USPS VS UPS VS FedEx: Which Shipping Carrier Is Best?
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Shipping is a difficult problem for any merchant to work out. With three major shipping carriers to choose from — and different priority mail and flat rate options offered by each carrier — it can be difficult to know which service you should use for your shipments.
Never fear! We’ve researched the advantages and disadvantages of each of the three major shipping services, and we’ve asked merchants to tell us about their own experiences with UPS (United Parcel Service), FedEx, and USPS (United States Postal Service). Keep reading to compare shipping rates and learn what each shipping carrier does well and where they can improve. We hope you’ll keep this information in mind as you explore your fulfillment options.
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Table of Contents
USPS
The United States Postal Service stands apart on this list as a shipping carrier that is actually a government agency. The USPS bears the unique responsibility of providing postal services to all residents of the United States, pledging that “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night” will keep the postal service from delivering letters and packages to American mailboxes (though in my experience, freezing rain does the trick)
The USPS is the #1 shipping option for many merchants, especially those who ship small and light products. However, USPS is not perfect for all situations. So, when should you use USPS for your shipments? Keep reading to find out.
Pros
- Cheapest option for small packages
- Delivers to mailboxes and PO boxes
- Free pick-up
- Saturday delivery
Cons
- Poor customer support
- Limited tracking
USPS Shipping & Services
The USPS offers a range of services covering domestic mail, international mail, and more. Here’s a quick summary of the services available with the USPS.
Domestic Mail & Shipping Services
If you are shipping packages in the United States, here are the shipping services available to you.
| USPS Domestic Shipping Service | Delivery Time |
|---|---|
| USPS Retail Ground | 2-8 business days |
| Media Mail | 2-8 business days |
| First-Class Mail | 1-3 business days |
| Priority Mail | 1-3 business days |
| Priority Mail Express | 1-2 days or overnight |
International Mail & Shipping Services
USPS offers international shipping as well with a variety of delivery times available
| USPS International Shipping Services | Delivery Time |
|---|---|
| Global Express Guaranteed | 1-3 business days |
| Priority Mail International Service | 6-10 business days |
| Priority Mail Express International | 3-5 business days |
| First-Class Package International Service | Varies by destination |
Other Services
In addition to their shipping services, the USPS provides a number of other services. They include the following:
- Free supplies for priority mail and priority mail express
- Free shipment pickups
- Ship to military (You can send APO, FPO, DPO)
- Free shipping insurance (Up to $100 on Priority Mail Express and up to $50 on Priority Mail)
- USPS tracking
- Certified Mail
- Custom Stamps and envelopes
For a full list of the USPS’s shipping services and more, take a look at their services webpage.
USPS Prices
Costs for shipping through the USPS vary dramatically depending on shipping dimensions as well as packages origin and shipping destination. Fortunately, there’s one significant way that you can ensure you’re always getting the best rates with USPS, and that is to sign up with a postage solution like Stamps.com or ShippingEasy to access the USPS’s discounted commercial rates. When you purchase postage online through one of these services, you can save up to 46% on the typical “retail” rates.
Here is a breakdown of the cost for the main USPS shipping services in the US. Prices listed below are up-to-date as of October 30, 2019.
| Shipping Service | Price | Price Details |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Retail Ground | Starts at $7.35 | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location; only available in-person at a post office |
| Media Mail | Starts at $2.75 | Only available in-person at a post office |
| First-Class Mail | Starts at $0.33 | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location; for envelopes or small packages up to 13oz |
| Priority Mail | Starts at $7.35; *flat-rate boxes available | Flat-rate boxes prices do not vary based on weight or destination location; non-flat-rate box priority mail rates are based on weight, size, and destination location |
| Priority Mail Express | Starts at $25.50 | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location |
*USPS also has flat-rate prices their priority mail service. With flat-rate boxes and envelopes, weight and destination do not affect pricing. If you can fit it, it’ll ship for the pre-determined price.
Below, you’ll find an example of one of USPS’s pricing tables. This one shows the commercial base rates for Priority Mail Express:
Contact USPS directly for international shipping costs, or head over to the USPS postage calculator where you can enter package dimensions and starting and arrival locations to get a cost estimate for the shipment.
