USPS Express vs Priority Mail
Delivery time is one of the differences between USPS express and priority mail. USPS is an acronym that stands for United States Postal Service. This United States Postal Service or USPS provides various options to people to send and receive shipments throughout the country. If one needs early delivery, there are many options in terms of speed of delivery also. Two of the popular choices that are available from USPS in this regard are Express and Priority mailing. There are differences in how much weight they allow, the speed of delivery, also prices that are applicable on items sent. Let us find out these differences to enable people to choose between the two services depending upon their budget and requirements.
What is Express Mail?
Express mail or priority express mail is the fastest way to send an item. Express mail is one facility that guarantees delivery to most of the locations in the country by noon or 3:00 pm next day. When it comes to compensation through insurance, express mail is very much ahead and protected. One is insured for a loss of up to $100 in case of express mail. This is for all items without conditions. When it comes to the price ranges of express mail, you will see that Express mail starts from $ 16.95 at retail. This is quite high.
What is Priority Mail?
Priority mail does not have a guarantee that says they will deliver overnight. Priority mail usually takes 1 – 3 days to deliver the shipment to any location inside the country. It is however, prudent to use priority mail to save on money and time, if you are mailing to the same postal zone, in such instances, delivery is made the next day though no guarantee is provided. When it comes to compensation through insurance priority mail differs from express mail. There is no provision of insurance in case of priority mail for all items. However, priority mail allows insurance cover up to $ 50. However, this is only for certain items and for certain destinations only.
The difference that pinches most to people is the price difference between express and priority mails. If you look at priority mail, you will see that you can send letters or other documents starting from $ 5.60 if you choose priority mail. So unless it is too urgent and the party cannot wait for more than 2 days, it is not prudent to spend so much on express mail.
What is the difference between USPS Express and Priority Mail?
There is some similarity in express and priority mail as one can send both letters as well as packages of up to a specified weight through both the services of USPS. They both have the maximum weight as 70 pounds.
• Duration:
• Express mail delivers an item overnight.
• Priority mail takes 1 to 3 days to deliver an item.
• Insurance:
One major point of differentiation between express and priority mail pertains to compensation through insurance.
• One is insured for a loss of up to $ 100 in case of express mail. This is for all items without conditions.
• There is no such provision of insurance in case of priority mail for all items. However, priority mail allows insurance cover up to $ 50. However, this is only for certain items and for certain destinations only.
• Cost:
The difference that pinches most to people is the price difference between express and priority mails.
• Express mail starts from $16.95 at retail.
• You can send letters or other documents starting from $5.60 if you choose priority mail.
• For both Priority Mail and Priority Express Mail, flat rate pricing is based on the envelope size or the box volume. If the parcel does not comply with the size and shape of the flat rate products, the pricing is done based on weight and delivery zone.
So, next time you have a parcel to deliver first think about how soon you want the item delivered. If it is very urgent and has to be sent as soon as possible then choose express mail. However, if you cannot bear the price ranges of express mail, you can simply switch to priority mail which is cheaper than express mail. It also delivers an item within 1 to 3 days, which means it is also fast. However, remember that priority mail comes with a limited guarantee which has a lot of conditions.
Images Courtesy:
- United States Post Office mail collection boxes by EraserGirl (CC BY 2.0)
- USPS truck by Terry Ross (CC BY-SA 2.0)
