I would argue that a postal service is not structured the same way as an on demand service like uber.
A postal courier who arrives at your door, picks up an important document, and takes it straight to the recipient will cost about the same.
When you write a letter or send a parcel you first take it to a designated pick up point. It is then picked up at an allocated time along with all the other letters and parcels, and at best it is going to arrive the next day having been through a huge sorting routing system at the post depot.
You can actually just put the letter in your mailbox. You don’t have to take it to a dropoff.
If you’re willing to drop it off, they also do same day for $4 for packages under 5 lbs inside a local region. They’ll pick it up and drop it off just about anywhere in the country next day for basically the same cost.
Your point stands, but the USPS is a logistical wonder.
I’m an Uber driver and it’s a godsend of flexibility and decent, consistent income for me but I’d be so much happier with a collectively-owned alternative that charges less and passes more of the ride fare onto the drivers.
I would argue that a postal service is not structured the same way as an on demand service like uber.
A postal courier who arrives at your door, picks up an important document, and takes it straight to the recipient will cost about the same.
When you write a letter or send a parcel you first take it to a designated pick up point. It is then picked up at an allocated time along with all the other letters and parcels, and at best it is going to arrive the next day having been through a huge sorting routing system at the post depot.
Apples and oranges.
Also fuck uber eats and the gig economy.
You can actually just put the letter in your mailbox. You don’t have to take it to a dropoff.
If you’re willing to drop it off, they also do same day for $4 for packages under 5 lbs inside a local region. They’ll pick it up and drop it off just about anywhere in the country next day for basically the same cost.
Your point stands, but the USPS is a logistical wonder.
I’m an Uber driver and it’s a godsend of flexibility and decent, consistent income for me but I’d be so much happier with a collectively-owned alternative that charges less and passes more of the ride fare onto the drivers.