Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Postal flea markets

The ideas keep rolling in. One reader wrote in with this intriguing idea:

"What do you think about opening postal parking lots on Sundays for flea markets?  We could charge up to $25 per parking space or even more. The money could go to cover expenses of outside maintenance on our facilities or other operating expenses."

Do you like it? Comment here.

Or maybe you have your own Big Idea? Send it here.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Using unused space is always a positive!

Anonymous said...

Probably a good idea for some offices, but we need to check on liability, zoning, etc. Would we need to hire an off-duty police officer to keep order and handle emergencies?

Merk said...

I think it's a good idea, but it would have to be cleared with the law department to check how policies prohibiting solicitation, etc. on postal property are worded. If they could correct it so those policies only apply to business days (when the post office is open for business) then it might work. We'd also have to be careful not to appear as if we show favoritism to certain vendors or businesses. The postmasters at the offices would also have to realize it might create more trash in lobbies if they are unlocked on Sunday, as well as in the parking lot, so the revenue would have to be compared to the expense of cleaning up afterwards.

Anonymous said...

A few questions:

What about liability?

Would this have to be staffed? How many people? Do they get OT/Sunday premium?

If the parking lot is full of vendors, where do the potential customers park?

Finally, is there really much demand for this?

Anonymous said...

This is a great idea, but it wouldn't work in every location. My office is leased space in a building that also houses a store and a civic organization (lodge). For free-standing facilities, it would work but there would have to be someone postal there to oversee the whole thing.

Anonymous said...

If it makes us money, let's go for it!

Anonymous said...

OMG!!! who thought of this? have we resorted to being parking attendants now, why don't we get rid of some of the hire ups that make over 20.00 an hour and get rid of some of the lil post offices only running 2-3 hours a day? shouldn't we look at ourselves inside instead of looking outside thats like having someone in your life so you can change them and not yourself it don't work.

Anonymous said...

We are talking about renting out our parkling lot space, not having postal people run the show!! Usually their is a individual or activity that sponsors/sets up these things. So no Sunday staffing or OT. As far as liablity, I'm sure our legal staff could come up with disclaimers that can be used and signed. We can also make the sponsors committ to clean up when they are done. Failure to do so would result in no more markets. Come on people, lets think outside the box....and stop allowing the Postal red tape to stop our thinking. It's time for the legal eagles to cut up so much of this red tape and let's get creative!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE the idea! At our location, we have huge parking lots on all 4 sides of the building. I would even participate to get rid of some of my "good junk".

Anonymous said...

Most of the offices I've worked in don't really have parking other than the dock area. And that would interfere with the Sunday delivery schedule. We park across the street in the chiropractor's parking lot in my town and most of the towns I work in it's similiar - parking on the street usually.

Anonymous said...

Sure, why not. It might not work in some metropolitan areas, but it could work in mid-sized offices.

Anonymous said...

If u staff the office correctly with Maintenance staff per CBA contract you wouldnt have to ,than u could use the funds to hire more bodys.. for other crafts.. But u should charge highway contractors & vehicle maintenance contractors who use all grounds to either store the truck or work on private vehicles for profit on the premise..

Anonymous said...

We can't even have the local newspaper machines on Postal property anymore because it's a "vending" machine. I do think, tho, that by opening up lawns or parking lots for community functions would be terrific, especially in the small towns. But that will never happen because of all the rules and regs.