The Best Deal in Town

Years ago, I remember reading a story in a magazine, I think maybe The Reader's Digest, about someone moving to Alaska from the lower 48 states. This person did some comparison shopping and discovered that mailing household goods by the United States Post Office https://www.usps.com/ was the best deal they could get.

I sometimes use private shipping companies, especially when I am shipping over-sized boxes (which may most frequently occur at Christmas time), but most often, I use the United States Post Office.

I have heard all the derision about the USPS. I have heard the complaints about poor service, lost mail, "going postal", limited access and hours, and the occasional dishonest employee.  But really, when you think about the amount of product that this agency handles, daily, the few problems that this agency experiences pale in comparison. Where else can you get regular home delivery? And, the truth be known, sometimes mis-addressed mail actually gets delivered correctly, anyway.

I bemoan the rate hikes, as does everyone else. I use electronic funds transfer through my bank to pay many of my bills. I send email greetings instead of snail mail, with maybe the exception of greeting cards for special occasions. But, if the USPS was not there, I would really miss it.

I frequently purchase books, and mail books or media. The rates for this type of mail or phenomenally inexpensive!

For rapid service, priority mail rates are a little high, but insure rapid delivery, if needed.

I appreciate that I have a post office in my neighborhood.  I am flattered that the weekday clerks do not ask me for identification, as they all recognize me as a regular customer. The weekday clerks at this post office are very pleasant and friendly.  Sometimes, the weekend clerks unwittingly  belie the fact that they do not want to be working on Saturday; I can not fault them for that, except that it goes with the territory, and they signed on for the territory.

The regular mail carrier for my neighborhood knows who I am by sight. He frequently exchanges greetings and pleasantries when I am home and he is delivering mail. Although I do not know him personally, I feel he is a very positive, neighborly ambassador for the USPS.

The USPS services have changed over the years: they now offer packing supplies and even sell greeting cards in the lobby locations in Lubbock. They have a kit to help if you move.

On line, you can purchase postage, either stamps, or for packages. You can check zip codes, and get a lot of other services, including tracking mail.

The USPS is where a citizen goes to apply for a passport.  My experience with this process was positive.

So, all things considered, I think the USPS is one of the best deals in town.