Alternate Postal Delivery Law and Legal Definition
Alternate postal delivery refers to a mail delivery service other than the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). It is also called private delivery. Alternate postal delivery is available only for first-class mail, and only through certain carriers, because federal statutes grant a limited monopoly to the U.S. Postal Service on delivering this mail.
Alternatives to first-class mail includes federal express mail and other express delivery services like airlines. However, none of these carriers has access to mailboxes. Many alternatives exist for delivery of other classes of mail, such as:
1. Independent carriers who deliver door-to-door, leaving catalogs, brochures, magazines, and product samples at the addressee's front door.
2. Parcel post is handled by such alternate delivery services as United Parcel Service and Emery Air Freight.