USPS Strengths
There are a lot of things to like about the USPS. Here’s what merchants love most about the postal service:
It’s The Cheapest Option For Small Packages
Online merchants often want to know what’s cheaper: USPS, UPS or FedEx? And while there’s no one-size-fits-all shipping solution for every merchant, merchants who are searching for a cheap shipping carrier should look first to their local post office.
The USPS is, hands down, the cheapest delivery service option for companies that ship small items. The USPS provides the cheapest shipping for many packages under two pounds, and it simply can’t be beat for packages under 13 ounces. Let me state it clearly: If you’re shipping products under 13 ounces, you should use USPS.
In addition, many merchants benefit from the postal service’s flat rate options through Priority Mail. For one price, you can ship products of any weight across any distance; it just has to fit into one of USPS’s flat-rate .
Merchants also save by utilizing USPS’s free packaging materialsx. Priority Mail boxes are available for free at the post office, and you can even arrange to have them delivered to your place of business.
If you’re trying to cut costs, USPS may be the way to go.
It’s More Reliable Than In The Past
While in the past, USPS was infamous for misplacing packages or delaying shipments, in recent years, they have greatly improved their reliability and on-time delivery rates. Here’s what Allen Walton of SpyGuy.com had to say about the USPS’s improved delivery rates:
Deliverability is pretty solid. We very rarely have lost packages. Occasionally there are hiccups in their system that make it seem like a package hasn’t moved in days, and that can sometimes cause annoying issues, but getting better tracking means way more money using UPS or FedEx, and those guys have their own tracking issues.
Dr. Eugene Emmer from RehaDesign uses USPS to ship from his store in Europe into the United States. He reports:
In 10 years, only 2 parcels have been lost. Both times, all costs were fully refunded.
If your concern is lost packages, it seems that concern is now unfounded. Merchants often state that their savings from using USPS more than covers the very few packages that go missing.
It Delivers To Mailboxes and PO Boxes
The USPS has a monopoly on mailboxes and PO boxes. They’re the only shipping service that does not have to drop off packages at customers’ doorsteps.
Zondra Wilson of Blu Skin Care lists these perks well. She says:
By far the best option when it comes to price, USPS also offers insures overnight delivery. USPS also delivers to most locations such as post office boxes, has pick-up options, a wide array of packaging (some free), and offers insurance for Priority Express mail and Priority Mail as well as tracking for various services.
In addition, because the USPS routinely delivers across the country, it excels in getting packages to out-of-the-way destinations. According to Jim Milan of Auto Accessories Garage:
They’re definitely the king of the lightweight package, and since they try to prioritize every address equally, they’ll occasionally surprise us with how quickly they can ship something to “the middle of nowhere,” so to speak.
If you’re looking for a service that will allow you to deliver your packages along with customers’ daily mail, USPS is the only way to go.
USPS Weaknesses
While USPS is great for many purposes, it is by no means a perfect solution. Here are a few of the downfalls you’ll have to look out for:
Tracking Is Not Great
While USPS has improved their reliability in recent years, packages still go missing from time to time. The USPS’s less-than-perfect tracking system does not help matters when deliveries are delayed or lost.
Although Milan from the Auto Accessories Garage emphasized that pricing is an important consideration for his company, he still has a few complaints regarding the USPS’s tracking methods:
…while USPS may often be the cheapest choice, they can never guarantee a delivery date, and rarely if ever provide accurate tracking. This can be very frustrating to our customers, and frustrating for us when we can’t provide more information about a shipment.
For better tracking capabilities, you’ll have to look into more expensive package delivery alternatives.
Poor Customer Service
Merchants report that when packages do inevitably go missing, it can be difficult to have them located and to get the refund you’ve been assured. Here’s what SpyGuy.com’s Walton has to say to that:
Their customer service is garbage. Impossible to find lost packages, and they don’t make it easy for the customer to do the legwork themselves – it’s always on the business that shipped it out. When they put you on hold, it’s just a dead silence for like 30 minutes and you never know if someone will get on the line….Getting refunds is not easy. Sometimes they don’t deliver on time and the process for requesting refunds is antiquated. Really wish they would make it easy.
