Priority Mail
Written: Aug 10 '01
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Pros: They are still the cheapest route.
Cons: Some postal workers attitudes not so helpful.
The Bottom Line: Still a fair deal.
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| Mom2TyZick's Full Review: US Postal Service Priority Mail |
If there's something that makes me as mad as a hornet, it's hearing about the price of postage going up again! I sell on Ebay frequently, so it affects me greatly. After the latest rate hike, I stomped off to my local Mailboxes, Etc., to send my goods by UPS. Gulp! I paid nearly double for that than what I would have paid at the post office! Tail between my legs, I scampered back to the post office the next day with my "paws" full of packages.
Though I get incensed when I hear about those ever-increasing postal rates, I have to admit that they are the fairest game in town.
The Rates
Weight Rate
Up to 1 pound $3.50
Up to 2 pounds 3.95
Up to 3 pounds 5.20
Up to 4 pounds 6.45
Up to 5 pounds 7.70
They also have something called the Flat Rate Envelope which is provided by the post office. You can cram whatever you like into the envelope, as long as it closes and regardless of weight or destination, you may send it for a fee of only $3.95. This is so simple that I often keep these envelopes and a $3.95 stamp around so I can drop one off in a hurry. Actually, USPS Priority Service is 50% less than other ground carriers comparatively.
Timeliness and Care
I have had my heartbreaks with the US Post Office, but it seems to me that they treat the Priority Mail with a gentler hand than they do the standard mail. I have had no trouble when using the Priority Mail with breakage or loss. Another perk is that USPS will deliver to every address and PO Box in the country, which is nice considering Fed Ex and UPS will not deliver to Post Office boxes. In addition, there is no extra charge for a Saturday delivery!
My things are also delivered in a timely manner, generally within 2-3 days. They do not guarantee this, but it is usually the case.
Perks
The real reason I give the US Priority Mail Service so much of my business is simple: free shipping containers! They provide boxes for you to ship your goods, and priority tape with which to secure it all for no charge! You can get them at your local post office, or you can go directly to the website at www.usps.com and get them there. The only catch there is that you must order them in bulk and register with the site if you order online.
If you would like to order some postage paid flat-rate envelopes, you can also do this at the website. They come in lots of 10 and cost just $39.50, which is the cost of the postage on the envelopes only. Such a fantastic deal, and you can stick these right in your mailbox for pickup.
Other Related Services
If you need a pickup for your packages, you can arrange for this service at your local post office or by calling 1-800-222-1811. When you schedule with your local post office, packages are generally picked up within 2 hours. There is a fee of $10.25 for the service, but you may have as few or as many packages as you want. You simply need to tell the clerk how many you have. You will also need to have the correct postage affixed to each package and be prepared to tell the clerk how many are Express Mail, Priority Mail and Parcel Post and the combined total weight of all of the packages. Your carrier can also pick up any of your prepaid packages during his normal delivery time, as well, at no additional cost!
If you do business on Ebay as a seller, it's important to be able to track your packages. You can do this for a mere forty cents with delivery confirmation. You simply pick up the slip of paper at your local post office, fill it out and you get a confirmation when your package is safely delivered to its recipient. An invaluable resource for all Ebay transactions! You can even track your packages online.
If you have something that needs to get somewhere quick, the US Post Office is still the best deal in town!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Mom2TyZick
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 in Personal Finance |
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Member: Suzanne
Location: North Carolina
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