Canada Post to stop home mail delivery

[GGG]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

You're comparing having a mailbox that possibly 50 people could stop at daily, attract trash, generate noise, litter, idling cars and constant noise to a dangerous tree being pruned?

I'd be outright pissed if that was my house/view/deck.

No comparing to the people that complain when the city completely removes their tree because it's dangerous.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

Cars make noise, doors opening and closing make noise.

I didn't realize people were that sensitive to noise in their houses. I should probably send a letter apologizing to my neighbours for the noise I make scraping the ice off my windshield in the morning.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by burnin_vernon

In 2011, there was a $327 million loss due to lawsuit and a lockout. The losses were not due to operations.

There was no loss in 2012. The Conference Board of Canada (which Chopra sits on) predicted a huge loss, when, in fact, CP made $94 million.

2013 saw a loss of $125 million.

2014 made a profit of $299 million.

With parcel volume increasing constantly, admail revenue blowing up, lower wages to new hires, reduced sick time, and eliminating jobs, Canada Post is not in the trouble many believe it to be. They won't be going near anyone's tax money.

Cool, thanks for the correction.

That said, this doesn't really change my argument that Canada Post should be eliminating an inefficient and costlier solution that only an ever shrinking minority of Canadians use.

[Locke]

We could launch Canada Post into the sun and most people would never notice.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

I didn't realize people were that sensitive to noise in their houses. I should probably send a letter apologizing to my neighbours for the noise I make scraping the ice off my windshield in the morning.

Well that's probably not needed (letter to neighbour) but if you're always intentionally obtuse maybe a letter apologizing for that would be appropriate.

If your driveway was the community stop for every neighbour to clean their wind shield and get in and out of their cars each day then perhaps your neighbour might be concerned.

I can't believe people are not able to be the least bit empathic about having a community mailbox placed in the same proximity to their house as that lady on the news.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

Well that's probably not needed (letter to neighbour) but if you're always intentionally obtuse maybe that would be appropriate.

If your driveway was the community stop for every neighbour to clean their wind shield and get in and out of their cars each day then perhaps your neighbour might be concerned.

I can't believe people are not able to be the least bit empathic about having a community mailbox placed in the same proximity to their house as that lady on the news.

My place faces 10 parking spots directly (hello, multi family living!) and another 10-15 in the vicinity. 75% of those vehicles are moving every morning for work during the week, and from 6-8 AM during the winter you can hear everyone scraping away, idling their cars to warm up, and opening and closing doors. The only thing is...I only hear that if I'm awake. Maybe some people leave their windows open year round and it sounds worse?

I'd be just fine if they planted the mailboxes next to my place. Makes my life easier, and having lived near the boxes in the past in Kelowna, it's certainly nothing that degrades my quality of life.

People are afraid of change, and make proclamations of the worst case scenario before even giving anything a chance.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

My place faces 10 parking spots directly (hello, multi family living!) and another 10-15 in the vicinity. 75% of those vehicles are moving every morning for work during the week, and from 6-8 AM during the winter you can hear everyone scraping away, idling their cars to warm up, and opening and closing doors. The only thing is...I only hear that if I'm awake. Maybe some people leave their windows open year round and it sounds worse?

I'd be just fine if they planted the mailboxes next to my place. Makes my life easier, and having lived near the boxes in the past in Kelowna, it's certainly nothing that degrades my quality of life.

People are afraid of change, and make proclamations of the worst case scenario before even giving anything a chance.

One, you're comparing something that existed to something that is new.

Two, that's fine if it doesn't bother you. I've lived in MF too and shared a driveway. I also live in an area where I've accepted some things that others (my wife and kids) find annoying and I don't. But to outright ignore the evidence that it could be bothersome to someone that isn't you is ignorant. You're doing the exact same thing you're accusing that lady of doing. Completely looking at one side and ignoring any possibility of it being annoying, or simply "it doesn't bother me (or some other poor comparison doesn't bother me) so it shouldn't bother anyone else".

[Jimmy Stang]

Not to be forgotten in this whole traffic/noise argument is that most people don't check their mail daily. I check mine weekly if I'm lucky, and it is still mostly crap (and I have even opted out of unaddressed admail). Some will be more frequent, some will be less, but most people will not be daily checkers. As less important items come by mail, people will check even less frequently.

Also, a lot of people will actually use their legs to walk to get their mail. Depending on the location, direction of travel, etc. it will be easier for many to make their weekly pilgrimage on foot rather than by car. It would be interesting to see some actual statistics on how often people actually check their community mailboxes and their method of doing so. But the fears of gridlock, noise, emissions, litter, etc. seem to be overestimated by some.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

But the fears of gridlock, noise, emissions, litter, etc. seem to be overestimated by some.

Completely agree with the part of your post deleted.

With respect to the remainder, overestimated by some while completely ignored by others.

[Jimmy Stang]

Random question: Can you receive mail to just your compartment number at your community mailbox (as opposed your street address)? In theory, a compartment number and postal code should be enough info to get it to you.

