Quote:
Originally posted by Sidd Finch
As an aside -- serious question -- since the right always likes to hold out the postal service as the sine qua non of government inefficacy, is there any law or regulation preventing the Fed Exes of the world from offering a service to compete with First Class Mail? I suspect there is not, and that the only reason they don't is that the private sector cannot compete with the post office at this price point (even though -- I believe -- the postal service is entirely self-financed)..... even though it's had since the times of the Pony Express to try. I really would like to know, though, if there is some legal obstacle present.
|
There is a law. I forget the exact text, but it does make illegal the use of expedited courier service for delivery of mail that does not need expedition. Or something like that. The postal inspection unit I believe subpoenaed records from companies using fedex requesting proof that a bunch of fedexes were truly necessary. obviously the case went nowhere.
there's a significant barrier to entry, too. I believe the law prevents the use of mailboxes by anyone other than USPS. If you have a slot in your door, then you're home free. But most people pick up their mail from a box, either at the street, the entrance to their planned community, or their apartment lobby.
