4 ms·

I think what parent is saying is that in the US a disproportionate percentage of USPS budget is spent delivering mail to extremely rural areas (far from both ci

by mojoe 4y ago

I think what parent is saying is that in the US a disproportionate percentage of USPS budget is spent delivering mail to extremely rural areas (far from both cities and small towns).

notch898a 4y ago
I remember being at the post office and thinking it was dumb that the clerk thought Micronesia was part of the US and they could charge domestic rates. Only later that I discovered I was the dumb one. IDK how you can possibly economically send mail to places like foreign barely habited deep pacific islands for the same price as mailing to your neighbor.
- OhNoNotAnother1 4y ago
  First, the post office is not a company but a government service so it can LOSE money and that's fine. Second, they don't they make a little on local delivery and bulk and lose a little on long distance. It's not rocket surgery.
  - notch898a 4y ago
    I don't think it's fine we're subsidizing domestic shipping rates to mail to foreign citizens on foreign soil, save maybe a few rare exceptions like they're acting in an official capacity on behalf of the US.
    - yurishimo 4y ago
      Are American citizens not entitled to send mail to other citizens overseas? I would argue that most mail that is sent abroad is between American citizens and their families (military care packages, Xmas cards for expats, etc).
      - michaelt 4y ago
        Well, we could have a government policy of subsidising international mail sent from the US. China does that, for example - which is why you can get a $3 widget on AliExpress sent from China with free shipping. However, right now congress doesn't act like they're doing that intentionally. That doesn't seem to be the policy they're aiming for.
- AlotOfReading 4y ago
  You can't, but the USPS is legally obligated to have a single flat rate for domestic deliveries, which is extended to certain former territories as a goodwill measure. They attempted to charge international rates many years back, but the effect it had on the affected countries' economies was so significant that the change was immediately rolled back until they had a viable alternative, which hasn't emerged.
- euroderf 4y ago
  Back in the 70s I tried to send a letter to San Marino and the local post office guy did not believe there was a country so named. We (he) had to go to the post office reference manuals.
kalleboo 4y ago
My parents live in rural Australia and their postwoman just drives a regular 4wd pickup truck, not some special mail van. She delivers on a lot of dirt/mud tracks and has to traverse small rivers, I don't think the special USPS van is built to do that.
- anthomtb 4y ago
  The USPS delivery vehicle in the rural, mountainous neighborhoods outside my city is an older Chevrolet Suburban. I am assuming this is a private vehicle, contracted to delivery mail in a certain area but its possible that it is government owned.
- nonethewiser 4y ago
  That makes my point. The 3wheel bike doesn’t work in that case.

by mojoe 4y ago

I think what parent is saying is that in the US a disproportionate percentage of USPS budget is spent delivering mail to extremely rural areas (far from both cities and small towns).

notch898a 4y ago

I remember being at the post office and thinking it was dumb that the clerk thought Micronesia was part of the US and they could charge domestic rates. Only later that I discovered I was the dumb one. IDK how you can possibly economically send mail to places like foreign barely habited deep pacific islands for the same price as mailing to your neighbor.

OhNoNotAnother1 4y ago
First, the post office is not a company but a government service so it can LOSE money and that's fine. Second, they don't they make a little on local delivery and bulk and lose a little on long distance. It's not rocket surgery.
- notch898a 4y ago
  I don't think it's fine we're subsidizing domestic shipping rates to mail to foreign citizens on foreign soil, save maybe a few rare exceptions like they're acting in an official capacity on behalf of the US.
  - yurishimo 4y ago
    Are American citizens not entitled to send mail to other citizens overseas? I would argue that most mail that is sent abroad is between American citizens and their families (military care packages, Xmas cards for expats, etc).
    - michaelt 4y ago
      Well, we could have a government policy of subsidising international mail sent from the US. China does that, for example - which is why you can get a $3 widget on AliExpress sent from China with free shipping. However, right now congress doesn't act like they're doing that intentionally. That doesn't seem to be the policy they're aiming for.
AlotOfReading 4y ago
You can't, but the USPS is legally obligated to have a single flat rate for domestic deliveries, which is extended to certain former territories as a goodwill measure. They attempted to charge international rates many years back, but the effect it had on the affected countries' economies was so significant that the change was immediately rolled back until they had a viable alternative, which hasn't emerged.
euroderf 4y ago
Back in the 70s I tried to send a letter to San Marino and the local post office guy did not believe there was a country so named. We (he) had to go to the post office reference manuals.

kalleboo 4y ago

My parents live in rural Australia and their postwoman just drives a regular 4wd pickup truck, not some special mail van. She delivers on a lot of dirt/mud tracks and has to traverse small rivers, I don't think the special USPS van is built to do that.

anthomtb 4y ago
The USPS delivery vehicle in the rural, mountainous neighborhoods outside my city is an older Chevrolet Suburban. I am assuming this is a private vehicle, contracted to delivery mail in a certain area but its possible that it is government owned.
nonethewiser 4y ago
That makes my point. The 3wheel bike doesn’t work in that case.