There are probably all sorts of reasons that Canada Post would prefer your street address to be used, but I am just wondering if it would be technically possible. A possible use would be if you don't want to provide your home address to an eBay seller, for example.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Not to be forgotten in this whole traffic/noise argument is that most people don't check their mail daily. I check mine weekly if I'm lucky, and it is still mostly crap (and I have even opted out of unaddressed admail). Some will be more frequent, some will be less, but most people will not be daily checkers. As less important items come by mail, people will check even less frequently.

Also, a lot of people will actually use their legs to walk to get their mail. Depending on the location, direction of travel, etc. it will be easier for many to make their weekly pilgrimage on foot rather than by car. It would be interesting to see some actual statistics on how often people actually check their community mailboxes and their method of doing so. But the fears of gridlock, noise, emissions, litter, etc. seem to be overestimated by some.

My mailman must hate me, we check our mail maybe once every 2-3 weeks.

Its just all crap.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

Completely agree with the part of your post deleted.

With respect to the remainder, overestimated by some while completely ignored by others.

I wouldn't say "completely ignored." But let's be honest - suppose that each mailbox holds 40 boxes (the ones in my area are even less - around 30, although I'm not sure how many the new ones will be). And if everyone checked their mail once per week, that's about 6 visits per day. Some will walk, but let's say that 2/3 will still drive. You're looking at 4 cars pulling up in a 24 hour period.

I know that you won't be convinced, but I can honestly tell you that these things are far from the nuisance magnets that you seem to feel they are.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Locke

My mailman must hate me, we check our mail maybe once every 2-3 weeks.

Its just all crap.

I have put a sticker inside my mailbox that says "Please No Unaddressed Admail" and I haven't seen any in there since. There is an official way to opt out, but my mailman private contractor honours the request. There is still some crap that arrives addressed to me, but if I don't check it for a couple of weeks it won't be bursting at the seams with flyers like it was pre-sticker.

[FlamesAddiction]

The one in my neighbourhood is always chaos. In the morning and after work there are always people double parked and obstructing traffic. I live right next door and it is annoying. There's a recycle bin right there so it also encourages people to stand there and go through their mail before moving on. Lot's of old people with nothing better to do than check their mail and flap their gums.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

I wouldn't say "completely ignored." But let's be honest - suppose that each mailbox holds 40 boxes (the ones in my area are even less - around 30, although I'm not sure how many the new ones will be). And if everyone checked their mail once per week, that's about 6 visits per day. Some will walk, but let's say that 2/3 will still drive. You're looking at 4 cars pulling up in a 24 hour period.

I know that you won't be convinced, but I can honestly tell you that these things are far from the nuisance magnets that you seem to feel they are.

Or if your neighbourhood is like mine, with someone or another always parked in front of the mailbox, zero cars pulling up to get their mail.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Locke

My mailman must hate me, we check our mail maybe once every 2-3 weeks.

Its just all crap.

Unless I'm expecting something I ordered, I check mine usually weekly, or ever 2 weeks. I get most of my bills electronically, so really, there shouldn't be any important mail that can't wait a couple of weeks. I would say 90% of my mail is junk mail.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Locke

We could launch Canada Post into the sun and most people would never notice.

I send and/or receive letter mail daily (not bills or random junk). I understand that I am an anomaly though.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

I know that you won't be convinced, but I can honestly tell you that these things are far from the nuisance magnets that you seem to feel they are.

I don't feel they are nuisance magnets or "that bad", it only started with a poor comparison to which I offered reasons that one could find them annoying. Specifically after watching the news story showing the lady who has one behind her deck that she says is disruptive.

Mostly it's an exercise in empathy which so many seem to completely lack and instead just throw out unrelated responses like "I live in a multifamily building (that was a multifamily building when I bought it) and my view is on the parking lot and I hear stuff daily". Yeah, that's a good comparison, let's ignore someone's concerns because of your parking lot.

The lady in the video looks to have 60 boxes making up her "superbox" as well as a few large boxes that I believe are shared by the individual boxes. It also looks like her house/unit backs onto garbage / recycling area for bins so she's already living with some traffic that the average house wouldn't generally receive, although she likely bought knowing that part.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The one in my neighbourhood is always chaos. In the morning and after work there are always people double parked and obstructing traffic. I live right next door and it is annoying. There's a recycle bin right there so it also encourages people to stand there and go through their mail before moving on. Lot's of old people with nothing better to do than check their mail and flap their gums.

Are you the lady from the article?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Rathji

I send and/or receive letter mail daily (not bills or random junk). I understand that I am an anomaly though.

I run a business that deals with Revenue Canada and you know who Canada Post's biggest customer is? Canada Revenue.

And this year CRA wants to eliminate sending cheques and wants to send Notices of Assessment Electronically.

Sure, not everyone is going to do it, but as larger and larger groups of people and businesses do over time Canada Post is going to have less and less relevance.

Canada Post is just re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

If you're a letter carrier, take your job and hold on to it while you can, enjoy your pension when you retire, because the whole thing is going down man.