Why isnt Priority Mail shipped Priority?

Originally Posted by TW Staff

Just to play devil's advocate, if your parcel shipped on Tuesday, it actually took 5 business days (not counting July 4). This is as fast as, or faster than, most UPS deliveries from California to Michigan. (The standard of service for Priority Mail is 2-14 business days). I'll share your concerns with our shipping department, but believe we'll need a little more time to determine if this new system is working or not. Thanks for the feedback. Don/Tennis Warehouse

Actually, according to the UPS tracking system, a package sent UPS ground from 93401 to MI on June 27 would be guaranteed to arrive by end of the day on July 3.

I agree that TW should not advertise and charge for Priority Mail as a shipping option when the order is actually sent via Parcel Select (which is considered by USPS as standard class, formerly third class or bulk mail).

Rates for Parcel Select are considerably lower than Parcel Post, and are often half the rates of Priority Mail. The TW shipping calculator quotes a rate of $5.00 to ship less than one pound to zip 90210 via Priority Mail, yet by using Parcel Select, TW pays only about $2.12 (versus $4.05 for Priority Mail).

As I mentioned in an earlier post, more online retailers are using Parcel Select to cut their shipping costs. It is the slowest shipping method currently available.

From an article on USPS Parcel Select published in a marketing publication: "One of the biggest developments in parcel shipping over the past decade is the increased use of consolidators. Consolidators compete against standard UPS and FedEx ground services by using a special rate from USPS called Parcel Select. The consolidators sort and drive the parcels to USPS Bulk Mail Centers (BMCs), Sectional Centers (SCFs) and even local post offices (referred to as Destination Delivery Units or DDUs). Delivery times normally increase by a few days over UPS ground, but Parcel Select rates are very low so even with the consolidator’s fees added on, the savings can be 30 percent less than standard UPS rates."

Originally Posted by splink779

... I really really suggest either re-doing the order page so that you can somehow let the customers know it is not exactly going USPS Priority. It is misleading.

Thanks

I agree completely. If TW is charging for Priority Mail but shipping Parcel Select, they owe those who paid for Priority Mail an apology and a refund. Those customers are not getting what they paid for.

Originally Posted by diredesire

I've been using USPS Priority for a few years now to ship most all packages. I also get about a 90% rate of people receiving their items in 2 days, the other 10% takes about 3. I haven't had any bad things happen to me so far, probably because i ALWAYS use priority mail packaging. Basically, if there is the logo on the box, you'll have a good chance of it getting there in time. If you don't, get some stickers with the USPS Priority label on it, they are FREE from the post office, or by online order at the USPS website. Other shipping materials are free to those who need them, this packaging is only offered to people shipping priority mail, and should only be used for shipping. People get carried away at the "free" part, and build box forts and stuff like that

I have used USPS Priority Mail for most of my online auction sales for the past several years and almost all packages get to their destination in 2-3 days. While they don't have real time tracking, they offer free delivery confirmation which shows when the package is delivered. The last package I sent was from Georgia to Oregon, it arrived in just two days via USPS Priority Mail. I don't know where TW gets this 2-14 day standard delivery time for Priority Mail.

Originally Posted by gabulldawgs

I have used USPS Priority Mail for most of my online auction sales for the past several years and almost all packages get to their destination in 2-3 days. While they don't have real time tracking, they offer free delivery confirmation which shows when the package is delivered. The last package I sent was from Georgia to Oregon, it arrived in just two days via USPS Priority Mail. I don't know where TW gets this 2-14 day standard delivery time for Priority Mail.

Free delivery confirmation? No, it costs $.60, or $.50 with Priority Mail.

Yeah, USPS states a delivery time of two or three days, depending on distance, with Priority Mail. Furthermore, I don't think it's 2-14 business days because a.) Saturday is a delivery day, and b.) it seems mail is still in transit during Sunday and holidays, which is why there is more mail delivered on subsequent days.

