Does UPS and FedEx have better service than USPS?
I’m not satisfied w USPS (lost packages, etc). I rarely use UPS or FedEx but are they any better service wise? I’m considering looking into what type of discounts I might be able to get with them. I’ve also heard there is a way to link FedEx or UPS accounts to “buy shipping” as I’ve read about some of you doing in this forum. Does Amazon cover INR’s for those packages where the UPS / FedEx accounts are linked to buy shipping? Thanks for any help.
33 replies
Seller_3N7yVnTXPzLkL
In my experience UPS offers better service than USPS. But it is not clear to me that the added cost is worth it.
I find FEDEX Express to be superb, but even higher priced.
FEDEX Ground/Home is far inferior to any other carrier. Rough handling, faked delivery scans, late delviery, items left unattended. I have buyer experience with all four carriers. Seller experience with all but FEDEX Ground/Home because they are bad, and were bad before FEDEX bought them (they were called RPS).
If you sell textbooks, I suspect your problem is not really USPS, it is who buys textbooks.
Seller_mF1JGDR2SRuKT
Service is yes
But USPS deliver on Saturday and USPS packages moving through weekend so deliver faster than other company
Seller_HRcJa1gdGHeov
I would say no, but all 3 have their area of specialty that they excel at:
USPS: small packages (under 3 lbs) and larger package going shorter distances
UPS: Large packages and longer distances
FedEx: Anything expedited
I have had issues with all 3 from time to time, but the above holds for us from both price and delivery.
Seller_ofOBVTQ7u4YSX
FedEx has been consistently the worst for me. I receive a lot of packages and FedEx seems to damage more than USPS and UPS combined, even though in terms of percentage of packages, I get fewer from FedEx. Target and Walmart like to use FedEx for their 2 day shipping and I have had so many packages delivered oozing liquid, just tossed on my front porch. They also are unreliable in terms of delivering when expected. I have had items “out for delivery” that don’t actually end up being delivered until a day or 2 later.
Another factor to consider is that in many places people have a parcel locker that USPS can use for many packages or mailboxes with locks for smaller packages. FedEx and UPS often leave items in unsecure locations when a signature is not required as they do not have access to the USPS mailboxes or parcel lockers.
Seller_uPXKEZAdYjLr8
I use USPS …rarely any others due to the cost is way too high on 99% of my items to use UPS/Fedex.
When I used to use UPS on a few large packages, it seemed every package would have a balance owing and this was before dim pricing, even though they supposedly checked it at the UPS store.
It was just too uncertain for me. I do check them for heavy packages but rarely do I use any other unless the price is way less.
As a buyer, I prefer to receive via USPS because I know I will most likely get it in days and not weeks, although it may be the seller, it just seems to me I get my smaller items quicker. UPS delivers to my house late at night, if I do not hear them, my stuff stays on my porch all night but usually not too bad shape, Fedex seems to take forever, walmart claims 2 day delivery but uses Fedex a lot and their 2 day shipping takes between a week and 2 weeks to receive and come in bad shape.
I really only have delivery issues on Amazon sold items, rarely anyplace else so if you don’t sell anywhere else, it may just appear that you have USPS problems…
Seller_gQYj2zQCuoz6y
I am not using FedEx that much so I cannot comment on them.
As others wrote, UPS and USPS both have pros and cons. USPS does Sunday delivery, etc. It depends what your needs are.
But in general in my experience UPS is much better than USPS. As much as the postal service is run independently, it is still a government agency. Employees can get away with slacking off. UPS employees will usually do a little more to get a package delivered.
Both services varies in different regions.
Seller_mECVmiLMIjvvq
It Depends on what you ship and where it is going.
We use shipping software and select the one with the best rates and delivery schedule. Don’t limit yourself.
Seller_WQj6Zg0jH6DBA
I agree with the breakdown of
- USPS - for standard and Priority Mail flat rates are hard to beat.
- UPS - in my experience with negotiated pricing, is the best “utility” / general package service.
- Fedex - Fast’n clean, would be my go-to carrier if my life depended on getting something overnight.
But all that aside, their lost package rate is all about the same … very low.
There are more address issues w/ Amazon than other marketplaces … but, this affects all carriers pretty evenly.
If you are having higher than normal lost packages, make sure to eliminate anything in your control before recreating the wheel. Labels/Printers/Tape/Boxes/Envelopes all affect scannability and deliverability.
We have had great results with UPS for years and all of a sudden started having delayed and missing packages. It was frustrating and I worked with (and complained to) my rep. to find the solution.
We had no problem with USPS so it initially looked like a carrier-specific UPS problem.
Turns out we had changed our boxes to 100% recycled and it was causing an issue with label adhesion. What initially looked like a UPS issue turned out to be our new line of boxes that looked great and shipped well, but the tape and labels we have used for years din’t like the new cardboard and were coming loose in transit. Changed tape and labels … UPS problem solved.
We didn’t have any trouble with USPS merely because we only ship with their Priority Mail Packaging and that hadn’t changed.
So, moral of our story, look inward before making drastic changes. Ymmv 
Seller_1gSICfZynDifC
I slower it goes, the more likely it is to get lost or damaged.
Seller_cajUy7KY82A4x
I use all three. Much less UPS these days (mostly due to cost, and closure of close office for me). Mostly I use USPS. I only trust hardy parcels to Fed-ex. Too many ended up beat up upon arrival with Fed-ex. I rarely have lost parcels, and most arrive way ahead of schedule. But I’m small, usually lighter stuff and I get it out the door usually same day.
