USPS Priority

on_the_edge

on_the_edge

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I will be the first to say I have never lost a package that was in their hands, knock on wood. :thumbsup:

That said, can someone please explain to me what the deal is with Priority? Sometimes they formerly call it 2-Day Priority, sometimes they call it 3-Day Priority. And it seems they go back and forth about as often as I change my socks. Then, to make matters more confusing, they call it, say 3-Day Priority, and then tell me expected delivery is in 4 days!!! That just happened today, btw. Package sent mid-afternoon my time by 3-Day Priority to arrive this Thursday. WTF???
 
I’m in the central US. When I ship through PayPal, the label prints out and says either two day or three day, or even one day, depending on location I’m shipping to. Curious how are you ship on Sundays.
 
Well, it's not going to actually ship until Monday (no mail on Sunday except for Amazon) and three days after that is Thursday;)

As far as the 2 vs. 3 day thing, I think k it has to do with how far it's going, but we should page Monofletch Monofletch for definitive answers:)

~Chip
 
I am not 100% sure. When I ship to my buddy in Cali it is 3 day- when he sends stuff to me it is 2! I am in St Louis. Damn near the middle of the US.
It does have to do with zone crossing.
 
Monofletch said:
I am not 100% sure. When I ship to my buddy in Cali it is 3 day- when he sends stuff to me it is 2! I am in St Louis. Damn near the middle of the US.
It does have to do with zone crossing.
Click to expand...

I've also noticed eastbound tends to be faster than westbound when going across country...bizarre:confused:

~Chip
 
BuckleBuilder said:
I’m in the central US. When I ship through PayPal, the label prints out and says either two day or three day, or even one day, depending on location I’m shipping to. Curious how are you ship on Sundays.
Click to expand...

I use a kiosk, which is pretty much the only way I send stuff since the lines tend to be fairly long and slow moving if you want to see a friendly face. My point is that I am quite familiar with the kiosk, but still can't understand why it keeps changing or how they do their math.

The package in question is going from Tucson, Arizona to Indiana.
 
on_the_edge said:
I use a kiosk, which is pretty much the only way I send stuff since the lines tend to be fairly long and slow moving if you want to see a friendly face. My point is that I am quite familiar with the kiosk, but still can't understand why it keeps changing or how they do their math.

The package in question is going from Tucson, Arizona to Indiana.
Click to expand...


That’s interesting. I never thought much about it. I do have some packages that go to California that take two days and some to go three days. I wish I had an answer for you, I’m just happy that my packages arrive safely and intact.

I’m very fortunate. I live in a very small town and on a first name basis with the postal workers.
 
Sometimes it has to do with not only the distance but the route it has to take. It takes longer to get to some of the country folk that are a bit out there. Really doesn't matter to me as long as it gets there pretty close to on time. 14 days from west palm bch. to Miami(50 miles)-I wasn't thrilled about. In times past the barefoot mailman ran that route walking down the beach and would have completed the route twice in that time period.
 
Setting aside the mishaps, missed deliveries and as such, both the proximity and the ease of access of that addressee to the main distribution hub within that region makes the difference as to whether 2 or 3 days. For instance I'm located in Southern CA in a cosmopolitan county but I do see 3 days to Northern CA's rural areas as opposed to 2 days which i experience to NY / NJ /FL on the East Coast. Sometimes the reverse of this is also true and if it goes rural to rural expect at least 4 days. Another thing when I used to ship to PR before their sh*tstorm, it was not unusual for Priority Mail to take up to 7 days!
 
Casinostocks said:
Setting aside the mishaps, missed deliveries and as such, both the proximity and the ease of access of that addressee to the main distribution hub within that region makes the difference as to whether 2 or 3 days. For instance I'm located in Southern CA in a cosmopolitan county but I do see 3 days to Northern CA's rural areas as opposed to 2 days which i experience to NY / NJ /FL on the East Coast. Sometimes the reverse of this is also true and if it goes rural to rural expect at least 4 days. Another thing when I used to ship to PR before their sh*tstorm, it was not unusual for Priority Mail to take up to 7 days!
Click to expand...
Interesting.

I don't know how a package moves between the originator and the end recipient, but I wonder if there may be extra steps in the process to get a package to certain areas. Extra steps might account for 2-day, 3-day, etc. And while I don't have conclusive evidence that things move more quickly around the holidays despite the increase in business, sometimes it does seem as though packages sometimes do in fact move faster in December. If true, it almost seems as if the USPS can at some level speed things up if they really want to.
 
on_the_edge said:
Interesting.

