Comments on: USPS Mail Shipping Classes Explained

By: Al

Al — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:07:16 +0000

How many days usually take shipping from east coast to west coast (new York to Seattle ) via USPS registered mail?

By: John

John — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:40:08 +0000

My confusion is this.

If you mail a package that is over a pound with a first class label, and it gets treated as priority, how do they get the extra cost from the shipper? Do they?

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:06:08 +0000

UPS is horrible with packages. They say use both hands on package until you reach the surface but when you get to the trucks your lucky if your package isn’t stepped on spit on and torn apart by the loader or unloader. Not to mention what the sorters do to them.

FEDEX seems to handle their packages a little better but not by far.

USPS seems to take better care of your packages than both the other guys.

By: John Hubel

John Hubel — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 18:46:45 +0000

I have also shipped usps priority for many years., We also used UPS for ground between 1994-1999.Then we switched to fedex..

In 2006 we started using the scan form (form 5630) with all our usps daily shipment lots. From that day forward all packages using the online shipping labels were trackable via usps.com track&confirm. This included all our priority mail,parcels and media mail that had the e-delivery confirmation. I have shipped almost 3000 packages in this manner and all had tracking, all but 2 boxes were delivered in the 3 day time limit, the last 2 took 4 days.I did have 1 that took a few days after delivery to show the delivery scan online, this was a situation were several notices were left at a po box.

UPS, yes they handle packages very poorly, their sort facility in Wyoming Michigan would remind someone of a kick-bailer tossing hay bails into a cage-wagon.Packages are routinely dropped 12+ feet into bins on top of other packages.

I have shipped with fedex since late 1999 and had no damage issues.Most of my ground packages are 40 to 125 pounds each.

By: Sergio

Sergio — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 01:37:56 +0000

disregard this comment. the actual weight was 0 lbs 7.4 oz, price matches perfectly the one online. Sorry.

By: Sergio

Sergio — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 01:30:02 +0000

Well, I just came from the the post office here in Lincoln, NE, and shipped a ‘large envelope’ (letter sized) to Texas weighing 1 lb 7.4 oz as ‘First-Class Mail’ for $2.07 using the mailing machine at the post office. Funny things is I checked at USPS website and there is no way to mail it thru First-Class using their online resources. I’d have had to use ‘Priority Mail’ and pay $4,75 for the same envelope. This is more than twice as much so, what’s the catch? Any insights? Thanks.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:03:20 +0000

I send a lot of stuff Priority, and have usually things arrive in the estimated 2-3 days, however there are the occasional times when something takes 2-3 weeks to go and I can’t understand why.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:01:00 +0000

Just wanted to comment on this because the UPS worker that delivers packages to my work, where we ship packages regularly, is amazing. I don’t think ‘anyone off the street’ would go above and beyond like he has for us many times. Crappy people and awesome people probably work for both places. UPS and USPS are great, depending on what you need it for.

Great article by the way!

By: Phil Williams

Phil Williams — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:41:40 +0000

Hi,
I have been shipping packages with USPS for over 12 years in my business. Shipping classes have changed over the years, and costs have risen, however, you need to correct a couple of points. You can ship items weighing 13 ounces or less by First Class Mail. Items weighing OVER 13 ounces go by Priority Mail. There is no “break” at 16 ounces.

You need to understand that the number assigned by USPS for shipping on-line is NOT a tracking number…it is only a delivery confirmation number. That’s a HUGE difference…while sometimes you can see package movement by “tracking” the package, it’s not consistent, and doesn’t mean very much. For overseas shipments, I’ve lost enough
First Class Mail packages to now have eliminating it from my mail selections…

Finally, First Class Mail items MAY end up being delivered at the same time as a Priority Box, but having spoken to a number of postal workers, there is no consolidation of shipping that includes First Class and Priority Mail in the same shipment.

I started using Endicia as my shipping program, and ALWAYS get a confirmation number for First Class, Priority and Express in the US and Priority and Express for International. Good Luck!
Best,
Phil

By: Sandor Kassar

Sandor Kassar — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:49:20 +0000

I have had reasonably good luck from Hong Kong, but their postal service confuses me. Two identical packages can be sent the same day to the same address in the US; one might get there
by the next day (actually a day and a half travel because of time zones) while the other may take ten days. This has happened.

It almost makes me wonder if you need to tape a small envelope with money in it to your package and label it “a bribe in appreciation for your expediting my package.” Ha ha -just kidding about that, but the delivery time does vary greatly. (Could it be random Customs Inspections?

By: Sandor Kassar

Sandor Kassar — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:39:53 +0000

The only consider you if you have passed the Civil Service exam. (My older brother was a mail carrier, and that is how he had to get the job.)

By: Sandor Kassar

Sandor Kassar — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:36:59 +0000

>saladdin, that makes it sound like a VERY good reason for never sending anything but a cast iron bed-frame via UPS. I think I will stick with the Post Office. At least they are responsible. I think UPS hires anyone off the street, but the Post Office carriers have to pass Civil Service.

By: Ava Wilson

Ava Wilson — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 06:38:41 +0000

Lesson to remember always: When buying internationally, be willing to invest and pay, for official tracking services. Don’t buy from a seller who refuses to take the trouble to obtain tracking, and insurance coverage if you wish.

USPS is very reliable and quite honest, but in my own opinion, once mail matter leaves its hands overseas, it loses control of whatever happens next…..or what doesn’t happen, such as delivery.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:40:35 +0000

it takes me longer and time off work to go to PO to pick the letter up

By: ANXIETY

ANXIETY — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:33:02 +0000

i must say this post has relieved some anxiety. i sent a registered box 50lbs and its taking almost 2 weeks, priority mail.