Why do people use FedEx or UPS vs USPS?

[fuzzybabybunny]

I've always used USPS, mostly USPS Priority 2-3 day shipping with insurance. Most of the time it reaches in 2 days, and 100% of the time it's significantly cheaper than UPS or FedEx. I've never had any delivery issues with them either.

What gives? I don't get it.

 

[Ns1]

real tracking + insurance up to $100 for free + business accounts

also fedex/ups offer quite attractive discounts if you move a decent amount of volume.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

real tracking + insurance up to $100 for free + business accounts

also fedex/ups offer quite attractive discounts if you move a decent amount of volume.

Which they can offer because they absolutely ream anyone that doesn't have the shipping volume of Amazon.com

For real people in the real world moving realistic amounts of packages there's no contest, Priority Mail is much faster and significantly cheaper than UPS or FedEx.

 

[waggy]

real tracking + insurance up to $100 for free + business accounts

also fedex/ups offer quite attractive discounts if you move a decent amount of volume.

the tracking is enough for me.

 

[iamwiz82]

Rarely is USPS cheaper than Fedex Ground for me. Anything more than a couple of pounds and the size of a show box favors Fedex.

 

[vi edit]

Rarely is USPS cheaper than Fedex Ground for me. Anything more than a couple of pounds and the size of a show box favors Fedex.

Yup. USPS is good for little and/or light things. Good luck getting USPS to match Fed Ex ground rates & speed on something that weighs 45 pounds or more.

 

[Leros]

FedEx has never damaged a package of mine. About half of the boxes I get from UPS are dented, squished, ripped, etc (the items are only damaged a fraction of the time, but nonetheless).

Those little priority mailboxes are just slightly larger than my mailbox. Every time I get one, the mailman bends it or squishes and crams it into my mailbox. Its nearly impossible to get out. Pisses me off.

 

[lxskllr]

I like USPS. The price is decent, and it's convenient.

 

[SparkyJJO]

USPS is good for small to medium-ish stuff.

FedEx for larger things, or things that need full blown tracking or more insurance.

UPS always costs more than FedEx in my experience when I'm shipping stuff, so I never bother with them.

 

[GeekDrew]

In short, tracking and ultimate result.

I refuse to use USPS for most things because they don't have proper tracking. Well, that and their policies are right out of the stone age -- their "if our staff know where you really are, we'll deliver it regardless of the mail piece address" policy makes me want to beat my head against a wall. And then there's the whole situation with items just never showing up, or showing up weeks or months (or years!) later.

Screw the USPS. I have friends that work there, so I feel horrible for saying this, but I wish that the entire organization would just cease to exist effective immediately.

 

[Ronstang]

The more valuable the item and the more important the timeliness of it getting where it is going the less you want to use USPS. There is a reason they are going bankrupt. The place is staffed by lazy incompetent government employees. Go to any Post Office and watch them. If they don't piss you off you are just like them....and that is not a compliment.

I still use them because they are cheap with certain items but they have just completely lost several packages that were mailed to me in the last year and are completely incompetent when trying to find out what happened. Their tracking said all the packages had been delivered, which means into my locked mail box. The funny thing is none of them were ever there. This means not only did the local idiots have the packages in hand they then either delivered them to the wrong place or simply lost them and could not even find out any info about them at all. Morons.

 

[Ns1]

I find that USPS priority is great for items up to 2 pounds or that can fit in flat rate boxes. First class up to 13 ounces and media mail are also unbeatable.

Large items are always cheaper for me with FedEx ground.

 

[arkcom]

Up to this year UPS was much cheaper for heavy items >20lbs. Now I think USPS beats them most of the time.

 

[DCal430]

the tracking is enough for me.

I have had significant accuracy problems with both FexEx and UPS tracking in the past. So I don't give it much worth.

 

[DCal430]

The more valuable the item and the more important the timeliness of it getting where it is going the less you want to use USPS. There is a reason they are going bankrupt. The place is staffed by lazy incompetent government employees. Go to any Post Office and watch them. If they don't piss you off you are just like them....and that is not a compliment.

I still use them because they are cheap with certain items but they have just completely lost several packages that were mailed to me in the last year and are completely incompetent when trying to find out what happened. Their tracking said all the packages had been delivered, which means into my locked mail box. The funny thing is none of them were ever there. This means not only did the local idiots have the packages in hand they then either delivered them to the wrong place or simply lost them and could not even find out any info about them at all. Morons.

I find it if the item is valuable to go with USPS, they have never damaged or lost my items, but both FedEX and UPS have.

 

[fstime]

Uhhhh, why are people knocking USPS tracking, it works perfectly fine for me:

And the OP is right, USPS Priority has always been the best bang for your buck shipping method for the average person. It takes 2-3 days and is cheaper than UPS ground which often takes the full 7 days.

 

[Leros]

Maybe USPS tracking has gotten better. It used to show no tracking until about a week after the item got delivered.

 

[fstime]

Nope, as you can see they show the package's location step by step as it travels to its destination.

 

[Schfifty Five]

What a stupid question.

It entirely depends on what you are shipping.

USPS is better for some items, UPS/Fedex for others.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

In short, tracking and ultimate result.

I refuse to use USPS for most things because they don't have proper tracking. Well, that and their policies are right out of the stone age -- their "if our staff know where you really are, we'll deliver it regardless of the mail piece address" policy makes me want to beat my head against a wall. And then there's the whole situation with items just never showing up, or showing up weeks or months (or years!) later.

Screw the USPS. I have friends that work there, so I feel horrible for saying this, but I wish that the entire organization would just cease to exist effective immediately.

Clearly, you've never used DHL. They'll make you get down on your knees and thank God USPS exists.

 

[wirednuts]

lol... usps isnt that bad. i use them anytime i can. i agree their employees suck, but the job sucks too so what do you really expect.

i think all three, usps/ups/fedex are all fairly similar in the experience you get. ups guys seem to get pushed the hardest... i dont really like when theyre at my door because theyre always in such a rush, but whatever

dhl is god awful. i never want to use them again

 

[SparkyJJO]

Drop it
Hide it
Lose it

 

[SAWYER]

Not sure but I ship a lot of stuff and I never bother with UPS/Fedex..they are always higher when I do price checks plus the post office is more convenient in my town

 

[Ns1]

Nope, as you can see they show the package's location step by step as it travels to its destination.

Have they updated delivery confirmation???

 

[WaTaGuMp]

It just takes too damn long to put stamps on large packages.