USPS is losing $8.5BN just alone this year and you are saying they are the cheapest among all shippers How is that not subsidy? If USPS was forced to act like a private company, your wife would pay twice more. Thus, the end of Amazon and EBAY In other words, US tax payers are paying for the well being of Amazon and EBAY.
I buy a lot on eBay. I would buy equally as much on eBay if the USPS didn't exist. I shop on Amazon. I would still buy on Amazon if the USPS didn't exist. I buy 80% of my non spoilage item online. Shipping cost is just a considersation I look at for the overall cost. The US Government has no business . . . competing in business. Why? THEY HAVE PROVEN TIME AND TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF SIMPLE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.
I think I'd rather have the government run the banks with all the pre-1980 regulations in place than the casino that's in place today.
Its only an 8.5 billion dollar deficit. If they just raised prices by 13% that would cover it and they would still be cheaper than everyone else. Some years USPS makes money, some years they dont. I know in 2002 and 2003 they had a net profit of 5.2 billion and 4.6 billion. You also have to account that revenue for USPS has been down the last few years which partly explains the loss. Plenty of corporations have years when they lose money, but they make it back the next years.