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Subscribe to RSSThe TODAY anchors, along with Jenna Bush Hager, chat about the hot topics of the day, including the struggling U.S. postal service's recent announcement that they will sell a new line of all-weather apparel and accessories called "Rain Heat & Snow."
Next time you brave snow or rain or gloom of night, you might want to don a parka from the U.S. Postal Service.
The cash-strapped Postal Service on Tuesday announced a licensing deal with an Ohio-based clothing company to produce a line of apparel dubbed “Rain Heat & Snow.”
Fashion apparel company Wahconah Group, based in Cleveland, will create a line of clothing and accessories for men, with future plans for a women’s line.
Earlier this month, the financially struggling Postal Service recently announced plans to end Saturday delivery of first-class mail and posted a $1.3 billion quarterly loss.
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I don't think your writer understands the phrase "Going Postal". It means becoming extremely and uncontrollably angry, often to the point of violence, and usually in a workplace environment. On August 20, 1986, 14 employees were shot and killed and six wounded at the Edmond, Oklahoma post office by Patrick Sherrill, a postman who then committed suicide with a shot to the forehead. Please choose new language for your title.
I think this is a great idea, as long as the cloths are of high quality and look good.
I would buy them over Chinese made crap.
Support the USA!
Yes, I have often wondered where I can get the same fashionable clothes that my local postal workers have.
So the USPS is losing $1.3 BILLION a quarter and the solution is selling a clothing line. Okay, every little bit helps but what are you going to do about the remaining $1.299 BILLION lose remaining?
Pro,
USPS is only "losing" money due the mismanagement of Congress. Billions have been put in the general fund. Then to make matters worse they have to fund the pension fund way out of proportion of what's required. The deck is stacked against any successful outcome.
Gotta love the right wing imbeciles.
Holiday Cheer:
You are correct, the USPS pre-funds its pension and health insurance obligations for a 50-75 year advance period.
The GOP then uses that money to prove that they have a reduced budget deficit.
Isn't government accounting wonderful.
Whaaat ?
The USPS is losing BILLIONS each year and now they have "apparel" for sale ?
Heck, it would be cheaper if they just made more USPS Union uniforms with "I got mine at USPS" engraved on the back and sold them.
Wait a minute....maybe they will ask the Progressive leadership to "Bring home the Bacon".
ProBusiness
The Post Office is NOT losing money. The Post Office is struggling under Republican legislation that is forcing them to fund 75 years of health benefits in a 10 year period. The sole purpose of this legislation is to force the Post Office out of business so FedEx and UPS can charge you $5 to send a letter that the Post Office will carry for 49 cents.
I'd buy their clothing in a heartbeat. My grandfather was a postman and gave me one of his winter coats I dubbed "the spacesuit" and it was the best coat I ever owned for being out in severe weather.
BTW the link for "Rain Heat & Snow" is dead.
I don't see a problem with them selling the right to use the usps logo on clothing to raise a little cash, but there isn't anything in the article that says the clothing will be made in the USA.
Can I order it today and get it FED-X PRIORITY OVERNIGHT? I can't wait to wear USPS uniforms.
ha ha, yeah, bad headline.
I'll support the USPS by buying some of their gear though. They should also sell advertising space on the sides of their trucks to raise revenues.
I think they should also just tell Congress to shove it and not pay for 75 years or so worth of pension in only a few years or just raise the price of a stamp without approval.
Tim.W -- the U.S. Postal Service was created as a separate entity within the Federal Government. They controlled "everything" within the Postal Service. They were also responsible for their own budgets. It is well documented that the USPS became a "Bloated & top heavy at the top. It paid it's Director's and Supervisors far more than any other agency and refused to move modernize it's mail delivery service. They made promises they could not keep -- 2 day deliveries that took 5 days, 3 day deliveries that more than 7 days. They made agreements with Unions that they should have avoided. The Postal Employees get more working and in retirement than any other Federal Employee. Even in their "so-called crisis", they have yet to reorganize and realign their staff and their management still collects outrageous salaries and benefits. Personally, I think the USPS is putting itself out of existence and maybe that is not a "bad thing". Get rid of the Union Bosses and start over. Congress does not now or ever had ANY obligation to the USPS. If they had, some Executives and Managers would have been behind bars long ago.
if they just let the post office charge even half of what fed ex or ups charges, they would have a cash surplus. They cant, cause the all the companies who send you bills and advertising, send lobbyists to make sure your senators and house members keep the rate cheap. it's called corporate welfare. and that's what is really killing America.
OK USPS, you just "Jumped the Shark".
I can't tell you how many times I have walked into my local post office and wondered where in the world I could go to buy their fashionable wardrobes.
Just what business in bankruptcy needs another failed venture that will be misrun and mismanaged just like ALL other gov't agencies and yes I know it not gov't run but it has all the same attributes....loss loss loss.
You have a postal worker making $65,000 a year. That may seem like a lot, but lets compare: Works 6 days a week. In the city, most walk their routes. They deliver no matter what (unless a blizzard hits and no streets are plowed).
Then you have Congress. Has the entire month of August and half of Sept off (2013 schedule), and are "away from the office almost three additional months". These people get paid $150,000.
The USPS needs to charge more for sending junk mail. Might discourage senders of junkmail, or it might bring them a lot of money.
Tim W.I like your idea of advertising on the sides of the USPS vehicles.I have a cleaning service and that would be a great way for me to advertise.
In keeping with the diligent and productive work ethic of the typical USPS employee, I suggest that their first item of clothing be USPS-brand footed pajamas.
