Tech Experts Look To Help Save the Postal Service 398
An anonymous reader writes "Some of the folks responsible for developing and promoting e-mail, e-commerce and social media are banding together in an attempt to save the US Postal Service, the institution arguably most threatened by the technological developments of the past few years. As mail volume continues to plummet and more Americans use the Internet to pay bills and keep in touch, Google executives, social media experts and some of the most passionate tech evangelists are planning to meet in Crystal City in mid-June to sort out how to save and remake the nation's mail delivery service. The conference, PostalVision 2020, is designed to bring together the people who understand what this technology has done, is doing and will do to digital commerce and communication in America. USPS anticipates losing about $7 billion during the fiscal year that ends in September and is in the process of eliminating 7,500 postmaster and administrative positions to save money."
Re:The problem with USPS is ... (Score:4, Funny)
As someone who shipped a lot of packages through USPS, the solution is very simple. Get a real time tracking system in par with UPS and FedEx (not bullshit overnight updates) and make the insurance for package claims less of a joke than UPS and FedEx.
Overnight updates? What magical Good Luck Fairy is blessing you with so much information? My USPS experiences are more along the lines of:
Monday morning: Order a part online and pay for 3-day delivery. Get an email an hour later saying that my package has been mailed.
Tuesday: Shipping information received from customer
Wednesday: Shipping information received from customer
Thursday: Shipping information received from customer
Friday: Departure scan: Des Moines
Saturday: Arrival scan: Vladivostok
Sunday: Departure scan: Istanbul [customs note: not Constantinople]
Monday: Departure scan: Omaha
Tuesday: OUT FOR DELIVERY
Wednesday: Unattended delivery address: reprocessing
Thursday: Arrival scan: Fresno
Friday: OUT FOR DELIVERY
As far as I can tell, "3 Day Delivery" means 1) the day you ordered, 2) the day the Post Office picks it up, and 3) the day they deliver it, are guaranteed to be three separate days.