US Postal not seeing value to sponsorship... why?

[Tom Kunich]

"Tom Paterson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >From: "Steven L. Sheffield"
> (Tom Kunich wrote):
>
> >>And Pro Bike Kit sends me stuff via US >>Postal and I've gotten it from
> England
> >> in two days - normal mail.
>
> (S.S. replied):
>
> >Actually, if they are sending it from the UK, they are sending it Royal
> >Mail, which is then delivered by US mail once it's in the States.
> >
> >But, since Probikekit.com has US warehouse/shipping facilities, if the
> >stamps are American, it actually shipped in 2-days from within the good
old
> >US of A
>
> Total Cycling, Ireland, sends things Fed Ex, two day delivery from
Ireland.

Which, BTW, is a great place to buy.

> FWIW, the bike race sponsorship has been a real morale boost to the USPS
> workers. Given that "going Postal" has entered the vocab, not a bad thing
for a
> small part of the overall budget.

They tell me that the morale boost of having a winning team that makes the
USPS look good has greatly reduced the stress and strains. Sick time was WAY
down and medical payments for all sorts of psychological stuff was also
down. They could easily save the cost of the team just in days off.

> The attacks on sponsorship are part of an ongoing effort to dismantle the
USPS
> so that private persons can make big bucks doing a lousy job of delivering
your
> mail. Compare to the airlines, before/after deregulation for an indication
of
> what is in store. Opinion, also true. Thanks. --TP

Well stated Tom. Is there any doubt that the big three shippers don't want
that business?

 

[stabile]

"Tom Kunich" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Carl Sundquist" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> You don't know how many countries you've lived in?
>
> Hell no! Is there any reason I should? Letmesee, Canada which doesn't
> count,
> Guam likewise, Japan and Thailand. Traveled to Mexico, Switzerland and
> France. And if I ever get the urge to travel anymore it will be in the
> good
> old USA which has enough cultural diversity for me and less poisonous
> water.

Tom:

I lost your mother's 900 number, please post it again!

I like Lance very, very much.

Thanks,

Tony
>
>

 

[Stewart Fleming]

Tom Paterson wrote:

> Total Cycling, Ireland, sends things Fed Ex, two day delivery from Ireland.

Fed Ex have a hub in Roissy in France. UPS has a major hub in Shannon
in Ireland. Hub and spoke works well for courier companies.

> FWIW, the bike race sponsorship has been a real morale boost to the USPS
> workers. Given that "going Postal" has entered the vocab, not a bad thing for a
> small part of the overall budget.

"Going Postal" was already in the vocab, but for different reasons.

 

[hold my beer and watch this...]

Tom,

If the USPS is so great, then why are you forbidden (by Federal Law, no
less) from competing with them for non-parcel delivery?

Brian


"Tom Kunich" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Carl Sundquist" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "hold my beer and watch this..." <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Who cares?
> > >
> > > Maybe they'll spend the money on improving service (but I doubt it).
> > >
> >
> > Would you be satisfied with a 0.00001% improvement?
>
> I always get a delight out of comments like Trdina's. As if he had the
> vaguest clue what he was talking about. US Postals system delivers more
> reliably than any other postal service in the world and I think for about
> half the price. For the last couple of years they've been making money
> instead of losing it.
>
> Now if Trdina could be half the winner than US Postal is he wouldn't have
to
> since to fighting in a ring with some other muttonhead.
>
>

 

Maybe USPS wants to pull out before Lance starts loosing? Lets say he wins
a sixth... I doubt he can pull a seventh. In many peoples eyes, especially
in a sport like cycling, second place is first looser. Why would they want
to sponsor a loosing team?

