USPS Alcohol Delivery

So Apparently USPS Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe wants to start delivering alcohol. As I think most people know, the postal service has been losing money for a while now, thanks to the internet and social media. This last quarter to the tune of $740 million dollars. Like much of "old media" is, they're now scrambling to figure out how to make money in this super fast, digital world. He claims that the alcohol delivery could raise profits as much as $50 million a year. 

Read the full article from HuffPost here if you wish.

Now obviously there are a few problems with this. As stated in the above article you have the issue of who is going to use it? How many people are going to pay for shipping on something they can go down to the store and buy themselves? Originally I was 100% on board with this. But with companies like Amazon Fresh and Netgrocer becoming popular, there is obviously a demand for perishables being shipped to your door.

Then you have the issue with USPS shipping heavy and fragile items. Let's be honest, the words "fragile" never seem to mean much to USPS. I mean they're not as bad as the standard UPS chuck and run method, but they're not far off. My other concern with USPS is their flawed delivery. Unless you want to spend a whole lot, it tends to take at least a week for delivery. Then when it is delivered, they don't like to leave it on your porch when you're not home. I know there have been a few times that because of conflicting schedules I've had a package at the post office for more than a week because I wasn't home during their office hours. This becomes especially true with alcohol. Legally they're going to need a signature to make sure it's not a 16 year old with his parents credit card. Unlike a new iPhone case or a pair of shoes, I don't think your boss is going to want 5 bottles of wine delivered to your job.

Of course the Huff article pointed out that it may be a good way for people around the country to get location specific micro brews. If they're willing to take the time and money to accommodate shipping and handling.

I think it's an interesting idea, but I'm not sure that it is really going to work or take off in the real world. We live in a world of instant gratification. That's why I pay 80 dollars a year for amazon prime, I want it now. So although online ordering is in huge demand today, it's usually for items that aren't as readably available. Or in this busy world, we just don't have the time to go to the store to get them. But like I said, USPS isn't just going to drop off a case of beer at my house without a signature. Or at least I hope they wouldn't.  

Joe