Amazon overtakes US Postal Service as largest parcel carrier

[Olds394]

I’ve switched to Wslmart plus. The membership fee is less and they’re just as fast delivering.
Plus their facility gates don’t bear semblance to Auschwitz. In fairness I don’t believe the aforementioned had eight cameras trained on you, but I could be mistaken.

 

[alarmguy]

Recently Amazon started direct delivery in our area. USPS was far more reliable. For some reason SOME but not all Amazon delivery people put in notes as "undeliverable" unable to access building. Huh? We are a single family home, other times could not find address, huh? we are a newer couple year old phase of the community and in ALL the mapping services.

Anyway, now if something does not come next day as promised I just order another one this way I know I will at least get one of them the next day, instead of waiting for a "second attempt" if I Get two, I simply return one, Reason I put down? = "arrived too late" which is true.
I suspect they will get it together as they learn the area. One morning I got a text at 5am that I didnt see until later, couldnt find address and that they were at a Town Government Building *LOL* I ordered a second one for the next day which then I got two and returned one.
IN the past I got screwed by attempted delivery and without notice they sent it back to the warehouse. So this is there problem not mine

Our last home in SC Amazon delivery was terrific, next day most all times, never missed a package. I suspect it will become like that here. It is pretty cool, ordering something and possibly getting it same day and if not, next day or even in the middle of the night.

 

[alarmguy]

I’ve switched to Wslmart plus. The membership fee is less and they’re just as fast delivering.
Plus their facility gates don’t bear semblance to Auschwitz. In fairness I don’t believe the aforementioned had eight cameras trained on you, but I could be mistaken.

We have Walmart Plus too. They have been reliable for the products they carry and have in stock.

 

[alarmguy]

Yes, here also. I have not seen a USPS delivered Amazon package in ages.

I can get amazon fresh groceries delivered now. Have not tried it yet - I should?

We recently ordered a bunch of different stuff but needed some Swiss cheese *LOL* I have to say "Amazon Fresh" Sliced Swiss is really good compared to other pre sliced stuff. and the cost is stupid cheap. I think like $1.63 for 8oz, so we ordered 4 or 6 packages along with other non food stuff I needed.
It was left outside our door. The Cheese was in this heavy foiled lined paper bag with a frozen water bottle inside to keep the cheese cold. Very cool. Im shocked at how tasty the cheese was. It's not Yarlsburg but for packaged cheese it's pretty amazing.

 

[Touring5]

Supermarket flyers and junk mail is probably their biggest customers.

I get sooooo much junk advertising and flyers, fast food coupons, etc…

I commented about this to a relative who just retired from the USPS. Her reply was that those advertising (junk mail) is their "bread and butter".

 

[dogememe]

Junk mail sucks but I do agree it’s probably supporting USPS financially.

Personally I find it amazing that for like what, $0.75, I can send a letter to anywhere in the US. I mean that’s pretty cool!

 

[alarmguy]

Im curious, sometimes when I get junk mail I throw the junk away but I mail back the postage paid envelope. Does that support the USPS? Meaning once mailed is the pre paid envelope scanned and then charged to the company OR was it truly prepaid envelope and the USPS does not get any more if it is mailed back?

 

[Hermann]

Being a small town probably has something to do with what you're seeing over there. In more densely populated areas, with large Amazon distribution centers nearby, Amazon does their own deliveries or uses Amazon Flex drivers. Around here, 5-10 years ago, most Amazon packages were delivered by USPS. Now it's less than 5%.

Here in the metro KC area the only Amazon Prime packages that come via USPS, are small items from both coasts, on the far side of the Rockies and Appalachian mountains. What's weird is these (many <$10) are sent priority. A recent $7 watch band purchase was priority to KC on USPS. Shipped from a Amazon facility in New York state. Arrived in 2 days. I don't think anyone made money on this deal.

 

[methusaleh]

Being a small town probably has something to do with what you're seeing over there. In more densely populated areas, with large Amazon distribution centers nearby, Amazon does their own deliveries or uses Amazon Flex drivers. Around here, 5-10 years ago, most Amazon packages were delivered by USPS. Now it's less than 5%.

Hmm, OK, thank you. I don’t think we have any Amazon facilities nearby. Then again I’m not sure I’d know if I was seeing Joe Schmoe in his POV delivering packages.

Even the Prime items no longer take only two days to arrive, it’s hit or miss that something will even arrive within a week. My wife has some special canned tea and a couple other things sent via Prime and she’s learned to order plenty in advance!

 

[Quattro Pete]

Even the Prime items no longer take only two days to arrive, it’s hit or miss that something will even arrive within a week. My wife has some special canned tea and a couple other things sent via Prime and she’s learned to order plenty in advance!

