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[goodcow]

Here in America, we have the USPS, or United States Postal Service, which is a federal entity, but I don't think they get subsidies.

www.usps.com

We have mailboxes every two or three blocks, at least in New York, where you can just stuff letters in, and they get picked up by the USPS and sorted daily. There are also post office buildings themselves, where you have to go to mail anything over a pound I believe. (basically any package, or to obtain extra postal services like insurance)

Delivery is everyday, Monday-Saturday, except holidays.

There are flat mailing rates for first class throughout the fifty states, based on weight incremented by ounce. They also offer "Priority Mail" which is two to three days, and the cost differs by region. They also have overnight delivery options, and of course, international, plus a range of additonal services like delivery confirmation, insurance, certified mail, etc.

So, how do other countries handle mail?

 

[pestul]

In Canada it is pretty much the same as you described.. government run Canada Post. However, they are slow as friggin' hell and are quite pricey.

 

[Crispy]

Here in the Netherlands the post is handled by TPG post, it was once subsidised by the state, but I don't think it is anymore. Every neighbourhood has one or two mailboxes which are emptied two or three times a day. Usually a letter you send before 4 PM arrives at the address the next day, packages can take a day longer. Sending a letter costs about 40 cents, so that's pretty cheap.