Delivery Changes by Post Office

We’d like to thank The Times for running a front-page article (“Postal Service Develops Plan to Slow Mail--on Purpose,” Dec. 2) on the Postal Service studying possible changes in its delivery commitments. The article captured the essence of the proposal but unfortunately the headline and article also gave a negative connotation to our initiative. I’d like to clarify our intentions.

The Postal Service has begun a national effort to match its delivery standards for first-class mail with the needs and expectations of its customers. We are asking our customers what kind of first-class mail service they need, and we will realign our service standards to meet those requirements.

Why are we doing this?

The move was prompted by a series of market research studies the Postal Service conducted which clearly showed business and residential customers wanted, most of all, consistent overnight, two-day and three-day delivery to areas where they actually require delivery within those time frames. We learned that speed of service is important but, in order for first-class mail service to be considered an excellent value, specific delivery times, such as overnight in the local area, must be met with a high degree of consistency.

The current first-class standards being examined now were devised in the early 1970s. Because first-class mail volume has doubled since then, airlines have deregulated and because time-sensitive surface transportation networks have been adversely impacted by increased traffic conditions, the fact is that those 1970s standards are clearly out of step with the consistent service our customers expect in the 1990s.

Considering these findings, local postal managers here and throughout the country are now evaluating delivery needs among our customers. My staff and I are asking Los Angeles businesses their opinions about customizing local delivery standards to better meet our city’s service needs.

Our goal is to provide customers with the service they say they need and expect. Ultimately, our customers will determine how, or if, delivery commitments change. Maintaining the status quo just won’t do. That’s why we’re asking postal customers to join with us and help develop a meaningful local mail service standard.

CHARLES W. KING

General Manager/Postmaster

Los Angeles Division