Comments on: USPS Mail Shipping Classes Explained

By: Jenna

Jenna — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:51:44 +0000

I don’t know how old this article is, but the USPS changed their regulations in 2007. Anything over 13 oz. cannot be 1st class. 16 oz. is the old regulations. So basically, if you need to send a letter or card to a friend, priority is the same as first class, with the exception that priority gives you tracking info. Anything over 13 oz. needs to be brought to the post office directly and delivered as a “package” which can be which ever method you choose. You can send a package first class, and it will be delivered with the normal mail. Priority is guarenteed within 2-3 business days, which could be the same length of time for regular mail, depending on where you send it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:21:16 +0000

I sent a big box priority via usps from NJ to PA and Janauary 21st (last Wednesday) and my daughter still have not received it as of to date January 27th.

By: Ana

Ana — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:40:55 +0000

I wish I had read this before sending some things…

Out of the last four times (within a time frame of 2 months) that I’ve sent something priority, this is what happened:

One envelope took 5 days to reach its destination.
Another envelope made it within 2 days.
Another envelope took 12 days to reach the destination.
The last one still hasn’t reached the destination (a 3 hour drive from me) and it’s been 21 days.

Priority has proven to be a waste of money to me.

Let me not get started on USPS’s customer service…

Author, thanks for the useful information.

By: Ellen braggenheim schneider

Ellen braggenheim schneider — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:14:32 +0000

What the heck is Media Mail. Post office employees put these in separate boxes. Delivery is about ten to fourteen days.

sent my application for a job to the post office in White plains NY. Never heard from them again. If they are short handed maybe they can contact me. I would love a Federal Job.

By: USPS Certified Mail

USPS Certified Mail — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:00:18 +0000

USPS Certified Mail provides the mailer two receipts. The first is proof of mailing or acceptance by USPS and the second is proof of letter delivery. USPS Certified Mail is used primarily as business mail and is commonly used when a receipt or ‘proof’ of mailing is required by State Law or mandate.

By: saladdin

saladdin — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:20:08 +0000

All I know is that my best friend drives for UPS and says that writing Fragile on a box only pisses them off and will guarantee the guys sorting packages will try to make a 30 yard field goal with your box.

saladdin

By: Poolis

Poolis — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:49:20 +0000

I worked as a USPS carrier for a summer.

1. Priority Mail is justly named, as carriers and post masters treat it differently than First Class, Parcel Post, Media Mail, etc.

2. First Class mail over 1 lb does not exist, so saying they travel together is misleading.

By: jim

jim — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:18:44 +0000

Yep, except the under 16 oz packages that are marked as Priority cost more and have a Priority Mail sticker.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:00:22 +0000

Hmm.. so Jim, you’re saying that if over 16oz, they ALL go as Priority. If under 16oz, they ALL go as 1st class.

So no matter how heavy they are, they ALL go together, right?

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:48:48 +0000

Priority Mail is not the same thing as first class. The reason I say this is because first class letters take 3 or more days to make it from me in Denver to my parents in South Florida (or coming the opposite way), but if I use Priority Mail it gets there in 2 days every time. I understand that Priority is not guaranteed, but it’s always been faster for me for that distance.

By: jim

jim — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:08:13 +0000

Richard: According to what the post office worker told me, Priority Mail packages that are under 16 oz will travel with the 1st Class packages marked 1st Class, everything over 16 oz. will travel together as Priority. There’s honestly nothing special about priority mail over 1st class.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:46:26 +0000

OK, now I’m confused.

You say this: “any package over a pound is automatically considered priority mail even if you want to do it first class”…

But then you say this: “If you have something that less than 16 oz. and you ask for Priority Mail, you’re paying more for the sticker”.

Are you saying then that First Class and Priority Mail travel together REGARDLESS of weight?

By: S. Johnson

S. Johnson — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:40:04 +0000

Also, with registered, you have to go into the Post Office, or branch thereof. You can do the rest of these from the comfort of your desk.