We’re Being Ripped off by the Postal Service

You know you're a fool when what you're doing makes even the post office seem efficient.

Joshua Cohen

I’m tired of being ripped off by a post office that provides inferior service at exorbitant prices. The cost of postage is an outrage and I’ve gone totally electronic. In fact this past Christmas I sent ecards exclusively.

My recent encounter with the post office astounded me! I was recently notified to appear for jury selection. As much as I would truly enjoy seeing the legal process in action, I can’t afford it. I’m self employed and if I don’t work, I can’t pay the bills. In order to be released from jury duty you have to send a letter to the Attorney General’s office explaining how being a juror would cause you undue financial hardship. I wrote the letter, and not wanting to take any chances (I have no faith in the postal system), I elected to send the letter by registered mail. I should preface this by telling you that the destination of the letter is within walking distance of my apartment, so imagine my shock when the postal clerk asked me for $11.30 to register my letter. Feeling that I really had no choice, I coughed up the money with great resentment. Thankfully my $11.30 registered letter reached its mark and I have formally been released from jury duty.

The usefulness of the post office to society diminishes with each passing year and as we become more accustomed to going electronic, their only use in the future may be to deliver the goods that we order online.

Mail your packages early so the post office can lose them in time for Christmas.

Johnny Carson

Make someone smile today.

Geri

Do You Still Send Christmas Cards?

Sending paperless Christmas cards is a great way to feel better about the murdered tree in your living room.

someecards

I still send Christmas cards, although each year the number of cards that I send and receive dwindles. Considering the hectic pace of life these days, it’s no surprise. Shopping for cards, addressing cards, buying stamps and mailing cards quite frankly has become burdensome. I have to tell you that I find the cost of stamps for what can best be described as an inefficient postal system obscene! This is the price of postage originating in Canada providing your envelope is exactly the right size and your card is as light as a feather:

Within Canada: $0.85

To the U.S.: $1.20

International: $2.50

How long your cards will take to arrive at their destination is anyone’s guess but it's become a very expensive and inefficient way to send greetings. Every year I notice that more people are sending eCards. When this trend first originated, quite frankly, I didn’t like it much. But, I’ve begun to make the move. I now send all of my international cards electronically – the cost of postage annoyed me so much it pushed me over the edge. I sent a few local eCards this year but next year, I’m going to make my move and send more local cards electronically until I phase out paper cards completely. However, I must confess that this has nothing what-so-ever to do with being eco-friendly. I sincerely believe that the time for paper cards has come and gone.

I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season, electronically, of course.

Good thing you put a photo of your kids on your holiday card in case anyone hadn’t seen the 15,239 you posted on Facebook this year.

someecards

Make someone smile today.

Geri