USPS To Launch Line of Smart Clothing

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USPS To Launch Line of Smart Clothing

Posted by timothy on Thursday February 21, 2013 @06:23AM from the please-link-to-sketches dept.

SpaceGhost writes "The Washington Post reports that the United States Postal Service has contracted with Wahconah Group, Inc. to produce a line of USPS-branded smart clothing. Per USPS Licensing manager Steven Mills 'This agreement will put the Postal Service on the cutting edge of functional fashion... The main focus will be to produce Rain Heat & Snow apparel and accessories using technology to create 'smart apparel' — also known as wearable electronics.' USPS Spokesman Roy Betts reports that the line will be found in premium department stores and specialty stores starting in 2014. The Washington Post points out that the USPS had done a similar retail line in the 1980s sold exclusively at Post Offices, but the line was discontinued after lobbyists complained of competition with the private sector." I hope it has hidden pockets for lost letters, and a loop for the package smashing mallet.

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FYI by Sparticus789 · 2013-02-21 06:26 · Score: 3, Informative

The package-smashing mallet has been outsourced to India. The USPS union said that it was not in the mail-carrier's contract.

--
sudo make me a sandwich
1. Re:FYI by gstoddart · 2013-02-21 06:38 · Score: 1
  
  The package-smashing mallet has been outsourced to India. The USPS union said that it was not in the mail-carrier's contract.
  Is that why mail is so slow? They ship it around the world so cheap labour can maul the packages?
  Wouldn't it be cheaper to just skip the mauling step?
  
  --
  Lost at C:>. Found at C.
2. Re:FYI by drinkypoo · 2013-02-21 06:41 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Is that why mail is so slow? They ship it around the world so cheap labour can maul the packages? Wouldn't it be cheaper to just skip the mauling step?
  It would be cheaper, but it is absolutely essential in order to provide feature-parity with UPS and FedEx. In any case, they must still be using local mallet-smashers for relatively local (regional) mail, because I still get stuff from within the state in two days or less.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
3. Re:FYI by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 06:47 · Score: 0
  
  Wouldn't it be cheaper to just skip the mauling step?
  The auditors wouldn't let them get away without it.
4. Re:FYI by PopeRatzo · 2013-02-21 07:09 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Is that why mail is so slow?
  
  Slow? I can send a five pound text book from Chicago to California in 3-4 days and it's less than $4.
  The Post Office consistently does a better job than FedEx or UPS. That's why when UPS sends stuff, they do it via the US Postal Service.
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
5. Re:FYI by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:12 · Score: 0
  
  Would you like your whoosh now or later? It's a joke doofus.
6. Re:FYI by fuzznutz · 2013-02-21 07:41 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  The Post Office consistently does a better job than FedEx or UPS.
  
  I could agree with you if I didn't receive (portions of) mangled letters in plastic baggies with half assed apologies written on the sides. Or just not receive them at all. Or if I didn't regularly receive my neighbors' mail and packages. UPS and FedEx may not be perfect, but at least their tracking software works and I actually GET what is addressed to me delivered to me.
  
  I had to have two paychecks reissued over the last 12 months because one never arrived and one arrived shredded. That's two out of twelve. I had to request my employer not mail them. (And before you ask, No. Direct deposit is not supported by them. Not that it would excuse it anyway.) And if you want to see Amazon blow their two day shipping, watch when they decide to ship FedEx Smartpost. The USPS leg always misses the deadline.
  
  And next time you are standing in line at the Post Office, think about how much better it is than standing in line at the UPS Store. You'll have LOTS of time to think about it.
7. Re:FYI by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:46 · Score: 0
  
  Would you like your whoosh now or later?
  I expect it to arrive in six to eight weeks.
8. Re:FYI by Gilmoure · 2013-02-21 08:22 · Score: 1
  
  It's pronounced: DU-fawsz.
  
  --
  I drank what? -- Socrates
9. Re:FYI by Obfuscant · 2013-02-21 08:22 · Score: 1
  
  And next time you are standing in line at the Post Office, think about how much better it is than standing in line at the UPS Store. You'll have LOTS of time to think about it.
  I'll think about it the next time I have to drive ten miles to the nearest UPS office to pick up an envelope, compared to five blocks downtown to the post office.
  
  That's two out of twelve.
  You got only twelve pieces of mail during an entire year? You mean they lost/mangled two pieces of mail out of hundreds or thousands they delivered normally. That's pretty good odds, and much different than "2 out of 12".
  If you wanted to paint a really dim picture of USPS using statistics, you should have said "they mangled EVERY paycheck I got during the month of April..., that's 100%".
10. Re:FYI by aklinux · 2013-02-21 09:19 · Score: 2
  
  And I can download your 5 lb. textbook onto my tablet in of a couple of minutes for less than $4 as well, Weighs less this way too ;)
11. Re:FYI by _xeno_ · 2013-02-21 09:22 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  UPS and FedEx may not be perfect, but at least their tracking software works
  To add another anecdote to the fire, just yesterday I received a package from the USPS that the tracking software said would arrive last week, and that apparently never left their sorting facility as far as the tracker was concerned.
  Actually, the train of events that showed up on the tracker was:
  1. Shipping information received
  2. Package sorted through facility.
  3. Package received by USPS from the shipper. (The day after the previous one where it was "sorted.")
  Then nothing, until the package arrived over a week later.
  Although it was fun seeing the "estimated arrival time" not change days after it was supposed to arrive.
  But, hey, they only slightly damaged the contents of the package, just some minor cosmetic damage. Plus, unlike a previous package shipped via the USPS, this one actually arrived...
  
  --
  You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
12. Re:FYI by PopeRatzo · 2013-02-21 09:56 · Score: 1
  
  And I can download your 5 lb. textbook onto my tablet in of a couple of minutes for less than $4 as well, Weighs less this way too ;)
  Yeah, you would think so, but if you were to go down the list of textbooks for 300 and 400 level math courses, you would find that the total number available as ebooks is less than 1.
  Best you could do is maybe find some pdf file on a dodgy file sharing site that you'd have to print out anyway because the scan job is so bad that it's not legible on your iPad or Nexus. And even if it was legible, it's the seventh edition and the professor wants you to have the eighth edition.
  Textbook publishers are not eager to publish ebooks, as long as they're getting upwards of $200 per book from trapped students.
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
13. Re:FYI by PopeRatzo · 2013-02-21 10:00 · Score: 1
  
  I had to have two paychecks reissued over the last 12 months because one never arrived and one arrived shredded.
  
  Is your postman dating your ex-wife or something?
  I've heard complaints like yours from other people, and I don't doubt they're true, but it goes against my own experience and the people I know.
  And I know for sure that if the Post Office were to disappear, there would be a whole lot of small and medium-sized businesses who would have a very hard time. And the shame of it is, it's just not necessary.
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
14. Re:FYI by fuzznutz · 2013-02-21 10:17 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  You got only twelve pieces of mail during an entire year? You mean they lost/mangled two pieces of mail out of hundreds or thousands they delivered normally.
  
  No. First I doubt I get more than a 100 pieces of "real mail" per year. I do get junkmail and advertisements. I don't care if that crap gets shredded or lost. They screwed up two out of twelve paychecks for the year. Those are the important ones. Screwing up one is unacceptable. I've had bills lost in the mail. Before I moved to my current home, they misdelivered my mail to the wrong address all the time. It was a running joke that at 5:00 everybody in the neighborhood was out RE-delivering the mail to the correct addresses. A couple years ago, I got a large tied bundle of presorted letters addressed to people all over the neighborhood. It was stilled tied together. I just do not count on anything sent by USPS as reliable. period.
  
  I have to drive ten miles to the nearest UPS office to pick up an envelope, compared to five blocks downtown to the post office.
  
  And my UPS Store is two blocks away. The Post Office is 2 miles. What's your point?
  
  Let me tell you about my USPS Office.Their service is so bad and had so many complaints that the postmaster put up signs all over the lobby. It said "If you have to wait more than 5 minutes, call this number." My usual wait time is over 30 minutes on a good day. One day the mail carrier left a "I can't deliver this" card on my door. (They didn't knock or ring the doorbell). I started calling the local branch office when I got to work. The line was busy all morning. At lunch, it mysteriously wasn't busy anymore; it rang and rang, but nobody would answer. Right after lunch it went constantly busy again, and so I left work early and to pick up my package in person. When I showed up, I saw the signs up everywhere about wait times.
  
  Their solution to angry customers in long lines was to take the phone off the hook. I laughed when the people in line waiting said to me that we should all call the number on the sign. I told them to go ahead, but I had been calling it all day.
  
  The Post Office has a systemic problem.
15. Re:FYI by butalearner · 2013-02-21 10:18 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  It would be cheaper, but it is absolutely essential in order to provide feature-parity with UPS and FedEx. In any case, they must still be using local mallet-smashers for relatively local (regional) mail, because I still get stuff from within the state in two days or less.
  They never seem to care when they break stuff, either. I remember a conversation I once had with a rather chipper mail carrier over a beat-up box clearly marked FRAGILE:
  Me: Sounds broken.
  Delivery guy: Most likely, sir! I'll bet it was something nice though.
  And then he stole my dog.
16. Re:FYI by Snake_Plisken · 2013-02-21 10:28 · Score: -1
  
  They ship it around the world so cheap labour can maul the packages?
  Mauls are heavy! A nice five pound flail (spikes are optional) is much better on your rotater cuff. If you're a wimp like me, go with a Confusion spell, followed up with a Fireball or two.
  
  --
  
  Eat recycled food - it's good for the environment, and OK for you.
17. Re:FYI by shagman420 · 2013-02-21 10:29 · Score: 1
  
  The Post Office consistently does a better job than FedEx or UPS. That's why when UPS sends stuff, they do it via the US Postal Service.
  