Originally Posted by TW Staff

Just to play devil's advocate, if your parcel shipped on Tuesday, it actually took 5 business days (not counting July 4). This is as fast as, or faster than, most UPS deliveries from California to Michigan. (The standard of service for Priority Mail is 2-14 business days). I'll share your concerns with our shipping department, but believe we'll need a little more time to determine if this new system is working or not. Thanks for the feedback. Don/Tennis Warehouse

Actually, I thought that USPS mail, besides perhaps Media Mail and other cheap services, remains in transit during Sunday and holidays. Are you saying that the USPS trucks and planes are all grounded on Sunday and holidays? I'll have to ask a postman, but my experience is that a Sunday and holiday in middle does not affect delivery time, unless delivery was going to be made on a Sunday or holiday.

www.usps.com states their expected delivery times.

Originally Posted by PrestigeClassic

Free delivery confirmation? No, it costs $.60, or $.50 with Priority Mail.

If you prepare and print your label online at www.usps.com (or through Paypal or other online shipping services), delivery confirmation is free. Even if you just print the label online and pay at the post office, delivery confirmation is free.

Originally Posted by gabulldawgs

If you prepare and print your label online at www.usps.com (or through Paypal or other online shipping services), delivery confirmation is free. Even if you just print the label online and pay at the post office, delivery confirmation is free.

Good to know!

[D-man]

Originally Posted by TW Staff

I spoke with our shipping analyst, and I'll try to pass on what he explained to me... Recently, we started having UPS pick up our Priority Mail packages. They transport the packages to the destination city/town Post Office, who then delivers to the customer. We chose this for a few reasons; Priority Mail service was unreliable and no tracking is available. We hope to implement tracking (to the destination city Post Office) soon. With this change, it is no longer necessary to package products in Priority Mail labeled envelopes.

We hope this improves the delivery time and reliability of Priority Mail, as a shipping option. If not, we'll probably go back to the old system.

Thanks, Don/Tennis Warehouse

I think this is unethical to label it Priority yet ship it another way. As an **** seller and TTW trader I have not yet once had a trouble with Priority mail in hundreds of transactions, whereas UPS, although it offers tracking, has delayed my shipment many times. Priority mail is reliable and fast, period.

But what's wrong is to label it one way and ship another. My order took two weeks to get here whereas with real Priority it wouldn't have taken over 4 days. Please change it back.

[vkartikv]

A few things about UPS and priority mail:

Priority mail:
1. If you were to print the shipping label for this service online, delivery confirmation is FREE. You thus have some form of ensuring the package got to its recipient, so it's incorrect to say priority mail does not have a tracking system.
2. Even the post office states 2-3 DAYS max. for this service. I don't know where you got 2-14 days from. 2-14 days is for regular parcel post. If someone mails me a package on a Saturday, I usually get it on Monday itself since USPS transports packages on Sunday
3. You can have a postman/USPS agent pick up packages from your business for FREE.

UPS
1. If I were to have someone mail me a package via UPS ground on a Friday, it doesn't get to me until the next Wednesday or even Thursday since all UPS activities come to a halt on the weekend and their trucks/flights are grounded.
2. UPS ground costs about the same, if not more, than priority mail

[Mike Danger]

you guys should really use fed ex ground, its cheap as priority and averages 3 days, and is trackable

[crazysoccer00]

Why are we bringing up a thread that is 8 months old?

[D-man]

Originally Posted by crazysoccer00

Why are we bringing up a thread that is 8 months old?

Maybe because they still do it and need to change? Isn't that obvious?

[Azzurri]

Originally Posted by gabulldawgs

I have used USPS Priority Mail for most of my online auction sales for the past several years and almost all packages get to their destination in 2-3 days. While they don't have real time tracking, they offer free delivery confirmation which shows when the package is delivered. The last package I sent was from Georgia to Oregon, it arrived in just two days via USPS Priority Mail. I don't know where TW gets this 2-14 day standard delivery time for Priority Mail.

Delivery conf is not free. The cost is 60 cents.

[BodegaBay]

Originally Posted by slappano

Delivery conf is not free. The cost is 60 cents.

Only when you use pay for it at a physical location (i.e. US Post Office). If you purchase your label online the tracking # is included without extras charge.