Why Door to Door Postal Delivery Might Come To An End

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A committee in the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill that would eliminate door to door mail delivery, but some people in Wisconsin don’t want to see it go.

Getting rid of door to door postal delivery is just one money saving measure included in the Postal Reform Act of 2013, introduced by Rep. Darrel Issa (R-Calif). Issa says by having mail carriers deliver to curbside boxes and what are called “clusterboxes,” which have slots for numerous homes, the Postal Service can save $4 billion. Issa’s bill contends that 70 percent of the nation already gets its mail this way.

Outside Eau Claire’s post office downtown, the idea didn’t get much praise. Tracy Lundberg, of Osseo, says she feels something would be lost if carriers stopped going to her door. “I, personally as a homeowner, I really enjoy the door to door delivery,” she said. “It’s just a more personalized way of getting mail.”

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Joanne Miles of Eau Claire says there could be safety issues if elderly or disabled people have to venture out to get their mail. “Well, it’d be alright in the summertime,” she said, “but in the winter time, when you’re in your mid-80s, to go out with the snow five feet deep… it’d be kind of hard.”

Exemptions are included in the proposal that would allow people with hardships to get waivers and keep door to door delivery.

For some, like Leah Myers, there would be no change at all because she already gets mail in a clusterbox at her Eau Claire apartment. “If it cuts cost and keeps our postal service the way it currently does I think it’s beneficial.”

Last year the Postal Service reported $16 billion in losses as more people move online for transactions. The U.S. Postal Service says it looks forward to working with Issa on the bill.