I don't know how a package moves between the originator and the end recipient, but I wonder if there may be extra steps in the process to get a package to certain areas. Extra steps might account for 2-day, 3-day, etc. And while I don't have conclusive evidence that things move more quickly around the holidays despite the increase in business, sometimes it does seem as though packages sometimes do in fact move faster in December. If true, it almost seems as if the USPS can at some level speed things up if they really want to.
Click to expand...

Don't forget that during the Holidays the USPS hires more part-time or seasonal workers and from my personal experience their deliveries are also most prone to mishaps!
 
This might not be relevant but I've noticed that in the last year or so I often get my packages in 2 days when the original estimate was 3 days. These are labels created on weekdays and shipped the same day. It happens with about 60-70 percent of my packages. Same thing with packages that I ship to someone else.

I'm certainly not complaining. I would rather them overestimate the delivery date than underestimate it like they used to do. I used to get so frustrated when they told me Thursday and it didn't arrive until Friday, for example. Nowadays they tell me Thursday and it often arrives on Wednesday.
 
on_the_edge said:
I use a kiosk, which is pretty much the only way I send stuff since the lines tend to be fairly long and slow moving if you want to see a friendly face. My point is that I am quite familiar with the kiosk, but still can't understand why it keeps changing or how they do their math.

The package in question is going from Tucson, Arizona to Indiana.
Click to expand...

I can't offer an answer to your opening question but may I suggest you get an on line account with the USPS?
USP S® Click-N-Ship - is the service. Considering the amount of shipping you must do (based on your feedback rating) this is a very easy process for calculating S&H, printing labels and getting mailing supplies. I use my PayPal account to pay for services and a printer to make my labels. I then need only drop off packages. No need to stand in line anywhere.

AND as an alternative, using the PayPal print a label and send packages is just as easy + it gets you immediate credibility in a dreaded PP dispute (yet to have one, thank you) that your package was sent to the correct address.

I will guess that the 2/3 day thing is a matter of distance from the mail origin.

Ray
 
Ray, those are some good thoughts that I will have to consider. I don't do a lot of shipping any more and I do have the ability to print labels and accurately weigh items at home. Sometimes change comes slowly for me, but what you suggest may make shipping a package even easier than using the kiosk.
 
I'm 1/3 Photographer, 1/3 Editor, and 1/3 SHIPPING Department. I tend to use USPS Priority most of the time, and NEVER go to the Post Office (if possible).

Like RayseM RayseM offered, USPS Click-N-Ship is The Plan! I have a dedicated B&W laser printer (2-part letter-size adhesive shipping labels) and a small 25 lb digital scale to measure.

That and I also have a Pitney Bowed postage machine for Mailers.

Online is good. Traveling takes time and costs $$. Stay home.
 
^^^ ... AND - most often I don't weigh - just use flat rate priority - though I do have a scale for the occasional 1st class package. AND print my labels on regular paper then seal them to the box (completely covered) with GOOD - clear package tape. Has never compromised USPS scanning of the label. YMMV :)

Ray
 
Coop: I certainly appreciate the efficiency plus the old adage that (traveling) time = (costing) money, but in some cases specially when it comes to knives whereby the buyer can become quite antsy as evident by a thread posted on here not long ago about someone filing a PP claim as his package didn't show on the radar within the first 24 hours, I still insist on having the package scanned as "already-paid acceptance" at the counter because even if the tracking does not show movement, the online status will at least indicate and stay that USPS is in possession of the package. Of course if you have a carrier pick up from you at your place of business / residence, you can have that carrier scan the same "prepaid acceptance" as long as he carries that scanning gizmo!
 
Peter Hartwig said:
Sometimes it has to do with not only the distance but the route it has to take. It takes longer to get to some of the country folk that are a bit out there. Really doesn't matter to me as long as it gets there pretty close to on time. 14 days from west palm bch. to Miami(50 miles)-I wasn't thrilled about. In times past the barefoot mailman ran that route walking down the beach and would have completed the route twice in that time period.
Click to expand...

This has been my experience certain dealers in different areas it will be 2 days and if an early order maybe next day but others not so much farther away but in a different area the package passes me and circles back ... I think it's just USPS routing for different areas.
 
Casinostocks Casinostocks ^^ Yes. I get it. That's real. Peace of mind = value.

Fortunately, I live in a suburban area with a terrific mailman who USES his scanner. I get an update within 30 mins of his acceptance.

BTW: Rarely will the Flat Rate postage save me money. I'm usually 1-3 dollars less when I ship standard Priority, but once you get OVER around 4 lbs it levels out and pays off. Most of my solo knives and sheaths come in around 2-3 lbs.
 
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