3 ms·

All you're really stating is that if the USPS disappeared, everything would be just fine and FedEx and/or UPS might even start accepting letters with 5 day deli

All you're really stating is that if the USPS disappeared, everything would be just fine and FedEx and/or UPS might even start accepting letters with 5 day delivery times for less than 45 cents instead of $10+ they currently charge for approx. 3 day delivery times. (Of course, the actual service would be totally unlike what the USPS provides.) I remain unconvinced. I would like to see wage comparisons between FedEx/UPS delivery personnel vs. USPS carriers. I doubt there is a ludicrous expense difference.

glenra 15y ago
We don't need USPS to disappear. We just need it to be legally allowed to undercut the post office. So long as it is illegal for FedEx to deliver envelopes to your home slowly (because that would indicate it's not "urgent") or for less than a price of "$3 or twice the First Class Mail rate, whichever is larger", it's not fair to criticize them for specializing in the sort of quick, expensive service which is the only type of service they're allowed to engage in. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Express_Statutes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Express_Statutes The last time a private firm was allowed to freely compete on regular mail delivery was 1844, but at that time the post office charged 12 cents for a stamp and the new firm was able to make a profit charging 5 cents for delivery anywhere in the country while providing free local delivery as a bonus. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Letter_Mail_Company http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Letter_Mail_Company