The United States Postal Service (USPS) is a government-run organization that provides postal service to the US. It’s a big, big deal—the USPS is one of the largest employers in the country, with over 500,000 employees. Both the USPS and Amazon provide online orders and online tracking of shipments.
Every day, a huge number of packages get shipped across the country. And if you’re using Amazon, you’re probably doing it through the United States Postal Service (USPS). That’s because it offers the best rates and services for letters, packages, and everything in between.
For example:
Price: You can ship things pretty affordably when you use it; some of their shipping classes even have no minimum weight requirements!
Speed: If your package needs to get somewhere quickly, USPS got it under control. It delivers an estimated 15% of all Amazon packages on Sundays!
Service: They know their job is not just to get your package there; it’s to get it there safely and in a way that’s convenient for you.
Convenience: USPS knows that convenience is important, so they offer Saturday delivery for most locations and flat-rate pricing for some items. As always, they keep costs low and quality high—it’s what keeps their customers coming back.
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First Class Mail Service
It’s simply the most cost-effective, convenient way to send mail on a regular basis. This service guarantees delivery within three to nine business days within the continental US and up to 15 business days to ZIP codes in Alaska and Hawaii.
First-class mail delivers your mail to one location and gives you all of the following perks:
- A tracking number that lets you know when your package arrives at its destination
- Delivery confirmation that makes sure you know whether or not your shipment arrived at its destination
- A detailed report about who accepted your package and where it was left for you
- If a package has been lost, stolen, or damaged by weather or some other force of nature, the first class mail service of USPS will work with you on filing a claim so that they can get you the compensation you deserve.
- Not only does first-class mail deliver your packages, but it also helps you keep track of them throughout the entire process. And the best part? It’s all affordable and easy to use.
How much does it weigh?
If an item is less than 1 ounce, the maximum weight allowed is 3.5 ounces. If an item weighs more than 1 ounce but not more than 3.5 ounces, the price of postage is based on the weight in increments of a one-half ounce. After that, prices go up in increments of one ounce.
How to qualify for first-class mail service?
In order to qualify for first-class mail service, your envelope must be sealed and have enough postage to make it to its destination. To pay the correct postage, you can use a postage scale, or if you’re mailing letters weighing 1 ounce or less, you can put them in one of those yellow envelopes with the postage already printed on them.
Priority Mail service:
Priority mail is a better choice for most documents and packages.
Priority Mail is delivered in 2-3 days to most locations within the United States with an additional $3 fee for delivery confirmation. If you’re sending a package that could be damaged by heat or water, such as photographic equipment, then priority mail should also be your first choice.
If you need to track your package after it leaves the post office, priority mail has an online tracking feature that allows you to see where your parcel is at all times.
The USPS recommends using Priority Mail for shipments that are time-sensitive, need expedited shipping, or require tracking. This service is available for packages weighing up to 70 pounds and up to 108 inches in length and girth combined.
The USPS flat rate price for Priority Mail service depends on the destination zone of your shipment. Some zones have a lower flat rate than others, so rates vary from $5.95 to $49.95 based on the zone you are sending your package to and how much it weighs.
What is the difference between first-class and priority mail service?
Both services are provided by the US Postal Service, and both are used to send mail and packages within the United States. However, despite their similarities, there are some major differences that you should be aware of before choosing which service is best for your needs.
Size Restrictions
The size conditions that accompany Priority Mail and First Class are the most important point to make.
Priority Mail should be used for the shipment holding less than 70 pounds, but First Class Mail would only be used for shipments carrying somewhere around 15.99 oz.
Delivery Time
Priority Mail is the ideal option if speed is your main priority when sending a parcel.
Priority mail normally arrives in 2-3 days, while First Class mail takes 3-9 days, while no service guarantees arrival dates.
Shipment prices
Using First Class instead of Priority Mail is likely to be cheaper, as Priority Mail prices are calculated based on the route a packet traverses. The price of mailing a package by First Class mail is highly dependent on the size, weight, and location of the parcel, but Priority Mail charges a set rate.
The difference in price between Priority Mail and First Class mail is around $3, with First Class mail has always been the cheaper choice.
Priority mail Vs. First Class mail: What to choose?
You know that saying, “First impressions are everything?” Well, it’s true. And when you’re shipping something, your first impression is everything.
First of all, there’s the obvious: it would be great if your package got to its destination in one piece. But that’s not all-important. Having a package that looks high-quality and professional will give the recipient more confidence in both you and what you’re selling.
Priority mail comes with insurance up to $50 for lost, damaged, or stolen packages. That means if you ship something really important using Priority Mail and it ends up getting lost or damaged for any reason, the USPS will reimburse you for your loss.
First-class mail doesn’t have this feature. If your package gets lost or isn’t delivered at all when it was supposed to be, you’re on your own.
And then there’s shipping time. If a package takes too long, it can cause resentment or anger among the people who are waiting for it. That’s where Priority Mail comes in! You get the speed you need while still looking professional and polished.
And speaking of speed, Priority Mail is also known for getting packages where they need to go faster than any other line of shipping services offered by the USPS. You’ll be able to get your package to its destination quickly so that the recipient can enjoy their purchase sooner than ever before!
Bottom Line
So, which one wins?
After reviewing all options carefully and weighing your budget, you may find that both services offer convenience, provided you know how and when to use them. To get the most out of both services, you’ll want to counter their limitations by properly timing when you use them. All in all, understanding which service is better between Priority Mail and First Class will make your shipping costs drop by billions of dollars each year.
