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US Postal Service To Make Sunday Deliveries For Amazon

guttentag writes "The New York Times is reporting The USPS has struck a deal to deliver Amazon's packages on Sundays — a first for both. The Postal Service, which lost nearly $16 billion last year, often loses money on first-class mail delivery, but package delivery is profitable. The Postal Service said it expected to make more such deals with other merchants, seeking a larger role in the $186 billion e-commerce market. For this holiday shopping season, Sunday delivery of Amazon products will be limited to the Los Angeles and New York metropolitan areas. In 2014 it is expected to expand to other cities including Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and Phoenix."

4 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory note: the USPS is intentionally broken by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.thomhartmann.com/blog/2012/08/us-postal-services-forced-financial-crisis

    In 2006 – Republicans in Congress passed a poison pill piece of legislation forcing the Post Office to pre-fund retiree health benefits 75 years out into the future – basically funding benefits for future employees who aren’t even born yet. The Postal Service has to do this by giving the Treasury $5.5 billion every single year. That’s a requirement that no business, or any government agency has ever had to comply with. And it’s the reason why the Post Office is going bankrupt today and looking into closing down post offices, laying off workers, and cutting down delivery service.

  2. Re:Obligatory note: the USPS is intentionally brok by Vermifax · · Score: 5, Informative

    Well, while it was signed by a republican president and sponsored by a republican, it was cosponsored by 2 dems and a republican. It also passed house with a voice vote, and the senate with a unanimous vote.

    This was a completely bipartisan bill that our whole government went in on.

    Even the postal unions were for this (Why I have no idea).

    --

    Vermifax

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  3. Re:Obligatory note: the USPS is intentionally brok by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Democrats strongly supported it. He is pretending that didn't happen. They also never tried to repeal it when they had the chance.

    He is attempting to deceive you and hopes you won't go around asking questions.

  4. Re:Obligatory note: the USPS is intentionally brok by Trailer+Trash · · Score: 5, Informative

    Because it actually forces the pensions to be funded - it's obvious why the union would like it.

    Look at the cities going bankrupt in California, as an example. It's unfunded pension liabilities that are dragging them down. The USPS is being forced to actually make good on their promises, otherwise we'll have to bail out their pension fund in the future. The gripe (somewhat legit) is that they're being singled out for this treatment while every other government agency with promises that are going to be broken aren't given this treatment.