Comparison of Shipping/Mailing Services: USPS, UPS, FedEx
When mailing a box or large envelope in the United States, there are three major shipping services to choose from: the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), the United Parcel Service (UPS), and Federal Express (FedEx). Each company offers certain advantages in speed, price or extra services.
The U.S. Postal Service offers a variety of mailing options, including Parcel Post, Priority, First Class, and Media Mail. First Class Mail is usually the cheapest option for light items (like small boxes and large envelopes), while Parcel Post or Media Mail is least expensive for heavier packages. Parcel Post is usually cheaper than UPS, except when mailing heavy objects. Media Mail can only be used for mailing certain types of items, such as books and cassette tapes. Media Mail packages may take up to two weeks to arrive at a destination. It's usually easier to find a local post office than a UPS or FedEx shipping location.
The main advantages of USPS Priority Mail include its faster shipping speed and the ability to use free boxes. It frequently costs more than UPS, but it is often faster. Some lightweight packages are not much more expensive to ship using Priority rather than Parcel Post, especially if they are being mailed to nearby destinations. Mailing insurance costs extra on all USPS services except Express, which can be quite expensive. There is usually an extra fee for tracking as well. The USPS online tracking system doesn't provide as much information as the UPS and FedEx systems.
Flat-rate Priority Mail boxes should be considered for items of medium to heavy weight. These boxes are free and always cost the same amount to ship, as long as the weight doesn't exceed 70 pounds. This lets you budget mailing costs more easily and use heavier packaging materials when necessary (like newspaper). Flat-rate envelopes are also available. At some mailing centers (such as Goin' Postal) the flat rate boxes can only be mailed at regular weight-based rates. It is generally not worth the cost to ship very lightweight packages or in-state items with Priority Mail. First Class Mail is almost as quick and substantially cheaper when sending light packages, and items being mailed in the same state often arrive just as fast with Parcel Post.
UPS offers relatively fast and affordable shipping. Ground service is often cheaper than Priority Mail or FedEx and sometimes less costly than USPS Parcel Post, especially on heavy packages. It is generally faster than Parcel Post or Media Mail, but slower than Priority or FedEx. It typically costs more to send lightweight items or large envelopes by UPS (compared to USPS). Faster but more costly UPS services are also available. An advantage of UPS is that insurance for valuables worth up to $100 is included free of charge. It also includes detailed online tracking. If there isn't a UPS Store in your area, you may be able to ship items by UPS at a Goin' Postal franchise. Some hardware stores and other businesses also offer UPS shipping.
FedEx is generally more expensive than USPS or UPS, but it usually delivers items very quickly. It also provides the most detailed online tracking system. Like Priority Mail, FedEx offers boxes and padded envelopes free of charge. Ground, Express and Freight shipping services are available, as well as extra-fast overnight and same-day options. FedEx is a good option for shipping boxes of medium to heavy weight. It's possible to ship items by FedEx at some of the same locations that accept UPS packages.
Overall, the best mailing service to choose depends upon the weight of your item, how fast it needs to be delivered, if insurance is necessary, and where it is being shipped.
The U.S. Postal Service offers a variety of mailing options, including Parcel Post, Priority, First Class, and Media Mail. First Class Mail is usually the cheapest option for light items (like small boxes and large envelopes), while Parcel Post or Media Mail is least expensive for heavier packages. Parcel Post is usually cheaper than UPS, except when mailing heavy objects. Media Mail can only be used for mailing certain types of items, such as books and cassette tapes. Media Mail packages may take up to two weeks to arrive at a destination. It's usually easier to find a local post office than a UPS or FedEx shipping location.
The main advantages of USPS Priority Mail include its faster shipping speed and the ability to use free boxes. It frequently costs more than UPS, but it is often faster. Some lightweight packages are not much more expensive to ship using Priority rather than Parcel Post, especially if they are being mailed to nearby destinations. Mailing insurance costs extra on all USPS services except Express, which can be quite expensive. There is usually an extra fee for tracking as well. The USPS online tracking system doesn't provide as much information as the UPS and FedEx systems.
Flat-rate Priority Mail boxes should be considered for items of medium to heavy weight. These boxes are free and always cost the same amount to ship, as long as the weight doesn't exceed 70 pounds. This lets you budget mailing costs more easily and use heavier packaging materials when necessary (like newspaper). Flat-rate envelopes are also available. At some mailing centers (such as Goin' Postal) the flat rate boxes can only be mailed at regular weight-based rates. It is generally not worth the cost to ship very lightweight packages or in-state items with Priority Mail. First Class Mail is almost as quick and substantially cheaper when sending light packages, and items being mailed in the same state often arrive just as fast with Parcel Post.
