Postal Survey Results

NNA's Postal Delivery Survey Finds Little Improvement

     A recent survey by the National Newspaper Association shows postal delivery service has not improved over the past year.
       NNA’s third annual Postal Delivery Survey demonstrates that the majority of responding newspapers feel there has been no improvement in the level of delivery service despite the Postal Service’s campaign to improve it.
       The survey represents the responses of approximately eight percent of all newspapers. The survey includes responses from 172 daily newspapers and 525 weekly and multi-weekly newspapers from 37 states and the District of Columbia.
       One result of this continuing problem is that subscriber complaints continue to climb. This year, 96 percent of responding newspapers reported that they receive complaints monthly about delivery problems. In 1999, the number was 90 percent, and in 1983, 83 percent.
      Newspapers are losing revenue because of poor delivery. Seventy-six percent of all newspapers responding stated that subscribers have cancelled their subscriptions because of poor delivery.
      One subscriber from Michigan aptly described the frustration with newspaper delivery: "I get pretty good service, in fact, I get damn good service from the Postal Service, except when it comes to my newspapers."
      Postal delivery remains poor despite an increased level of Postal Service responsiveness to publishers concerns. Ninety-one percent of newspapers report the Postal Service responded to complaints about poor delivery. In the 1999 survey, only 76 percent stated the USPS was responsive to their complaints.
     "This is an unacceptable situation for newspapers that depend on timely delivery at affordable rates," concluded Max Heath, NNA Postal Committee chair.