MYRTLE BEACH--The U.S. Postal Service is moving ahead with plans to end Saturday deliveries with the hopes of cutting costs. If Congress approves the head postmaster's proposal, the change will take effect as early as October.
USPS officials say the move will help the postal service save $3.3 billion a year.
But, around 49,000 people may lose their jobs with the postal service as a result of the changes.
The Myrtle Beach postmaster says the volume of mail delivered nationwide dropped by 13% in 2009 and is expected to fall by 11% this year.
“You have more places to go deliver with less mail to support which means less revenue to do the same thing. We’re required to hit every house every day no matter where and that causes us to have some additional financial burden,” said Bob Bergdorf, Myrtle Beach postmaster officer.
Bergdorf doesn't expect any job cuts in the Myrtle Beach area and thinks most people won't notice much of a difference with Saturday mail being eliminated.
“You have more places to go deliver with less mail to support which means less revenue to do the same thing. We’re required to hit every house every day no matter where and that causes us to have some additional financial burden,” said Bergdorf.
But the move will cause a problem for some people.
“Especially elderly people, I’m in my 60's and a lot of elderly people can get a ride when they can get a ride and people sometimes aren't available to take them except on the weekends,” said Gina Cooper.
“Most people look and welcome the mail carrier every day. I know I’m one of them. I come home, I go out to my box and I think a lot of folks are that way. But, I think we're also a society of what we get used to and I think once after we miss a couple days of not getting a Saturday delivery I think most people will become more accepting of that,” said Bergdorf.
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