Post office to be sold off

[northernladuk]

I can't remember the last time I had a twice a day delivery from the RM and to be honest I'd barely notice if it went down to once every 2 days for regular mail.

But would you notice if it stopped altogether and you had to pay to get anything at all?

[northernladuk]

You're saying the government are better at running things than the private sector?

Different arguments. Efficiency wise then absolutely not but it is committed to a fair service for all. Private sector aims for profit first and foremost. This has been clearly demonstrated by the comments about rural locations not getting a service.

Question is, would the government be better at giving a fair service to all than private sector and the answer would have to be yes.

[SueEllen]

You're saying the government are better at running things than the private sector?

Depends on what it is -

London Buses are run fine and the number of people taking buses in the London area has increased. The buses are all run by private companies like Stagecoach but the central control and planning is done by TFL, government.

The train franchises that ended back in government hands were run efficiently but the government (labour and the condems) supressed the news so they could put them back in private hands.

[AtW]

Post Office is not a very attractive asset even if they did not have unions calling the shots there.

Anybody who wants to invest into a modern efficient delivery company should be buying Amazon shares.

HTH

[Old Hack]

Is it a no brainer to buy shares when they get issued? I heard news of a website somewhere?

[d000hg]

I don't know why but since postage costs have gone up and some competition has been introduced I've found the postal service to be shockingly bad.

It seems great to me. A 1st-class letter nearly always reaches its destination the next day, I can organise door-to-door courier service of a large heavy item for very little, the postman comes the same time every day, etc.

[lukemg]

Service will remain the same - adequate.
Please tell me ANY public sector org that can be held up as value for money, efficient, lean etc ?

This has been an expensive running sore for gvmt for years and has been freshly fattened for sell-off (increase in stamp price, hiving off of existing pension liability), defo needs a private sector sort out and yes there will be grief and job losses.
Give shares to workers and let them fill boots if they want more - good shout, makes them one of the 'us' and more committed.
Anyway - WGAS, can I make any money from this ? - probably yes as they will be determined to make this be seen as a 'success' and pitch it relatively cheap, as with most of the other sell-off's and since it was essentially free, any cash back is profit and they usually retain a chunk just in case it takes off/further sell off when the market price settles.
SO - I will be filling my boots at sell-off time but unlikely to keep them longterm.....

GLA