Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
I don't know if that's the case in the US - perhaps someone can tell us?
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Yes and no.
The current pricing scheme at USPS revolves around a handful of fixed-price boxes and envelopes. "If it fits, it ships."
http://www.practicalecommerce.com/ar...Rate-Shipping-
Everything else pays based on size, weight, distance, and shipping method (aka, priority). Some places can only receive mail by air or ferry (it's not just Hawaii and Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. There's also a ton of coastal island communities and small rural communities deep in the often neglected "flyover country" which only get ground deliveries.)
On the digital side, plenty of sparsely populated areas are limited to wireless or satellite internet or even dialup. Often at very high prices.
Not everybody lives in a major metro area with all the conveniences and low prices of highly competitive markets. Sometimes availability is the key issue. Sometimes the choice is between high local prices and a hundred mile round trip to save a few bucks.