If you’re an online retailer or business owner, you know how important efficient, reliable and affordable shipping is to your business. These days, customers expect not only fast delivery, but also a good deal on shipping.
So how can you meet these needs as a business owner? Two great options are UPS SurePost and USPS Priority Mail Shipping. In this article we will talk about both services so you can choose the best one for you!
ups surepost priority over usps in 2022
surepost is a hybrid ups/usps service that combines ups ground shipping service with usps’ “last mile” delivery experience in 2022. it’s best for small and medium-sized businesses looking to offer competitive prices. competitive shipping. USPS Priority Mail is also available to businesses, but is also available to non-business shippers. both offer affordable rates and reliable delivery in less than 7 days.
There’s a lot more to know about these two services, so be sure to keep reading for more helpful facts!
what is oops surepost?
Before getting into a comparison of ups surepost and usps priority mail, it’s important to know what each service is about.
surepost is an affordable ground service offered by united parcel service (ups). it is primarily designed to deliver lightweight business-to-consumer packages to residential addresses.
Packages shipped via this service are processed by the ups ground network until the “last mile” of delivery.
Before this final step (which varies in distance depending on customer addresses), UPS delivers the packages to USPS for final delivery.
is available to businesses that ship at least 50 packages per week.
Averaging 2-7 days delivery, surepost is about a day slower than ups ground, but it’s also 20% cheaper on average.
surepost pricing starts at $9.81 for 1 pound packages going to zone 2.
plus, up to $100 of insurance is included.
is ups surepost the same as usps?
ups surepost is not the same as usps. rather, think of it as a hybrid ups/usps option.
Packages shipped via surepost receive a ups shipping label and are transported on ups trucks using ups routes.
usps doesn’t come into the picture until packages reach the “last mile” of delivery. At this point, UPS drops off the packages at the local post office.
USPS sorts and distributes packages according to their delivery addresses, then carriers deliver them as part of their normal routes Monday through Saturday.
what is usps priority mail?
usps priority mail is a fast and affordable shipping service designed for large packages and envelopes.
Delivery takes place in 1, 2 or 3 days, depending on the distance the package must travel.
customers can choose to mail based on weight and dimensions, or via flat rate envelopes or boxes.
Priority Mail items are delivered 6 days a week, with no additional charge for Saturday delivery.
Flat rate shipping starts at $8.95 for large envelopes.
Tracking and up to $50 insurance are included in the shipping price. In addition, the shipping of boxes and envelopes is free.
how reliable is usps priority mail?
in general, usps priority mail is very reliable. meaning tracking is accurate, delivery times are within USPS estimates, and few packages are lost.
in fact, usps has a 96.5% on-time delivery rate!
That said, bad weather and staff shortages can cause delays.
Unfortunately, priority mail doesn’t come with any delivery guarantees, so there’s not much you can do if your package is late.
should i choose ups surepost or usps priority?
In most cases, the answer to this question will depend on your individual circumstances and needs.
However, we will mention some important aspects to consider when choosing between these services.
first of all, please understand that ups surepost is a commercial product.
i.e. surepost is designed for businesses that ship packages to customers, not customers that ship packages to their loved ones.
so if you’re sending an occasional care package or a birthday gift, usps priority mail is the better of the two options.
Next, assuming you’re a business owner, you’ll need to look at the volume of packages you send on a regular basis.
You must ship at least 50 packages per week to benefit from surepost prices. therefore, the more packages you send, the more affordable shipping will be.
if your shipping volume is less than that, or you go through boom and bust cycles, then priority mail is probably your best option.
In addition to the number of packets you’re sending, you’ll also want to consider where your packets are going.
Although surepost can technically be used to send mail to alaska, hawaii, puerto rico, and apo/fpo addresses, it’s really only a good deal when shipping to the lower 48 states.
also, surepost is only available for domestic shipments. if you ship packages internationally, this is not the service for you.
priority mail, on the other hand, remains an affordable option, even when shipping to destinations farther from the united states.
plus, usps offers international priority mail service if you need to ship something overseas.
If you’re still undecided, check out shipping times and included services to help you make up your mind.
ups surepost advertises 2-7 day delivery, while priority mail offers 1, 2 or 3 day delivery. if speed is what you’re after, opt for priority mail.
In terms of included services, both options offer tracking. Because Priority Mail is only handled by USPS, it may be easier to track your tracking than with UPS’s hybrid shipping model.
surepost and priority mail also come with insurance. surepost packages are insured for up to $100, while priority mail packages come with $50 insurance.
if what you’re mailing requires more coverage, you might want to take a closer look at surepost.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on the usps mail forwarding extension, usps vs fedex, and the difference between ups & usps.
conclusion
Although the names may seem similar, ups surepost and usps priority mail are very different options for senders.
Ultimately, you’ll need to consider your budget, ideal delivery times, and delivery locations when choosing between these services.