Silk Road forums

Discussion => Shipping => Topic started by: happytree on November 12, 2011, 09:24 pm

Title: USPS Priority Mail - A few facts, myths and why's.
Post by: happytree on November 12, 2011, 09:24 pm
So, a recent number of orders I have received came via USPS Priority Mail with tracking information.

While the sentiment is appreciated, and I assume the sellers are doing this for their own protection (to include the tracking number for proof of delivery) I thought some sellers AND buyers out there should be aware of a few things.

1) USPS Priority Mail does NOT get to the receiver ANY FASTER than USPS First Class Mail. This is the most common, well-profitable fact of the USPS. USPS First Class Mail typically takes 2-3 business days from any coast to any coast in the United States. USPS Priority Mail, which costs typically around $5 for a letter size package, "claims" to have your package arrive 2-3 business days. However, in my experience, sometimes Priority Mail, can take a day longer.

2) Unless you are offering (as a seller) USPS Priority Mail as a FREE service to your buyers, to ensure accuracy/confirmation of delivery, by way of the confirmation number, I feel you are providing a disservice claiming it will be any faster than First Class Mail (and in some cases, it will  be longer).

3) Buyers, do not purchase this service under the assumption it will be faster than First Class Mail. It is a great way to track your package (ALWAYS REMEMBER TO TRACK OUTSIDE OF TOR, NEVER TRACK THE PACKAGE WHILE USING TOR).

Thanks!
Title: Re: USPS Priority Mail - A few facts, myths and why's.
Post by: listentothemusic on November 12, 2011, 10:01 pm
I figured I'd chime in here being that I use only priority:
Quote
1) USPS Priority Mail does NOT get to the receiver ANY FASTER than USPS First Class Mail. This is the most common, well-profitable fact of the USPS. USPS First Class Mail typically takes 2-3 business days from any coast to any coast in the United States. USPS Priority Mail, which costs typically around $5 for a letter size package, "claims" to have your package arrive 2-3 business days. However, in my experience, sometimes Priority Mail, can take a day longer.

This is not true. If I ship with priority, any size package of mine on a Monday, it will arrive on Wednesday. That goes for about 98% of my orders. I use flat rate priority mailing for sheer simplicity of exact costs, and that I do know it gets there faster than First Class.

I ship my smaller items (Oils, hash, pills) via First class in bubble mailers and it takes a minimal of 3 days, usually 4-5.

Others may have more luck, but I ordered something on Wed, shipped first class and it didnt arrive, while something I ordered with priority did arrive today.
Title: Re: USPS Priority Mail - A few facts, myths and why's.
Post by: Cgault on November 13, 2011, 05:29 pm
 well published study by the Postal Service auditors (I can dig for it and update this) stated that Priority shipping was, on average, no faster than First Class mail. On average. The USPS is undergoing a great upheaval as its budget has been raided by the general treasury, and I for one have noticed a definite increase in mail transit times from the N S E and W. At first I thought it was a fluke, then there was no denying it, mail that used to take 3 days now takes a solid 5, 5 takes a solid week.


I figured I'd chime in here being that I use only priority:
Quote
1) USPS Priority Mail does NOT get to the receiver ANY FASTER than USPS First Class Mail. This is the most common, well-profitable fact of the USPS. USPS First Class Mail typically takes 2-3 business days from any coast to any coast in the United States. USPS Priority Mail, which costs typically around $5 for a letter size package, "claims" to have your package arrive 2-3 business days. However, in my experience, sometimes Priority Mail, can take a day longer.

This is not true. If I ship with priority, any size package of mine on a Monday, it will arrive on Wednesday. That goes for about 98% of my orders. I use flat rate priority mailing for sheer simplicity of exact costs, and that I do know it gets there faster than First Class.

I ship my smaller items (Oils, hash, pills) via First class in bubble mailers and it takes a minimal of 3 days, usually 4-5.