Actually, they're coming out with a line of Straightjackets, made just for you!
Would some one explain to me what the postal service could possibly offer that consumers might want to buy. No wonder they're losing money at such a fast rate. I guess Saks 5th avenue better watch their back.
Losing billions annually? No problem, start a clothing line that nobody wants! What could possibly go wrong?
I don't think they are actually starting a clothing line. From my understanding of the article they are just selling the rights to use the USPS logo on another manufacturers clothing line. The manufacturer would take the risk and produce the clothes, and USPS just collects some of the profits. Not really a bad idea on USPS's part in my opinion. Why not sell the rights?
Yeah, that should get them out of that quarterly loss!
Bake sale?
Whoa, whoa, whoa!... You can't operate within budget, your only fix through the years has been to increase costs and cut services, and you want us to buy your clothing? I have one question. How much is shipping? Bwaa haa haa haaa!!!
USPS was doing just fine, until the revenue stream was raided, back in 2002.
They got raided because they were bilking the public. The most profitable, greed ridden conglomerate in the country. Bilking the public and wasting funds for years. Big daddy was teaching them a lesson. Personally, I could care less if they go broke.
I would definitely ask for delivery through FedEx or UPS. Much more reliable!
Boondoglez,I love our postal service.
How very Kardashian of them.
Hmmm...I wonder if UPS will have to deliver these clothes to the customers.
I'm waiting on congress to do the same thing, only colored thongs with political slogans on them.....slow day for sure.
Those knee length shorts and knee socks could really take off for summer office wear. A matching jacket with the side stripes could make a real impression at the big presentation to the board as someone who can deliver the goods on time regardless of the weather.
This has to be a joke.
How about the slogan: "US Postal Workers - Lick it before you stick it."
hate to say it but that would sell.
...or kick it before you stick it.
Why is the government getting into competition with the private sector? How does the design, manufacturing and marketing of warm clothing achieve the goals of the government (such as defense, welfare, education, etc)?
This is a joke, right? Right?
I was just about to say the same thing...this has to be a joke.
I've been a temp mail carrier, with no benefits, for over 5 years. There's been a hiring freeze that started on the day that I was hired in 2007. I've been killing myself trying to get a career position, proving myself day after day, since I'm not guaranteed any work, and working through injuries and sickness, in 8 different towns, wherever I'm needed. Always chasing the carrot that I would be one of the first to get on permanently.
They just finished the new Mail Carrier contract, they are cutting all the temp carriers nationwide and replacing the position with one that pays $7 less an hour to start. I have to reapply and retake the test, to maybe get a position that pays $7 an hour less. Over $1000 less a month! They also slashed the starting rate of the permanent carriers by about 5 bucks so there's not much future in being a mailman anymore.
The Post Office is doing everything it can to block the people who worked so hard for them, from getting rehired. I tried to apply for the replacement position but didn't jump through the hoops quickly enough (I had to create an online resume', take an online test, and then take a written test, all within a week, and I missed one of the emails.) So my application is denied, and I'm losing my job!
Thank you, USPS, for leading me on with empty promises for 5 years, replacing my job with one that pays 1/3 less, then blocking me from applying for it. That's the way to reward loyalty and hard work!
That's 15,000 Postal employees losing their jobs, to be replaced by a position that pays $7 an hour less. And not a peep from any of the news agencies. Does that sound fair to you? Is it even legal?
This is an "At Will" country for the most part, with Right to Work appearing in every state. They can do whatever they want.
When is the crap going to stop with the United States Postal Service? They got into the retail business selling things like greeting cards, pictures of the armed forces logos, stuffed animals, etc.. Even fools know there is shrinkage, and an up front investment to be made. How about the million dollar plus properties they bought in the height of the real estate feeding frenzy. For the purpose of housing transferring employees from one area to another?
They allowed the benefit packages including accumulated vacations, sick leave to go unbridled for decades and turned in for cash at the end of an employee's work culmination as a give away on top of a better than average retirement pension.
This is another private corporation that needs toi be torn down and thrown out with the big banks!
Retail and real estate have nothing to do with the average carrier, but the management of this corporation needs to be cut to ribbons...NOW!
Yeah, they should bring Mitt Romney in to clean up and streamline the movement of mail. That'll learn em!
Or Jesse Jackson Jr, when he gets out of the prison....
How about including dog padding and mace?
What will call the clothing line, "Clavan-Wear"?
Who will deliver them UPS/FEDEX? Another bad idea from USPS. Right up there with "Forever Stamps".
What don't you like about "Forever Stamps"? You don't have to buy one cent stamps to mail letters and the postal worker does not have to waste his time selling you a one cent stamp.
Here is what I don't like about forever stamps: USPS is bordering on insolvency. Does it really make sense to deliver today's letter with a stamp that was bought when USPS was paying $2.00 for a gallon of gas? Now they are paying $3.00 + per gallon. USPS should be charging according to their operating expenses. Now some might argue that it costs USPS money to generate new stamps. So what. Pass it on. We need to start paying our way. No more free rides or handouts. Not even from USPS.
Please make childrens clothes too!! my granddaughter so wants a mail uniform)) i would love to give it to her too... her dream is to carry mail for the post office!
Without the prefunding mandate and some adjustments to workmans comp, the Postal Service would be showing a profit of $144 million for the quarter.
Just what I always wanted.....a USPS parka....too bad Christmas just passed or I would have asked Santa to bring me one....
Another waste of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.