Passing the Baton

I've always seen the United States Postal Service a something completely separate from UPS or FedEx.  Granted, they've always done the same thing, but in a leg race, FedEx would come in first, UPS second and USPS third.  

I'm always sort of entertained by the length of time it can take items to process through the USPS.  I understand there are funding problems and, I'm sure, all sorts of other reasons.  But, basically, anytime a package of mine has been due for delivery, I've preferred FedEx or UPS.  They are simply more predictable, and to use one of the modern-day buzz words of America, they are transparent.  You can track them  as they bump their way from spot to spot, and now, you can even receive an e-mail or text confirming that they've finally bumped their way to your doorstep.

Recently, I wrote a post about my daily subscription to the Wall Street Journal, highlighting how impressed I was by the USPS's ability to get my newspaper to me the same day that it was magically dropped at the local post office.  Yesterday, though, this fascination was further compounded when a package I was expecting that had been en route for a couple of days via UPS was confirmed as having been "delivered to local post office."  I thought I was reading it wrong at first, but after a second glance, I confirmed my first reading of the information.  So, immediately, the question arose in my mind:  why would one major delivery logistics company drop my package off to someone else on the last leg of its journey?  And, besides that main question, why would UPS, the more successful runner of the race, pass the baton to the loser?

I was skeptical about whether my package would really get here, as predicted.  But, alas, the mail lady arrived, box in hand, and the final leg of the race was a success.  Still, I can't help thinking repeatedly...how strange is this part of the delivery logistics?!  It would sort of be like a rock star specialist surgeon, passing the scalpel just before the successful completion of a surgery to the "general surgeon."  Who wants the general surgeon to be their closer?

I'm guessing this either has to do with:

• (Idealistic Reason) the problems of layoffs at the USPS, and UPS's partnering efforts to prevent further ones; or
• (Cynical Reason) UPS capitalizing in the end by avoiding the most expensive part of the delivery process, which would be employing the driver who would have to drive his big loud UPS truck, which gets a 1/2 mile to the gallon, to my house, thereby allowing the poor schmuck of a mail lady to handle the final stage of execution since she was going to be stopping by anyhow.  

I'm still baffled about how UPS can drop a mail item off in the morning and ensure it's delivered, via USPS, that same day.  It's usually any one's guess when one drops a letter or bill in the mail as to when it will actually arrive at its destination.  This passing of the baton trick has made me wonder if there's a special bay somewhere at the post office where I could drop my rent off on the frequent occasions that I remember it's the day before or day that it's due.