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I think that law dates back decades. I don't think it applies to non USPS carriers though. That said my Google-fu is weak against this particular law.
by mistercow 14y ago
I think that law dates back decades. I don't think it applies to non USPS carriers though. That said my Google-fu is weak against this particular law.
- Spooky23 14y agoIt's not a postal thing, I believe it's common law. If someone ships you something unsolicited, you are under no obligation to return the item or make payment.
- mistercow 14y agoAha! "Unsolicited" was the missing piece in the Google puzzle. It's actually not common law. It's 39 USC § 3009: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/39/3009 http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/39/3009, and was passed in the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. I believe this was originally in response to shoe manufacturers mailing people shoes and then invoicing for them if they weren't sent back. As for whether it applies to non-USPS shipments, I have strong doubts. The law says "mail", and my understanding is that because the USPS is a protected monopoly, non-USPS carriers are explicitly not mail services.