Why United States Postal Service (USPS) is the Best Shipping Option for the USA

The United States Postal Service, or USPS, is not a corporation, but rather an independent federal agency. It is in charge of delivering letters and smaller packages both domestically and internationally as the postal service for the United States. It was founded with the goal of providing universal services to all Americans at reasonable prices, and it has built an unparalleled network to deliver mail to every nook and corner of the country. They aim to deliver small packages and mail quickly and inexpensively.

USPS offers a variety of services to meet the needs of eCommerce companies and individuals who need to send personal shipments and packages. 

The following are some of the services offered by the United States Postal Service:

Priority Mail Express: Priority Mail Express is their quickest domestic shipping service, and it delivers seven days a week, 365 days a year. With a money-back guarantee, next-day delivery is available to most U.S. addresses and PO Boxes. You don’t have to weigh shipments weighing 70 pounds or less when you use free Flat Rate Envelopes.

Priority Mail: The company’s most popular mail service is Priority Mail. Domestic deliveries take 1-3 business days to arrive, based on where your package originates and where it is being delivered. Priority Mail Flat Rate includes tracking and insurance, free shipping boxes, and envelopes, and eliminates the need to weigh shipments weighing less than 70 pounds.

First-Class Mail: Standard-sized single-piece envelopes weighing up to 3.5 oz, as well as large envelopes and small packages weighing up to 13 oz, can be sent via First-Class Mail at a low cost.

Media Mail: Sending media and educational materials via Media Mail is a cost-effective option. The type of media that can be sent through this service is limited. 

USPS Retail Ground: Shipping less-than-urgent deliveries and oversized packages via USPS Retail Ground is a safe and affordable option. 

Advantages of using USPS

• For small packages, especially those weighing less than 13 pounds, this is the best deal and the most cost-effective option.

• Despite adverse weather, USPS has a long history of delivering on time.

• Through their Priority Mail service, they offer flat rate boxes, making it a cost-effective choice.

• USPS has a large and complicated delivery system. Since USPS delivers packages all over the country on a regular basis, it succeeds at delivering packages to remote locations.

• USPS does not charge a fuel surcharge, unlike private carriers. Whereas fuel surcharges are automatically applied by FedEx and UPS to every package shipped through their services. Saturday delivery, address correction, residential delivery, and extended area delivery are also free of charge. There are no hidden charges when it comes to USPS.

• FedEx and UPS, unlike USPS, use dimensional (DIM) weight to determine the price you pay for a package. It means that the price you pay is calculated by the size of the box rather than its real weight.

• Package pickup is made simple and convenient by USPS. Pickup of packages is completely free as long as at least one of the parcels they are picking up is sent via a USPS expedited service such as Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, or First-Class Package Service.

• P.O. Boxes and Military APO/FPO/DPO addresses can only be delivered by the USPS. When shipping to a military address, you must provide customs information and adhere to the destination country’s restriction policies, but you pay domestic rates. 

• Earlier USPS had a reputation for having an inadequate shipment tracking system for a long time. This isn’t the case any longer.  Most USPS domestic shipping products come with automatic tracking. You can check the delivery status online, by phone, or by text message using the USPS tracking number.

• With products such as the Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope, the Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Envelope, the Priority Mail Express Legal Envelope, and all of the different flat rate boxes, USPS provides the cheapest and most diverse range of flat rate shipping options.

• USPS is the leading carrier for small packages and provides the most competitive rates for handheld shipments weighing less than 20 pounds. Because letter carriers can drop off these packages on their regular mail routes, USPS is able to maintain rates for smaller packages lower than the competition.

• UPS and FedEx charge exorbitant fees for international shipments because they are private carriers with their very own shipping networks. USPS on the other hand collaborates with other countries’ postal services to deliver international shipments, which allows them to keep international shipping costs comparatively low.

Frequently Asked Questions about USPS vs. UPS vs. FedEx

Which is the most cost-effective?

USPS is typically the most affordable of the three major carriers. UPS follows closely behind, with FedEx ranking as the most costly carrier. USPS is by far the most convenient eCommerce shipping solution because it provides the best service and value for money. 

Which shipping carrier is the best for eCommerce?

This varies based on your requirements, but USPS is preferred by many online retailers. USPS truly changes the game by providing discounts to all eCommerce businesses, allowing small e-commerce to beat the more expensive options. 

Which Is faster?

When compared to FedEx Home Delivery, USPS Priority Mail typically delivers packages in 1-2 days on average, compared to 2-3 days for FedEx for packages shipped on a Monday using regular shipping service.

What Can ReachShip Do For You?

In their own ways, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and USPS are all excellent courier services. All of them have their own set of benefits and drawbacks, so you should weigh them carefully before deciding which is best for your online store. The ReachShip shipping rate calculator is also a useful tool for comparing shipping rates and determining which one is best suited to your eCommerce needs.

The ReachShip shipping calculator helps your business end up saving time and money all through the shipment process, from purchasing postage to tracking the shipping status of your shipment. The shipping rate comparison offers the widest range of available shipping rates and services right away, allowing you to focus solely on expanding your business. ReachShip works with DHL, USPS, FedEx, and UPS to give you an all-in-one solution that lets you choose your preferred shipping company.

To Wrap Up

All three of the major shipping carriers in the United States – USPS, UPS, and FedEx, offer excellent services to both businesses and individuals. One may be the best option compared to the others depending on yours and your company’s needs. Both FedEx and UPS have advantages in specific areas. You’ll want to use one of these carriers if your package requires a specific delivery date or is extremely heavy. However, using USPS as part of your shipping strategy for small packages weighing less than five lbs or large, lightweight packages can be extremely beneficial.

If you have any questions regarding USPS, please let us know in the comments section below.