UPS offers relatively fast and affordable shipping. Ground service is often cheaper than Priority Mail or FedEx and sometimes less costly than USPS Parcel Post, especially on heavy packages. It is generally faster than Parcel Post or Media Mail, but slower than Priority or FedEx. It typically costs more to send lightweight items or large envelopes by UPS (compared to USPS). Faster but more costly UPS services are also available. An advantage of UPS is that insurance for valuables worth up to $100 is included free of charge. It also includes detailed online tracking. If there isn't a UPS Store in your area, you may be able to ship items by UPS at a Goin' Postal franchise. Some hardware stores and other businesses also offer UPS shipping.
FedEx is generally more expensive than USPS or UPS, but it usually delivers items very quickly. It also provides the most detailed online tracking system. Like Priority Mail, FedEx offers boxes and padded envelopes free of charge. Ground, Express and Freight shipping services are available, as well as extra-fast overnight and same-day options. FedEx is a good option for shipping boxes of medium to heavy weight. It's possible to ship items by FedEx at some of the same locations that accept UPS packages.
Overall, the best mailing service to choose depends upon the weight of your item, how fast it needs to be delivered, if insurance is necessary, and where it is being shipped.
Published by Z. Perry
Freelance writer, website operator, and programmer View profile
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28 Comments
Post a CommentI have an Ebay store and have used Usps faithfully since I opened. The customer service is lousy for carrier pick up services. See, that's a free service that is offered to Usps account holders that have packages that are prepaid online. I've reported my local post office service so many times for poor service. Now I'm forced to pay $10.00/week to UPS for their smart pick up service. My hope is that UPS provides better service. My customers deserve to have their packages delivered in a timely manner.
Fedex is the fastest way to get things across two places. After all, shouldn't that be as simple? My first experience with Fedex was when I ordered Invigo, the Indian herbal viagra. The Herbz team said they would ship the product in 5-6 days and I thought it wouldn't be possible to do that especially as they are from India. But within 24 hours after ordering, they gave me a fedex reference number and I could track it online. I got a call that there was a shipment from india to be delivered at my place and the Fedex agent wanted to know the time when I would be available. I got the package delivered on time as promised. I am very impressed with their service and efficiency. I was so sure about their service that i asked Invigo to be sent by Fedex for all the subsequent orders. Way to go Fedex.
Hi, I would recommend using USPS First Class Mail, with insurance and tracking (delivery confirmation) for the more valuable items.
Hi, I am new in selling online business, my items will be light such as earring, wallet, watch and shirt. Do you have any recommend good shipper? Thanks a lot.
For international shipment, UPS is very bad, I had one package to ship last Thursday, and it shows they need SED, and I called their customer service, they let your local guys call me back, and got call last Friday, she just asked me Tax number, and I call their customer service several times, they said if she got the tax ID number, they should do SED for us, the package will be shipped out soon, but till now, the package still there, I called this Morning and this afternoon for their fax number I can fax SED to them, but their local lady gave me a phone number, I can't fax! It's horrible! My client is waiting for my package! I won't use UPS again! And I called them for domestic shipment, the driver gave me wrong lable, actually I need UPS Grand, but he gave me UPS sencod day. Crazy company!
About DHL, it's ok, they shipped very quickly, but I need printed invoice and origin of certificate online. Fedex is good too, I only gave them invoice and package, there was no any problem. For th
That may be so now, but I posted that comment in 2008 and was shipping quite a few items at the time.
Z. Perry UPS IS more expensive than Fed-ex. I know this because I ship many products a month.
UPDATE: DHL will stop providing service in the U.S. in early 2009. UPS seems faster lately, and charges less than FedEx for most destinations. Postal service rates have increased but they're still the most affordable for small-to-medium size boxes and padded envelopes.
DHL is my best way to ship i can't be happier i am using them for the past 5 years and never had any problem and the price is great better than fedex and ups
We have been using shipgooder.com to compare rates from all of the major carriers, realizing substantial savings in the process.
ShipGooder is far better/faster than RedRoller and ShippingSidekick, and does not require any account registration.
Consistently, the U.S. Postal Service seems to have the best value, but it can be argued that they suffer when it comes to aspects of customer service.