By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD
On Monday this week (in the United States) we had no mail delivery because of Veterans’ Day.
To miss mail for one day is not a problem, but what if this occurred on a regular basis? What if Saturday delivery was omitted or we only received mail three days a week? (These ideas are considerations to help the USPS — United States Postal Service — save money.)
I could deal with that, too.
But what if all deliveries stopped? Looking at what I receive via US mail, what would be the contingency plan?
- Magazines: I like my magazines but would not start reading them online (at least not how it works today). I guess I’d go without — and that would give me more time for other activities. (Of course this would be a problem for those in the magazine business.)
- Bills: More and more companies send invoices and statements via email. This allows me to move one step closer to paperless bill paying.
- Checks: My business receives some checks via mail. But payment could be made by credit card or electronic funds transfer instead.
- Formal communication: Invitations and thank you notes, as well as cards are typically mailed. If need be, they could go online as well.
- Shipments: Although the USPS is sometimes the least expensive option, it’s far from the only one.
- Ads and junk mail: I could do without this category of mail, but I supposed they’d go online too and start spamming me.
The USPS isn’t likely to stop all mail delivery anytime soon, but if they did, we could get by.
Read more in Peter Lyle DeHaan’s Sticky Series books, including Sticky Customer Service, Sticky Sales and Marketing, and Sticky Leadership and Management featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips.
Peter Lyle DeHaan is an entrepreneur and businessman who has managed, owned, and started multiple businesses over his career. Common themes at every turn have included customer service, sales and marketing, and leadership and management.
He shares his lifetime of business experience and personal insights through his books to encourage, inspire, and occasionally entertain.