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This sounds just like any vendor for Amazon, WalMart, IKEA, etc. When you are locked in a cage with 1 angry 9000 pound gorilla and 9000 angry 1 pound rats, you

This sounds just like any vendor for Amazon, WalMart, IKEA, etc. When you are locked in a cage with 1 angry 9000 pound gorilla and 9000 angry 1 pound rats, you don't focus on any one rat. You choose to either focus on the gorilla or the group of rats. You should probably be thankful that Amazon is using the USPS. I've seen lots of Lyft drivers in my neighborhood making Amazon package last mile deliveries all week -- even on Sunday and in the evenings. I can't imagine the USPS with pensions and their antiquated policies (especially with Congress preventing them from innovating and forcing them to fully fund their previously underfunded pension program) can match Lyft contractors who require no capital investment and no large contracts. I think the USPS still sees the writing on the wall. Snail mail is increasingly becoming less relevant for paperwork. My USPS SNR is very low these days -- just a few bills that I can't turn electronic, yet. If not for Netflix, I wouldn't check my mail box but once a month. If I were you, I would find ways to make Amazon's investments in your organization pay dividends to Land's End and the other USPS customers. Without some distinguishing features that beat email + FedEx/UPS/DHL + Lyft/Uber, the USPS will continue to atrophy. Make sure you and your fellow USPS workers encourage a virtuous circle and don't allow it to fall into a downward spiral.

losteverything 9y ago
Having been in the real world before cell phones displaced me, I know USPS can be blind to this. The congressional mandate seems to be strong; years and years the demise and privitization has been predicted. A Trump action could make change occur, but Russia and his ego may never get it on the radar. When I say there is absolutely 0 organizational memory/ability to think like a for profit organization, that would be an understatement. Or they are quite bad about comminicating such. To find ways to use the investments is logical. To inspire an organization to care about customer service is difficult. I suggested that the latest budget include a line "deliveries will be made by a human" or some such language; to get it in now so it becomes legacy like 6 day delivery. But nobody even thinks about disruption. Kind of sad, actually. If driverless cars really do become commonplace, the privitization of now-public roads, IMO, would come quickly. That may be the straw that breaks the Postal back. As far as pensions, only the old timers have one. Most, like me, have the federal Thrift savings....

losteverything 9y ago

Having been in the real world before cell phones displaced me, I know USPS can be blind to this. The congressional mandate seems to be strong; years and years the demise and privitization has been predicted. A Trump action could make change occur, but Russia and his ego may never get it on the radar. When I say there is absolutely 0 organizational memory/ability to think like a for profit organization, that would be an understatement. Or they are quite bad about comminicating such. To find ways to use the investments is logical. To inspire an organization to care about customer service is difficult. I suggested that the latest budget include a line "deliveries will be made by a human" or some such language; to get it in now so it becomes legacy like 6 day delivery. But nobody even thinks about disruption. Kind of sad, actually. If driverless cars really do become commonplace, the privitization of now-public roads, IMO, would come quickly. That may be the straw that breaks the Postal back. As far as pensions, only the old timers have one. Most, like me, have the federal Thrift savings....