In order to get the affordable shipping rates USPS offers, it appears you’ll have to sacrifice a bit in terms of customer service.
When Should I Use USPS?
USPS is best for small, light shipments and is a good choice for those who need affordable shipping but don’t need tracking or quick arrival times.
While the USPS is not the ideal option for every merchant (or every shipment!), it still is well worth considering as a part of your fulfillment strategy. I would recommend the USPS in particular to sellers who ship a lot of small packages under 13 ounces. Those super-low rates for light shipments are hard to beat!
If you’re shipping to residential mailboxes and PO boxes, USPS could also be a good choice.
UPS
Perhaps you know UPS as the company that leaves your Amazon purchases on the doorstep. Or you maybe you know them for their iconic brown trucks or their ubiquitous shipping offices. However you know them, UPS (United Parcel Service) is a major player in the shipping industry, specializing specifically in secure and speedy delivery. eCommerce merchants in particular love UPS for its reliability and comprehensive tracking system. Despite all this good, however, UPS also has its disadvantages. Depending upon the shipment size, UPS’s services can come at a higher price than those you’d find with the USPS.
Is UPS the right service for your business? Let’s take a closer look at the top pros and cons of the brown van shipping service.
Pros
- Guaranteed express shipping
- Often affordable for heavy shipments
- Great tracking
- No holiday peak pricing surcharges
Cons
- Can be expensive
- No free package pick-up
- Saturday delivery costs extra
UPS Shipping & Services
UPS offers dozens of shipping services for international and domestic shipping. These shipments include express shipments, air shipments, ground delivery, and freight transportation.
For the sake of simplicity, I have listed only the main categories of UPS’s shipping services below. Many of these services include multiple subcategories within them. For example “UPS Worldwide Express” includes the following services: UPS Worldwide Express Plus, UPS Worldwide Express Shipping, UPS Worldwide Express Freight, UPS Worldwide Express NA1, and UPS Worldwide Express Freight Midday. If you’d like to view the complete list of UPS’s shipping services, head over to their website. Otherwise, view my simplified lists below:
Domestic Mail & Shipping Services
If you are shipping a package in the United States, here are the main shipping options offered by UPS.
| UPS Domestic Service | Delivery Times |
|---|---|
| UPS Standard | 3+ days |
| UPS Ground | 1 -5 days |
| UPS Hundredweight Service | 1-5 days |
| UPS 3 Day Select | 3 days |
| UPS 2nd Day Air | 2 days |
| UPS Next Day Air | Next business day |
| UPS Express Critical | Contact UPS |
International Mail & Shipping Services
UPS offers international shipping options a well with several shipment times available. Here are a few of the options UPS offers.
| UPS International Shipping Service | Delivery Times |
|---|---|
| UPS Express Critical | Contact UPS |
| UPS Worldwide Express | 1-3+ days |
| UPS Worldwide Expedited | 2 – 3+ |
Freight Shipping Services
UPS also offers freight shipping services for both domestic and international shipments including:
- UPS Air Freight
- UPS Ocean Freight
- UPS LTL Freight
- UPS Worldwide Expedited Ground Freight
Contact UPS directly for more freight shipping details.
Other Services
Add an additional cost, UPS also offers many value-added services. These include:
- Delivery confirmation
- Hold for pickup
- Saturday delivery
- Notification services
- Daily pickups
- UPS returns
Check out the UPS website for the full list of available value-added services.
UPS Prices
Like the USPS, UPS organizes their pricing into two types of rates. In this case, they are the “daily rates” and the “retail rates.” UPS’s retail rates are the standard rates you can expect as an individual customer coming into a UPS Store. The daily rates, however, are discounted rates that are available to select users. In order to access daily rates, you need to have a scheduled UPS pickup, have a UPS agreement that provides these rates, and have established a UPS payment account after July 11, 2016.