  True, but that's partly because UPS and Fedex can't legally use the mailbox that I PAID FOR. Instead of driving down the street and shoving SSD's and Cat 5 cables into slots, they have to get out and walk to my apartment building, choose the right outer door (unlabeled), and wait for me to buzz them in. All of this for something that requires no proof of delivery.
  Let them use the mailboxes, hand over letter carrying, and they'll do a fine job. Worried about QoS? Every UPS claim has always been paid by either them or the seller. I've never been compensated by USPS without buying optional insurance. UPS tracking covers every step, instead of "Your package has been received, and is guaranteed to be somewhere between you and the shipper." Worried about price escalation? Well, how much legitimate first class mail do you have to send anyway? I mail one letter a month. The spam:legit mail ratio I receive is 10-20:1.
18. Re:FYI by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 10:48 · Score: 1
  
  I can tell when it's the alternate carrier's day because that's when this type of stuff happens to me: I've got the bank statements, medical packages, and magazines for the guy with my house number one street over and he's got mine. The normal letter carrier knows what she's doing.
  I tend to think dropping Saturday delivery will help, as I'll only ever have to deal with the normal carrier.
19. Re:FYI by fuzznutz · 2013-02-21 11:53 · Score: 1
  
  It's absolutely true. And my ex-wife would have to be dating the whole branch office for that to be the reason. Hmmm... Maybe she is.
  
  If you want to read about some more shenanigans perpetrated my my local USPS against their customers and myself, read my reply to a troll that responded to me in an alternate thread.
  
  http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3482929&threshold=1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&cid=42973043
20. Re:FYI by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 13:22 · Score: 0
  
  If you're a wimp like me, go with a Confusion spell, followed up with a Fireball or two.
  For maximum effect drink the potion of confusion then fireball yourself.
21. Re:FYI by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 17:17 · Score: 0
  
  Yes, that problem is the APWU. Explain to me why a postal worker with less than three years of service can accrue 208 hours between sick leave and annual leave? In fact, who the hell gets 13 days of sick leave to begin with? 15 years of service, gets 312 hours, that's 39 days or 15% of annual full time hours (2080). I wish I only had to work 85% of my scheduled time, was allowed to act like a complete asshat to everyone that walked in the door, and really didn't have to perform or excel at my job in any real way. Just stick around and rack up the years. It's an odd thing, most of the actual delivery people I've ever had or met were pleasant, and they certainly have a tough ass job. However, every time I've ever stepped foot into an actual post office, presence has always been met with an attitude, as if I'm ruining their day that they have to do anything what so ever other than collect their sick pay and a rather decent paycheck every two weeks. Don't get me started on retirement. I just went through their ballpark estimator, and using my current salary information (which is probably less than average at the PO), I can expect to replace over 97% of my final wages.
22. Re:FYI by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 17:20 · Score: 0
  
  Ugh, I even previewed to make sure I didn't mess up the hyperlinks. The link to the pay scale info is http://www.apwu.org/dept/ind-rel/irpayinfo.htm. My apologies.
23. Re:FYI by tehcyder · 2013-02-21 22:55 · Score: 1
  
  It's generally considered that an essential quality of a joke is that it's funny. OP wasn't.
  
  --
  To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
24. Re:FYI by tehcyder · 2013-02-21 23:31 · Score: 2
  
  Explain to me why a postal worker with less than three years of service can accrue 208 hours between sick leave and annual leave?
  At 8 hours a day that's 26 days. I know the US is weird about annual leave, but that would be below the bare minimum in Europe. Even in the UK we have 28 days minimum holiday (20 days plus public holidays).
  It seems to be that the Union is doing precisely what it should be doing, securing decent benefits for its members.
  
  --
  To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
25. Re:FYI by tehcyder · 2013-02-21 23:36 · Score: 2
  
  And I can download your 5 lb. textbook onto my tablet in of a couple of minutes for less than $4 as well, Weighs less this way too ;)
  Yeah, I'm sure he never thought of that, after all it's unlikely that someone on a fucking technology site would even know what a Tablet Computing Device was.
  
  --
  To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
26. Re:FYI by cthulhu11 · 2013-02-22 05:28 · Score: 1
  
  I'll think about it the next time I have to drive ten miles to the nearest UPS office to pick up an envelope, compared to five blocks downtown to the post office
  Envelopes are available at places other than UPS storefronts. Even if you're after the UPS-labeled ones, you need only request on their web site and they'll ship you a bunch
27. Re:FYI by wv5k · 2013-02-22 06:26 · Score: 1
  
  There is almost NO reason to stand in a Post Office's line anymore. If you do, it's by CHOICE...
28. Re:FYI by fuzznutz · 2013-02-22 06:47 · Score: 1
  
  There is almost NO reason to stand in a Post Office's line anymore. If you do, it's by CHOICE...
  
  You are HALF correct. There is ALMOST no reason to stand in line the the post office (not that it excuses their service). I almost exclusively end up waiting there to send and retrieve registered mail and to retrieve packages that have to be signed for. As I said in another thread, my carrier is in too big a hurry to ring the doorbell or knock on the door. It's MUCH easier to just drop off a card and make me pick it up at the P.O.
  
  Secondly, I NEVER go to the P.O. by choice. I avoid it like the plague. If I had the same level of customer service (or more accurately, apathy) from any entity I deal with, I would drop them like a rock. Unfortunately, I am forced to use them for legal proof, and for vendors who don't know better.
  
  Ironically, my sister works for the USPS as a carrier. She sympathizes with me at the apathy level there.
29. Re:FYI by wv5k · 2013-02-22 09:28 · Score: 1
  
  The notice your carrier leaves allows you to leave instructions about when and where to leave the item (even if it has to be signed for) if they cannot get your attention to come to the door. Ok, it adds a couple of days to the delivery time, but it's your CHOICE to go down and pick it up. And I highly doubt you are frequently sending/receiving REGISTERED mail unless you are a jeweler. If you are talking about CERTIFIED mail and print your postage through the several online methods, your receipt is legal proof of mailing. Again, it's your CHOICE to go down and stand in line for that round date rubber stamp...
30. Re:FYI by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-22 14:44 · Score: 0
  
  Explain to me why a postal worker with less than three years of service can accrue 208 hours between sick leave and annual leave?
  At 8 hours a day that's 26 days. I know the US is weird about annual leave, but that would be below the bare minimum in Europe. Even in the UK we have 28 days minimum holiday (20 days plus public holidays).
  It seems to be that the Union is doing precisely what it should be doing, securing decent benefits for its members.
  28 days is excessive. You are a middle class worker. What makes you think you ought to be taking off for a month every year? Especially since you know lower class workers aren't getting that much? Europeans really don't have any shame.
and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 06:26 · Score: -1

and they wonder why they dont make money...
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/12/11/16/1440224/usps-reports-159-billion-loss-asks-congress-for-help
Why the F is a postal service company making clothes ...
1. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 06:29 · Score: 1
  
  To remedy their revenue shortfalls. Duh?
2. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by kannibal_klown · 2013-02-21 06:33 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  My understanding is, a lot of their financial woes are coming from a 2006 Congress mandate that the USPS start pre-paying into their retirement plan to fund future-future retirement. In short, they're asking them to pay more to handle people that won't retire for years now. And that Congress is dipping into that money for something else.
  And from what I've heard, if they weren't asked to be paying extra into said fund they'd actually be making a small profit.
3. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by jellomizer · 2013-02-21 06:47 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  The real problem is the the USPS is designed as a letter carrier. Not a shipping company.
  So electronic communication is reducing the needs for letters (envelope based mail), and online shipment of stuff is being processed by Shipping companies like FedEx and UPS, who are better organized for shipping packages. No so much letters.
  They are going to need to move from Mail Men either walking door to door, or in small cars and trucks. To a larger trucking service where they can handle more boxes and less envelopes.
  
  --
  If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
4. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by cayenne8 · 2013-02-21 06:48 · Score: 1
  
  I wonder if the new clothing will contain kevlar?
  You know...for that fashion concious govt. official what wants to look his best on the day he goes postal ?
  :)
  
  --
  Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
5. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 06:57 · Score: 0, Insightful
  
  Actually funding lavish retirement obligations instead of letting unfunded obligations overwhelm the organization and then dumping it on the government.
  That's some seriously evil shit right there. Good thing you pointed it out and farmed a bunch of karma from your well trained statists. Yay.
6. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by clarkkent09 · 2013-02-21 07:01 · Score: 1
  
  So if I understand correctly the rules are: 1. you have to pay above market rate for salaries/benefits and you are not allowed to fire anybody 2. you have to charge less than a market rate for mail delivery 3. even though the government sets the rules that force you to fail, it is not allowed to bail you out. Oh but don't worry we'll set up some arbitrary rules that give you monopoly on certain types of mail so everything should be fine. Isn't it great how we have geniuses in charge in Washington who work everything out so perfectly for our benefit.
  Just privatize the stupid thing. Apart from accident of history here is no reason for the government to be in charge of mail delivery any more than pizza delivery.
  
