Driveline/Restorer delivery

[Henry S.]

Re: Driveline/Restorer delivery

Henry, we share everyone's frustrations. My first terms on the BOD were in the mid '90's. We had the same problems back then, just not as bad and we did not have 15,000+ members then. We have looked into first class (dues would have to be well in excess of $50 to pay for that), we have moved the Restorer from bulk mail to periodical (extra costs) in hopes it would at least speed up the bag mailing, we have just finished a test of "sacking" the mailing (another 15

I just wonder if the PO goes to 5 days a week delivery how much poorer the delivery will get. Progress has really slowed the local mail down here. There are about 6 PO's within a ten mile radius, but the mail between them has to travel over 50 miles, one way, to be sorted. They have trouble delivering next day mail 50 miles away in less than two days. Real progress

Dick,

Thank you for your response and also your dedication and service on the Board of Directors. I know this is a problem where there may not be a fix but it wouldn't be for lack of trying on the part of those on the BOD and NCRS powers to be. It is appreciated.

I know what you're saying about the routing of local mail and how it is sorted. The postal service has trimmed it's workforce at several of the smaller PO so they can't handle the workload and the mail gets shifted to the hubs. With the talk of going to 5 day mail service I'm surprised there's not been talk of "outsourcing" the work to India or Mexico.

Take care,
Shooter

[Dick W.]

Re: Driveline/Restorer delivery

Shooter, they are outsourcing some of their work. If you watch close you will see outside parcel carriers delivering to the PO. It is a shame that FedX and UPS have a better business model than our government, but then again it is government

[Henry S.]

Re: Driveline/Restorer delivery

Shooter, just let me say this about that. After extensive research with USPS as Dick can attest to, the Board has determined that periodicals can be processed and/or delivered whenever a bulk mail center, central post office, local post office or carrier decides to. They all decide on a daily processing/delivery volume; how much or how many periodicals they are going to process or deliver. Did you know your local carrier can decide how many periodicals they deliver each day. The Board tried going to mail sacks versus pallets and they made little if any differences. I personally spent a total of 2 days plus at the regional post office and bulk mail center in my area and discussed this issue and if any improvements could be made with their senior management. What I walked away with is that periodical mailings are subject to be processed when the processing location or mail carrier wants to do so. Don't mean to make harsh statements about USPS, but that's what I was told. Gary....

Thanks Gary,
I know from some of your other posts you are doing everything humanly possible to get the publications delivered timely. The old saying about leading a horse to water comes into play here when dealing with our postal service. I did speak with our local Post Master and she pretty much said it was out of her hands. She only has 1 carrier and she said EVERYTHING that they have come in daily is delivered that day no matter what class it is. Of course she could just be covering her rear but I believe our hub is out of Springfield (and we've seen how they work with the Blago ordeal). Thanks again for your dedication and hard work for the NCRS.

Shooter

[Terry M.]

Re: Driveline/Restorer delivery

I'm sure this has been considered, but just how much would it cost to send the driveline first class? Just got mine yesterday in Akron Ohio. According to the Restorer it looks like the club has plenty of money to spend, so why not the extra cost for mailing?
The dues could be raised to offset this I would think. Just a thought from a senile old member
Terry

Terry,
There was a time (for a couple of years) many years ago that the publications were sent out first class. The delivery complaints were the same regardless the form of delivery. The BOD will have to decide if it is worth another experiment, but it didn't work 25 years ago. (Actually I would have to look at my old magazines to see when we did that, I'm kind of guessing at the time.)

[Arland D.]

Re: Driveline/Restorer delivery

Terry,
You are correct about past efforts - they were in the 78/79 timeframe and did generate conversations regarding late/missing issues of both publications.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Driveline/Restorer delivery

I'm not sure how the USPS or UPS is doing it but small packages are delivered to my local post office each morning by the big brown UPS truck and delivered by USPS employees in red white and blue trucks on their regular route. I do not know if they were sent UPS or USPS in the begining.
I do know under five pound packages for the casual shipper are cheaper to send USPS.

[Dick W.]

Re: Driveline/Restorer delivery

Before DHL pulled out of the US, I used to see one of their trucks at the local PO every day.

[Terry M.]

Re: Driveline/Restorer delivery

Thank you Arland. I generally do OK on long-term memory.

I just couldn't remember for sure how long ago it was. More like 30 years. Oh well, time flies when you are having fun.

Does anyone thing the USPS has improved int eh last 30 years?

[Tim L.]

Re: Driveline/Restorer delivery

I know this is out of our control, I have worked in the mail industry for 35 years (not for the USPS). Just for the information, I still do not have mine at a sectional center P.O. Box in Iowa (I think they are mailed in MO). So the mail carrier is not in the equation. Don H.

Don...got mine yesterday (1-29). You are living on the wrong side of town!!

Tim

[Henry S.]

Re: Driveline/Restorer delivery

Does anyone dare say who was one of the first to receive their Driveline?

[Henry S.]

Re: Driveline/Restorer delivery

Henry, we share everyone's frustrations. My first terms on the BOD were in the mid '90's. We had the same problems back then, just not as bad and we did not have 15,000+ members then. We have looked into first class (dues would have to be well in excess of $50 to pay for that), we have moved the Restorer from bulk mail to periodical (extra costs) in hopes it would at least speed up the bag mailing, we have just finished a test of "sacking" the mailing (another 15

I just wonder if the PO goes to 5 days a week delivery how much poorer the delivery will get. Progress has really slowed the local mail down here. There are about 6 PO's within a ten mile radius, but the mail between them has to travel over 50 miles, one way, to be sorted. They have trouble delivering next day mail 50 miles away in less than two days. Real progress

Dick,
You mentioned 15,000, is that about how many active members we have now? With the membership ID number closing in on 50,000 I was just wondering how many members we actually have signed up. I was also surprised to read only 20% of the membership used the NCRS website.
Take care,
Shooter

[Dick W.]

Re: Driveline/Restorer delivery

Shooter, I think that we are at about 15,500 give or take a few members. I belong to many organizations that are dues supported and some have experienced a 20% drop ($300 dues) in membership over the last 12 months. Tough times necessitate cuts in non essential spending. I am glad that my dues here are paid up thru 11/30/2017 I will be almost as old as Clem then! Perish the thought

[Jim D.]

Re: Driveline/Restorer delivery

Does anyone dare say who was one of the first to receive their Driveline?

I doubt I was first since I'm about as far away as you can get (in the lower 48) but mine was delivered on 1-13.