Articles about USPS service performance, measurement, and reporting.
In a May 30 filing with the Postal Regulatory Commission, the Postal Service announced changes to its service measurement process. As stated in the filing: “In this filing, the Postal Service provides notice to the Commission about revisions to the SPM Plan and Methodology Documents related to necessary changes to allow the Postal Service to collect and report service performance…
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PQ II/FY 2025 service performance continued an unimpressive pattern; the Postal Service’s own data reveals that most district and area scores continued to be below targets, even though the targets were significantly lower than in FY 2024. Moreover, only mail “in measurement” is reflected in USPS service scores and, for Marketing Mail, little other than destination-entered mail is measured, clearly…
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Most people who travel for pleasure, but especially those who travel for business, have developed loyalties over the years to particular airlines, hotel chains, car rental companies, etc. Often these loyalties are reinforced by the companies’ programs – frequent flyer miles and similar points systems or affinity credit cards – that reward the customer and deter switching to another provider.…
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It’s doubtful that anyone doesn’t know the meaning of the analogy that something is “like putting lipstick on a pig.” With no offense intended to pigs, it simply means that the fundamental nature of something isn’t changed or improved by the addition of superficial or cosmetic devices. The analogy applies to the recent press release (and accompanying Industry Alert and…
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In perhaps the least surprising announcement since the last rate case, on February 26 the Postal Service stated it would proceed with implementing the network and service standard changes it revealed last October 4 in a filing with the Postal Regulatory Commission. That 55-page filing, seeking an advisory opinion from the PRC, explained how the USPS is reorganizing its processing…
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Last September 11, the Postal Service issued an Industry Alert announcing that it would end or revise its negotiated service agreements with package consolidators, notably ending discounts for destination entry of parcels. In the press release notifying the public, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was quoted as stating: “… to more effectively utilize our network and realize enhanced economies, we no…
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Post offices nationwide have typically served two purposes: retail in the front and carrier operations in the back. Though some small offices in rural areas may have only a few or no carriers, larger towns and cities, as well as stations and branches of large post offices, more frequently have both. As Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has advanced his 10-Year…
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Consumers may be confused by what the Postal Service says about the delivery service they should expect. As shown on the USPS Website, Priority Mail Express “provides next-day to 2-day delivery service,” Priority Mail offers “delivery in 1-3 business days,” and USPS Ground Advantage advertises “expected delivery in 2-5 business days.” At the recent House committee hearing, PMG Louis DeJoy…
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One of the more controversial changes being implemented by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy as part of his 10-Year Plan is the elimination of afternoon collection trips from outlying post offices to processing centers. The “Local Transportation Optimization” initiative (most recently rebranded as “Regional Transportation Optimization”) was introduced in October 2023 in the service area of the Richmond (VA) regional processing…
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It should finally be clear to all: the presumption that what the Postal Service considers standards for service in any way relates to the service that the average person will experience is completely wrong. As illustrated in its recent filing with the Postal Regulatory Commission, the USPS now segments its calculation of service into three pieces: from the sender to…
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