with probably a week of that sitting in Canadian customs. I've had pkgs get to Canada in 5 days and I've had them take 12 - 14 days.

[daveismissing]

I averaging 10 business days on USPS right now.  I have lots of vendors that will ship north overnight, just none of them have buick/car parts.