Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 28, 1993 TAG: 9307280040 SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short
But a congressional report says the offer was, well, two-faced, and the program was more two-bit than customers imagined.
In fact, the report says, 34 million pieces of "priority" mail took three days or more to deliver during a three-month period that ended March 5.
That accounted for 23 percent of the mail in the program; the rest arrived on time.
People whose letters or packages arrived late got no refunds.
"I would call Priority Mail a delivery commitment, but not a guarantee," Postal Service spokeswoman Robin Minard said Monday.
But in its report, the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, said the Postal Service wrongly implied that on-time delivery was ensured.
The GAO cited bold "Two Day Priority Mail" lettering on envelopes, and a Postal Service advertising slogan that declared, "2 plus 2 plus $2.90." The minimum rate for the service is $2.90 for 2 pounds or less, with the price increasing as the weight mounts.
by CNB