  --
  Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.
7. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:02 · Score: 1
  
  The real problem is the the USPS is designed as a letter carrier. Not a shipping company.
  Interesting, considering they do a better job of delivering packages than the private specialty package delivery companies like UPS or Fedex. And by better I mean several things. The USPS loses less packages than any package delivery company-- less lost packages by a huge margin. The USPS destroys less packages than any package delivery company. The USPS is less expensive than any package delivery company. Maybe UPS and Fedex et. al, should redesign their processes for the delivery of letters.... then maybe they can match USPS record for delivering packages exceptionally.
8. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:04 · Score: 0
  
  Retirement plans for people who haven't even started working at the Post Office? Who potentially haven't even been born? 75 YEARS of retirement benefits! You're the dumbest fuck yet.
9. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:04 · Score: 1
  
  False dichotomy. Prefunding is fine. Prefunding 85% is insane. No organization on the ENTIRE PLANET pre funds pensions to that degree. If they were merely matching the second highest rate on the planet, they'd be making a nice profit.
10. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by jo_ham · 2013-02-21 07:07 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  So if I understand correctly the rules are: 1. you have to pay above market rate for salaries/benefits and you are not allowed to fire anybody 2. you have to charge less than a market rate for mail delivery 3. even though the government sets the rules that force you to fail, it is not allowed to bail you out. Oh but don't worry we'll set up some arbitrary rules that give you monopoly on certain types of mail so everything should be fine. Isn't it great how we have geniuses in charge in Washington who work everything out so perfectly for our benefit.
  Just privatize the stupid thing. Apart from accident of history here is no reason for the government to be in charge of mail delivery any more than pizza delivery.
  That's why they introduced the bill in the first place - private industry wants the USPS out of business. It was doing totally fine before the deliberately-crafted-designed-to-fuck-them 2006 bill was passed.
  They put rules in place that no private company would ever be expected to adhere to, that were designed to do exactly this - to push it into financial crisis so that people will say "oh look, government post services don't work! the private sector will save the day!"
11. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:09 · Score: 0
  
  where the hell are you coming from? my job is order fulfillment and everything you say in your post seems RIDICULOUS to me. if you are speaking from ACTUAL experience then, please, i am curious.
12. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by DutchUncle · 2013-02-21 07:12 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  History and *legal* precedent suggest that you want to retain a government involvement in the mail. For some things you need *legal* proof that you mailed something on a certain day, perhaps to a certain address, especially when dealing with government dealings like taxes and property forms and legal paperwork. If anything, the question might be, Why didn't the USPS remain the most efficient transport service rather than allowing private companies to pass them? Who hobbled the USPS to allow "private competition"? (BTW - would you pay extra for air mail if you knew it was carried in the back seat of a fighter plane? Hey, they have to do some training flight time anyway . . . )
13. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by EzInKy · 2013-02-21 07:13 · Score: 1
  
  Just privatize the stupid thing. Apart from accident of history here is no reason for the government to be in charge of mail delivery any more than pizza delivery.
  Pizza delivery is limited to profitable areas.
  
  --
  Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.
14. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by clong83 · 2013-02-21 07:15 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  They're losing money for a variety of reasons. The most important is that they are mandated to exist by congress, and are supposed to be financially autonomous, but are micromanaged by congress. You'd have to think long and hard to come up with a worse group of PHBs. Congress told them to pre-fund in full their retirement fund for the next 75 years. The USPS has basically said, "This requirement is bankrupting us. If you relax it, or let us make our own decisions we'll be fine." People wonder why they can't compete with FedEx, UPS, DSL, etc, and the answer is simply that those companies don't have to listen to Congress dictate details like telling them to pre-fund the entirety of a 20 year-old employee's pension right now. I'm all for fiscal responsibility and responsible funding of pensions, but is ten years of secure pension funding not enough? 20? 30? I mean, 75? How do you even estimate your pension needs 75 years in advance?
  
  On another note, one idea I've heard that was intriguing would allow them to operate something like a bank. Not a financial investment house, but a low-end and low-cost branch bank. Sure, I might not switch all my finances over to it, and most people probably wouldn't either. But I might open an account and seed it with some cash if it were convenient. I could send mail and have it draw on the account without having to buy stamps or wait in line. Just drop it in a box at the post office and enter my account number/pin. It could work really nicely. There's already a branch in every city. And for a lot of working poor that have no bank affiliation, it might be the most convenient place to open an account, reducing the population of unbanked. Basically a public option for retail banking.
  
  Believe it or not, it works like this in most other places, mostly with success. And this is the way it used to work in the US as well, but it was not FDIC insured, and was phased out in the 60s or 70s.
15. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by clarkkent09 · 2013-02-21 07:24 · Score: 1
  
  All areas are profitable for the right price. Plus mail companies will average the cost out. Last I checked USP and FedEx will deliver packages anywhere in the country, not just in profitable areas.
  
  --
  Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.
16. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:28 · Score: 0
  
  No
  http://www.cnbc.com/id/45018432/The_Truth_About_The_Post_Office039s_Financial_Mess
17. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by motoservo · 2013-02-21 07:30 · Score: 0
  
  Congress needs to reinterpret the meaning of the requirement in the Constitution that provides for the USPS. The intent, I believe, was to simply to provide a channel of communication among the citizens. That in mind, the federal government should shut down the USPS as we know it and just provide net access to all. I read that the FCC is already working on that so shut down the letter operation, with all the brick and mortar, and problem solved.
18. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:31 · Score: 0
  
  The real problem is the the USPS is designed as a letter carrier. Not a shipping company.
  Interesting, considering they do a better job of delivering packages than the private specialty package delivery companies like UPS or Fedex. And by better I mean several things. The USPS loses less packages than any package delivery company-- less lost packages by a huge margin. The USPS destroys less packages than any package delivery company. The USPS is less expensive than any package delivery company. Maybe UPS and Fedex et. al, should redesign their processes for the delivery of letters.... then maybe they can match USPS record for delivering packages exceptionally.
  And yet the USPS is failing financially. UPS and Fedex are not. Go figure. Delivering mail requires FAR less manpower than delivering packages. If our mailman at work had to bring all the same packages that UPS did, he'd have to make a special trip for us most days. We'd fill that truck.
19. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by PerfectionLost · 2013-02-21 07:36 · Score: 2
  
  Not true. If there are no buyers at your price point you will not be profitable.
20. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by hedwards · 2013-02-21 07:41 · Score: 1
  
  That's not actually true. The USPS has always been at a disadvantage versus private enterprise. They're legally required to send a 1st class envelope anywhere in the country for the same price, regardless of actual cost to provide the service.
21. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:50 · Score: 0
  
  Yes, I've worked for UPS and FedEx. One year, UPS sent out a letter to all employees congratulating them. They only lost 36,000 packages that year IN THAT STATE. Both companies are NOTORIOUS for delivering goods that are DESTROYED in transit. Wired.com did a test... sent packages via all the package companies. USPS blew away the competition. Packages arrived on time and intact, and for less.
22. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by nedlohs · 2013-02-21 07:51 · Score: 0
  
  On the bright side if the Republicans succeed in destroying them it's the rural republican voters who will be affected. Those in the cities will have private enterprises delivering their letters without having to subsidize the more expensive rural deliveries.
23. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by craigminah · 2013-02-21 07:52 · Score: 1
  
  If they made their delivery business more efficient they wouldn't have to sell stuff that's not relevant to their core business. WTF are they thinking? Why not sell delivery vehicles and dog bite kits? I repeat, WTF?
24. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by EzInKy · 2013-02-21 07:53 · Score: 1
  
  So you'd be okay with the government spending $100 of your tax money to deliver an official letter to Joe Blow in Bumfuck, Nowhere?
  
  --
  Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.
25. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by nedlohs · 2013-02-21 07:54 · Score: 1
  
  No they aren't. No intersection of demand and supply curves is a perfectly feasible situation.
26. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Darinbob · 2013-02-21 07:56 · Score: 1
  
  Don't need to privatize it. The people pushing for privatization are the ones screwing up the USPS. Just leave it alone. USPS was self sufficient and self funding. Granted there are some problems with the USPS but these are exacerbated by small government idealogues focusing on tearing down the USPS by passing laws designed to drive it out of business (likely in collusion with for-profit competitors). If someone really does fervently want to cut back on government waste then the post office should be the last agency they need to look at.
  If the USPS really is in trouble then it'll fail on it's own. If there really are viable competitors then its failure will not harm the American people. If USPS is broken then Congress doesn't need to hasten it along; if USPS is not broken then it is irresponsible to purposely break it. So the only reason that Congressional morons are stepping in here is either to get more money from corporate lobbyists or to chalk up victory points to help them in the next primary election.
27. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Darinbob · 2013-02-21 07:58 · Score: 1
  
  And no other government agency has to follow those rules. And the postal unions are not asking for this prefunding and say that they don't want it. So this mandate clearly has only one purpose which is to force a crisis on the USPS.
28. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by darnkitten · 2013-02-21 07:59 · Score: 1
  
  Last I checked USP and FedEx will deliver packages anywhere in the country, not just in profitable areas.
  For some values of "deliver" and "anywhere"
  For deliveries outside my rural town, Fedex just dumps the packages at the local office store or at the post office. UPS usually delivers to the door, in and out of town, but I've lately noticed a certain amount of package-dumping as well--probably because their location databases for this area are screwed up.
29. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by garyebickford · 2013-02-21 08:02 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Actually they're remarkably efficient. I don't have the link handy, but USPS handles an amazing amount of stuff, and their overall track record is excellent. They have two basic problems, or three depending on how you count. 1) Congress saddled them with a requirement to pre-fund the retirement account for all their workers, which no other company is required to do; 2) mail volumes of all types (and thus, revenues) have been dropping by 10-20% per year; and 3) bulk emailers (catalogs, junk mail - the stuff that really pays the bills) have pulled way back due both to the internet and to the economy. One might also note that in most countries the cost to mail a letter is substantially (often multiple times) more than in the US, and/or is subsidized or run by the government. USPS, like AmTrak, is a bastard concoction created by Congress to look like a business, act like a business, and be required to be profitable like a business, while being saddled with an impossible set of rules. Others than myself have described both as 'designed to fail'.
  
