Monopolize THIS!

For those who don't know, the United States Postal Service is by law the ONLY legal way to send "first-class" mail. First-class mail has fairly exact definitions, but the easiest way to put it is that any two sheets of 8.5" X 11" pieces of paper folded inside a "letter size" envelope fits the description. In other words, most of what gets put in your mailbox is in some form considered "first-class" mail, and the USPS has a monopoly on delivery of it. UPS, FedEx, DHL, and any other "delivery" company is prohibited from competing with the US Post Office in delivery of these types of communication. So, last week it was with great unease that I made changes to my bank of record for payroll direct-deposit, because that would require my company to issue me a "live" check for one pay period while they "pre-post" my new account. That live check would be in the clutches of the 800,000 employees of the USPS, and the fine service they provide. Wednesday, December 1st, my company had the USPS pick up all the outgoing first-class mail from our Dover, NH printing facility. Expected delivery times for ALL first-class mail from-to anywhere in the continental United States is two to three postal business days starting on the date mailed. So, into the USPS on Wednesday, delivery expected by Friday. Good luck with that. So, on Monday December 6th, when my check has still not arrived, I started calling my companies Human Resources people. I continued calling through Wednesday, December 8th because the script reading call center HR robots just kept spewing the same crap. "We can put a "stop" on the check on December 8th, and reissue the check which will then be mailed via the US Postal Service". Ahhh, NO! Last night, FedEx shows up at my house. I'm not expecting a delivery. It's an overnight package from some pump company in the city I live in, Olathe, KS. I open the very slim FedEx package, and pull out an envelope. My paycheck! Seems the legally sanctioned mob with a monopoly on delivery of first-class mail can't tell the difference between my home address, and the address of Grundfos Pump USA. I can see it. I mean Grundfos USA has an address on W. 118th Terr., Olathe, KS and mine is kind of similar in that it has alphabetical characters. N. Logan St. Olathe, KS. Wow, it's scarey how alike those look! And seriously, I don't see how missing the delivery location by a mere 4 miles should be considered sub-standard customer service. It was fairly close. If you use atomic blast zone radii as a measuring standard. Oh, and that 2-3 postal days for delivery of first-class mail... yeah, it took 6 postal days to be delivered to the wrong fucking address. I can't wait to see how well run this health care system will be. As long as they have to use the USPS for sending bills... we might never get them!