You can view rate tables for both daily rates and retail rates on the UPS website. Below is an example of daily rates for the UPS Next Day Air Early shipping service:
Here is a breakdown of the prices for UPS’s main domestic shipping options. Prices listed below are up-to-date as of October 30, 2019.
| Shipping Service | Price | Price Details |
|---|---|---|
| UPS Standard | Starts at $8.10 | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location |
| UPS Ground | Starts at $12.32 | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location |
| UPS Hundredweight Service | Varies | Prices based on the number of packages and their weight, size, and destination location |
| UPS 3 Day Select | Starts at $11.23 | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location |
| UPS 2nd Day Air | Starts at $18.40 | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location |
| UPS Express Critical | Varies | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location |
| UPS Next Day Air | Starts at $24.70 | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location |
If you’d prefer to just make a few estimates on a shipping calculator instead of digging through the entire rates sheet, UPS makes a cost calculator readily available. Or, for more information on your options for shipping internationally, check out the dedicated webpage.
UPS Strengths
There’s a lot to love about this service, but here are the primary reasons companies and online sellers choose UPS:
It Offers Guaranteed Express Shipping
If you need a package delivered ASAP, UPS is a great choice. UPS provides services like same-day delivery and next-day delivery.
Guaranteed delivery gives you the peace of mind that your packages will arrive on time, keeping your customers happy and your business moving.
It’s Affordably Priced (At Times) For Heavy Shipments
While the USPS is the cheapest option for light shipments, prices increase dramatically for heavier shipments. If you’re shipping packages heavier than two pounds, you should take a look at UPS’s shipping rates. They may be able to deliver your packages more quickly (and securely) at a lower price.
What’s more, if you ship large volumes through UPS, you should be able to take advantage of volume discounts. You’ll have to have proof of your previous shipments, but the discounts are worth the effort.
It Provides Unbeatable Tracking
UPS offers comprehensive tracking services. Customers will be able to see where their packages are from start to finish. UPS’s detailed tracking gives your customers a sense of security, and it’s also great for you! The UPS will be able to tell you at any point exactly where packages are. It’s unlikely that you’ll lose a package while shipping through UPS.
UPS Weaknesses
While UPS is a great service in many ways, it isn’t perfect. Here are a few areas in which you’ll have to sacrifice if you ship with UPS:
It’s More Expensive
While this is not true in every case, UPS’s services can be expensive and their shipping costs are high. There are a few reasons for this, but two of the main culprits are the fees and surcharges that UPS adds to their base rates. These include fuel surcharges, extended area surcharges, and more.
You should consider these surcharges, especially if you’re shipping internationally, as they can be rather steep.
There’s No Free Package Pickup Service
Although the USPS offers scheduled pickups free of charge, you’ll have to pay a flat rate for the same service from UPS.
One of our contributing merchants, Mark Aselstine from Uncorked Ventures, explains how this affects his business:
…our packages are pretty heavy-a standard 2 bottle shipment of wine runs about 7 pounds. Since we often have dozens to ship, we prefer to have them picked up. Fedex charges some extra amount per pound for a pickup in our area whereas UPS charges a flat fee.
In this case, UPS is actually the best option as it offers the lower pickup fee when compared to FedEx. It’s just a bummer that UPS doesn’t offer this service for free like USPS.
There Is No Free Saturday Delivery
UPS is the only carrier on this list that does not offer Saturday delivery as a part of their basic services. This can slow down your shipments by up to two days. Instead, Saturday delivery is offered as a “value-added service”. You’ll have to use qualifying shipping services and pay extra to extend your delivery window one more day.
When Should I Use UPS?
UPS is best for shipping large packages and for those who need strong tracking for their shipments.
While UPS isn’t the best choice for small packages, it is a great carrier for large packages (both in size and weight). I’d also recommend UPS to businesses that want to carefully track their shipments. UPS has some incredible tracking capabilities and offers guaranteed delivery on many of their services.
FedEx
I’m going to be honest: From what I’ve seen and heard from online sellers, there isn’t much of a difference between FedEx and UPS. I know I’m going to get loads of protests about this in the comment section below, but in my opinion, the two are pretty similar.
Merchants often cite location as their main reason for choosing FedEx over UPS. However, your experience may prove quite different. Regardless, here’s our list of what FedEx does well and where it could improve.
