General Discussion

pnwmom

(110,261 posts)

31. No, the big difference is COST.

Tue Jul 30, 2013, 12:58 PM

Jul 2013

The USPS charges the same thing to send a package anywhere in the US, so the large urban centers are actually subsidizing the small rural areas. (Which I think is good -- and I also agree with a stamp costing the same to go anywhere.)

I'm used to sending things by UPS from one large metro area to another, so I was shocked the first time I had to send a package to my son in a more isolated college town. UPS wanted to charge me over $50. So I went to the USPS and the rate for the same two day guarantee was only $18 -- because the cost was the same wherever it went. The USPS doesn't charge a premium for the smaller locations.

UPS and Fedex are fine if you're in a big city or nearby suburb; USPS is much more economical if you're shipping to or from a more isolated town.

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Highlight:

Robert Reich: 'While Amazon adds 5,000 warehouse jobs it destroys 50,000 retail jobs.' [View all] onehandle Jul 2013 OP

For better or worse, brick-and-mortar retail is destined to shrink. Lizzie Poppet Jul 2013 #1

Is there an actual article that goes with this? bunnies Jul 2013 #2

He's talking about the Walmart effect. onehandle Jul 2013 #4

What if Amazon kills Wal-Mart? bunnies Jul 2013 #6

It is happening already, to a degree BlueStreak Jul 2013 #55

Amazon made a hiring announcement BumRushDaShow Jul 2013 #9

Thanks. bunnies Jul 2013 #11

There are hundreds of locally owned businesses between me and the closest Walmart. onehandle Jul 2013 #13

Most of the stuff that I get IS from small businesses BumRushDaShow Jul 2013 #30

I get a lot of my stuff from small businesses who sell thru Amazon. Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #41

Lots of bars and restaurants where I live. bunnies Jul 2013 #45

Agree about Walmart! BumRushDaShow Jul 2013 #16

But they're not saying what salary & benefits are attached to these "jobs" frazzled Jul 2013 #23

Amazon also gives local cottage industries a national outlet. N/T GreenStormCloud Jul 2013 #50

Absolutely! I've read of small shops who have had to close snappyturtle Jul 2013 #56

I suppose I am part of the problem. I use Amazon a lot. MADem Jul 2013 #3

I am also a big user BUT BumRushDaShow Jul 2013 #12

I've wondered about this. I live in a rural suburban neighborhood with a not very enough Jul 2013 #21

+1. ecstatic Jul 2013 #15

Often the people who work in the Big Box stores have little knowledge... spin Jul 2013 #22

I use Amazon a lot too tabbycat31 Jul 2013 #20

I buy both clothes and groceries from Amazon. ... spin Jul 2013 #24

I use them as well, because I like finding EXACTLY what I am looking for SoCalDem Jul 2013 #28

I completely agree. NYC Liberal Jul 2013 #48

Me, too. tanyev Jul 2013 #61

I use Amazon now and then, but not that often. ananda Jul 2013 #5

And Reich likes to reap those benefits joeglow3 Jul 2013 #7

That's unfair. Publishers don't give you a choice whether you're on Amazon or not. n/t pnwmom Jul 2013 #27

Nobody is forced to publish their book on Kindle (nt) Nye Bevan Jul 2013 #29

If you want to be published by a major publisher you don't have a choice. pnwmom Jul 2013 #35

If he feels so strongly that Amazon is evil, Nye Bevan Jul 2013 #38

He's not an impractical purist. He wants his overall message to be seen by pnwmom Jul 2013 #42

Bullshit. Look at Wheel Of Time joeglow3 Jul 2013 #46

That's the call of the publisher, unless you're an author with a name like J.K. Rowling. nt pnwmom Jul 2013 #47

Two things at a minimum must change exboyfil Jul 2013 #8

The big difference between UPS and FedEx and USPS is that UPS and FedEx are reliable. ... spin Jul 2013 #17

No, the big difference is COST. pnwmom Jul 2013 #31

Interesting. I rarely ship items. I just receive them. (n/t) spin Jul 2013 #39

Amazon creates more jobs than it eliminates. GreenStormCloud Jul 2013 #10

That's an excellent point that I hadn't considered before. Thanks ... spin Jul 2013 #18

Yes, high quality jobs. Why not take all the propaganda. Also, the working... Safetykitten Jul 2013 #25

Don't forget the generous salaries and benefits ... Myrina Jul 2013 #54

I have to drive 36 miles round trip to the nearest big box store. ... spin Jul 2013 #14

But EVERYONE loves working in sweatshop part-time soul crushing no-benefits jobs! Safetykitten Jul 2013 #19

Video kills radio star. Ford destroys horse and buggy business. KurtNYC Jul 2013 #26

Please post your job and place of employment. onehandle Jul 2013 #32

Which is why one needs to make sure they keep their skills up to date and JoePhilly Jul 2013 #36

The path to more jobs for Americans isn't a U-turn KurtNYC Jul 2013 #40

Exactly. JoePhilly Jul 2013 #33

That's basically it in a nutshell. nt BumRushDaShow Jul 2013 #43

Not all change is for the better. moondust Jul 2013 #51

Amazon is *great* for the environment. Nye Bevan Jul 2013 #34

Get your sweatshop goods shipped eco-friendly! leftstreet Jul 2013 #49

I don't buy sweatshop goods from Amazon. MADem Jul 2013 #53

Sometimes progress isn't pretty - lynne Jul 2013 #37

Maybe I'm just backwards, but I only buy online when it's the last resort. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2013 #44

What a Coinkydink that POTUS is at Amazon in TN today ... Myrina Jul 2013 #52

But they're also keeping UPS busy ... Bake Jul 2013 #57

To be accurate, it's we the consumers who destroy those jobs BainsBane Jul 2013 #58

Doing a website with an online store isn't all that difficult or expensive - lynne Jul 2013 #62

Wow. i never thought of it like that. i buy from them.. allin99 Jul 2013 #59

solution? Puzzledtraveller Jul 2013 #60

K&R for Truth Tellers Octafish Jul 2013 #63