Delivering the Mail Moment
Saturday, April 4, 2009
When the news hit that the U.S. Postal Service was financially struggling, some said no one uses the mail anymore — everyone pays their bills online, although we all know not everyone has access to a computer or the Internet.
But the true spirit behind the Postal Service isn't a way to pay our bills, its universal service. A 42-cent stamp gets your letter to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, to the northern most destinations of Alaska, our military men and women serving all over the world and, of course, across town.
For me, very little of what's in my mailbox has anything to do with paying bills.
According to Hallmark Cards, Inc., more than 20 traditional cards are purchased for every e-card sent. The reason – it's a little hard to line up e-cards on your fireplace mantel when it's your birthday or anniversary, or duplicating the pleasure of choosing just the right card and knowing the enjoyment your family member or friend will have when they are remembered on a special occasion.
In some communities the newspaper is delivered through the mail. Add to this your favorite magazines, catalogs and information about your next vacation destination. Sure, you can get some of this information online, but if you want to refer to it later on, you have to go online or print out the entire document. 
There are rebate checks, absentee voting ballots, pizza coupons and local grocery store ads.
When we make a purchase online, it has to be delivered and the Postal Service delivers. Currently, USPS is in a pilot program with other delivery companies that are taking advantage of the Postal Services‘s reach to each and every address every day.
Flip it over — you're sending a package. The Postal Service offers the least expensive shipping options in the industry without fuel or other hidden surcharges.
We deliver birthday and holiday gifts, and care packages to our sons and daughters in college and to troops serving overseas.
A postmark is used by attorneys as proof when a document was sent. And don't forget about April 15. The postmark assures you're on time with your taxes.
So the next time someone says all they ever used the Postal Service for was paying bills — ask them to think again!
The mail moment is engrained in our nation's history. You'll have a hard time finding another postal service coming close to duplicating what 620,000 Postal Service employees do day in and day out, processing and delivering the mail for their nation.
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