Imagine a business that consistently loses money, plans to cut services, and charges customers more money for those services.? In most cases it wouldn?t survive very long.? But for the U.S. Postal Service, it?s business as usual.
The news that the Post Office wants to raise the price of a first class stamp by two cents, shouldn?t come as a surprise.? This seems to happen about every two years.? The agency seems to flirt constantly with billion dollar deficits, much like a damsel in distress who has just been tied to some railroad tracks.
By definition, the Postal Service does not receive tax dollars. It must fund itself through services.? In order to make up a $7,000,000,000 loss next year, we could see the stamp hike, the closing of 10% of the offices, and the elimination of Saturday mail service.
While these changes may balance the books, they won?t change the reality that people mail less than they used to.? This trend isn?t expected to change.? For the Postal Service to survive, it must explore ways to redevelop its business to meet a modern world.? It?s what any other business has to do.? Raising your prices and making it harder for your customers to buy from you aren?t long term solutions.
I’m reminded of the saying: If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll get more of what you’ve got.
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