Comments on: Going postal: USPS’ “Deliver” magazine http://blog.foghound.com/43/ News and views about marketing and communications Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:40:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Perspective http://blog.foghound.com/43/#comment-13 Perspective Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000 http://foghound.com/blog/?p=43#comment-13 my studio is a few blocks from the central post office near south station. we continuously receive mail for people that haven't been at my address for 5+ years. we occasionally receive mail from people in the building next door, or in another city altogether. one of my biggest gripes is the 'innovation,' installation, and promotion of the Automated Postal Center, the ATM-like machine that was introduced recently. these machines are supposed to take the place of tellers, or lighten the wait time for humans. however, because the machine's interface is so poorly designed, staff members are stationed nearby to help answer questions about its use. the first thing the postal service must do is strengthen its existing basic services, before it promotes the additional disservice of junk and direct mail. my studio is a few blocks from the central post office near south station. we continuously receive mail for people that haven’t been at my address for 5+ years. we occasionally receive mail from people in the building next door, or in another city altogether.

one of my biggest gripes is the ‘innovation,’ installation, and promotion of the Automated Postal Center, the ATM-like machine that was introduced recently. these machines are supposed to take the place of tellers, or lighten the wait time for humans. however, because the machine’s interface is so poorly designed, staff members are stationed nearby to help answer questions about its use.

the first thing the postal service must do is strengthen its existing basic services, before it promotes the additional disservice of junk and direct mail.

]]> By: Curran Bishop http://blog.foghound.com/43/#comment-12 Curran Bishop Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000 http://foghound.com/blog/?p=43#comment-12 I heartily agree. While I respect the USPS very much for managing to be the only government agency run (to my knowledge) entirely on its own revenue, not tax dollars, it does seem a step into the past to be trying to promote direct mail. I remember living in North Carolina we'd receive advertisements from a particular direct mail company. The advertisements stated, 'Why use direct mail? Well, you're reading this right now along with 500,000 [I don't remember the exact number] other people!' The interesting thing to me was that I very seldom saw them advertising anything besides themselves -- I always thought, 'if this works so well, why is no one responding to your advertising?' then I'd throw is in the recycling bin -- just like 500,000 other people! I heartily agree. While I respect the USPS very much for managing to be the only government agency run (to my knowledge) entirely on its own revenue, not tax dollars, it does seem a step into the past to be trying to promote direct mail. I remember living in North Carolina we’d receive advertisements from a particular direct mail company. The advertisements stated, ‘Why use direct mail? Well, you’re reading this right now along with 500,000 [I don't remember the exact number] other people!’ The interesting thing to me was that I very seldom saw them advertising anything besides themselves — I always thought, ‘if this works so well, why is no one responding to your advertising?’ then I’d throw is in the recycling bin — just like 500,000 other people!

]]>