  --
  It's easier to be a result of the past, but more fun to be a cause of the future! http://www.spacefinancegroup.com/
30. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Darinbob · 2013-02-21 08:07 · Score: 1
  
  If this is all true, how do explain that only the USPS has to follow these rules and no other agencies need to do so? The USPS does not get funded by the taxpayers and is self sufficient, and yet it's held to a higher standard than agencies that have no income stream? If this is such a great idea, then force the military to follow the same rules as it is by far the most massive drain on tax payer dollars that we have.
31. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Microlith · 2013-02-21 08:12 · Score: 1
  
  You mentioned depositing money in an account with the post office and the first place that comes to mind is Japan, where the Japan Post is the single largest deposit holder in the country, more than all the other banks combined.
32. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Darinbob · 2013-02-21 08:13 · Score: 1
  
  Who delivers letters then? This is the reason this was originally set up as a government agency and not kept as a private business, because there's a government interest involved in supporting service to all citizens. Same reason AT&T was given monopoly rights. Yes, some people today can use the internet instead, but this does not cover 100% of all citizens, it probably doesn't even cover half of all citizens. We certainly can not expect everyone to afford FedEx letter rates. There is still a need for an affordable letter delivery service.
33. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by hedwards · 2013-02-21 08:18 · Score: 1
  
  Indeed, I used to work security at a loading dock for a high rise, and you'd be surprised how many courier services there are out there that do just that. Mostly small batches of mail on demand moving them between a small number of addresses. They can't legally use the mailboxes, but it's a moot point.
  USPS does generally do a much better job with packages than with mail in my experience. But, that's highly dependent upon whose route you're on and how closely the postmaster general is watching.
34. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Darinbob · 2013-02-21 08:19 · Score: 1
  
  Net access to all means ALL. The reason AT&T was granted a monopoly was to ensure that it would spend the huge amounts of money necessary to get service to people in the boondocks. Right now the internet is still somewhat of a luxury service, it is in no way even close to being universal in the same way that the post or telephone service is.
  Maybe some day the network may be the alternative, but I don't think this will happen for at least two or three decades and probably more.
35. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 08:31 · Score: 0
  
  Wired.com did a test...
  It was Popular Mechanics that did the test... likely Wired picked up the story. USPS does indeed treat your packages the kindest.
36. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 08:33 · Score: 0
  
  ...you really figure the banking lobbyists would let such a thing pass, now?
  I couldn't even laugh at the concept. :(
37. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by AthanasiusKircher · 2013-02-21 08:33 · Score: 1
  
  So electronic communication is reducing the needs for letters
  I suppose you haven't noticed the huge proliferation of junk mail delivered by the postal service in the past couple decades? When I was growing up, I remember running with excitement after the post office truck went by to see if there was anything in the mailbox. On at least half of the days, nothing came -- if there was something, it was one letter or a bill... except around holidays or birthdays or something.
  Nowadays, it's incredibly rare for a day to go by where the mail carrier doesn't dump at least a half dozen random fliers, ads, etc. in my box. And that's even after I have switched to electronic billing, estatements, etc. for most things.
  Conservatively, I'd say I receive at least 4-5 times the volume of letterish size mail compared to my parents a few decades ago.
  Maybe you're right about what the USPS needs to worry about in 10 or 20 years, but right now they seem to be delivering more letter-sized stuff than probably ever before. So I don't think your argument that this is the current "real problem" is correct -- or, if it is, they need to charge more for bulk mail.
38. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by clong83 · 2013-02-21 08:53 · Score: 1
  
  I'm not an expert on constitutional law (or any law), but I don't think it would require much of Congress. Just a bill that says something like, "The USPS can manage itself as a completely independent entity until further notice by Congress". The USPS could then get into retail banking, or not, of their own accord at any point they so choose.
  
  Surely all those people who talk so loud about ineffective government management would be all for a scaling back of congressional control of the Post Office, right? Right? Oh wait, they'd rather micromanage it into oblivion to make a political point. Maybe you're right.
39. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 09:01 · Score: 0
  
  And they do a fantastic job I might add btw. Better service than any bank or post office I've been in while living in the US my entire life.
40. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by dan828 · 2013-02-21 09:15 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, I'm sure the Republican rural voters will be highly upset when they don't get their junk mail anymore.
41. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by OldeTimeGeek · 2013-02-21 10:02 · Score: 1
  
  They may, possibly, delver to an outlying area but next day or even second day service is nonexistent. Not to say that it won't keep them from still accepting packages and charging you a premium price for two-day service that they don't intend to honor.
42. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 10:19 · Score: 0
  
  If they are so damned efficient then let them continue to be so in the private sector.
  Not sure what point you were trying to make by bringing Amtrak into this, talk about disaster.
43. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 11:06 · Score: 0
  
  That's why they introduced the bill in the first place - private industry wants the USPS out of business. It was doing totally fine before the deliberately-crafted-designed-to-fuck-them 2006 bill was passed.
  That's an incredibly simpleminded view. UPS and FedEx don't particularly enjoy competing with USPS, but at the same time the existence of USPS sets price floors for many services. If USPS didn't exist, private industry would actually have to compete on price. Further, many of the private couriers have partnered with USPS. They make a shit-load of money on hub-to-hub delivery and they let USPS do the doorstep delivery that normally costs them a lot of money.
  Finally, I'd argue that picking the 2006 date is pretty close to cherry picking. 2006 was before the financial crisis and the USPS highwater mark for delivery volumes. Their volumes have been declining every year since then. Moreover, they're doing less high-profit first-class mail and more low-profit junk mail. USPS is not alone in this boat, as it's happening all over the first world: Printing and mailing paper costs money that business don't want to spend and that environmental groups would rather nobody did.
44. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by nedlohs · 2013-02-21 11:28 · Score: 1
  
  Or their magazine subscriptions and ability to send mail.
45. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by craigminah · 2013-02-21 11:53 · Score: 1
  
  Then let nature take it's course and let them go through bankruptcy.
46. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by petermgreen · 2013-02-21 13:17 · Score: 1
  
  AIUI Private carriers are legally prevented from effectively competing with the USPS on regular letter deliveries. Private carriers can take letters but unless they fall into one of a small set of exceptions (all designed to prevent companies operating under them from competing with the USPS's regular letter delivery service) they have to pay for the USPS service they didn't use.
  
  --
  note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't register
47. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 13:22 · Score: 0
  
  There is a very good reason not to privatise postal delivery.
  Private enterprise optimises profits.
  A publically funded enterprise *should* optimise service.
  The difference is very apparent: postal fees should be the national average, twice the cost of a local delivery, but half the cost of the longest range letter - scaled for volume, of course.
  Remote communities depend considerably on a reliable and costly postal service.
  Shit, I don't know why I'm even writing this.
  The national postal service is the *same shit* as a national health system, a national welfare scheme, and national public transport: at the end of the day, the more wealthy *half* of the population has to subsidise the less weathly half of the population...PERIOD. For everything, all the time, regardles of reason, let alone political affiliation, etc...
  And the USA does not get this, and I doubt, it ever will.
48. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 13:26 · Score: 0
  
  "Remote communities depend considerably on a reliable and costly postal service."
  I meant a "reliable and affordable postal service."
49. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by mabhatter654 · 2013-02-21 13:29 · Score: 1
  
  USPS isn't self funding.... Congress has to pass a tax for it to operate. USPS runs off TAXES on every stamp you buy!!! That is why it is unfair to private companies.
  (That is the way "old people" view USPS... As a tax and not a paid service)
50. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Rockoon · 2013-02-21 16:49 · Score: 1
  
  The problem is that what they were failing at was funding health care benefits for retired workers. Thats right, the USPS pension included health care benefits and it was completely unfunded using pay-as-you-go financing.
  
  Its not a problem until a hundred thousand people retire at about the same time.
  
  The only choice on the table was deciding when to fund it.
  
  --
  "His name was James Damore."
51. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by fluffy99 · 2013-02-21 18:54 · Score: 1
  
  I happen to have a link handy. only has stats up to 2011, but still very enlightening.
  http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-facts/welcome.htm#H2
  1) Pre-funding the retirement is a lot better than the companies that don't fund it and screw their employees when they go under. It also has an advantage as the USPS is shrinking its employee base (mostly by contracting out jobs and routes to avoid paying outrageous benefits for smei-skilled labor)
  2) Overall mail volume is dropping 2-3% per year. Advertising still accounts for over 1/2 of the revenue.
  3) Overall revenue is declining about the same rate as the mail volume.
52. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by fluffy99 · 2013-02-21 19:03 · Score: 1
  
  USPS isn't self funding.... Congress has to pass a tax for it to operate. USPS runs off TAXES on every stamp you buy!!! That is why it is unfair to private companies.
  (That is the way "old people" view USPS... As a tax and not a paid service)
  Bullshit.
  http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/consumerawareness/a/uspsabout.htm
  That $96 million in taxes is to compensate them for delivering free mail for the legally blind. Pretty tiny compared to $66-billion in revenues.
53. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by fluffy99 · 2013-02-21 19:05 · Score: 1
  
  Correction: Advertising was about 1/4 of their revenue.
54. Re:and they wonder why they dont make money... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-22 05:11 · Score: 0
  
  How do you even estimate your pension needs 75 years in advance?
  a) Eliminate pensions
  Pensions are a relic of the past and don't just suffer from underfunding but also unknowns. Defined contribution should be where all government employees are. As a citizen, it is my opinion that future promises of payment are unrepresented taxation. Given the choice, I wouldn't tax anybody in the future to pay for past obligations. There are exceptions but given that defined contributions are an option, this isn't one of them.
You're not going to get that loop by compro01 · 2013-02-21 06:28 · Score: 1

That feature is exclusive to UPS-brand clothing. Also available from them are the UPS-band package punting boots.