"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles" <[email protected]> wrote
in message news:[email protected]...
> I may have a bit of the puzzle figured out. On the surface, we're all
> thinkin' geez, look at all the magazine covers, TV shows etc with US
Postal
> (ok, more specifically Lance representing US Postal). $8 million/year
seems
> like a bargain! But then think about the type of guy who makes the
> decisions on high-end sponsorship/marketing. They're used to spending
> $1500+ for great seats at a tennis tournament or basketball game. They
> associate high-end sports with extreme exclusivity (with very high prices)
> for the elite spectator. But for cycling? The best seats in the house
> might be miles from nowhere, 3/4 of the way up a mountain pass that you
have
> to camp out or ride or walk for hours to get to.
>
> Cycling is, in a way, a sport for the common man. Certainly nothing that
a
> CEO would brag about having ringside seats to watch.
>
> I'm actually amazed we get the support (at the Division I level) that we
do!
>
> --Mike Jacoubowsky
> Chain Reaction Bicycles
> www.ChainReaction.com
> IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member
>
>

 

[Tom Paterson]

>From: "Tom Kunich"

>They tell me that the morale boost of having a winning team that makes the
>USPS look good has greatly reduced the stress and strains. Sick time was WAY
>down and medical payments for all sorts of psychological stuff was also
>down. They could easily save the cost of the team just in days off.

I didn't go that far with it. I've posted before about folks in one substation
being forbidden to hang USPS bike team posters. *What's up with that?*
(Deliberately oppressive management style?) Make a Lance reference, get a
smile. Happened in Houston, too. It's a "pride in service" thing. "Delivering
the mail".

(I noted):

>> The attacks on sponsorship are part of an ongoing effort to dismantle the
>USPS
>> so that private persons can make big bucks doing a lousy job of delivering
>your
>> mail. Compare to the airlines, before/after deregulation for an indication
>of
>> what is in store.

(T.K. returned):

>Well stated Tom. Is there any doubt that the big three shippers don't want
>that business?

Them and a host of scalawags besides. I guess you have to have flown back in
the 60's and 70's to have a perspective. It's a pride in service thing.

I have a "conservative" friend who lives on some sort of Star route. We were
discussing this issue. He had to admit that seeing his mail arrive in a dirty
pickup truck, handled by a slovenly, non-uniformed "postal employee" did not
exactly inspire him with confidence or provide any sort of warm, friendly
feelings toward total privatization of letter mail delivery. Goes to
accountability (however illusional) and pride in service.

Good morning, and thank you, Mr. Kunich. --TP

 

[jim gravity]

"Michael" <[email protected]> wrote in message >
> Microsoft would be a great sponsor. If people hate you for your success
> in athletics, then you're doing ok, IMO.
>
> M.

-------"presented by Microsoft and AMD"...That would be a real slap in
the face to Intel.

 

[Michael]

"jim gravity" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Michael" <[email protected]> wrote in message >
> > Microsoft would be a great sponsor. If people hate you for your success
> > in athletics, then you're doing ok, IMO.
> >
> > M.
>
> -------"presented by Microsoft and AMD"...That would be a real slap in
> the face to Intel.

Re-check: "success in athletics" -- not business.

Of course, people who are successful in athletics can be disliked because
of their attitude. But no one cares about your attitude of you're no good.

M.

 

[Ryan Cousineau]

In article <[email protected]>,
"hold my beer and watch this..." <[email protected]> wrote:

> Tom,
>
> If the USPS is so great, then why are you forbidden (by Federal Law, no
> less) from competing with them for non-parcel delivery?
>
> Brian

USPS, like virtually all national postal services, got a monopoly
because there's an explicit bargain there: on one hand, they get the
exclusive contract. On the other hand, they must provide daily mail
service to every address in the country, even the unprofitably distant
ones.

If you want to think of this in a strictly libertarian way, this
monopoly screws NYC customers out of having competitive mail services
priced at what they cost, and spends that subsidy from the New Yorkers
to give Montana a postal service that is cheaper and probably more
frequent than a free market would offer.

