LETTERS IN VIEW : ‘Periodical Problem’ Brings Readers’ Postal Complaints

We are a book publisher in Claremont, the eastern edge of Los Angeles County. We have shipped a book via fourth class book rate mail on a Friday and had it arrive in Syracuse, N.Y. on Monday. Nationally, the Post Office is capable of great service at present rates and staffing.

Why then is Los Angeles service so poor? Complaints have been pouring in to us recently because books have not reached customers in Los Angeles, only 25 miles away, more than three weeks after we mail them. Unfortunately, we can’t solve the Los Angeles delay problem by sending via first class mail, as one of our first class letters recently took eight days to get to Long Beach.

I’d like some real accounting from Los Angeles Post Office management, and not more whining about volume. Problems aren’t solved by complaining about what is; problems are solved by adjusting procedures to match that reality.

H.A. TONY HYMAN

Claremont