Dear Friends, As of right now, I am recommending to all customers and all vendors that you make use of alternatives to the US Postal Service if at all possible. We have been experiencing unreasonable and unacceptable delays, and can no longer suggest that use of postal services may result in useful results.
For example, we have received mail bearing internal dates of 4 June 2002 and received on 17 June 2002. For example, we have sent by first class mail, using a printed mailing label (supposed to speed delivery), from Houston, Texas to Austin, Texas. This money order was sent on 24 May 2002 and received not earlier than 14 June 2002. While I am aware that various issues, such as idiotic repressive responses to anthrax and supposed threats of terrorist acts from anti-government types, as well as the need to monitor all mail, including frequent transgressions against Fourth Amendment guarantees of individual liberty, make it impossible for the US Postal Disservice to provide "first class" service in a first class fashion, the current level of US Snail service has become ridiculous. It is irresponsible to advocate its use. We get slightly better results from Priority Mail. The standard for Priority Mail delivery used to be two days, but these same bozos at the US Post Awful are now taking up to five days, without repentance. On the other hand, that would seem to be sixteen days faster than "first class" mail delivery. For $3.50, a bit more than ten times a 34 cent first class stamp, one would think that Priority Mail would arrive ten times faster, but it only arrives in one-third the time rather than one-tenth. Oh, well. Just to rub salt in the wound, the supposedly impartial commission that is supposedly providing oversight on matters of postal pricing has "agreed" that first class stamps shall cost 37 cents or 38 cents later this month. I am not amused. What do you expect from monopoly providers? Well, the Supreme Court decision making it acceptable for the Congress to ban alternative mail delivery was made in 1844, so I don't anticipate any solution sooner than the next available revolution (due after the next available sixty year economic depression, I suppose). On the plus side, there is DHL. We can arrange express delivery, overnight, to any address in the United States, for $11. So, if you have bills to pay, and you really want results, I'd recommend you have us send your goldchex by DHL. Regards, Jim http://cambist.net/ --- You are currently subscribed to e-gold-list as: archive@jab.org To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use e-gold's Secure Randomized Keyboard (SRK) when accessing your e-gold account(s) via the web and shopping cart interfaces to help thwart keystroke loggers and common viruses.