I think that's a byproduct of the fact that most of what you order has to travel long distances to get to you. After Amazon built their distribution centers around here, I now get most products the next day. It's not perfect and there are mistakes and delays occasionally, but pretty good overall.

I also see Amazon Flex deliveries quite a bit, especially for smaller items.

 

[mk378]

Im curious, sometimes when I get junk mail I throw the junk away but I mail back the postage paid envelope. Does that support the USPS? Meaning once mailed is the pre paid envelope scanned and then charged to the company OR was it truly prepaid envelope and the USPS does not get any more if it is mailed back?

This is called Business Reply Mail. In the most common types, a company can print and distribute (by mail or other means) as many of these cards or envelopes as they want, the USPS then charges for each piece that is mailed back. There is also an annual fee to register into the system.
https://postalpro.usps.com/brm

 

[alarmguy]

This is called Business Reply Mail. In the most common types, a company can print and distribute (by mail or other means) as many of these cards or envelopes as they want, the USPS then charges for each piece that is mailed back. There is also an annual fee to register into the system.
https://postalpro.usps.com/brm

Thank you!
So I will continue to support the USPS by mailing back empty business reply envelopes that I receive in junk mail

 

[SeaJay]

IMO the first thing the USPS should do is to reduce daily letter delivery to 3 days a week. It would not cause any hardship to myself and most of my friends if that change were to be made. 80% to 90%, perhaps even a higher percentage of what I receive these days is junk mail that goes directly into the recycable bin without being opened.

 

[EllieMae94]

Anything that's shipped usps that is too big to fit into my mailbox goes back to the post office 45 minutes away where I can only go get it on a Saturday.

Amazon will bring it all the way to my house.

This is not USPS policy. Unless if your front porch is more than a half mile away from your mailbox, your carrier is required to deliver your packages. I am a rural mail carrier for the USPS for past 10 years. I highly recommend you call your servicing office and speak to the Postmaster. Your carrier is lazy and should not continue to get away with this.

 

[jadmt]

there are places that I have ordered from recently that are shipping via Amazon even tho the parts being shipped are not ordered thru Amazon..my two most recent are for bike tires from Bike tire direct out of Portland they offer free shipping for orders over $50 and they get shipped via Amazon shipping unless you want to pay more for the shipping via either USPS or Fedex. I actually like Amazon deliveries as they are usually early in the day where as Fedex or UPS can be late at night. my USPS mail is all over the place can be delivered before 10am or after 7pm no telling when.

 

[Dave Hess]

I’m surprised Amazon delivers before 6 AM in my neighborhood.

 

[Carmudgeon]

IMO the first thing the USPS should do is to reduce daily letter delivery to 3 days a week. It would not cause any hardship to myself and most of my friends if that change were to be made. 80% to 90%, perhaps even a higher percentage of what I receive these days is junk mail that goes directly into the recycable bin without being opened.

If/when they do this, I can already predict the BITOG topic that will follow: "USPS NOW ONLY DELIVERS 3 DAYS A WEEK!!?!?!!"

 

[PandaBear]

You guys are describing the issue that is causing USPS the problems. Amazon is delivering in cities where it's easier to make more stops and therefore lower cost per delivery.

USPS is legally bound to deliver to EVERYONE, regardless of location. So Amazon is taking the low lying fruit, and leaving the high cost delivery to USPS.

The USPS report to congress the other day indicates they might need as much a 9B to cover for their losses due to this delivery model.

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/agen...025-renews-push-to-borrow-more-from-treasury/

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/nat...114-usps-reports-fiscal-year-2025-results.htm

IMO, USPS is a SERVICE to the ENTIRE US, and should not be run as a profit center. If you are interested, look up the history of why the USPS was founded and enacted under the US CONSTITUTION (under Article I, Section 8, Clause 7)

If a company is doing business locally (or in the argument against Amazon, the low hanging fruit) and end up being an unfair advantage, it is just a rule that was not set up correctly to begin with.

I think if things must be fair then urban postage should be a lot cheaper than rural postage for USPS, but then that would be a political problem as they are not like UPS as a private for profit company.

So, pick your poison, you can't win in both sides of an argument. My proposal is to just make postage delivery less frequent (like once a week) in the rural area to home and if you need something faster get a mailbox in a downtown small town post office that would deliver daily.

 

[walterjay]

I live in a somewhat rural area. Amazon delivers 95% themselves in Amazon vans. Occasionally USPS delivers.

 

[Sam_Julier]

Nothing of import goes USPS anymore, and has not in decades.

I disagree.

I just received two handmade Volvo leather keys fobs from Ukraine and a bunch of Mercedes 3D printed parts from Estonia. All sent via international mail and USPS.

In both examples above I thanked the craft people for their superb work. They were thrilled.

IMO the USPS enables commence and trade, particularly between small businesses and individuals.

I may be old fashion but I truly believe trade contributes to a more peaceful, prosperous world.

Sam