--
upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
1. Re:You're not going to get that loop by Desler · 2013-02-21 06:31 · Score: 1
  
  Exactly. My packages from Fedex or USPS are usually near perfect condition upon receiving them. UPS employees on the other hand seems to willingly just beat packages to hell for the fun of it.
2. Re:You're not going to get that loop by gstoddart · 2013-02-21 06:47 · Score: 1
  
  This is USPS, not UPS ... different entities.
  
  --
  Lost at C:>. Found at C.
3. Re:You're not going to get that loop by Desler · 2013-02-21 06:53 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, they know that. They were saying that UPS is the one beating pacakages with a mallet not the USPS.
4. Re:You're not going to get that loop by gstoddart · 2013-02-21 07:00 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, they know that. They were saying that UPS is the one beating pacakages with a mallet not the USPS.
  Doh, I see ... UPS has a patent on smashing packages, gotcha.
  
  --
  Lost at C:>. Found at C.
5. Re:You're not going to get that loop by PopeRatzo · 2013-02-21 07:22 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  My packages from Fedex or USPS are usually near perfect condition upon receiving them. UPS employees on the other hand seems to willingly just beat packages to hell for the fun of it.
  I don't know where you live, but here at my house, in Chicago, if a package of mine is lost or damaged, it's more likely to be FedEx or UPS than the Post Office.
  Around here, FedEx especially has a habit of dropping a package on a doorstep, which is an invitation to theft. For the same amount that UPS or FedEx will send a package without recipient signature required, I can send something via USPS with delivery confirmation (less than a buck).
  My wife's a book collector. She buys and sells rare or unusual mathematics books. She only uses USPS and requests that people sending her books us USPS, because we know we'll get it and it won't take a bit longer than UPS.
  And we'll never get a little slip of paper telling us "We missed you, so now you've got to drive down to the UPS office to pick up your package".
  When the Founding Fathers created the Post Office, there was a good reason that they believed it was necessary to have such a service (and yes, there were private companies already doing the same thing).
  And now we've got a bunch of anti-government extremists trying to kill this important service, using poison pill benefit funding requirements and anti-competitive restrictions.
  If the USPS goes away and this sector is left to two players, you can bet that there will be huge increases in consumer shipping costs, and people will have absolutely no alternative. Without the USPS, online commerce would have been badly hamstrung and we wouldn't see anything like the explosion in online shopping that we have today. There's a reason that the default shipping method for Amazon, Netflix, etc is the US Post Office.
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
6. Re:You're not going to get that loop by clong83 · 2013-02-21 07:31 · Score: 1
  
  I used to live in a stand-alone, single family home, in the middle of a major US city. The streets were gridded and well-marked, and my address was displayed. It was close to the heart of the city, not out in some suburban snake-pit of cul-de-sac roads.
  
  I never had a problem with packages from USPS, or FedEx. But UPS... Oh holy god. I ordered something online, and waited. And waited. I checked the tracking only to see it was labelled as "undeliverable address" or something like that. I drove to some distribution point way out of my way to pick it up. I thought somehow I must have typed in a bad zip code or something, but when I picked it up, everything was correct. The driver just couldn't find it.
  
  When it happenned a second time, I decided never to use UPS again, and damn the cost.
7. Re:You're not going to get that loop by gstoddart · 2013-02-21 07:34 · Score: 1
  
  If the USPS goes away and this sector is left to two players, you can bet that there will be huge increases in consumer shipping costs, and people will have absolutely no alternative
  But that's pretty much the end goal of all of these "everything must be private and for profit" things, isn't it?
  As long as it's private industry screwing us over, it must be better, right?
  
  --
  Lost at C:>. Found at C.
8. Re:You're not going to get that loop by jcoy42 · 2013-02-21 07:53 · Score: 1
  
  And we'll never get a little slip of paper telling us "We missed you, so now you've got to drive down to the UPS office to pick up your package".
  Oddly enough, USPS is the only company to do this to me. The rest will simply try again the next day, but USPS always makes me go to the post office, wait in line, and then show ID and sign for anything that has delivery confirmation.
  
  --
  Never trust an atom. They make up everything.
9. Re:You're not going to get that loop by darnkitten · 2013-02-21 08:11 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah-UPS' location database is screwed up. In my town, they have a whole street listed as being in the next town over. There seems to be no way to correct it--the drivers have reported the issue, the residents have reported it, even the Box Store people have tried to change it, to no avail. The new address reverts within a month.
10. Re:You're not going to get that loop by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 08:19 · Score: 0
  
  My wife's a book collector. She buys and sells rare or unusual mathematics books. She only uses USPS and requests that people sending her books us USPS, because we know we'll get it and it won't take a bit longer than UPS.
  That and because the "book rate" is highly subsidized at USPS and not at free market carriers.
11. Re:You're not going to get that loop by RabidReindeer · 2013-02-21 08:41 · Score: 2
  
  And now we've got a bunch of anti-government extremists trying to kill this important service, using poison pill benefit funding requirements and anti-competitive restrictions.
  In other words, a bunch of anti-government, pro-Market people are using the government to ensure that the USPS cannot operate under Free Market rules. In order to "prove" that government doesn't work.
12. Re:You're not going to get that loop by tlhIngan · 2013-02-21 08:53 · Score: 1
  
  I never had a problem with packages from USPS, or FedEx. But UPS... Oh holy god. I ordered something online, and waited. And waited. I checked the tracking only to see it was labelled as "undeliverable address" or something like that. I drove to some distribution point way out of my way to pick it up. I thought somehow I must have typed in a bad zip code or something, but when I picked it up, everything was correct. The driver just couldn't find it.
  When it happenned a second time, I decided never to use UPS again, and damn the cost.
  Better yet, I order stuff from Amazon.ca all the time. A couple of years ago they switched from Canada Post to UPS. Not having changed the address I used (my work address), I had many things sent there. Then all of a sudden, UPS starting screwing up. First was invalid address - Amazon asked if I typed the wrong address - of course not, I clicked "ship to this address" like I always did for YEARS.
  Then the next one I got was "Found the building, could not locate recipient in directory". Which makes no sense, since the address was "10th Floor" You don't need the freaking directory - just go to the 10th floor and drop it off at reception!
  The biggest one yet was when I preordered the iPad 3. I knew it was coming, and checked the tracking. All of a sudden it changed from "On vehicle from delivery" to "Exception - recipient not in". Of course, there was somebody there that whole time - though we're not even sure if the truck bothered to even drive up - perhaps the driver just marked it undeliverable without even stopping. Of course it got redelivered in the evening by a not very happy driver who probably could've just delivered it earlier...
13. Re:You're not going to get that loop by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 09:08 · Score: 0
  
  You need to read the USPS slip more clearly - there's an option to have them deliver on the day you specify so that you know you'll be home to sign for it. For many people that would be a Saturday when they're off work and the USPS does that at no extra cost!
14. Re:You're not going to get that loop by clong83 · 2013-02-21 09:12 · Score: 1
  
  Your post just reminded me about the second time it happened. The exception they gave that time was: "No apartment number given"
  
  Again, I lived in a single family home.
15. Re:You're not going to get that loop by PopeRatzo · 2013-02-21 10:07 · Score: 1
  
  That and because the "book rate" is highly subsidized at USPS
  Subsidized by whom?
  As far as I know, the only transfer of taxpayer money that goes to the USPS is special mailings to blind people that congress made mandatory some years back and actual government mailings, which is basically just the US Gov paying for service just like anyone else.
  USPS doesn't get any gov't handouts. If anything, they get the government weighing them down with unnecessary restraints and pre-funding requirements that would break the back of any private company.
  USPS ain't the government.
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
16. Re:You're not going to get that loop by PopeRatzo · 2013-02-21 10:08 · Score: 1
  
  In other words, a bunch of anti-government, pro-Market people are using the government to ensure that the USPS cannot operate under Free Market rules. In order to "prove" that government doesn't work.
  A very good summation.
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
17. Re:You're not going to get that loop by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 11:09 · Score: 0
  
  Subsidized by whom?
  Everyone buying non-subsidized postage.
18. Re:You're not going to get that loop by PopeRatzo · 2013-02-21 11:55 · Score: 1
  
  Everyone buying non-subsidized postage.
  So, subsidized in the sense that sales of OSX are subsidized by everyone buying iMacs?
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
19. Re:You're not going to get that loop by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 12:29 · Score: 0
  
  It's not anti-government it's anti-deficit. The US can't afford to pay its bills so it needs to cut down on spending. But instead, people like you just wants the government to fund everything. Unless the USPS has tangible evidence that it is financially beneficial to the country, ie: paying off what we owe, then it should be cut out of the program entirely.
20. Re:You're not going to get that loop by RabidReindeer · 2013-02-22 08:45 · Score: 1
  
  In other words, a bunch of anti-government, pro-Market people are using the government to ensure that the USPS cannot operate under Free Market rules. In order to "prove" that government doesn't work.
  A very good summation.
  Or was it a bunch of anti-union people abused their power to give an unwanted "gift" to the postal union in order to "prove" that unions are just greedy abusers of power?
Umm... by jonyen · 2013-02-21 06:29 · Score: 2

Have they gone postal?
Hmmm ... by gstoddart · 2013-02-21 06:31 · Score: 4, Interesting

The Postal Service inked a licensing agreement with Cleveland-based Wahconah Group, Inc. to produce the new line, which will include jackets, headgear, footwear and clothing that allows integration of modern technology devices such as iPods, according to agency spokesman Roy Betts.
What, like pockets?
I must say, after reading TFA ... I have no idea of what this is or why I'd want to buy it from the USPS.
I'm more baffled by this tidbit ... In 2006, Congress passed a statute requiring the Postal Service to pre-pay for 75 years worth of retiree benefits within 10 years. No other federal agency is forced to make such an investment.
Why only the Postal Service and no other agency? To make sure Fedex profits stayed high?

