[MR] Acorn delays

[E L Wimett]

Well, it does appear to depend partially on the direction from which things
come into D.C. which may be what is in play here.  (This is based on
discussions with the Smithsonian and the Naval Historical Center on their
mail experiences.)

Alisoun who is SICK of her museum having to pay for FedEx for paperwork to
D.C.

-----Original Message-----
From: atlantia-bounces at atlantia.sca.org
[mailto:atlantia-bounces at atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of Dave Montuori
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 7:07 PM
To: The Merry Rose at Cheapside
Subject: Re: [MR] Acorn delays

Scripsit Thomas:
> So, let me see if I understand SOME of the essential points...

[much snippage]

> Those of us who live within 100 miles of the nation's capitol seem to 
> have a choice between getting used to the regular late arrival of the 
> Acorn, or paying an extra $10 a year for first class postage and getting 
> used to the regular late arrival of the Acorn. (Hellooooooo Hobson.)

I've got a problem with blaming it entirely on the DC area postal mess; I 
believe that *some* of the oppobrium must fall on the Charlotte area USPS 
as well.

You see, I do have a first class subscription to the Acorn. Have had it 
for a dozen years. I also subscribe to the Pikestaff and AEstel (East and 
AEthelmearc respectively) and get both of those *bulk* class.

The basic processes and dates of producing the newsletters aren't much 
different, so the biggest difference between them is the city from which 
each is mailed. And yet, the AEstel *regularly* shows up a couple of days 
*before* the Acorn. Yes, bulk mail from place A shows up before 
first-class mail from place B, and place A is not usefully closer to DC 
than place B.

(BTW, the Pikestaff is far worse on average than either Aestel or Acorn as 
far as when it shows up -- usually 1-2 weeks behind the Acorn.)

I have worked for two Atlantian Kingdom Chroniclers in the last ten years, 
and I appreciate the job that the Chronicler and her staff are doing. I 
wish to cast no aspersions on them; it's the USPS that seems to be behind 
most of the delays.

One potentially useful question: Have people noticed delivery delays 
getting worse over time (by which I'm talking several years)?

Evan


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