alternate delivery

Mail delivery service other than the U.S. Postal Service; also called private delivery. Alternate delivery is available for First-Class mail 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 include Federal Express and other express delivery services, and some major airlines. However, none of these carriers has access to mailboxes. Many alternatives exist for delivery of other classes of mail, such as independent carriers who deliver door-to-door, leaving catalogs, brochures, magazines, and product samples at the addressee's front door. As much as 80% of standard mail (B) (parcel post) is handled by such alternate delivery services as United Parcel Service and Emery Air Freight. Alternate delivery can be accomplished via a label attached to the mailing piece or a set of addressed cards given to the carrier and indicating the addresses.