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Amazon Opposes Plan To End Saturday Mail Delivery

Posted by kdawson on from the wee-bit-of-self-interest dept.

theodp writes "Online retailer giant Amazon.com has come out against a US Postal Service proposal to end Saturday service, part of efforts to address the USPS budget deficit. 'Amazon's customers have come to appreciate and expect Saturday delivery,' explained Amazon VP Paul Misener. 'If the five-day delivery proposal is not withdrawn,' he added, 'we ask that Congress ensure that Saturday delivery be maintained.' In the past, Amazon has argued that it should not have to help support public services in states in which it has no physical presence." The article adds, "Interestingly, online DVD service Netflix is backing the plan to end Saturday mail delivery, arguing that a 'well functioning' Postal Service is more important than 'maintaining current delivery frequency.'"

10 of 504 comments (clear)

  1. The difference between Amazon and Netflix by jmitchel!jmitchel.co · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The difference between Amazon and Netflix is that Netflix product fits comfortably in a mailbox.

    1. Re:The difference between Amazon and Netflix by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      And, for Netflix, it benefits them by slowing down the rate that they receive videos (though it means Monday's will be heavier than they were before).

      For Amazon, people want Saturday delivery without paying for it. For Netflix, people certainly want it, but if the USPS doesn't do it, then people will understand. So, Netflix can stop staffing the delivery portion of Saturday's if that goes through, while Amazon still has to do everything as normal and they lose the ability to cheaply send packages that can potentially arrive on Saturday.

    2. Re:The difference between Amazon and Netflix by Col.+Klink+(retired) · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Plus, netflix sells you a plan that is limited only by how often you can get mail. If you can't get mail on Saturday, that's one less DVD they have to send you. Amazon, on the other hand, gets paid for every package they send you.

      --

      -- Don't Tase me, bro!

  2. Jack up the price? by recoiledsnake · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why not just have a increased rate for Saturday delivery like Fedex and UPS? I don't see a reason for something to run on a loss. If Amazon's customers appreciate or expect it, either they or Amazon can pay extra for it.

    --
    This space for rent.
    1. Re:Jack up the price? by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You must be some kind of pinko, to suggest a market-based solution instead of a (lightly) veiled corporate subsidy.

      In all seriousness, though, while there is a compelling public interest argument to be made in favor of the post office doing some un-economic things(and about the best chain of precedent you'll find for any US federal function, outside of war), like providing postal service to podunk towns that would have nothing otherwise; there seems to be no reason why they need to subsidize merely convenient services that have plenty of viable substitutes. If Saturday delivery costs more, offer it at a premium(or not at all, if you don't think you can make money at the new price point). People can either suck it up and wait till monday, or suck it up and pay Fedex/UPS.

  3. It helps Netflix to end Saturday delivery by h2oliu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If there are fewer delivery days in a month, then you get fewer movies per month if you turn them around every other day. This would help Netflix's bottom line to cut delivery down to 5 days a week.

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    Ok, I give up, why you?
  4. I need saturday mail pickup by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Monday through Friday, I leave for work before our local Post Office opens and leave from work after it closes.

  5. Neflix != Amazon, and postal service == bad by enigma32 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Netflix benefits from less frequent mail delivery. (Lower costs for them)
    Amazon loses big from less frequent delivery (I frequently choose them because I can have a package here before I'd have time to go get the item in Manhattan myself).

    As for the postal service, I frequently find myself waiting in 20 minute lines, at any time of day, to pickup a package that they were incapable of delivering correctly to my residence. I'd love to see someone that has a clue about business run the postal service rather than it being run with the competence level of the DMV.

    Keep the Saturday delivery or go the way of the dodo, guys. (add Sunday delivery and be super-cool)

  6. Re:USPS isn't a State Function by Enry · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'll add for you that Amazon is paying the USPS for delivery. In that respect, they are paying to support services. Why should Amazon pay for police or firefighters in states where they don't have a business presence?

  7. Bullshit argument by copponex · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Did you miss the first day of economics? There's always downward pressure on prices. Any increased costs may be passed on to the consumer, but not always. The business that finds ways to absorb the tax increase without passing it on is the one that will probably sell more product.

    But since a quarter of large corporations - $50m in sales or $250m in assets - don't pay any income taxes at all due to loopholes and offshore sheltering schemes, you're right: if they ever started to pay taxes, prices might go up.

    And if corporations had to pay taxes for the infrastructure that enables them to be in business, I don't think that would be unfair. And if a business can't afford the burden of the infrastructure, guess what: they shouldn't be in business unless they serve to lower costs of vital services for the rest of the economy. And even then, since they exist entirely at the grace of tax payers, they should have no right to any amount of privacy.