Re: [AISdiscuss] Bulletins

[bfilardi@comcast.net]

Hi all:  

First of all -- and, like Terry, this will be my last discussion on the topic, unless anyone has a specific question I can answer -- I want to thank Ron for his ongoing efforts to gather some data for the post office.  It is somewhat troubling that only six people have provided him with information on late delivery, because from the amount of discussion, it would seem that the problem was much more widespread.  However, in terms of responses from RVPs, it may take them a while to get back to Ron, because they, in turn, will have to gather information from others, and even then it will be incomplete.  Ron's job will be easier when/if members start returning the form to him that will be printed in the July issue of the Bulletin.  [Nevertheless, I would suggest that Ron should still provide those six zip codes to the mailing service, because it is at least hard evidence of where extreme problems occurred, and the post office can do some inspecting of specific delivery problems.]  [Also, to tell you the truth, I find a situation like Betty's, where a Bulletin NEVER arrived, even more troubling than the issues that arrived five weeks late.]

And a 'thank you' as well to Terry for his trip to the Bulk Mailing Office.  I think he answered many, many questions with solid answers.

And not to get too far afield, I really have seen some poor postal service just in the last few months.  Before I left on vacation, I mailed in my health coverage premium (early) because I knew I would be away when the bill arrived; the check apparently never arrived, because I came home to a letter indicating that my coverage was about to be terminated.  Another check I sent to order a CD has never arrived.  Among items mailed when I was on vacation, things arrived to European recipients 10 days sooner than they arrived to US recipients.  I hope these are all temporary glitches, because I have never doubted the efficiency of the USPS in the past.

One last thing:  The mailing service's job is to shrinkwrap the Bulletins and deliver them to the post office in a timely manner, sorted by zip code as per USPS regulations.  Those are the only responsibilities of the mailing service; anything after the Bulletins are in the hands of the post office is the responsibility of that post office.  Our mailing service has been very helpful in trying to obtain better service from the post office, but the delivery of Bulletins is a function of the USPS, NOT of the mailing service!  As for finding a different mailing service, I have gone through at least five mailing services since I have been editor of the Bulletin, and this one does by far the best job -- for instance, they received the printed April Bulletins on Friday (yesterday) and plan to have them in the mail late on Tuesday.  This contrasts with another service which sat with the Bulletins in their warehouse for over two weeks.  Our present mailing service has also been the first one which has processed the European copies of the Bulletin in a manner which ensures their timely arrival; some of you may remember a few occasions when the European copies disappeared or took 8 weeks to arrive (almost as poor as the service to Saint Louis!).

Bruce

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Ron2Don" <ron2don@alltel.net> 

> After e-mailing, a week ago every RVP in the realm except one, than 
> e-mailing three people in that Region.I have 6 names of people that have said 
> they have had a problem getting their bulletin late.I have an e-mail from only 
> 1 RVP, and I have also e-mailed the RVP and all Affiliates in my region and 
> have had no response from anyone. It is hard to talk with the USPS and say "We 
> send out over 4,000 Bulletins four times a year and six (6) people get their 
> bulletin late." I will keep trying and will find the problem. I also think 
> that the problem lies with the individual post offices.I have been doing 
> business with my post office in Hannibal, NY for over 50 years and when the 
> mail truck comes in at 6:45am Monday - Friday mornings we take the mail and 
> put it around the different stations on the floor, The bags with 
> Magazines,parcels, and Periodicals are some times still their on Wednesday 
> when they are finally sorted. By then their are several new bags wating to be 
> sorted. 
> 
> 
> Ron James; Postal Sleuth 
> 
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