Postmaster General
U.S. Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20260-0010
Dear Mr. Postmaster General:
I am constantly appalled at the current idiocy of governmental agencies and workers. My husband has been a government employee all of his life, 30 years military, 15 state. We are very patriotic, our flag flies 24/7, lit at night as prescribed, but are still disgusted with the general stupidity of the system.
Recently, I reused a couple of priority mailing boxes to ship something parcel post. I have been an avid recycler for over 30 years, long before it became public policy. More importantly, I first avoid wasteful packaging and design, then I re-use whenever possible. My packages were returned to me with a nasty note that looked like a 3rd grader had written it. It was clear that the boxes had been previously used and opened although I was careful to mark out barcodes and other markings. I fail to see how, legally, the USPS can claim that even after the original contract was paid and fulfilled (original mailing use) that the boxes are still their property and subject to ANOTHER priority fee. Following that methodology, the same box could net multiple fees if users were careful not to destroy it. The fact that I DO have the right to tear it to shreds and either trash or recycle it after the original contract is fulfilled is hypocritical…. And at the very least, ludicrous. Equally hypocritical is that the box is printed with an admonition to “please recycle” but USPS refuses to allow me to recycle it by using it for another shipment after it has already been used.
Despite your irrational policy, I have found a solution. The same day I was forced to open and repackage my parcels, I directed every entity that communicates with me via USPS to change my billing/communication format to electronic and I signed up for electronic billing so that even my online checks are no longer mailed. I filed several “stop junk mail” items as well. Each day since this event I have taken EVERY piece of mail that enters my mailbox and called or written the sender requesting that they no longer send me communication through the USPS mail system. I will choose alternate shipping methods when I buy and, finally, I have renegotiated my account shipping fees with UPS and FedEx and will now use them exclusively. The few extra dollars going into the private economy will be worth it.
I’m sure that your solution will be to raise postage fees. When that happens, rates at other shipping companies will become even more competitive. As the delivery schedule for those companies becomes more consistent, they undoubtedly will offer more services at even more competitive prices. No wonder USPS and the government in general is in trouble!
I recall that many years ago I took the postal exam and scored 100% on it. After a couple of interviews, I was told by one employee that I had little chance of ever being hired because I was white (actually I’m part Native American, but do not use that fact to my favor). She told me that minorities got extra points and could exceed a score of 100%. Again, “nice”, “very nice”. While I absolutely agree that veterans might get extra points, (they actually sacrificed themselves for the government), I never understood why a person’s race should give them any advantage. Mine certainly has not. During my lifetime I have lost out on many things, despite the fact that my qualifications were higher, because of my race, not because of my ability, skills or character. Why is my race the only one that is not protected? As I get older, I can see that the government is often given to irrational thought and policy, which the USPS so deftly exampled recently.
Since I do ship rather regularly, and did have some new boxes, I have “recycled” them into my recycling can as I will no longer need them and each box clearly directs me to recycle. Our local government will have to pay to have them recycled and energy and water will be wasted, but, apparently, that is the preferred solution of the USPS.
Thanks so much for the enlightening experience! But, then, I’m guessing you care very little as you will still collect a very nice pension, far better that men and women who have sacrificed their lives, limbs, safety, health and families and until, recently, have been paid below poverty level in military service to our country. You should be very proud. I often wonder why postal employees go crazy and kill other employees; it would be far more legitimate if the consumers were wielding the guns.
Nice job, hopefully more citizens will respond the same, and I’m sure they will!
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