Why doesn't the post office deliver on Sundays?

NPR aired a piece about the woes of the U.S. Post Office today. Sales are down, they're in the red, etc etc. It seems like we hear a report like this every year. A hundred years ago the phone was going to kill direct mail. After that it was UPS. Then FedEx. Now it's the internet. Or something.

The post office has marched out the usual ideas to save themselves. The oldest, most decrepit idea stood up first: stop delivering mail on Saturday. Saves cost, right? Who in America cares if they get mail on Saturday?

Before I go there, let me point out that this is wrongheaded from the start. You can't save your way out of a sales problem. So with that in mind, here's an idea for you Mr. Post Office.

How about Sunday delivery?

I tell you I'm one customer who's dying for someone to offer full weekend delivery. It would be an incredible service improvement to our customers. We could level our weekly shipments since we would no longer have to restrict 2 Business Day shipments to Monday through Wednesday. If someone would offer full weekend shipping, I'd sign up ZMO lickety split. Every year I tell this to our UPS rep, Forrest, resplendent in his perma-tan, over a blueberry donut in our break room. Forrest laughs. Yet, the post office is halfway there. Just add one more day. Come on.

I'm not holding my breath.

What's down with revenue?

Puns aside, we don't know.

Mother's Day week's revenue came in 6% below last year. That's only the fourth week we've fallen below last year's numbers since January 1st. All our other weeks have been well above 2007. In fact, at the end of April – even though we were down compared to plan – we were up 12% over last year for the winter/spring season (all of 2008). Lots of businesses would give a kidney to have growth like that.

Because we share financial numbers I know bad sales news has a tendency to seep into your bloodstream like cough syrup. It makes us numb, groggy, a little depressed. Don't let it get you down too much, though. As Betty likes to say, "It is what it is." We move on. Our food is good, our service is great, these blips and blops will pass. Hopefully I'll have an answer for what the dilly happened with the revenue soon. In the meantime stick to the things you know you can improve; focus on the sphere you influence around you. Keep giving great service on the phone and to each other. Keep knocking down code reds to reduce mistakes. Eat some of the great lunch Colin has been making.

Thanks for reading.