Neither snow nor rain nor ... budget cuts?
In today’s Gazette, Stacy Vogel reported on changes at the Janesville post office. Like almost all businesses, the post office has been tightening its budget and seeking efficiencies. Open positions have not been filled for more than a year. The post office has consolidated and adjusted some routes, dropping from 48 or 49 routes last year to 44 now.
Janesville Postmaster Jon Buchholz, who took his position in January, says illness has caused some staff shortages recently.
Consolidations, Buchholz says, has changed when some people get their mail.
No kidding.
We used to count on getting our mail regularly around the lunch hour. I often take a late lunch break, and it was a rare day when the mail didn’t arrive before I headed back to the office.
Now? Well, sometimes we’re lucky to see it by suppertime. Once in a while we don’t get any at all. We usually get several items a day—letters, bills, junk mail, etc. So if the box stays empty all day and we don’t see the mail truck in the neighborhood, I’m left wondering if our block/area/route just didn’t get skipped because of those staff shortages due to illness. Of course, since my wife and I both work full time, we have no way of knowing for sure.
Greg Peck
Nov 3, 2009 at 10:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
Hopefully, we can all keep in mind that the carriers we personally deal with have absolutely no say in the decisions discussed here.
Nov 3, 2009 at 12:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
Heh, well, we always used to be afternoon mail recipients (since the 1970s), but now we get it bright and early in the morning! It evens out.
.
Macdaddy, the USPS has suggested dropping Saturday delivery. I'm not sure how MWF would go over with business users, but they don't like Saturday going away one bit. Even in residential neighborhoods, where you have home-based businesses.
.
Still, it wasn't that long ago that there could be two or three mail deliveries daily in some places, and we managed to get over losing that.
Nov 2, 2009 at 2:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
I think that you are on the same route as I am. For years, mail used to arrive around 11:15-11:30. Now, it arrives around 4:30 or much later. Or sometimes not at all. Asked the mailman about this last week. He said our route was divided up amongst several other carriers and we were added to the end part of whatever route this mail carrier has. Being added at the end of the route accounts for the late hour delivery. And, sometimes the mail doesn't get sorted into our new route. So, it waits until the next day (or the next).
.
Last year when my mail was supposed to be forwarded to a winter address, I found that the following happened: 1. Whenever a substitute was on the route (usually Wednesdays) the mail was delivered to my house even though I wasn't home and the mailbox was overflowing when I returned after 3 months. 2. Some mail was marked "Undeliverable, addressee unknown" and returned to sender (My bank called me and wanted to know what happened to me) 3. Mail was forwarded to me that was addressed to different people, with completely different names living in other cities in WI. (e.g. New Berlin).
.
Last week I paid for a package to have 2-day delivery to Phoenix. Mailed it on Monday - it didn't arrive until Friday. Next time I'll send it by UPS.
.
Postal service in Janesville has always been (in my experience) very good. Now it seems to be rapidly going downhill. Even though I, as well as many others, do online banking and bill paying, I still use US Mail quite frequently. I would be willing to pay a couple cents more for postage if it would help bring back quality service.
Nov 2, 2009 at 1:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
It's difficult, if not impossible, for the Post Office to compete with electronic statements and bill paying. Once you get used to this process, you find out just how much "junk" mail the Post Office delivers. I agree with Macdaddy, M-W-F at home is sufficent.
Nov 2, 2009 at 12:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
in my opinion, they should only have residential service Monday, Wednesday, Fridays, and Monday through Friday for Businesses. That would save them a ton. Who needs mail delivered every day? and if you need something mailed and it is not suppose to come then drive and put it in the mailboxes at the post office or plan ahead.
The mail needs to make serious changes because so many people can pay all their bills online anyhow.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.