Pros
- Good tracking
- Saturday delivery
- Negotiable pricing for large shipments
Cons
- Can be expensive
- No free package pick-up
- Fewer offices
FedEx Shipping & Services
FedEx offers both domestic and international shipping services for envelopes, packages, and freight. View the complete list of services on their website, or take a look at a summary below:
Domestic Mail & Shipping Services
FedEx offers a variety of domestic shipping services within the United States. Here are the main options and the expected delivery times.
| FedEx Domestic Shipping Services | Delivery Time |
|---|---|
| FedEx Ground | 1-7 days |
| FedEx Express Saver | 1-3 days |
| FedEx 2 Day | 2 days |
| FedEx Standard Overnight | Next business day |
| FedEx Priority Overnight | Mid-morning on the next business day |
| FedEx First Overnight | Morning on the next business day |
International Mail & Shipping Services
FedEx offers international shipping options as well with a variety of delivery times available.
| FedEx International Shipping Services | Delivery Time |
|---|---|
| FedEx International Ground | 2-7 days |
| FedEx International Economy | 4-5 days |
| FedEx International Priority | 1-3 days |
| FedEx International First | Early morning delivery in 1-3 days |
| FedEx International Next Flight | ASAP |
Freight Shipping Services
Like UPS, FedEx also offers a number of domestic and international freight shipping services, including:
- FedEx First Overnight Freight
- FedEx 1Day Freight
- FedEx 2Day Freight
- FedEx 3Day Freight
- FedEx Freight Priority
- FedEx Freight Economy
- FedEx International Next Flight
- FedEx International Priority Freight
- FedEx International Economy Freight
Contact FedEx directly for more freight shipping details.
Other Services
Like the other two shipping carriers in this list, in addition to their shipping services, FedEx offers numerous value-added services. Here’s a sampling of what’s available:
- Packing services
- Scheduled shipment pick-up
- Signature required delivery
- Shipping insurance
- Free Saturday delivery
- Free FedEx Express boxes
For a complete picture of what FedEx can do, view their value-added options.
FedEx Prices
If you ship frequently through FedEx, you should consider signing up for an account. FedEx offers both personal accounts and business accounts, and all users of these accounts get access to discounted shipping rates. There are a couple of additional advantages to being signed up for the business account. If you are on the business account, you get access to the FedEx rewards program as well as discounts on some FedEx Office services.
Here is a breakdown of costs for the main USPS shipping services in the US. Prices listed below are up-to-date as of October 30, 2019.
| Shipping Service | Price | Price Details |
|---|---|---|
| FedEx Ground | Starts at $7.85 | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location |
| FedEx Express Saver | Starts at $16.07 | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location |
| FedEx 2 Day | Starts at $18.22 | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location |
| FedEx Standard Overnight | Starts at $27.18 | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location |
| FedEx Priority Overnight | Starts at $29.18 | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location |
| FedEx First Overnight | Varies | Prices based on package weight, size, and destination location |
To give you an idea of how much these prices can vary, here’s a breakdown of FedEx’s main shipping options by weight and desired delivery time:
FedEx also offers a rates calculator on its website. If you’re hoping to do a lot of international shipping, there are also more resources for you on FedEx’s International Shipping page.
FedEx Strengths
FedEx has many of the same advantages that UPS does, including a great tracking system and speedy delivery. Here’s what you can expect from FedEx:
A Precise Tracking System
FedEx offers customers a robust tracking system. You can view your shipments’ progress every step of the way. You can also use FedEx’s delivery manager to hold packages at a FedEx office or schedule delivery for a specific time.
Saturday Delivery
Unlike UPS, FedEx offers Saturday delivery as a part of its basic shipping packages (for packages with one, two, and three day delivery times). Mark Tyrol, president of Battic Door Energy Conservation Products, names Saturday delivery as one of the reasons he chooses FedEx for shipments:
For most other orders we use FedEx. FedEx delivers on Saturdays so some items shipped mid-week that would arrive on Mondays via UPS arrive the Saturday before via FedEx. So we use FedEx for these shipments.
