@tsme35 wrote:
OH I know, been dealing with USPS 6-10% price increase yearly, now twice a year price increase. This is not just a price increase, this is the USPS way of not shipping large packages. The carriers aren't getting a pay raise or mileage fee increase out of the surcharge.
I did work for the PO 15+ years ago and know the deal but being a single dad of 4 kids and no support, just couldn't go years without insurance before I got my own route, not to mention I spend half my check fixing my jeep.
My mail lady went to the classes to drive the new vans that came out, suppose to replace rural vehicles but they only got 2 vans, the rest are waiting on chips. The 2 vans they did get, after 6 months looks like they went to a demo derby, trashed and beat up. She had to replace a transmission this last year, goes thru brake pads every 3 months and heat/cooling problems. The stop and go will tear up any vehicle.
The thing the USPS is doing wrong is their not adapting to the new age, internet sales and packages is the new norm. I mean know I have to adapt because I'm losing have my inventory, just like I had to with small fishing lures, single ones don't sell with the high shipping so now have to either not list or wait until I get a couple to put together.
Yes the caravans that they rolled out were trash. the new ones are from Mercedes, we have had one for the past year and it seems to be doing OK, but it is on a city route. It's pretty but I know it doesn't have the ground clearance for my route.
I know what you mean. I was a sub for 13 years, I lost my husband in 2004 and was lucky that I got survivers benefits for my 2 girls. I got them too but it was subject to being taken back if I worked too much. Every year I had to pay back $1 for every $2 I worked over that limit. I also didn't qualify for Medicaid, the girls did but the first year I made $60 over the annual max to qualify. If I was to buy USPS insurance it would have cost more than I made unless I worked sick days or vacation days. There wasn't anything in the area I could work that would have cost me more in child care than I cleared working part-time. at the Post Office and nothing that offered insurance It was best to just stay put. That's when I started with eBay, I would search garage sales for books and LP's and list them. Back then you could pick up books for 10 cents and boxes of records for a couple bucks.
I still deal in records but out of a B&M now. Last week I picked up 8 lots that I am currently procrastinating on sorting, cleaning, grading and pricing. They had around 20 boxes of NIB fishing lures in the auction last week but I didn't want to start another booth space so I passed them up. I frankly don't ship too much anymore. The shop owner does FB live walk throughs weekly and the last shipping I did was my whole stock of audiobooks on CD (like 70 some of them). If I ever manage to retire I will probably return to on-line sales.
Regards,