Postal services used to be vital national links, since they were at one
time the only way of communicating over long distances (and even with
the advent of the telegraph and telephone, the only cheap way), and
there was little or no competition for their parcel delivery services
either.

It may be a different world now, and there is an argument there.

ObBike: I think USPS can probably make a very good case that its
bike-team sponsorship has been a good deal in terms of publicity and
advertising (sports sponsorships usually cost less per eyeball than
mounting a comparable TV ad campaign), even when you consider that their
European sales must be minimal or nothing.

I think the confusion is that they could probably reach their market
more efficiently by sponsoring a NASCAR team, and that there must be
companies with transatlantic business that would better benefit from the
kind of exposure USPS is currently buying (Nike and Berry Floor strike
me as obvious examples that have already signed on, but as others have
mentioned, tech companies might be a reasonable fit, too.

I am sure that USPS or no, Lance's team will never spend more than one
off-season month without a title sponsor, keeping in mind that his
career is probably only going to last for a year or two more, unless he
prolongs it by suddenly switching to one-day races or taking time to go
for the hour record.

As for the rest of USPS/Berry Floor, they're still a monstrous team.
Note that they leave their Texan at home for the Vuelta, but have still
won it twice. If Bruyneel can keep the rest of the team together and
sign the right rider or two, they could probably have a great year doing
the Pro Tour.

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email protected] http://www.sfu.ca/~rcousine/wiredcola/
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

 

[Tom Kunich]

"stabile" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:yjZic.35568$_L6.2044139@attbi_s53...
>
> I lost your mother's 900 number, please post it again!

1-900-she-dead But then someone like you is only likely to get sex only by
digging up a corpse or inviting your hand over to dinner.

 

[Tom Kunich]

"hold my beer and watch this..." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> If the USPS is so great, then why are you forbidden (by Federal Law, no
> less) from competing with them for non-parcel delivery?

Firstly, USPS only has a monopoly on first class mail and nothing else. And
the reason for that is that USPS is required to supply mail service to
EVERYWHERE in the USA. That means there is mail delivery to the smallest
Inuit village in the ice barrens outside of Barrow, AK.

If they weren't awarded a monopoly on this service the other companies would
chose to deliver first class mail ONLY to the major cities which they could
do for about the same price as USPS charges for first class now. This would
steal the only profitable service away from USPS and the American public
would end up having to pay much more for mail delivery to 80% of the USA.

Now if you were ONLY smart enough to do a web search on first class mail
you'd have already known this and wouldn't have to have looked like a brain
dead vermin.

 

[Tom Kunich]

"<<<<<< ]] gun_dog99 [[ >>>>>>" <||||||| woof-woof |||||> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Maybe USPS wants to pull out before Lance starts loosing? Lets say he
wins
> a sixth... I doubt he can pull a seventh.

Why would that be?

 

[Shayne Wissler]

"Tom Kunich" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "hold my beer and watch this..." <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > If the USPS is so great, then why are you forbidden (by Federal Law, no
> > less) from competing with them for non-parcel delivery?
>
> Firstly, USPS only has a monopoly on first class mail and nothing else.
And
> the reason for that is that USPS is required to supply mail service to
> EVERYWHERE in the USA. That means there is mail delivery to the smallest
> Inuit village in the ice barrens outside of Barrow, AK.
>
> If they weren't awarded a monopoly on this service the other companies
would
> chose to deliver first class mail ONLY to the major cities which they
could
> do for about the same price as USPS charges for first class now. This
would
> steal the only profitable service away from USPS and the American public
> would end up having to pay much more for mail delivery to 80% of the USA.
>
> Now if you were ONLY smart enough to do a web search on first class mail
> you'd have already known this and wouldn't have to have looked like a
brain
> dead vermin.

On the contrary, private industry has demonstrated over and over again that
it can do things much more efficiently than the government can. Which is one
reason why socialists like you so quickly resort to name-calling: they know
they have no factual basis for their beliefs.