--
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
1. Re:Hmmm ... by Sparticus789 · 2013-02-21 06:34 · Score: 1
  
  >I'm more baffled by this tidbit ... In 2006, Congress passed a statute requiring the Postal Service to pre-pay for 75 years worth of retiree benefits within 10 years. No other federal agency is forced to make such an investment.
  
  ::CLANG:: In the red corner, the libertarians. In the blue corner, the Keynesians. Round 1 FIGHT!
  
  --
  sudo make me a sandwich
2. Re:Hmmm ... by Microlith · 2013-02-21 06:42 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Why only the Postal Service and no other agency? To make sure Fedex profits stayed high?
  Yes, basically. They did it so that in the event that the USPS fails to meet the unfair obligation the GOP can point to it and cry about how the government fails at all things and that we should put our trust in private industry.
  Up until this was forced on them the USPS was actually doing fine, fulfilling its constitutional obligation.
3. Re:Hmmm ... by ColdWetDog · 2013-02-21 06:51 · Score: 2
  
  ::CLANG:: In the red corner, the libertarians. In the blue corner, the Keynesians. Round 1 FIGHT!
  Two fruitcakes enter!
  Half a dozen fruitcakes leave!
  
  --
  Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
4. Re:Hmmm ... by Sulphur · 2013-02-21 07:02 · Score: 1
  
  ::CLANG:: In the red corner, the libertarians. In the blue corner, the Keynesians. Round 1 FIGHT!
  Two fruitcakes enter!
  Half a dozen fruitcakes leave!
  There is only one fruitcake.
5. Re:Hmmm ... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:03 · Score: 0
  
  This has been the SOP of the GOP for some time.
  1. Leverage political gamesmanship to ensure something will fail.
  2. Watch it fail.
  3. ???
  4. Profit!!!
  Just take a look at what happened to the plan to close Guantanamo. New Demoncratic president says it will close, some things happen* and suddenly the pres' looks like a huge ass that breaks promises.
  *The DOD delayed to keep their exceptional power. Facilities that were capable of accepting the prisoners where in areas of Republican governorship. Then the president calls on old allies in his home state to help him out but not before The Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009- H.R. 2346 was passed, thus blocking funds to transfer the prisoners. Then the coffin nail was driven home by tying the fate of Guantanamo to the 2011 Defense Authorization Bill. If it was vetoed on something so politically minor as Guantanamo then the president would be committing political suicide, and quite possibly suicide by proxy as every Assault rifle toting soldier in the country would suddenly be unemployed and homeless.
6. Re:Hmmm ... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:08 · Score: 0
  
  ::CLANG:: In the red corner, the libertarians. In the blue corner, the Keynesians. Round 1 FIGHT!
  Two fruitcakes enter!
  Half a dozen fruitcakes leave!
  There is only one fruitcake.
  I can see by the number of posts you all have been violating the First Rule of Fruitcake Club...
7. Re:Hmmm ... by jo_ham · 2013-02-21 07:13 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  I must say, after reading TFA ... I have no idea of what this is or why I'd want to buy it from the USPS.
  I'm more baffled by this tidbit ... In 2006, Congress passed a statute requiring the Postal Service to pre-pay for 75 years worth of retiree benefits within 10 years. No other federal agency is forced to make such an investment.
  Why only the Postal Service and no other agency? To make sure Fedex profits stayed high?
  That's exactly why. Lobbyists working for businesses that compete with the USPS basically want it forced out of business, or into a crippled state, so that they can ride in as saviours on private business horses to save the day. The problem is that the USPS was actually doing really well and was (and still is) totally self funded (no taxes pay for its upkeep), so they simply manufactured a no-win situation. The bill along will the extremely onerous restriction to fund retirement plans for employees who haven't even been born yet, specifically forbids them from putting up the price of stamps to raise revenue.
8. Re:Hmmm ... by DutchUncle · 2013-02-21 07:14 · Score: 1
  
  Hey! Keep it clean! This is a family website!
9. Re:Hmmm ... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:18 · Score: 0
  
  http://www.cnbc.com/id/45018432/The_Truth_About_The_Post_Office039s_Financial_Mess
10. Re:Hmmm ... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:18 · Score: 0
  
  THE (FRUIT)CAKE IS A LIE!!!
11. Re:Hmmm ... by Applekid · 2013-02-21 07:19 · Score: 1
  
  ::CLANG:: In the red corner, the libertarians. In the blue corner, the Keynesians. Round 1 FIGHT!
  Two fruitcakes enter!
  Half a dozen fruitcakes leave!
  There is only one fruitcake.
  Does that mean Mathematicians are in the next title fight?
  
  --
  More Twoson than Cupertino
12. Re:Hmmm ... by Urza9814 · 2013-02-21 07:21 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, that was my thought. I was given a similar seeming product as a gift once -- it was basically a hoodie, where the pockets had holes in the sides (behind a velcro flap so crap didn't fall out, so that was at least nice) which led to a series of velcro loops up the inside of the zipper that you were supposed to route your headphone cable through. Which is the dumbest idea ever -- I don't understand why anyone would want that. It takes 10 freakin minutes to get the damn cable routed, and then if you wanna take the hoodie off but still use the headphones you've gotta sit there taking them back out.
  The one other nice feature -- totally unrelated -- was that the pockets sealed closed with rare earth magnets...but those ripped right out after a couple months.
13. Re:Hmmm ... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:22 · Score: 0
  
  Just take a look at what happened to the plan to close Guantanamo. New Demoncratic president says it will close, some things happen* and suddenly the pres' looks like a huge ass that breaks promises.
  *The DOD delayed to keep their exceptional power. Facilities that were capable of accepting the prisoners where in areas of Republican governorship. Then the president calls on old allies in his home state to help him out but not before The Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009- H.R. 2346 was passed, thus blocking funds to transfer the prisoners. Then the coffin nail was driven home by tying the fate of Guantanamo to the 2011 Defense Authorization Bill. If it was vetoed on something so politically minor as Guantanamo then the president would be committing political suicide, and quite possibly suicide by proxy as every Assault rifle toting soldier in the country would suddenly be unemployed and homeless.
  Maybe Obama Christ shouldn't have promised something he wasn't sure he could deliver? Just a thought.
14. Re:Hmmm ... by operagost · 2013-02-21 07:23 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, it was cosponsored by those crazy right-winger Republicans, Henry Waxman and Danny Davis. It passed unanimously in the Senate and we don't know who voted for it in the House because they used a voice vote.
  
  --
  
  Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
15. Re:Hmmm ... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:25 · Score: -1
  
  Not true
  http://www.cnbc.com/id/45018432/The_Truth_About_The_Post_Office039s_Financial_Mess
16. Re:Hmmm ... by gstoddart · 2013-02-21 07:28 · Score: 1
  
  Hey! Keep it clean! This is a family website!
  Just because there's no adults doesn't mean it's safe for children. ;-)
  
  --
  Lost at C:>. Found at C.
17. Re:Hmmm ... by Darinbob · 2013-02-21 08:21 · Score: 1
  
  The "truth" here is an interview with a biased congressman.
18. Re:Hmmm ... by mabhatter654 · 2013-02-21 13:46 · Score: 1
  
  Why couldn't he promise that? Bush2 UNILATERALLYand without Congress permission started using Gitmo as a political prison, why would the next President need PERMISSION to close it???
  Both Clinton and Obama (Carter too) have had huge double standards placed on them being Commander-in-Chief. If they pull bac military force they are weak. When they use it for anything other than killing A-rabs or Commies they are imperialist.
19. Re:Hmmm ... by fluffy99 · 2013-02-21 19:16 · Score: 1
  
  No other federal agency is forced to make such an investment.
  Why only the Postal Service and no other agency? To make sure Fedex profits stayed high?
  Mostly to ensure that USPS would be able to pay benefits down the road. In some ways it makes sense if you expect them to continue to shrink in the future and not have as large of a revenue base in the future. Otherwise, they'd be like all the other companies that screw people out of their retirement when they go bankrupt.
Why? by Liquidretro · 2013-02-21 06:32 · Score: 1

Who has the perception that the USPS is A) A fashion designer B) Leading edge technology in anything (Just try using their tracking that updates once a day at best), especially clothing C) A logo people want to pay for and wear. I guess if it brings in money. . .
1. Re:Why? by Dexter+Herbivore · 2013-02-21 06:45 · Score: 1
  
  Your screen name is liquidretro and you can't see why people would want to wear such a hipster label as USPS? It's SOOOO 20th century, man!
Get the ones with the forever inseam by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 06:33 · Score: 0

They promise to fit no matter how big your ass gets.
I can see why they're so successful... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 06:33 · Score: 0

...what with all the sticking to their core competencies and whatnot.
Don't blame the carrier. He's just the public face by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 06:34 · Score: 0

I hope it has hidden pockets for lost letters, and a loop for the package smashing mallet.
UPS doesn't carry their "Ground to Dust" equipment with them, so why should UPS? What happens at the hub, stays at the hub.
I ride, all 4 seasons by way2trivial · 2013-02-21 06:34 · Score: 2

I ride a really old honda pacific coast in the dark, the bitter cold, and snowshowers.
if'n they have come up with some good heated gear, I'm intrigued....

--
every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
1. Re:I ride, all 4 seasons by oic0 · 2013-02-21 06:36 · Score: 1
  
  I know you heard smart and all weather, but I think youll see crap like ipod docks and solar chargers instead of useful stuff like heaters.
2. Re:I ride, all 4 seasons by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:53 · Score: 0
  
  Check out ergodyne for some interesting industrial style warm gear. There are a lot of similar companies, that is the only one I can think of off my head. Just thought of another. Columbia makes battery powered heated boots. No idea how well they do/don't work though. Good luck.
is it time for a whitehouse.gov petition by way2trivial · 2013-02-21 06:35 · Score: 1

asking WHAT THE HELL the fed seems to have as a hard on for breaking the USPS into dust?

