Potter out, Donahue in: USPS Verging on Extinction

According to sources present at the Postal Services Innovation Symposium last week, there was apparent dissatisfaction with the organizations overall customer service and the inability of middle management to make needed decisions. This Mondays announcement of USPS Postmaster General John Potters retirement has the mailing industry hoping to see new ways of thinking in the organization.

Joy Gendusa, Founder and CEO of PostcardMania, one of the largest direct mailers in the country, was at the symposium and observed many businesses and vendors who expressed their frustrations with the postal services operation procedures throughout its 37,000 retail locations.

The bottom line is direct mail is a huge help to businesses across the country to bring in more leads, says Gendusa. We depend on the Post Office everyday, so its vitally important to us who is in charge and where the organization is heading.

Gendusa says the mailing industry wants to see their ideas and suggestions considered by the USPS, something they didnt see under the previous regime.

I understand its an extremely difficult position theyre in, she says. They get no tax dollars, yet they are treated like a regular business and cant make changes to their retail locations, add products or change delivery days without first seeking approval from Congress. Its not ideal, but they can take the first step to improving customer service across all their locations and go from there.

Regarding Potters replacement, she adds, I genuinely believe that this is a good sign of hope for USPS innovation. Im hopeful that Patrick Donahue will make it all happen.

In a year where most marketing firms are cutting back, PostcardMania continues to grow, printing 4 million and mailing 2 million postcards each week and representing more than 40,000 customers in over 350 industries.Visit www.postcardmania.com.