Shayne Wissler

 

[Sam]

And that relates to my post how? If UPS were sponsoring a team would you
pay the higher price because of it. Again, I am not increasing my use of
USPS. When I have to ship something I look at a couple of items like cost
and convenience and also any guarantee (USPS does not really guarantee
overnight--read the fine print at the USPS store sometime).

http://www.usps.com/shipping/expressmail.htm

Notice the part about checking with your local USPS for details. Why not
post it on the website?

All that said, I do find USPS to be a bargain. A person comes to my house
(well the box in the cul de sac) and delivers it anywhere in the continental
US for a small fee. However, people are using it less and less because
other services are faster and cheaper (internet and or FedEx/UPS) and more
reliable.


"Tom Kunich" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Sam, US Postal cost about half of what other freight organizations charge.
> $28 to ship a bare frame in a box UPS and $14 Postal. I shipped a guitar
> from a UPS Store and it cost me $85 two week delivery and they offered two
> day delivery at - get this - $300!!!!! US Postal is Boss.
>
>
> "Sam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "Ewoud Dronkert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > On 24 Apr 2004 23:37:20 -0800, Benjamin Weiner wrote:
> > > > The issue with USPS is
> > > > probably partly caused by the sponsorship audit and partly
> > > > because USPS is really a Europe-based team.
> > >
> > > About Europe; I don't think so. 90% of Americans know Lance Armstrong,
> > > that's enough exposure. I think it's a question of added value of
> > > another year or years of sponsorship after (already) 5 years of
striking
> > > gold.
> >
> > Just because people know about USPS does not mean they are getting more
> > business. I have not mailed much of anything over the past 2 years. It
> is
> > not like I am thinking "Man I am going to write more letters and pay
more
> > bills via snail mail to support USPS." The intent (at least stated
> before)
> > was to get into the Euro overnight market. Perhaps the sponsorship
money
> is
> > not justified. That is fine; companies come and go. Plus I am sure
that
> > with Lance's post 2004 career in question (does he retire?) it might be
a
> > good time to pull out.
> >
> >
>
>

 

[Howard Kveck]

In article <F7ejc.42387$IW1.2064745@attbi_s52>,
"Shayne Wissler" <[email protected]> wrote:

> On the contrary, private industry has demonstrated over and over again that
> it can do things much more efficiently than the government can. Which is one
> reason why socialists like you so quickly resort to name-calling: they know
> they have no factual basis for their beliefs.
>
>
> Shayne Wissler

Uh, Shayne, not to burst your bubble, but... Tom is no socialist. Oh, no.
Very far from it. Very, VERY far. Just so you know in the future.

--
tanx,
Howard

Q: Can we call it a quagmire yet?

remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?

 

[hold my beer and watch this...]

Tom,

Please quote the federal statute(s) that defines 'first class mail' as well
as the other types of delivery services for which USPS is or is not granted
exclusivity.

Thanks in advance,
Hold My


BTW: I'm assuming this exercise will be similar to when you told us all
about how to validate a biological test method (e.g., the EPO assay), then
upon further examination, it became apparent that you didn't know what the
**** you were talking about.






"Tom Kunich" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "hold my beer and watch this..." <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > If the USPS is so great, then why are you forbidden (by Federal Law, no
> > less) from competing with them for non-parcel delivery?
>
> Firstly, USPS only has a monopoly on first class mail and nothing else.
And
> the reason for that is that USPS is required to supply mail service to
> EVERYWHERE in the USA. That means there is mail delivery to the smallest
> Inuit village in the ice barrens outside of Barrow, AK.
>
> If they weren't awarded a monopoly on this service the other companies
would
> chose to deliver first class mail ONLY to the major cities which they
could
> do for about the same price as USPS charges for first class now. This
would
> steal the only profitable service away from USPS and the American public
> would end up having to pay much more for mail delivery to 80% of the USA.
>
> Now if you were ONLY smart enough to do a web search on first class mail
> you'd have already known this and wouldn't have to have looked like a
brain
> dead vermin.
>
>

 

[Tom Paterson]

>From: "Sam"

>And that relates to my post how? If UPS were sponsoring a team would you
>pay the higher price because of it.

