USPS, priority vs ground

on_the_edge

on_the_edge

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Do folks still send stuff via priority or is ground becoming the new norm? The reason I am asking is because I sent something from western Wisconsin via Priority to Florida and it took a full 7 days to get to it's destination. (I've actually had several very slow packages lately, not just that one.) I can't say for sure, but to me, that sounds like the package was on the ground the entire time. And if that is the case, why am I paying double for something that gets where it's going no sooner than if I paid for simple ground transportation. I thought for sure that the distance would mandate shipping by air, but maybe that is not the case. And AFAIK, there are no benefits other than a faster delivery time when shipping priority vs ground. So what's the point of choosing priority if it's becoming so slow???

The other thing I'm noticing is that it used to be that the USPS would estimate a delivery date on the receipt when shipping priority, but now they do not. And if I look in tracking online after I have dropped off a package, it does not give an estimated delivery time there either. Is it like that everywhere or is it just my location? They'll show an estimated delivery date one day out from the actual delivery date, but I haven't seen an estimated delivery date sooner than that for awhile. I sort of feel like they say 2-3 day delivery time up front, but they know that isn't going to happen most of the time so they withhold that info so they can then say with a clear conscience, "Well, we didn't promise it would get there in 2-3 days, but it does most of the time."
 
Apparently usps uses contractors for priority now. I guess these contractors can’t keep up to the high volume of mail usps pushes.

From my experience, Priority is no faster than ground besides Hawaii and Alaska these days. If ground is an option I’m using it.

However, I use ups about 75% of the time now. UPS ground is often only a $1 or so more than usps ground advantage and much faster. Ups also generally keeps to their estimated arrival times. The gap in price between ground advantage and priority is just too wide for how non dependable priority is.
 
To and from Alaska, flat rate priority boxes have been great. I have had knives arrive from TN in 3 days. I have had the biggest delays in Seattle while in transit.
 
About a year ago, a USPS clerk at the post office told me that they don’t treat Priority Mail any differently than Ground Advantage.

To be fair, she did seem a little bit disgruntled but I believe her nonetheless because I suspected that anyway. She simply confirmed it.
 
No. Priority might as well be a scam. I'll occasionally have buyers choose priority shipping when they buy things from me on ebay, and i always swap it back. Im not paying 3 or 4 dollars more to ship something at the exact same speed, and the priority boxes are overpriced at this point due to things like Pirate Ship being commonplace.
 
My last Priority shipment was a flat rate envelope that took over a week to get where it was going. Estimated day was on a Friday, showed up following Tuesday...
 
Great info, folks. I'm definitely learning something new here. Hopefully lots of other folks will read this and become enlightened as well. Thank you all for your responses.
 
I ship most packages Ground Advantage, seems to work fine. I recently shipped a print using a USPS triangular Priority Mail box, got from Utah to Chicago in two days. Not inexpensive but I couldn't find a tube that would work. If I'm shipping anything valued over $1000 it goes Registered Mail, very secure but takes longer,
 
USPS tries to attract Priority customers by offering Priority boxes for free. Anything you can fit in the box ships for a set price. This attracts customers because they get the boxes for free and can grab a few while they’re at the post office.

Sounds like a good deal but it’s only worthwhile if the weight of the contents would cost more to ship Ground Advantage.
 
Railsplitter said:
Sounds like a good deal but it’s only worthwhile if the weight of the contents would cost more to ship Ground Advantage.
Click to expand...

Are insurance and tracking with Priority an upgrade? Also, I don’t pay sticker price when I purchase Priority through PayPal’s affiliate. (My item is very heavy and just fits in their packaging.)

ETA: Just checked: Pirate Ship Priority Flat Rate is more expensive than PP shipping via my PP account. Other options don't work equally well. It's good to check these out. Thanks.
 
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When I ship steel for heat treatment I use ground.

Normally when shipping knives I do priority.
Last week my knife to Colorado (priority) got there safely a day early. It cost an extra $2.00 about
 
I used to use it regularly until I realized I was just wasting money. It’s become a scam.
 
My current package that was due to arrive in Washington State last Saturday. Priority is rarely faster anymore in my experience
 

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I’ve noticed priority mail taking just about the same amount of time as regular mail lately
It used to take 2-3 days even from clear across the country
 
I've had 3 packages Priority mail take between 6 and 10 business days. And when you track the packages the path is pretty erratic to the destination.

I've fully switched to UPS Ground/2nd Day Air. Often cheaper and more reliable since switching a few months back.

Use pirateship to get discounted rates. My local USPS line can be insane too. And to get the actual drop receipt for insurance purposes means standing in that line to get it scanned in. It can take up 30 minutes. My local UPS store has zero line. They are a few block away from each other.
 
Just had yet another delayed priority package. This one was from MN to CO, and was due on Friday. Didn't arrive until today (3 shipping days late). A couple of times it would disappear from the system for a couple days (once in St. Paul, once in Denver), then pop back up without moving. Lame.

A friend had the same shipment to his address in the Bay Area of CA, and it arrived on Friday, a day earlier than expected. Such a total crap shoot anymore! :poop: :thumbsdown:
 
Ordered some speakers from California on Saturday and they left memphis this morning, so likely showing up tomorrow. 3 or so business days for regular old ground advantage, about as far from me as you can get in CONUS. Priority is still a scam.
 
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