Small ideas for a much better world

by on April 17, 2009 at 1:18 pm in Political Science | Permalink

If you wait in the line in the post office (well, at least the one branch I visited) in Lisbon, they take advantage of your time.  They have out on display books and CDs as overpriced "impulse buys."  We bought one.

Here is one (American) rumination on waiting in line at the post office.

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Gore April 17, 2009 at 1:40 pm

It is items like this that make me think this blog should change it’s name to
Panglossian Revolution

Ironman April 17, 2009 at 1:47 pm

And here’s a link to three entrepreneurial ideas, one of which is designed to make waiting in line at a U.S. post office a thing of the past:

Our second idea for entrepreneurs is ripped right from the headlines. With post offices around the country seeking to “improve” service by removing clocks and take-a-number dispensers from their service lobbies, why not operate a business out of the post office whose purpose is to provide people with the option of doing the actual waiting in line for them?

We think this kind of service will prove popular with those for whom time is more valuable than the post office thinks it is and would very well be willing to pay someone else to do it for them. We could even go “high tech” and use the latest electronic beeper things that restaurants use to let customers know that they’re next to be served!

Daniel Klein April 17, 2009 at 3:12 pm

In Sweden, every bank, post-office, (government) liquor store, (government) pharmacy and like services has take-a-number.

In the US, — well, you know —

Maybe we need nationalized health care, like the Swedes, because only then will Americans become sufficiently socialized such that American civil servants will have that public-spirited, cooperative knack, exemplified by Swedes, to establish take-a-number in the post office, etc.

You know, the Swedes were just atomistic Hobbesian brutes until the ballooning of the welfare state in second half the 20th century. The welfare state is the secret source of their social virtues.

Joao April 17, 2009 at 11:39 pm

I just found a new reason to live in my country! Ahah.

Nevertheless, I should point out that our post service does not work as brilliantly as their offices shine, even though their quality of service and professionalism was greatly boosted in the last four or five years. I do not know precisely when this happened but, if I recall correctly, the government started to franchise (in a way) post offices a few years ago and both infra-structures and human resources started being more reliable. AS a consequence of the private ownership of the offices, you can find all those displays of books, CDs, magazines, etc. Greater offer and profit, barely any extra effort besides restocking.

Andrew April 18, 2009 at 1:57 am

Yes, I’m optimistic. Maybe the consumer staples will take off and they can shut down the letters and package department.

Carl anderson April 18, 2009 at 11:32 pm

check out this blog full of useful business and marketing info

AVERATEC Laptop Battery May 18, 2009 at 10:50 am

t is items like this that make me think this blog should change it’s name to

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