At the time of writing this blog (Dec. 2011), the U.S. Postal Service is losing money, and it is losing it fast.  The projected figure of losses by September 30, 2011, was $10 billion.  Numerous articles have been published about what is wrong with the postal service, blaming unfunded retirement plans to the congress.  No matter what anybody says, I think U.S. Postal Service does a good job.  Delivering a greeting card for just 44 cents from coast to coast fairly reliably and fast, is quite amazing.

Being a systems guy, I have different take on Postal Service's profitability and efficiency.  And, I mean process efficiency here.  My head starts spinning when I look at the U.S. Postal Service's forms and the service offerings.  So, here are my humble recommendations:

Eliminate Express Mail
Are you ever confused by the Express and Priority mail envelopes?  I have made this mistake several times.  Express mail is for overnight delivery of mail to most U.S. locations.  U.S. Postal service is no cheaper than Fedex and UPS in this area.  Fedex and UPS now have better retail outlets to accept packages.  Leave this area to them.



Combine Priority Mail and Registered Mail as one

Did you ever ask yourself as to what is registered mail?  This is straight from USPS website: 

"What mail classes and services can be sent as Registered Mail?
Registered Mail is available only for First-Class Mail®, First-Class Package Service, or Priority Mail® (excluding Critical Mail) service items that are mailable"

Did you get that? A customer is typically interested in sending a letter or package, which will arrive in two to three days, and is trackable.  So, why bother giving them different names.  Call it just priority mail.






Combine all delivery confirmation forms into one
I prefer the neon green form.  I would add an additional checkbox for signature required.  So, how would it work?  Delivery confirmation mechanism will remain the same using the barcode.  Signature required checkbox will prompt the carrier to capture the signature on a digital device (I don't know if they exist within USPS today.)









Eliminate green domestic return receipt form (PS Form 3811)
Every tax filing American is familiar with this form, and we DO NOT need it.  Delivery confirmation (may be with signature required) should be good enough for you to prove to Uncle Sam that you sent in your tax return by mid night on April 15.  You may ask, "I do not have a computer, how do I get the confirmation?"  Honestly, I do not have a convenient solution for this.  Post office knows that the package was delivered. This information is tracked.  But they do not record your address in the computer to automatically generate a return receipt.  May be a trip to your post office with the tracking number can do that trick.  They can print the delivery conformation and the recipient's name and signature (if you requested it.)







Charge them for boxes
Have you ever seen the lady buying a cup of coffee at McDonald's, liberally helps herself with a dozen napkins?  She does it because it is free.  Hey, I am guilty too.  Every time I go to the post office I help myself with a few "if it fits it ships" boxes, regardless of whether I need it or not.  I say, charge this money upfront when the customer comes to get the empty box, and deduct the cost from the shipping when he comes back to ship it.



Conslusion:
I am sure there are other areas of improvement as well, however, a lot of wastage and confusion on customer's part can be avoided if U.S.Postal Service will consider some of these suggestions.