key points:
- retail ground delivers items within 2-8 business days for packages up to 70 pounds
- media mail delivers items within 2-8 business days for packages up to 70 pounds
- merchants can save up to 91% on discounted usps shipping rates
usps is known for its combination of affordability and express courier services for domestic and international shipments.
Retail Mail and Media Mail are two popular USPS courier services that provide affordable solutions for merchants looking to save money. Even if you’re looking for express shipping, Express Priority Mail may be better for your business.
usps retail ground vs. media mail may share key similarities, such as delivery times, but differ in other critical areas, such as pricing and item restrictions. this blog highlights and provides a detailed overview of retail and media mail so you can decide which service works best for your business.
what is commercial land?
retail ground is an affordable ground shipping service for packages. This service includes packages, thick envelopes and tubes up to 70 pounds and includes features such as:
- delivery in 2-8 business days
- real-time tracking
this usps service supports items that do not require mailing in first class package or courier service. the most common uses of this shipping service are for things like the following:
- small and large items
- general merchandise
- books
Retail ground is best for businesses looking for affordable and inexpensive shipping solutions. retail ground is a great option for items outside of the usps media mailing list if you want cheaper shipping.
what is multimedia mail?
media mail is an affordable way to send media and other educational materials up to £70, although some restrictions apply. Some of the highlights of this messaging service include features like:
- delivery in 2-8 business days
- real-time tracking
unlike other usps courier services, multimedia mail only allows companies to ship specific items to their destination. with multimedia mail, you are limited to sending items like the following:
- books
- film 16 millimeters or less in width
- printed music and test materials
- videos and sound recordings
- scripts and manuscripts
- reference materials or printed educational graphics
- loose medical binders and pages
media mail is best for companies that send media or educational materials. For any items other than the items listed for your use, USPS offers other affordable and expedited shipping services.
what is the difference between retail mail and media mail?
retail mail and postal mail are cheap and affordable usps shipping services for merchants looking to save money. retail ground is excellent for items that do not require fast delivery. on the other hand, multimedia mail is ideal for multimedia items that do not require urgent delivery.
First, we’ll highlight the similarities between Retail Ground vs. Media Mail to understand the common traits of these two services.
- Weight Restrictions: Both USPS services impose a weight limit of 70 pounds for ground mail and retail media packages
- tracking: includes usps tracking for usps retail and media mail
- time frame delivery: usps ground and medium mail has an estimated delivery time of 2 to 8 business days
- insurance not included: ground and media mail does not arrive with insurance included, although you can opt for up to $5000 insurance coverage for an additional fee
- without package pickup:both couriers are not eligible for package pickup
- usps free packaging: usps offers free packaging supplies for your packages online or at your post office lime
Now, let’s discuss the difference between retail and media mail.
- price: retail prices cost more, with prices starting at $8.50, while multimedia mail starts at $3.19.
- Restricted Items: The retail field allows you to ship most items as long as they are not restricted or prohibited items. media mail will only allow merchants to send media or educational materials.
The biggest difference between retail and postal mail is the price and items allowed for shipping. for example, retail costs more on average than postal mail, but can ship a wider range of items.
Related Post: USPS Priority Mail vs. Multimedia Mail
how much does retail cost compared to postage?
Delivery speed, package weight, package dimensions, and shipping distance are all factors to consider when determining the cost of retail vs. postal mail.
we will calculate the cost of retail ground shipping vs. media mail to various locations within the united states so you can get an idea of how much it costs to ship to different parts of the country.
shipping from new york to los angeles
let’s say you ship a 5 pound package from new york to los angeles. We’ll calculate the shipping rates for ground and media mail so you can understand the difference in price between the two services.
shipping from new york to chicago
now let’s say you’re shipping a 5 pound package from new york to chicago. We’ll calculate the shipping rates for ground and media mail so you can understand the difference in price for shipping to chicago.
shipping from new york to miami
let’s say you send a 5 pound package from new york to miami. We will calculate shipping rates for ground and media mail so you can get an idea of the cost of shipping to miami.
shipping with easyship
Merchants can save on retail shipping costs with EasyShip for USPS and other major couriers. you’ll save up to 91% on discounted retail shipping rates, as shown below.
As we can see, easyship offers cheaper shipping rates for usps. retail land may not be an option for the above destinations. however, usps package pick is faster and delivers in 2-3 business days compared to the retail delivery time of 2-8 business days.
more specifically, you’ll pay $10.31 for a 5 pound package from new york to chicago with easyship’s usps parcel shipping rates compared to the retail cost of $13.25 for retail.
usps retail ground and media mail also does not come with insurance included. but, easyship offers up to $10,000 of insurance included for domestic and international shipments.
usps retail ground vs. media mail with easyship
usps retail ground and media mail are two of the cheapest ways to ship with usps. These couriers may be the most affordable options USPS offers, but you’ll have to sacrifice faster delivery times, including insurance and free package pickup.
On the other hand, you can save money with these affordable shipping solutions for your business. so if you can afford slower delivery times for your business, retail mail and media mail are suitable options.
Using a shipping platform can make up for not including shipping insurance, package pickup services, or faster delivery times. For example, EasyShip offers up to 91% off discount shipping rates for USPS domestic and international shipments.
With easyship, you’ll gain access to other key benefits for your eCommerce business, such as:
- shipping policy generator: our shipping policy generator helps merchants and crowdfunding campaigns generate their shipping policy by providing tracking and insurance options
- easyship shipping rate calculator : access high volume discounts from the main couriers. plus get instant access to premium shipping couriers delivery times for faster shipping
- high value shipping insurance: easyship offers shipping insurance up to $10,000 for all shipments. in this way, clients can be calm when sending packages
usps customers can also connect their account to easyship to get instant discounts on services like usps priority mail, priority mail, package pick, first class mail, or flat rate envelopes and boxes.
ready to ship with usps? sign up for a free easy shipping account and get instant access to bulk discounts for usps media mail and other usps services
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