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Microsoft Promotions Turn Up in USPS Offices

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the public-display-of-affection dept.

Several readers, like this Anonymous Coward, have written with links to a letter from Cliff Crouch on macintouch.com. "I stumbled across this letter submitted to a web site I frequent. Apparently Microsoft has promotional displays with free WindowsXP promotional software in U.S. Post Offices."

3 of 496 comments (clear)

  1. The USPS *does* represent the government by ChrisCampbell47 · · Score: 4, Informative
    The Post Office isn't some holy place, it's barely connected with the government

    The post office is the sole official physical presence of the U.S. federal government countrywide.

    Where do you go to "register" for the Selective Service (the draft)? The post office.

    Where do you go to get federal tax forms? The post office is required to supply them.

    Sure, some municipalities may have an FBI or ATF branch office, or even a Secret Service office, but the USPS is the main federal presence in EVERY town. It is the face of the US Government for most.

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    One simple rule for its versus it's
  2. Re:so what? by FattMattP · · Score: 5, Informative
    The Post Office isn't some holy place, it's barely connected with the government, and hasn't received any tax dollars since Nixon. It's basically a private organization.
    Whether it has received any tax dollars or not is irrelevant. It's part of the government. Did you notice their domain was usps.gov? Did you know that it is illegal to attempt to compete against the USPS with mail delivery under the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 39, Chapter 1, Sec. 310.2, paragraph (a)? Those regulations are only suspended for mail that is considered "urgent" and "critial" but only if it's being delivered more than 50 miles away from where it's sent. In those cases, companies can compete but they are required by law to charge more than the USPS would, even if the USPS can do it cheaper. Read about it in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 39, Chapter 1, Sec. 320.6, paragraph (c). Did you know that the Postal Service is exempt from property taxes? They are exempt from parking tickets as well. They even have their own law enforcement branch with badges and guns.

    Sounds like government to me, warts and all.

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    Prevent email address forgery. Publish SPF records for y
  3. "Postal Ad Network" by Animats · · Score: 5, Informative
    The U.S. Postal Service now sells advertising space. They call it the "Postal Ad Network". The USPS writes:
    • Success Sells.

      For over 200 years, the United States Postal Service is the brand that has been built on trust and service.

      Now we're selling our unique space. Think of us as your Multi-channel Communications Service. Marketers can get the visibility and reach through the Postal Ad Network.

      Place your big message on our trucks, collection boxes and even in our postal facilities. Or small space ads on our stamp packages and banner ads on our website.

    So it may get worse; there may be Microsoft ads on USPS trucks next.

    There's opposition to the USPS selling out like this.