Post Mortem

Have you looked at what Canada Post delivers to your door lately? Most of it is advertising. Most bills are sent and paid online. Taxes are completed and submitted online. E-cards, emails, texting, and twittering have replaced letters and cards. UPS, Purolator and similar companies guarantee next day delivery, which Canada Post cannot. Letter carriers earn about $50k per year when flyers can be delivered for minimum wage or acceded online.

Most post offices have closed. Some towns, cities or townships no longer have house to house delivery. If you want stamps you have to go to Shoppers Drug Mart. If you do get a package, it has to be picked up at a Post Office which is located outside one’s neighborhood or in a Shopper’s Drug Mart. Walmart, Costco and Office Depot are working on a deal to take over Post office services in the United States, since it too is shrinking. - So does Canada Post have a future in the age of technology or will it be an exhibit in a future museum.

Sources:

http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/business/article/555243--does-canada-post-have-a-future-in-a-digital-world

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/05/27/136708095/the-post-office-is-about-to-go-bust