Delivering products just two days earlier through FedEx can make a huge impact on customer satisfaction.
Negotiable Pricing
If you’re shipping large volumes of packages through FedEx, you may be able to negotiate for lower shipping rates. You may find that FedEx offers competitive rates for packages up to 50 pounds.
FedEx Weaknesses
Of course, as you consider FedEx, you’ll have to also keep in mind its downsides. Here are a few of the most notable:
Higher Shipping Rates
Want to know if FedEx or UPS is cheaper? Due to the highly variable nature of shipping costs, it’s impossible to label one carrier as definitely more expensive than another. However, from what I’ve seen with sample calculations, it appears that FedEx often charges more than its competitors. Of course, this won’t be true in every case (especially for merchants who negotiate their rates), but it does appear to be a trend. This could be in part due to surcharges such as delivery area surcharges and fuel surcharges.
No Free Package Pickup Service
Like UPS, FedEx does not offer a free package pickup service. That does not mean, however, that you cannot schedule a package pickup. You’ll just have to pay a fee.
Fewer Offices
There are over 2,000 FedEx Offices worldwide. In comparison, UPS provides over 5,000 UPS Stores.
When Should I Use FedEx?
FedEx is best for large shipments, express deliveries, and for those who need to track their shipments.
FedEx is an excellent option for merchants who are looking for fast, dependable shipping. FedEx, in particular, is great for air shipments and next day deliveries. FedEx also has a good number of international shipping options to fit a variety of price levels and desired delivery times.
As always, you should compare shipping rates with UPS and USPS to make sure you’re getting the best service for your money.
USPS vs UPS vs FedEx: Finding The Perfect Balance
| Shipping Carrier | Best For |
|---|---|
| USPS | Shipping small packages, shipping to PO boxes, and free pick-up |
| UPS | Guaranteed shipping, package tracking, and no holiday peak surcharges |
| FedEx | Fast deliveries, package tracking, and Saturday shipping |
As you choose shipping carriers for your business, it’s important that you don’t limit yourself to just one shipping provider. Most merchants use a mix of two or even three delivery services to offer customers the fastest, cheapest shipping every time.
You may, for example, choose to save on shipping costs by shipping light packages with the USPS and heavy packages with UPS. Or you may ship everything through the USPS, with the exception of expedited shipments, which you send through FedEx. It all depends on your business model, your average order weight, and your shipping destinations.
Are you already successfully shipping with one or more of these delivery services? Let us know in the comments which carriers you prefer and why. We love to hear from you!
Thinking about using a dropshipping service instead? While there are a lot of potential negatives to dropshipping, many eCommerce vendors have found success dropshipping with Amazon, Shopify, and other shopping cart platforms. (For more information, Shopify has a great webinar on getting started with dropshipping.)
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Liz Hull
Liz Hull is a writer for Merchant Maverick. In her three years with Merchant Maverick, she has tested and reviewed over 40 eCommerce platforms and published two ebooks on the topic of online selling. Liz has also been published in Startup Nation and Home Business Magazine Online. Liz has a BA in English and Spanish from George Fox University.
