USPS customers . . Beware!

To the Editor:

That "next day" delivery you're paying extra for might just be a big rip off.

On a recent Thursday, a knowledgeable, long-time USPS employee confidently assured me that by paying an extra $4, my package would be delivered the next day to the Seattle area address. Not so! The package was delivered on Saturday!

Back when I attended school, the next day would have been Friday. Now I know . . .It's actually Saturday! Someone needs to inform the people who make all the calendars that they've got it all wrong.

When confronted about the late delivery, the Postmaster condescendingly stated that next day delivery is "not guaranteed." He took offense when I suggested they (USPS) were ripping off their customers by not disclosing that minor detail. How many of us are duped into paying extra for "next day" delivery?

Now, why would I knowingly or willingly pay $4 extra for my package to go by regular snail mail? Had I known my package would not be delivered the next day, I certainly would not have shelled out the extra cash. To some people $4 isn't much to quibble over, but to those of us on limited, fixed incomes; it can mean a great deal more.

Thinking on a much grander scale, how many unsuspecting customers nationwide fall for this ruse? That's a whole lot of money being raked in by the post office using questionable, unethical tactics.

With the holidays just around the corner, be wary of this "next day delivery" scam as you prepare your packages for mailing.

Jan Capps
Raymond