The USPS has been the topic of much debate over the past couple of years as it reviews its options now that the digital world has seemingly rendered mail service near-obsolete. Many people still rely on the post office to deliver bills–especially those who don’t want to give out their banking information online–and package delivery is always a concern. The Postal Service has started a new service for packages recently that includes giving the customer the ability to pay for and print their own shipping labels at home, then scheduling a pick-up using one of the service’s flat-rate boxes; however, the USPS website hasn’t been updated since Christmas, so it’s hard to say if the offer was for the holidays only or if it’s something they will offer all year.
But the agency says they will continue to make packages a priority even as they prepare to announce the end of Saturday mail service, scheduled to begin this summer. Packages will still get delivered six days a week, even if regular mail is not. The USPS has been battling Congress for several years now in an effort to get the measure approved, and postmaster general Patrick R. Donahoe says they feel they have the people on their side.
“The Postal Service is advancing an important new approach to delivery that reflects the strong growth of our package business and responds to the financial realities resulting from America’s changing mailing habits,” Donahoe said in a statement. “We developed this approach by working with our customers to understand their delivery needs and by identifying creative ways to generate significant cost savings.”
After several U.S. towns began seeing their local post offices closed down due to budget concerns, many people seem to be in favor of eliminating Saturday delivery if it means less hassle for them in the long run. And, if approved, the measure would mean taking a price-hike on stamps out of the equation, an idea many were opposed to.