# Why is the U.S. Postal Service helping to publicize movies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 3, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-u-s-postal-service-helping-to-publicize-movies/292787 "2005-03-03T19:19:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-u-s-postal-service-helping-to-publicize-movies/292787/1 "2005-03-03T19:19:25Z")
They have these cancel marks for movies like [Robots](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358082/) and [Shrek 2](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298148/). It seems inappropriate to me for them to be doing this. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-u-s-postal-service-helping-to-publicize-movies/292787/2 "2005-03-03T19:26:25Z")
The USPS endorses a lot of products. They used to sponsor Lance Armstrong’s team in the Tour de France. The USPS is almost an entirely private organization. There is some government involvement, but the USPS is expected to turn a profit. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-u-s-postal-service-helping-to-publicize-movies/292787/3 "2005-03-03T19:28:31Z")
According to [this site](http://www.postalemployeenetwork.com/may2004-news.htm), it’s “part of an ongoing promotional campaign with DreamWorks that aims to mold public perception of the Postal Service as cutting-edge.” ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-u-s-postal-service-helping-to-publicize-movies/292787/4 "2005-03-03T19:28:31Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > It seems inappropriate to me for them to be doing this. Inappropriate? Why? Could it be that they’re getting paid to help advertise the movies. That’s fine by me if it offsets prices. Haj ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-u-s-postal-service-helping-to-publicize-movies/292787/5 "2005-03-03T20:02:00Z")
You don’t really think it only costs $.37 to ship a letter across the country, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-u-s-postal-service-helping-to-publicize-movies/292787/6 "2005-03-03T20:22:18Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > The USPS endorses a lot of products. They used to sponsor Lance Armstrong’s team in the Tour de France. > > The USPS is almost an entirely private organization. There is some government involvement, but the USPS is expected to turn a profit. No, the Postal Service is a _government-owned corporation_. It’s budget is entirely separate from the government, but its services and the rates for those services are defined by commissions and boards appointed by the president and Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-u-s-postal-service-helping-to-publicize-movies/292787/7 "2005-03-03T21:30:34Z")
I read the title as “why is the U.S. Postal Service helping to publicize moves?” and thought (with significant irritation) why shouldn’t they? they want people to get their mail in a timely manner as much as anyone else does!