If UPS dropped the Jarrett sponsorship and added a bike team, or otherwise
adjusted their ad budget, you would notice a difference how?

>Again, I am not increasing my use of
>USPS. When I have to ship something I look at a couple of items like cost
>and convenience and also any guarantee (USPS does not really guarantee
>overnight--read the fine print at the USPS >store sometime).

The employees have (IME) reliable info as to shipping times. I'm not a business
but for birthdays/Christmas and online buying/selling, they've been right many
times. If they guarantee overnight, it's because you're sending to a zone where
that will happen.

>All that said, I do find USPS to be a bargain. A person comes to my house
>(well the box in the cul de sac) and delivers it anywhere in the continental
>US for a small fee.

Letters? Yeah, that's the point. Have you ever mailed a letter that didn't
arrive, or know one was sent that didn't arrive, other than putting the wrong
address or forgetting a return address, etc.?

> However, people are using it less and less because
>other services are faster and cheaper (internet and or FedEx/UPS) and more
>reliable.

Citation on "less and less", please, also on faster/cheaper/more reliable.
Please.
--Tom Paterson

 

[Richard Thompson]

UPS a european team with no exposure in US ? Well Y`all did not see
any of the TOUR de GEORGIA last week. Lance and US POSTAL was written in
Chalk all over Georgia highways. As for Crowds ,, well standing room
only going up Brass Town Bald Mnt . And miles on road before turn up
Mnt. A ranger estimated over 10`000 on mnt watching , Many more before
mnt. I did not try to count USPS jersys on kids and adults.
Incidently Lance admitted Ga. has a few steep roads that were
underestimated. Many riders asked for a push.

@ @

~~~

 

[smiles]

I support USPS team, loved the TdG!! ... but I do all my shipping the
reliable way, UPS;-) Unfortunately their maketing did not work here.

s
http://boardnbike.com

"Richard Thompson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> UPS a european team with no exposure in US ? Well Y`all did not see
> any of the TOUR de GEORGIA last week. Lance and US POSTAL was written in
> Chalk all over Georgia highways. As for Crowds ,, well standing room
> only going up Brass Town Bald Mnt . And miles on road before turn up
> Mnt. A ranger estimated over 10`000 on mnt watching , Many more before
> mnt. I did not try to count USPS jersys on kids and adults.
> Incidently Lance admitted Ga. has a few steep roads that were
> underestimated. Many riders asked for a push.
>
> @ @
>
> ~~~
>

 

[Richard Adams]

I think the UPS people where I live are fine, it's just the one
location which has very limited hours and is nearly impossible for me
to get packages from that bugs me. I was picking up a couple bicycles
in December and had to skip out of work early to get them. Not the
best strategy when you just started a new job. Back in September they
left my new Colonago (in it's shipping box) sitting on my doorstep. I
was mortified.

"smiles" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I support USPS team, loved the TdG!! ... but I do all my shipping the
> reliable way, UPS;-) Unfortunately their maketing did not work here.
>
> s
> http://boardnbike.com
>
> "Richard Thompson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > UPS a european team with no exposure in US ? Well Y`all did not see
> > any of the TOUR de GEORGIA last week. Lance and US POSTAL was written in
> > Chalk all over Georgia highways. As for Crowds ,, well standing room
> > only going up Brass Town Bald Mnt . And miles on road before turn up
> > Mnt. A ranger estimated over 10`000 on mnt watching , Many more before
> > mnt. I did not try to count USPS jersys on kids and adults.
> > Incidently Lance admitted Ga. has a few steep roads that were
> > underestimated. Many riders asked for a push.
> >
> > @ @
> >
> > ~~~
> >