The Postal Service is still the only outfit that can deliver to the military overseas (APO & FPO) and some federal installations. And there are people who still prefer to trust the government, even if it costs more. So competition won't completely kill the institution, but at least we can expect to see its payroll cut.

For the same reason, I wouldn't change the constitution to eliminate the postal service, but I would eliminate government's power to grant monopolies in any field except its own irreducible minimum functions (policy making functions, the military, and some police and courts). And I'd ban subsidies to what remains of the Postal Service. Let postage rates go up to $2 an ounce to pay those Postal Service pensions -- I won't be paying them.

The Postal Service is the only service in the world that delivers a letter from the Virgin Islands to Alaska for the price of a stamp. They're a semi-private corporation that is prohibited from competing with private industry or to run operations in a manner to specifically to make a profit. It is being choked by union contracts with some unions more militant than others at a huge administrative cost just to deal with union grievances.
They hire everyone from custodians to doctors and pilots. They have more employees than we have soldiers. To privatize would mean to lose half the employees and lose the service given at a low price. There are many things that can be done help the situation and increase revenue. Cost cutting would have to start with restructuring the cumbersome grievance procedure. Currently, grievances can be filed on the most frivolous non-issues. While they may have no merit, there is still a cost involved to process. If a frivolous grievance is filed and the union doesn't process it because it's frivolous, they are subject to law suits for non-representation and sanctions from the National Labor Relations Board. Ironically, the NLRB was solely created to protect the interest of the unions.
Additionally, employees filing a grievance can also file an EEO complaint on some issues if they alleged one of the EEO purviews as the reason for an action. For example, if an employee receives a Letter of Warning for deficiency in attendance, they can file a grievance and an EEO simply by alleging color, race, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, etc. Even if the complaint is dismissed, it still has to be processed at great expense.
Pay premiums is a great expense. For example, any hours worked from 6pm to 6am are paid at a premium. The same with working any part of a Sunday 24 hours period. I think night shift should be eliminated except for maintenance personnel. That would be a great labor expense saved and reduction of absenteeism, which is a major expense and grievance generator. However, some people think that the mail would be delayed. I argue, only on the first day it's changed. All mail processing and delivery should be performed during day and evening until 6pm. Then distribution and delivery personnel should be released and maintenance personnel should start the daily maintenance of the equipment until done. After that, turn off the lights (another savings) and lock the doors.
There are many other common things that can be done to become more cost efficient but the unions, NLRB and politicians seeking re-elections obstruct the way. The alternative of privatizing would mean no one would deliver a letter for the price of a stamp from one part of the country to the other and large areas would not have service at all.

You can still leave the USPS in place, only that they stuff PO boxes going forward.
If you want home delivery, you arrange it through another service provider.
OH, and they'll recycle all the bulk, resident/Occupant mail before you see.
See, private industry can make the USPS green and save the environment, while making the system more efficient.

The constitution doesn't say that they have the sole control over any and all post offices, just that they have the authority to make one. So no, you wouldn't need to alter the constitution.

Agree, for sure. But we also notice that the junk mail is having a hard time competing with online shoppers. Costs big money to produce and send the stuff.

Great idea!

Unions were destroyed by Margret thatcher in England she killed the industries that employed the people, now there's no jobs for them and what jobs there are pay 1980's wages today with todays price's

Now having fax, and better, the internet, pretty much eliminates the need for the USPO. The only thing keeping it in business anymore is "the law".

But then, we are taught to worship the "rule of law"; go figger.

if it were privatized all of those employed to work at the post office now would quit versus go with the new owner.

We can run it like it was a private business. I suggest eliminating post offices that are only open for political reasons (there must be some minimum utilization to justify having a building, a post master, workers, equipment etc. Reduce mail delivery to twice a week You receive mail either Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday (Wednesday is sorting day).
There is nothing I ever receive via the USPS that can't wait a day or two. (Special routing with special costs can be created for businesses that require such.)

That's the real problem. If you make it for-profit, then everything that isn't profitable goes away -- which is fine in theory but makes it tough for people who happen to live in those areas.

I believe that UPS is employee-owned, thus profit/loss-sharing is automatic. No need for unions under such circumstances. I've not done further research on this, but very much doubt USP would have a union.

Such a structure ought to be the standard for any business or corporation!

Agreed

You can't privatize it and have door-to-door deliver everyday at 50cents a letter.
I'm fine with a Saturday only delivery.
The door-to-door service would go, we'd probably have to put up communal mail boxes, or whatever they call them. Which, apparently the PO is requiring for newer sub-divisions.
If you're rural/remote you probably can't get delivery - it wouldn't be cost effective.

How much would you pay for a private mailbox business to deliver your mail to your door once or twice a week, or daily if you want?
Might be a good little side business if you can cut through the red tape.
Private mail box that you can get UPS, FedEx, and USPS mail delivered to, and for a per-delivery fee, they'll drive it out to your house. Charge by the mile, that will keep postage fees down. If you're rural, you pay more, or you drive yourself and pick it up.

We don't need to privatize the post office. What is needed is to repeal the laws prohibiting private mail services. With private mail, the post office will shrivel and die like the banded hemorrhoid it is. There is history to prove this.

The American Letter Mail Company was started by Lysander Spooner in 1844, competing with the legal monopoly of the United States Post Office in violation of the Private Express Statutes. It succeeded in delivering mail for lower prices, but the U.S. Government challenged Spooner with legal measures, eventually forcing him to cease operations in 1851. So much for the "good old days" and more evidence that government must be contained.

seizing the postal offices around the union was the deal Ben Franklin insisted upon as his condition for supporting the revolution AND he being installed as the first head of the govt postal system...way past time to dissolve the deal...privatize it...

FedEx and UPS have contracts with unions now. The terms are negotiated based on real world clarity. But I would "love" to see the Postal Workers union go up against the Teamsters. What would the AFL CIO say, oh my?

Shocking, the retirees' ridiculous 20-yr and out like the military is killing them as much as their inefficiencies are.

I like FreedomForAll's idea, but think it is not executable. I'd like to see government programs have to stand up to competition in a fair fight, with all the accounting on the table. Allow private companies to compete for the same services, and take on market share based on consumer choice. When the government program subsidy reaches a threshold or <30% market share, it is shut down.

I would REALLY, REALLY like to take on some of the armed services acquisitions, maintenance and logistics. There is no way real warfighters are making some of the decisions here.

Yes, this is the problem. The assets of the USPS could easily be sold off to the highest bidder(s). But what of the enormous liabilities to the present and retired postal workers. No one in their right mind would accept those. Maybe they would if the buildings and other assets were transferred for nothing. Maybe.