The USPS wants to save $3 billion a year by moving from 6-day delivery to 5 days. It took its case to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on Tuesday, as is required by law whenever it seeks a nationwide change in service. The union of letter carriers is not pleased, however, and the NALC created its own website to counter the one launched by the USPS to make its case for 5-day delivery.

NALC President Fredric V. Rolando said the USPS website offers misleading information regarding its plan to cut Saturday collection and mail delivery services. "The arrogance of the Postal Service in this campaign to lobby the public to embrace five-day delivery as the answer to the Postal Service's problem is astounding," he said. "Given that Congress has shown very little interest in eliminating Saturday service and must approve any change, the Postal Service should focus its energies on real solutions, not risky and counterproductive service cuts."

The USPS said there was no longer enough mail to sustain six days of delivery: ten years ago, the average household received five pieces of mail every day; today, it receives four pieces; and by 2020, that number will fall to three. "It's five days of delivery, six days of service and Express Mail seven days a week," Postmaster General Jack Potter said, adding that postal processing operations would continue on a seven-day schedule.

It remains to be seen how business mailers would react to rate increases and a reduced delivery schedule, but such changes would likely have a major impact on small retailers and online sellers.