--
every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
1. Re:is it time for a whitehouse.gov petition by Darkness404 · 2013-02-21 06:51 · Score: 1
  
  It all started in 1844...
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Letter_Mail_Company
  
  --
  Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
2. Re:is it time for a whitehouse.gov petition by NekoYasha · 2013-02-21 06:56 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Yes:
  Release the Postal Service from the draconian Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006
  https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/release-postal-service-draconian-postal-accountability-and-enhancement-act-2006/Gz6MrsBy
3. Re:is it time for a whitehouse.gov petition by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 06:57 · Score: 0
  
  It does seem that way--I'd sign a petition to support the USPS.
  Where I live (Buffalo, NY suburbs), the USPS does an excellent job. Nothing smashed in years and generally fast delivery. Counter service is friendly and usually fast except at times of peak demand (ie, just before tax filing day). Media Mail is very reasonably priced, lately I've sent out about 100lbs/40kg of books to a specialized archive. Occasionally a letter is delivered to a neighbor or vice-versa, nothing major. Other package delivery companies are not so good.
4. Re:is it time for a whitehouse.gov petition by NekoYasha · 2013-02-21 07:05 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Not that this is the first petition to ask to remove the postal office from the requirement of pre-paying 75 years of retiree benefits.
  (For the record, I'm not a U.S. citizen and have not created or signed either petition.)
5. Re:is it time for a whitehouse.gov petition by Microlith · 2013-02-21 07:08 · Score: 1
  
  No, it has to do with the GOP being incapable of leaving well enough alone when there's money not being routed to the richest in the nation.
6. Re:is it time for a whitehouse.gov petition by Rockoon · 2013-02-21 16:39 · Score: 1
  
  The requirement isnt for 75 years of prepayment. The requirement is only that they pre-fund the promised retirement health benefits of all existing workers.
  
  And when all is said and done, the postal workers will be in the best shape in the country as public pension after public pension dries up due to the rampant over-promising and under-funding of retirement benefits for public workers.
  
  --
  "His name was James Damore."
For those times when you just want to go postal by sizzzzlerz · 2013-02-21 06:36 · Score: 1

you can now go in style!
Privatize! by nbauman · 2013-02-21 06:43 · Score: 1

This sounds like one of those dumb ideas that government services come up with when they're forced to privatize.
In come the corporate consultants, they toss around buzzwords, they brainstorm, they come up with brilliant ideas, and they get paid and get out before anyone can see whether their advice worked.
1. Re:Privatize! by Desler · 2013-02-21 06:52 · Score: 2
  
  The USPS hasn't received direct taxpayer money since the 80s. Their revenue shortfalls are due to a Republican Congess passed bill that put the ridiculous retirement obligation on them.
2. Re:Privatize! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:24 · Score: 0
  
  There's always an excuse isn't there for you dumbass statists.
3. Re:Privatize! by operagost · 2013-02-21 07:24 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  The Senate passed it unanimously and it was cosponsored by two left-wing Democrats.
  
  --
  
  Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
4. Re:Privatize! by nbauman · 2013-02-21 11:02 · Score: 1
  
  Which two left-wing Democrats?
5. Re:Privatize! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 11:13 · Score: 0
  
  Oh come now, let's not let facts get in the way of a good partisan rant.
6. Re:Privatize! by Rockoon · 2013-02-21 16:40 · Score: 1
  
  The ones you didnt bother to search google for.
  
  --
  "His name was James Damore."
7. Re:Privatize! by Rockoon · 2013-02-21 16:41 · Score: 1
  
  The ridiculous retirement obligation was decided upon well before there was legislation demanding that they own up and fund it.
  
  --
  "His name was James Damore."
Cliff Clavin - smart USPS clothing model by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 06:48 · Score: 0

Ehh, Normie it all started back with the Babylonians....
The USPS is intellectually bankrupt by hsmith · 2013-02-21 06:51 · Score: 1

I mean, clothing? Instead of focusing on issues which will actually solve their problems, they want to make clothes?

Does anyone at USPS in a leadership position have a frickin brain?
1. Re:The USPS is intellectually bankrupt by Desler · 2013-02-21 06:55 · Score: 1
  
  The USPS has revenue issues purely because the GOP Congress and Dubya in 2006 put the ridiculous retirement obligation on them. Before that Act was passed they were doing fine.
2. Re:The USPS is intellectually bankrupt by DutchUncle · 2013-02-21 07:16 · Score: 1
  
  They won't focus on this distraction, they'll just license the logo to it. Give them props for using it before someone else did.
3. Re:The USPS is intellectually bankrupt by jo_ham · 2013-02-21 07:17 · Score: 0
  
  I mean, clothing? Instead of focusing on issues which will actually solve their problems, they want to make clothes?
  Does anyone at USPS in a leadership position have a frickin brain?
  Well, their first suggestion was "add a few cents onto the price of a stamp", but the legislation that forced them to pre fund 75 years of retirement plans also forbid them from raising the price of stamps, so they had to come up with something else.
  It's really hard to win when the rules are deliberately stacked against you and the rule makers want you to fail so the lobbyists who paid them to make it happen can signal the all clear for private industry to come in and "save the day".
4. Re:The USPS is intellectually bankrupt by operagost · 2013-02-21 07:26 · Score: 0
  
  Again, passed unanimously in the Senate and cosponsored by two left-wing Dems.
  
  --
  
  Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
5. Re:The USPS is intellectually bankrupt by nedlohs · 2013-02-21 07:58 · Score: 1
  
  How does raising some revenue (and getting some free promotion) by licensing your name and slogan to someone else who will take all the risk and do all the spending stop you focusing on other things?
6. Re:The USPS is intellectually bankrupt by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 08:14 · Score: 0
  
  Does anyone at USPS in a leadership position have a frickin brain?
  Yes. USPS management started planning massive restructuring back in 2000, when it was obvious that email and ebilling would drastically reduce demand for first-class and bulk mail. When they approached congress with their plan to consolidate their hubs and offices, congress looked at their predicted 150,000-200,000 layoffs and went completely apeshit. It refused to let them close any branches and required them to guarantee a paycheck-for-life for every worker.
  Basically, Congress stole 45 billion dollars from the USPS and used it to buy votes from postal workers.
7. Re:The USPS is intellectually bankrupt by operagost · 2013-02-22 03:51 · Score: 1
  
  What kind of moron mods me down and leaves the incorrect post I responded to unmodded? Again, passed unanimously in the Senate and cosponsored by two left-wing Dems.
  
  --
  
  Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
Seems random but, by ddd0004 · 2013-02-21 06:52 · Score: 1

I can't wait for more random commercial ventures from government agencies. Maybe the FDIC can make an energy drink or the Coast Guard can start a cosmetics line.
1. Re:Seems random but, by DutchUncle · 2013-02-21 07:18 · Score: 1
  
  Be sensible. If the Coast Guard made a deal with one of the sunglass companies for "even better than thermonuclear protection", it could have a WAY cool ad campaign. The FDIC can start the cosmetics line, particularly lipstick for pigs.
Edging Rustler and Gymboree out of the market by portwojc · 2013-02-21 06:53 · Score: 1

When you think of the post office you think of clothes. They missed the boat to be a service like paypay which would have made more sense than this because of the postal money orders. Might as well hit this front so they don't make that mistake again.
So how much $ was wasted in development for this by splatter · 2013-02-21 06:58 · Score: 1

I have to say, I hope the best for the USPS and it's workers, but the first thing that came to mind is a getting a start-up off the ground isn't cheap. Seems like a clothing line would be even more since there are goods involved meaning clothing stock, building, machines, workers, management, marketing etc... I know you need to spend money to make it, but unless someone is sure this is an idea that is worthwhile and not a pipe dream, it seems risky. How much money for all these things have been dumped into this idea that could have been used to keep the agency afloat for that much longer. Seems like one more piss poor idea after another coming from the USPS.

--
"(I) have this unfortunate condition that causes me not to believe a single thing any politician says when a mic's on.
Just privatize it... by Darkness404 · 2013-02-21 07:01 · Score: 1, Insightful

Just privatize the USPS or remove the monopoly and let the free market take its course like it should have back in 1844...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Letter_Mail_Company

--
Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
1. Re:Just privatize it... by Microlith · 2013-02-21 07:07 · Score: 1
  
  Ah, so you're a GOP mouthpiece I see.
2. Re:Just privatize it... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:18 · Score: 0
  
  remove the monopoly and let the free market take its course
  So, higher prices and shitty customer service, if the history of other privatized public utilities is anything to go by.
3. Re:Just privatize it... by Nimey · 2013-02-21 07:53 · Score: 1
  
  He's a member of the libertarian religion - see his signature.
  
  --
  Hail Eris, full of mischief...
  
  E pluribus sanguinem
4. Re:Just privatize it... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 08:02 · Score: 0
  
  Yes, shame on him for not wanting to rely on Big Daddy Government for all of his needs.
5. Re:Just privatize it... by Microlith · 2013-02-21 08:09 · Score: 1
  
  Ah, I love idiotic replies from anonymous cowards.
6. Re:Just privatize it... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 08:14 · Score: 0
  
  Privatize means they can charge whatever they want. Why would you want that? The purpose of the monopoly is so we can have cheap mail.
7. Re:Just privatize it... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 10:06 · Score: 0
  
  The USPS works just fine.
  The only reason there are budget issues is because of pension idiocy. Which, consequently, goes right along with all the other budget issues we have right now. Well, that is a bit unfair, since it started 40 years ago, and has been Standard Operating Procedure since then. It's just that a large portion of citizens finally realized what was actually going on with US spending habits. Turns out, what we have, IS NOT a sustainable model for economic practice. See present USPS budget problems for case in point.
8. Re:Just privatize it... by Nimey · 2013-02-21 10:20 · Score: 1
  
  Because to some idiots government is evil in and of itself, because to them coercion is /always bad/.
  
