Saturday Mail Service to End
By: Kevin Flanigan
Updated: February 6, 2013
ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY - The financially struggling U.S. Postal Service is cutting back delivery service. The Post office announced on Wednesday that it will be eliminating Saturday delivery later this year. With more and more people depending on e-mail and on line banking, the post office has seen a sharp decline in the amount of first class mail it handles.
Delivery of first class mail on Saturday is now scheduled to end with the start of August. The Post Master General announced in Washington that because of changing market demands, and huge financial losses, the postal service is simply not in a position to continue to maintain six day delivery service.
By cutting the number of days the mail is delivered, the post office expects to save some $2 Billion a year. Those saving will come from reduced operating costs and the need for fewer employees.
The post office has seen a significant drop in the volume of first class mail they handle. But because their package business has been growing that service will continue on Saturdays. In addition to parcel delivery service, the Post Office says it will maintain office hours and lobby post office box service on Saturdays to meet the needs of its customers.
Post office officials say they are announcing the end of Saturday delivery service six months in advance to give its customers time to adjust to the coming change.
Delivery of first class mail on Saturday is now scheduled to end with the start of August. The Post Master General announced in Washington that because of changing market demands, and huge financial losses, the postal service is simply not in a position to continue to maintain six day delivery service.
By cutting the number of days the mail is delivered, the post office expects to save some $2 Billion a year. Those saving will come from reduced operating costs and the need for fewer employees.
The post office has seen a significant drop in the volume of first class mail they handle. But because their package business has been growing that service will continue on Saturdays. In addition to parcel delivery service, the Post Office says it will maintain office hours and lobby post office box service on Saturdays to meet the needs of its customers.
Post office officials say they are announcing the end of Saturday delivery service six months in advance to give its customers time to adjust to the coming change.
