The biggest Scam by the Government (Sort of)

[Scanker19]

Any one ship Flat rate? So I don't use flat rate anymore. I have found that unless you have a 15lb box it's not good to use.

I shipped a box today that had I used Flat rate it would have been 10.95. Since I used a Regular Priority mail box it came to 5.80. That's almost half for those of you keeping score.

Another Trick it take a flat rate box and cover it in Brown paper bag and send it regular Priority or FedEx (recommended).

Anyways I wanted ya'll to know that most of you/us are being ripped off again my the Gov. So have fun and use "free" supplies.[Beer]

[sniper7]

I like to support the private groups anyways. I'll ship UPS and fedex almost every time over USPS.

[banks74]

I was sure this thread was gonna be about taxes after reading the title...

[Hoser]

You do realize that the US Postal Service does not operate off your tax dollars?

It might be a govt agency, but it is an independent agency.

[Ranger353]

I think the key take aways are:

1. FREE shipping boxes, and they are nice sturdy boxes too.

2. Flat rate shipping from the USPS is NOT cost effective unless you are maximizing the weight (15lbs).

Cheers [Coffee]

[Hoosier]

You do realize that the US Postal Service does not operate off your tax dollars?

It might be a govt agency, but it is an independent agency.

This is true. Also, it's established in the Constitution, so it's not a 10th Amendment problem. I do not like their monopoly on delivery of mail, however, even if it isn't honored.

H.

[CrufflerSteve]

I have gotten lead, zinc and other metals shipped flat rate. It was a good deal for that but is a rip for most stuff. It's hard to believe that early in our history the post office was the largest parts of the federal government and was even open 7 days a week.

Steve

[newracer]

The reason why it cost so much is people keep taking the "free" boxes.

[espAmerica]

Those "Free" boxes are only to be used for USPS business. From the USPS:

The terms of Agreement for the use of United States Postal Service shipping supplies is as follows: I understand that Express Mail service, Priority Mail service, Global Express Guaranteed, Express Mail International and Priority Mail International packaging is the property of the United States Postal Service and is provided solely for sending Express Mail, Priority Mail, Global Express Guaranteed, Express Mail International and Priority Mail International. Misuse may be a violation of federal law.

[Bailey Guns]

Nice. Advocating theft...or at a minimum, misuse...of USPS property.

I use Flat Rate boxes a lot to ship handguns. Granted, always out of state and at $10.95 it's a bargain. And it doesn't have to weigh anywhere near 15 pounds. The break-even point is usually right around 4 or 5 pounds...which you'll almost always reach with a full-sized, new handgun in the case with accessories.

For what I do Flat Rate is a terrific bargain. Not to mention, who else is gonna send a letter for you, all the way across the country, for .44 cents?

I think the USPS is grossly mismanaged and bloated with unnecessary bureaucracy but I like the services they provide.

[DeusExMachina]

So, you've been using a flat rate box to ship lighter items and feel you've been ripped off?

Could it possibly be that you don't understand the point of the flat rate box?

[Busta Prima]

The break-even point is usually right around 4 or 5 pounds...

I was going to say I find the break even point to be 3 pounds when comparing Priority Mail normal rate to Priority Mail flat rate. The other nice thing about it is Priority Mail is pretty quick (most of the time).

[newracer]

Also how is it a scam when you have the choice to use either service?

[Hoser]

I shipped about 135 lbs of brass out Tuesday. It fit in 4 large flat rate boxes.

Total bill $56-ish. Cant hate it.

[hollohas]

You do realize that the US Postal Service does not operate off your tax dollars?

It might be a govt agency, but it is an independent agency.

Not entirely correct. USPS does receive around $100 million per year in appropriations from Congress. Also, who do you think covers USPS's annual losses? The US Treasury does through the Federal Financing Bank...or in other words, the US Citizen. At least until USPS pays back the borrowed money.

USPS annual debt is in large part due to the fact that they must pay $5.6 per year in pensions. This obviously was contributing to their debt so Congress passed a bill in 2010 to temporarily reduce their annual pension contribution to $1 billion. The unfunded obligation for future pentions...$51.9 billion.

Health insurance and life insurance are also huge costs for the USPS. Its employees currently pay only 17% of health insurance costs and 0% into life. Obama proposed that this be changed in his initial FY2010 budget but it was dropped because many worried it would violate collective bargaining...sound familiar to anyone??????? Hint: WI.

Off topic but these damn entitlements have got to stop. It's about f'ing time government employees started funding their own insurance and retirements... These people are getting cheap ass retirement and insurance while their employer is losing so much money it must borrow from the American citizen...sound a bit like the bailouts?

Do some of you guys work for USPS or something? Everytime we bitch about USPS some of you mount a defense...

[DeusExMachina]

USPS has screwed me over less times than UPS/FedEx, and they're cheaper than those two, as well as faster. So USPS is the lesser of three evils.

Ah DHL, how I miss thee.

[hollohas]

They all seem to give me about the same quality service, but only one is a messed up corrupt government run/supported organization so I choose to use it as infrequently as possible.

I did like DHL too but never used them for personal business, just work.

[Troublco]

Off topic but these damn entitlements have got to stop. It's about f'ing time government employees started funding their own insurance and retirements... These people are getting cheap ass retirement and insurance while their employer is losing so much money it must borrow from the American citizen...sound a bit like the bailouts?


Not all government employees get benefits like the post office. A great many, if not most, pay for their insurance like the employees of any large corporation. They pay into the govt. version of a 401k, get a normal size matching contribution, and so on. That's federal employees, in the working ("blue collar") grades.

[ronaldrwl]

The older I get the more I think the government should stick to protecting the boarders and pave the roads. Just stay out of almost everything else.

[hollohas]

Not all government employees get benefits like the post office. A great many, if not most, pay for their insurance like the employees of any large corporation. They pay into the govt. version of a 401k, get a normal size matching contribution, and so on. That's federal employees, in the working ("blue collar") grades.

Yes, I know. I worked for the NPS years ago. Of course when I say the entitlements have to stop I am not referring to people who don't get massive entitlements.