  --
  Hail Eris, full of mischief...
  
  E pluribus sanguinem
9. Re:Just privatize it... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 10:32 · Score: 0
  
  Ah, I love idiotic replies from anonymous cowards.
  You aren't less of an anonymous coward than the other guy. If Microlith is your real name I hope you've sued your parents for it.
  'sides, some people just don't care about their Internet persona or whatever it is enough to register.
They need a catchy slogan by wytten · 2013-02-21 07:02 · Score: 2

Since they are trying to strengthen their brand awareness, they should have a catchy advertising slogan for this new clothing line.
I'd suggest "Go postal!"
Re:So how much $ was wasted in development for thi by Microlith · 2013-02-21 07:05 · Score: 1

The Postal Service inked a licensing agreement with Cleveland-based Wahconah Group, Inc. to produce the new line
So the USPS is essentially getting royalties for this, with Wahconah Group making the venture here.

How much money for all these things have been dumped into this idea that could have been used to keep the agency afloat for that much longer.
Probably not much.

Seems like one more piss poor idea after another coming from the USPS.
No, it sounds like the USPS is looking for any avenue it can to raise revenues to survive the GOP's attempt to destroy the agency.
uhhhh by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:06 · Score: 0

I hope my tax dollars are not actually going to fund this. Taxation without representation to the fullest. Was there even a vote? What the fuck!?!??!?!
Will the new clothes come with baggies? by OhSoLaMeow · 2013-02-21 07:13 · Score: 1

It would sure be nice to avoid this.

--
They can take my LifeAlert pendant when they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
Dear republitard, by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:18 · Score: 0

The USPS has been self funding for a long time; no taxes are used. They are also not losing money that was a corrupt law in 2006 to fund their pension for unborn children. (Some employee's are not even born yet but their pension is being setup for them... the excuse is to undermine the USPS while helping prop up the investment fund... will somebody please follow the money trail on this one? any reporters left?)
Unfortunately no weekend wear in their lineup... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:22 · Score: 0

Seriously, they should have eliminated Monday mail service and kept Saturday.
Re:So how much $ was wasted in development for thi by jo_ham · 2013-02-21 07:22 · Score: -1

That's the problem - they're hamstrung and are running out of ideas. The 2006 bill that was designed to cripple the USPS (bought and paid for by private industry package carriers) has worked exceedingly well.
They can't do the simple and "non risky" things like raising revenue etc because the bill forbids it - the lobbyists thought of that ahead of time! Remember, it was designed to kill off the USPS. They didn't ban clothing sales though - I guess they thought that by the time they got that desperate, it would be an easy sell to claim "duh, look, government services don;t work, time to privatise!"
Any money that is being "dumped" into these schemes is simply not going to help much to keep them afloat - the bill was carefully crafted to see to that. Unless something is done, the USPS is going to sink, and it has been inevitable since 2006 as the ink started to dry after the bill was signed.
ahh ok by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:23 · Score: 0

Well that makes sense. Honestly, good for them if they can fund pensions for their unborn children. The only other concern left is their special privilege and how that relates to loans and things like that. If they are going to be starting clothing lines, their line of credit should be the same as the average business.
sh1t by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:23 · Score: -1

40,000 3oming
trolZlkore by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:26 · Score: -1

project returns It's beSt to try
Revnenues? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:30 · Score: 0

Maybe they can get a refund on the Team USPS sponsorship?
It's a Licensing Deal by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:36 · Score: 0

This appears to be purely a licensing deal...USPS licensing their trademark to generate another income source. Lots of private sector companies do this (Cat, Harley). When seen from that perspective, it's not such a dumb idea. The licensee is taking on the risk on whether the line will sell or not. Whether the sales are good or bad, USPS still collects royalty fees according to the terms of the license.
mod uP by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 07:36 · Score: -1

Share. *BSD is
This a joke right? by pubwvj · 2013-02-21 07:43 · Score: 1

This a joke right? The USPS needs to focus on doing their job well. They loose and damage all too many packages. Their postal clerks are all too often poorly trained and give wrong advice. They make excuses for their poor service citing regulations. Then they wonder why people are switching to UPS and FedEx for packages and email for letters. Service.
1. Re:This a joke right? by StormyWeather · 2013-02-21 08:16 · Score: 1
  
  I would bet that postal workers endure the elements more than just about any job on a nonstop basis other than maybe crab fishing. It makes sense that if they can develop specific clothing to help their line of work, and keep their people warm then they could do their job better. Also if it's really good stuff they could market it to the public, and have a great sample of how it performs in the real world that people see every day.
Indeed ... by NoSalt · 2013-02-21 07:51 · Score: 0

"but the line was discontinued after lobbyists complained of competition with the private sector"

Yes, we wouldn't want the USPS to interfere with the people who line the pockets of our elected officials.
tracking by AndyKron · 2013-02-21 08:06 · Score: 1

Launch a useable tracking system first!
From their creed by Caledfwlch · 2013-02-21 08:26 · Score: 1

they've covered rain, snow, and heat but they're missing "gloom of night". Maybe the wearable electronics will have high beams?

--
These views express my own personal opinions, not those of the other voices in my head
Let me get this straight... by aklinux · 2013-02-21 09:23 · Score: 1

They expect to market, to geeks, clothing marketing snail-mail. Must be playing to the nostalgia factor.
1. Re:Let me get this straight... by compro01 · 2013-02-21 11:07 · Score: 1
  
  Never underestimate the bandwidth of a box full of tape send via overnight mail.
  
  --
  upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
Why stop at apparel? Introducing... ROBOMAILMAN! by KrazyDave · 2013-02-21 09:34 · Score: 0

Implant brains and rudimentary organics into robotic hardware for the ULTIMATE MAILMAN. Years of on-the-street programming including advanced indolence, surliness, slowness and turbidity in a mailman-cyborg that never needs sleep or coffee breaks! YOU-HAVE -27-CENTS -POSTAGE -DUE- ON -THIS- LETTER - YOU - NOW-HAVE- 5-SECONDS-TO-COMPLY.....THOOMTHOOMTHOOMTHOOMTHOOMTHOOMTHOOMTHOOMTHOOMTHOOMTHOOM

--
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Never had a problem with USPS. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 09:41 · Score: 0

It's Fedex and UPS that appear to deliberately maim packages.
USPS branching out into different markets now by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 09:56 · Score: 0

They really are desperate for revenue.
Impending fun at the airport... by fahrbot-bot · 2013-02-21 10:12 · Score: 1

... getting through a TSA checkpoint wearing said smart clothing.
Remember back in 2007 when a guy almost got shot at an airport for wearing a tech-art shirt with a only small motherboard attacked? Slashdot reported it here. Or in Nov 2012, a got arrested at an airport for wearing a strange watch.
Oh what fun a whole ensemble of tech-clothing will be.

--
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
The downside by kwiqsilver · 2013-02-21 10:41 · Score: 1

None of the clothing will function on Sundays, holidays, (and now) Saturdays.
Horrible idea by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 15:46 · Score: 0

Adding new business lines outside your core business rarely works. The solution is to get congress to admit they were wrong to force an unprecedented pension funding.
Intelligence ? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 16:11 · Score: 0

Will this increase the intelligence of US Postal Delivery Slaves giving them the ability to steal MY mail, above the already huge pile that is stolen daily !
Ditto
XD
Future-future Retirement ? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 16:15 · Score: 0

What the F**K is 'Future-future Retirement' !
Now that is a Ponzi scheme I want to the the pinnacle of success of.
XD
We lose saturday delivery for this? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-21 18:19 · Score: 0

They just cut saturday delivery because they were hurting to save money so bad. This is how their spending the money they save? New clothes?
Mr. Fusion brand sport clothes coming soon by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-22 06:23 · Score: 0

Sounds like the auto-dry jacket in Back To The Future 1. Now, where is my hover board?
You still miss the big picture by fuzznutz · 2013-02-22 10:06 · Score: 1

Printing postage does not prove anything was ever mailed. Until the post office accepts receipt of the letter/package/whatever you cannot prove anything other than you printed postage. I can print postage all day and never mail anything. I no longer trust dropping things into unattended box since I had bill payments (including mortgage) lost when a mailbox was vandalized years ago.

Your argument is pointless anyway. The original thread was a rebuttal to the assertion that the USPS does a better job than UPS or FedEx. You want to split hairs about avoiding counter service as though it somehow makes it alright. It is demonstrable that the USPS customer service is worse and apathetic. Their "tracking" system is nearly worthless. Their endpoint carriers frequently shirk their responsibilities in order to save time. The lines in their offices at all hours of the day are long and much slower compared to both UPS Stores and Kinko/FedEX. Their "open" hours are much fewer than UPS Stores or Kinko/FedEx. The only bright spot is that they are cheaper. For now...

I could tell easily a dozen more stories about the five post offices I have used over the past 20 years. I could tell a dozen more from complaints I hear from my boss. You want to argue that I don't "have to" go inside the building. BFD. I still have to deal with everything else including lost/damaged mail, hit and run carriers not knocking on the door, misdelivered mail, refusal to answer the phones, incorrect/non-updated tracking, missed deadlines, ad naseum.

The USPS is a SERVICE company and their service sucks. We use it because we have to, not because we want to. No other service company could survive with customers that feel that way.