If every penalty, foul or bad call in a sports contest went against the same team, that would be unfair.
In all likelihood the unscathed team would win every time.
Everybody wants to win, but everyone also wants to be treated fairly.
Forgive the continued sports analogies, but that’s the kind of unlevel playing field potentially facing those who now, or may in the future, use the United States Postal Service for bulk mailing. Unless their name is Valassis.
The USPS is proposing giving Vallasis a better deal than anyone else for mailing bulk advertising to postal customers. That’s unfair to Mom and Pop stores who may choose the mail for getting a message or coupon out, and it’s certainly unfair to other companies who also mail coupons and other advertising pieces for their clients. Valassis would be in a monopoly position.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Local newspapers that contain inserted advertising and use the USPS as a distribution vehicle also would be at a huge disadvantage.
Under a national service agreement proposed by the USPS, Vallasis would get lower mailing rates of between 22 and 36 percent. The proposed agreement is not just unfair, it’s anti-competitive.
Many newspapers use the postal service for delivery of out-of-area newspapers, and a lot of small community papers use the USPS exclusively for home delivery. If the proposed agreement with Vallasis becomes reality, newspapers will be forced to make alternative arrangements for products that are now mailed. It could mean an end to home delivery — at least through the mail — of newspapers everywhere. If newspapers are forced to make other arrangements, it will contribute further to the financial woes the postal service has experienced. Nobody wants that.
The proposal is designed to take pre-printed advertising supplements out of newspapers and into the mail using the Vallasis-only discount.
Newspapers are historically important for reporting and delivering news to consumers. Advertising supports that enterprise by helping newspapers afford reporters, photographers and editors to gather and report the news.
Valassis provides no news or features, employs no reporters or editors and merely delivers advertising pieces to consumers.
It has been widely reported that the USPS is under significant revenue strains, but the tough economic environment extends to others, including Mom and Pop businesses and, yes, newspapers.
This sweetheart deal is inherently unfair.
We urge elected officials in Washington to let the USPS know that creating a monopoly for Vallasis is an unfair business practice and that attempting to recover economically on the backs of other businesses that use their service is reprehensible.
We respectfully ask the USPS to withdraw its proposed national service agreement with Vallasis. What’s fair is fair, and this proposal isn’t.