Why isnt Priority Mail shipped Priority?

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splink779

Guest
I used to order with Priority mail, because it is quick and it works. However the last 3 times I have ordered using it, it was extremely slow, and was NOT PACKAGED AS PRIORITY. It was put it standard mail, no priority logo or even USPS logo to be found on the package. Not even the word priority was on there. Point is I select priority but dont get it, I was wondering why this is, and if anyone else has the same problem with TW
 
Shaolin

Shaolin

G.O.A.T.
I agree. I recently sent something out using a Priority envelope for $4.05 (instead of $.63 which it wouldve been for first class) and it got there in 4 days instead of 2-3. I called the post office about it and they just said, well its not guaranteed 2-3 days etc. ect. and I shouldve sent it Express (for way more $). Im done using Priority since it barely makes a difference and USPS could care less about its customers.
 
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splink779

Guest
What I am trying to say is that these past 3 times it wasnt even put into priority packaging, and it did not have priority postage.

I am not complaining about the USPS Priority mailing itself . I use it all the time for other things and I think it is very very good.

I am wondering why TW isnt shipping priority when I order it.
 
equinox

equinox

Hall of Fame
Not much fun paying extra on shipping and having it delayed.
It's like throwing money down the drain.
I don't know how much responsability tw has in this situation.
It would be nice if they offered discount or free shipping on your next order.
 
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PrestigeClassic

Guest
USPS Priority Mail is a sham and I have had no problems in sending/receiving USPS Parcel Post instead. UPS two-day guaranteed is better than USPS Priority Mail.
 
P

pchoi04

Professional
My mother works at the postal distribution center and she even says that priority sucks @$$. Stuff just gets tossed around.
 
TW Staff

TW Staff

Administrator
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
 
ambro

ambro

Professional
PrestigeClassic said:
USPS Priority Mail is a sham and I have had no problems in sending/receiving USPS Parcel Post instead. UPS two-day guaranteed is better than USPS Priority Mail.
Click to expand...
I disagree. I've used Priority Mail countless times and it has never taken any more than 3 days to get there. Most of the time it is 2 days, probably about 90% of the time. UPS 2-Day, on the other hand, has taken up to 5 days to get to my house. Once it was rerouted to Texas and then back, and the other time it just sat at the delivery station but never went "Out for Delivery" for a few days. UPS sucks and is over priced.
 
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splink779

Guest
TW Staff said:
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
Click to expand...

This explains it then, thanks. In my experience with my last 3 orders, it has been much much worse and much slower than when you use to just ship directly with USPS priority. I reccomend going back to the old way...
 
P

PrestigeClassic

Guest
ambro said:
I disagree. I've used Priority Mail countless times and it has never taken any more than 3 days to get there. Most of the time it is 2 days, probably about 90% of the time. UPS 2-Day, on the other hand, has taken up to 5 days to get to my house. Once it was rerouted to Texas and then back, and the other time it just sat at the delivery station but never went "Out for Delivery" for a few days. UPS sucks and is over priced.
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I've had a USPS Priority Mail package (tennis racket) take more than one month in transit.

Was your UPS 2-Day the guaranteeed version? If it arrives beyond the stated time, then shipping is refunded. If it doesn't arrive at all, then isn't there standard insurance with UPS? And a tracking number priced in so at least you're made aware of any delays?
 
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gabulldawgs

Guest
TW Staff said:
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
Click to expand...


If I am not mistaken, that is called USPS Parcel Select. It is VERY slow, even slower than USPS parcel post. Dick's Sporting Goods and other sites use USPS Parcel Select for their free shipping option. It takes over a week to get a package to me from Louisville KY to Georgia using Parcel Select (versus 2 days for UPS ground and 2-3 days USPS Priority Mail). Apparenly, it is the least expensive shipping option out there and is therefore gaining popularity with online merchants.
 
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splink779

Guest
gabulldawgs said:
If I am not mistaken, that is called USPS Parcel Select. It is VERY slow, even slower than USPS parcel post. Dick's Sporting Goods and other sites use USPS Parcel Select for their free shipping option. It takes over a week to get a package to me from Louisville KY to Georgia using Parcel Select (versus 2 days for UPS ground and 2-3 days USPS Priority Mail). Apparenly, it is the least expensive shipping option out there and is therefore gaining popularity with online merchants.
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Yah its super slow. It has been over a week, in busuiness days since my order and nothing yet. I think TW should not label it as Priority mail on the shopping cart page.
 
D

D-man

Banned
I agree with Splink here. I ordered something Priority & was like, what the heck is wrong here? It usually comes in 3 days but took over a week.

Please go back to the way you did it before... having bought & sold many rackets here on TW as well as doing hundreds of deals on e-Bay I have found Priority to be the most reliable.

Sure UPS has tracking... I can track how they screwed up and my package ends up in some far off state (this has happened several times...)
 
ambro

ambro

Professional
Exactly my feelings D-man. I'd rather recieve a package on time while not being able to track it than to know where it is but not get it for 2 weeks because of a misrouting. UPS is overpriced and they are not a good service IMO.
 
diredesire

diredesire

Adjunct Moderator
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 :rolleyes:
 
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splink779

Guest
OK TW, the package finally arrived, order #1736156. It shipped on tues 27th. The package does not say priority anywhere, it says

- UPS Mail Innovations -
- PRSRT STD -

Presorted standard I am guessing. 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
 
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splink779

Guest
Oh and actually inside the silver packaging is another UPS Express Envelope. Again, no Priority postage to be found. Is it even affiliated with USPS? Because Priority is a service of USPS, not UPS, as I'm sure you know. Sorry if I am being annoying about this but this is the third time this has happened to me.
 
TW Staff

TW Staff

Administrator
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
 
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gabulldawgs

Guest
TW Staff said:
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
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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."
 
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gabulldawgs

Guest
splink779 said:
... 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
Click to expand...

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.
 
G

gabulldawgs

Guest
diredesire said:
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 :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

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.
 
P

PrestigeClassic

Guest
gabulldawgs said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
P

PrestigeClassic

Guest
TW Staff said:
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
G

gabulldawgs

Guest
PrestigeClassic said:
Free delivery confirmation? No, it costs $.60, or $.50 with Priority Mail.
Click to expand...

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.
 
P

PrestigeClassic

Guest
gabulldawgs said:
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.
Click to expand...

Good to know!
 
D

D-man

Banned
TW Staff said:
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
Click to expand...

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

vkartikv

Hall of Fame
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
 
Azzurri

Azzurri

Legend
gabulldawgs said:
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.
Click to expand...

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