USPS First Class beats Priority Mail 2 Day

[CharlieBauer]

I ordered a few items over the last week and two of them happened to be shipped from almost the same location on the same day, using different USPS services.

Here's what happened:

First Class from Hamilton OH to CA: Accepted Tue 5:12pm. Arrived Thursday.

Priority Mail 2 Day from Anderson IN to CA: Accepted 12:47pm. Arrived at my local post office today but tracking is saying it's delayed. Either that acknowledges delivery today (Friday) is a day late or it will be tomorrow which makes it 4 days.

The accepting locations are 100 miles apart. Yet priority mail 2 day takes 3 days - a day longer than first class.

Overall, I think USPS is a bargain, but in recent years, I'm seeing little advantage in their premium offerings vs first class.

 

[bdcardinal]

Yup sometimes paying extra takes longer.

Not really related to USPS, but some parts from Ford's Manteca warehouse that are a 2 day standard ship take 4-5 days when you pay an extra 18% to have them overnighted. It is one of those cases where I have been at the job long enough to know better, but some people insist.

 

[umungus1122]

You got lucky with 1st class. It can take 5-6 days sometimes depending where it's going. I use priority mail often, and it's almost always delivered in the estimated time frame, except occasionally around the Holidays.

 

[CharlieBauer]

Originally Posted By: umungus1122
You got lucky with 1st class. It can take 5-6 days sometimes depending where it's going. I use priority mail often, and it's almost always delivered in the estimated time frame, except occasionally around the Holidays.


First class from many US locations to CA is always pretty fast. It has to go on a plane so I'm not surprised with 2 days.

For some reason though, priority mail never seems to be 2 days.

The most annoying ones are intra California mail. USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL. Doesn't matter. It sometimes seems like they've given the package to an adventurous hobo.

 

[Anduril]

I don't bother with priority anymore. Seems just about everything I ship (or order) USPS arrives within 3 days. UPS on the other hand always seems to take the full 5, and FexEx charges too much.

 

[SHOZ]

If the USPS package needs to go though Chicago or New Jersey they seem to take a day off or two.

And if UPS goes through Hodgkins, IL add 4 days....

 

[Pablo]

It happens, but on average Priority really is faster and flat rate is a great deal. We ship a lot of small and medium flat rate boxes (all over the world). Let me tell you, First class can get the most severely messed up. From WA to WY via OH or NY or SC.........there is a hub just outside of Seattle. It used to be ridiculous the amount of small flat rates that would just plain vanish when they hit that hub. We finally accused USPS of internal theft..........and amazingly we have not had one package disappear from the hub in the last 3-4 years since.

 

[AirgunSavant]

I ship 100 to 200 packages a week and use USPS exclusively and quit using PM unless it is a flat rate package due to weight. I get by far better service with first class.
From MD. to Florida PM is a joke. It often takes 7-10 days and first class is 2-3.
From here it is routed so far from the destination and it has so many hoops to go through its a wonder it makes it while first class just goes straight there.

 

[Ihatetochangeoil]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
It happens, but on average Priority really is faster and flat rate is a great deal. We ship a lot of small and medium flat rate boxes (all over the world). Let me tell you, First class can get the most severely messed up. From WA to WY via OH or NY or SC.........there is a hub just outside of Seattle. It used to be ridiculous the amount of small flat rates that would just plain vanish when they hit that hub. We finally accused USPS of internal theft..........and amazingly we have not had one package disappear from the hub in the last 3-4 years since.


+2. Where do you think the terminology "going postal" came from? No one at the USPS is dishonest or capable of making mistakes, and no one is ever fired or disciplined for doing anything wrong. And no one at USPS gives a @#$% about your package. I have had multiple packages worth hundreds of dollars disappear and no one (including the Postmaster) will take responsibility (reimburse) for lost (stolen) packages. (Custom chrome car parts and firearm parts; you know, stuff that can be easily pawned and identified by the originating address).

I have accused my local postal employees of theft and done it in writing sent certified to the local postmaster. Why do people think UPS and Fedex even exist?

DO NOT SHIP ANYTHING WORTH OVER $10 WITHOUT CERTIFIED MAIL INSURED RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED. DO NOT TAKE ANY POSTAL EMPLOYEES WORD FOR ANYTHING.

If you really want to to throw them (Postal employees) into a tizzy, tell them you have a handgun in pieces you wish to ship. It is entirely legal to ship springs, barrels, trigger assemblies, magazines, slide releases, etc. (ANY PIECE OF A FIREARM OTHER THAN A RECEIVER)

 

[BigD1]

Shipped a first class package from NC to the Maui Hawaii, and it was delivered two days later.

 

[skyactiv]

I have the most satisfaction with UPS by a long shot.

 

[raytseng]

Originally Posted By: Ihatetochangeoil


+2. Where do you think the terminology "going postal" came from? No one at the USPS is dishonest or capable of making mistakes, and no one is ever fired or disciplined for doing anything wrong. And no one at USPS gives a @#$% about your package. I have had multiple packages worth hundreds of dollars disappear and no one (including the Postmaster) will take responsibility (reimburse) for lost (stolen) packages. (Custom chrome car parts and firearm parts; you know, stuff that can be easily pawned and identified by the originating address).


Just wanted to post that your reference to "Going Postal" is misused and doesn't fit. The phrase does NOT refer to being frustrated as a customer. It is from a series of Postal employees that got so angry and frustrated that they shot up their managers often after getting fired.

So bringing up that phrase works against your point of customer frustration. I think your your intention was trying to demonize USPS employees as folks who don't care and are just having a cushy job and never get fired.
This phrase about fired USPS employees that snapped to the point to murder their bosses doesn't fit to make that point, instead it makes us empathize/sympathize with them that they are getting screwed just as bad.

 

[dishdude]