Please help me understand why a business that is losing money, would make it harder for it’s most loyal customers (employees), use the service they provide.
In 2006 the US Postal service decided that they would remove all of the stamp vending machines from local post offices by 2010 and it is finally happening in the Philadelphia area.
Last week they removed the machines from the Philly Lindbergh facility without much notice. Their reason for this is because of the cost of maintenance along with lack of replacement parts for the vending machines.
Now, I can understand why they would look to cut costs, but come on… all we hear about is how bad the economy is, and that people are paying bills online, using email instead of direct mail.
So how does the US Postal Service handle this?
- They make it harder for the everyday people that ‘Do’ mail first class letters get stamps.
- Let’s make them stand in line so that maybe they will buy other postal products.
- Then again let’s send them to the grocery store or ATM machine to get their stamps, they don’t need to come to come in here.
- They can even order stamps online and better yet, since they are already online, pay their bills online.
Let’s just say, there is a estimated, 13 hundred employees at the 24 hour operated Lindbergh facility alone, that is 13 hundred customers that have to go somewhere else to purchase stamps or even mail parcels.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to turn your most loyal customers into your best and lowest-cost marketing channel, instead of alienating them?
One thing that I have learned from observing successful companies of today, is that you need to be everywhere, you have to meet your customers where they are, make it easy for them to use your product or service.
Oh well… I guess the Postal Service has it all figured out, just complain and do things that will push your customers to your competition and then beg for stimulus money.
Wow… that seems like a very popular business plan!
Would any other business survive with this type of thinking?
This post was inspired by an article featured in BizReport – Newspapers missing out on social media boost.
mypostcardprinting.com says:
Wise spending should be their top priority rather than bailing out with their bail out bonds. I agree with you on that note and the point of using proper funds specially with the financial crisis looming overhead. Thanks for sharing this post!