Survey: Consumers Oppose Post Office Closings
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82% of Consumers Say Post Office Closings Would be inconvenient; 76% Say They Would Pay More to Prevent Planned Cuts
WASHINGTON, DC (November 17, 2011) – A national consumer survey conducted by the American Consumer Institute (ACI) finds that the vast majority of consumers do not support the United States Post Office’s planned closing of 4,000 post offices. According to the survey of 1,500 consumers, 82% of consumers say that it would be inconvenient if their local post office closed, with only 17% saying that it would not be inconvenient. While the survey of 1,500 consumers found 68% live within three miles to the nearest post office, nearly half indicated that they would have to travel more than seven miles to the next nearest post office, and 48% saying that this would take “a lot more time.” Overall, 72% are opposed to the planned closing of 4,000 post offices across the country, including over half (54%) being strongly opposed to the closures.
The survey found that most consumers visit post offices frequently. For example, 83% of consumers go to the post office at least one time per month, with the average person visiting their post office more than four times per month. In the course of a year, these visits include purchasing stamps (83%), mailing letters (83%), sending packages (68%), sending priority or express mail (53%), and weighing packages or envelopes (50%), as well as other purposes specified in the survey.
The survey found substantial opposition to cutting delivery from 6 to 5 days per week, though less opposition when compared to closing post offices. According to the survey, 53% said it would be inconvenient to lose a delivery day. However, 59% said it would not make them think twice about having time sensitive materials sent to their home. Overall, when asked if they favored or opposed the cutbacks in mail delivery, a majority (52%) are opposed versus 40% who support delivery cutbacks.
Would consumers pay more to prevent postal cutbacks? According to the survey, 76% saying they would support a small price increase in postage, if it meant keeping post offices open and maintaining delivery. In fact, over half (51%) strongly support a price increase.
USPS ranks among brands Americans like best
Feeling the love
iPod, Google Search, Nintendo Wii, Disney Parks and JetBlue. In a recent survey, consumers ranked them among the brands they like best.
That may not be surprising. But in the 2010 survey — conducted by marketing research firm NewMediaMetrics — consumers say USPS is 15th-ranked among brands they find the most attractive. The Postal Service was unranked in 2009.
Nestled between BlackBerry and Microsoft Windows 7, USPS is named one of the top 60 products and services in the firm’s “Leveraging Emotional Attachment for Profit” (LEAP) Index. In an online survey, NewMediaMakers asked 3,500 Americans between the ages of 13 and 54 to rank on a scale of 0-10 the companies they liked based on their “emotional attachment.”
Consumers gave iPod — the LEAP Index top-scoring brand — a rating of 61.5 percent. The Postal Service received a score of 47.5 percent and is the only company among its competitors that cracked the list of top 60 brands.
“The most interesting aspect of this survey is it names brands that consumers say they are the least willing to give up,” said Kent Smith, manager, USPS Strategic Business Planning. “Considering that this was an online survey that included people as young as 13, we may still have opportunities to strengthen our connections with these market segments.”
source: USPS News Link – Oct 28, 2010.
USPS To Conduct Two-Part Survey Of Employees and Customers
From the National Association Of Postmasters of the United States (NAPUS)
President Bob Rapoza received on July 20, 2010 a notice from the Postal Service that they will conduct a two-part survey of the employees and customers. The survey is intended to gain insight into people’s perception of the Postal Service brand and how the organization has impacted them. The Postal Service will solicit input from two different groups of 500 randomly selected Postmasters. Employee participation is voluntary. The research will be conducted through two surveys: The first will begin approximately July 26 and is expected to conclude by August 6. The second will begin approximately September 20 and is expected to conclude by October 1.