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- USPS VS UPS VS FedEx: Which Shipping Carrier Is Best? - November 19, 2019
I have a law practice. My client was facing foreclosure and needed to overnight a check for the payoff. He chose to send the check overnight (and paid a premium) via UPS. He assumed it would delivered as promised, so he didn’t check the tracking. UPS lost his package, but found it and delivered it 24 days late. They didn’t provide him with notice of their errors. Instead, it is his fault and they will accept no responsibility per their agreement. He faces a foreclosure decree and additional interest and costs. UPS is NOT a reliable shipper in all circumstances. When the package must be delivered on time or the consequences are too large, I will ship using a different shipping company.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
I have vendors who use each of the three carriers, and they have distinct patterns. The ones with free shipping use USPS, the ones with cheap shipping use FedEx and the ones with expensive shipping use UPS. I’ll use one particular example to illustrate the glaring difference. Beginning of November I’m placing last minute holiday inventory orders. One vendor is in Colorado and uses USPS priority mail, the other two are in California and use Fedex and ups respectively. The one in Colorado was an eight pound order of video games and the vendor offers free shipping. I had the order placed on Tuesday by Thursday. The Cali vendor who uses FedEx was sending thirty pounds of incense and oils charged me $12.75 for shipping and it got to me Friday morning. The one who uses UPS was sending twenty five pounds of resins, aroma lamps and similar products charged me fourth two dollars for shipping and it got to me eight days later- Wednesday the week after I ordered it. I am in Virginia. I place far more orders with USPS and FedEx vendors and sellers than UPS as this experience has not been unique. I have a Florida vendor for movie gear that uses FedEx and one in Maryland with identical pricing that uses UPS and I almost always use the Florida one as his shipping rates are lower and they arrive faster despite the other one being 900 miles closer…. FedEx and UPS are NOT at all similar in my experience.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
I personally like USPS
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
UPS is the better delivery. FedEx DOES NOT deliver to my address on weekends. Never has. UPS does deliver. UPS also bringsmy package to my door in my upstairs condo whereas FedEx just drops it off outside the door of the building, ever the smallest of packages.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
What UPS service are you using that they ‘deliver on a Saturday’? Overnite express? UPS doesn’t deliver ground service packages on a Saturday, at least via their ground service unless you pay for it. I live in San Francisco. My experience is exactly the opposite! I live within 1.5 miles of the UPS main hub and I am usually the last delivery on the driver’s schedule when they are done for the day. I follow the tracking on all my deliveries. Fedex is a dream Monday thru Saturday. I have waited out on my front patio for the UPS courier to show up, all to no avail. Ultimately, tracking info will say, ‘attempted delivery’ at 7 pm, and we’re sitting out front waiting for the brown truck to show up until 8 pm. It got so bad that the vendors that ship to me via UPS were filing complaints to their UPS reps on my behalf or face losing my business. UPS in San Francisco is the worst!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Laurie:
I also live in San Francisco and it seems that ever since April 2018, UPS Ground and Air now includes Saturday for regular delivery service at no extra charge.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
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The USPS is NOT SUBSIDIZED by tax dollars. The USPS doesn’t get any money from any government. It’s all funded by stamps and USPS services. Further, USPS does. Have guaranteed delivery. You just need to pay for it ( and cheaper than UPS or DrD ex).
Further, USPS is protected by law. It is a federal offense to open another’s mail (ahem porch pirates).
I had a package mailed by Macy’s on Wednesday morning from Kentucky. Arrived in my PO Box by Friday at 10:00am!!! Less than 3 days. Same for different retailer from Virginia. Less than 3 days.
Now I ordered package from Macy’s again. I requested USPS but for some reason they decided to use UPS Surepkst! Sent Thursday, arrived UpS facility this morning and “expected delivery” is Wednesday by end of day. This package is less than 60 miles away- but 3 full days. UPS Sucks!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi Kmv,
You are right! Thank you for spotting that error. We corrected the article accordingly.
Liz
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Hi Liz– Great Job! I believe kmv is in same boat as I am. We’re a bit prejudice to USPS because we know from experience USPS’s technology is always improving. I will repeat as kmv did, USPS has same services as competitors, & ususally USPS charges are free or cost much less than.
Fed-ex was mentioned in 2 posts as being best–& that’s not how I read your article. I believe you gave an honest, & equal outlook on each company. The 2 commenters on Fed-Ex just seemed to hone in on Fed-Ex (not reading your statement of comparable status to UPS.)
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It’s great that you’ve mentioned how one benefit of getting FedEx services for your delivery needs is that they have a robust tracking system that allows you to view your shipment’s progress, hold packages at a FedEx office, or schedule delivery for a specific time. I will be buying precious trading cards from a seller in another state and I want to make sure that I’m able to see where my package is so that I know when it will arrive. With this in mind, I’ll have to communicate with the seller and have my package sent thru FedEx.
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Thank you for listing all the pros and cons of different shipping carriers. I have been wanting to ship quite a few things and didn’t know what carrier to pick. I like how you mentioned that FedEx has a great tracking system and speedier delivery and they are like the UPS. I might have to give them a try!
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