Others may have more luck, but I ordered something on Wed, shipped first class and it didnt arrive, while something I ordered with priority did arrive today.
Title: Re: USPS Priority Mail - A few facts, myths and why's.
Post by: oxyhoot on November 14, 2011, 07:03 am
the difference between the 2 is that first class is not guaranteed to arrive.

If you use First Class to ship drugs, well expect to have some major problems.

Yeah, the USPS website even says that because of the sheer volume of letter size first class mail, it is not trackable and not guaranteed in anyway. Priority might not be faster, but with Priority and DC at least the PO has a harder time saying "F U, we don't know what happened to the mail you supposedly sent."

I guess you have to weigh the options. A couple extra bucks for tracking and piece of mind.  Of course, there is always FCM parcel, which could be a large envelope over a certain thickness or with over a 1/4" variation in thickness, which you can add DC to. At least then you can track it (providing postal workers are not too lazy to scan so it shows up in the system.)
Title: Re: USPS Priority Mail - A few facts, myths and why's.
Post by: Cgault on November 14, 2011, 08:53 am
FCM?
Title: Re: USPS Priority Mail - A few facts, myths and why's.
Post by: happytree on November 14, 2011, 03:21 pm
Yes, my post was not to state that there are benefits of Priority Shipping, but in my personal experience (and as well as someone above mentioned even USPS will admit) the ONLY difference is that one provides a tracking number and "reassurance" for the seller that it got where it needed to go.

I can tell you from personal experience unless you're shipping a large box, First Class will get there just as fast, if not faster.

The point is to simply communicate to buyers and sellers that you're paying for a tracking number, NOT a faster service. Period.

As a buyer, my most favorite method of shipment is in a First Class, letter size envelope. It blends in with the rest of my mail, and there's no chance of some disgruntled postal worker feeling up a package.
Title: Re: USPS Priority Mail - A few facts, myths and why's.
Post by: Greynick on November 15, 2011, 12:43 pm
Every package I order "priority" comes to Australia (Sydney) within 7 days. Every "first class" package I order takes a minimum of 7 days, up to 22 so far.

From what I understand, priority mail is put on the next available flight, whereas first class comes when there's room.

Do some research on them and you'll find this is so - I'd like to hear from the guy who was a USPS intern .. would be great to have this information confirmed .........

Grey
Title: Re: USPS Priority Mail - A few facts, myths and why's.
Post by: benjiboo on November 15, 2011, 04:50 pm
I know this is true because my friends and I mail each other shit coast to coast via first class and it takes 3 days exactly every time. We once tried priority for a larger order and it took three days as well. Save your money guys!
Title: Re: USPS Priority Mail - A few facts, myths and why's.
Post by: Cgault on November 15, 2011, 08:02 pm
It blends in with the rest of my mail, and there's no chance of some disgruntled postal worker feeling up a package.

I may need to shower now, I can't get the image out of head of some slovenly postal worker fondling my packages. Ewww...
Title: Re: USPS Priority Mail - A few facts, myths and why's.
Post by: jackrabbit31 on November 15, 2011, 09:04 pm
To chime in here with my 2 cents - as a seller with a fairly good reputation and who only uses USPS First Class:

a) Priority is a waste of money and can indeed be slower (I get coast to coast usually in 3 days with USPS First Class).

b) You can add a tracking # to any USPS First Class package for .80 cents in postage and grab a bunch of those tracking # stickers in a post office and use them when you need.  Keep in mind your package costs for like a 3oz package are like $1.20? (look it up on usps.com haha im tired so I might be off) and fyi if you think that using Priority is a great way to insure your illegal drugs being mailed illegally.... well then I think you need to read the fine print of their insurance policy and maybe also consult with your attorney haha. If your package is small but professional and has the proper postage a USPS First Class package cant be handled by the auto sorting machines so your risk of it being lost in those giant paper shredders is fairly low - you can check my feedback tho if you want a track record for USPS First Class package shipping.

That is all I have to say haha.

Rock on!

- JR
Title: Re: USPS Priority Mail - A few facts, myths and why's.
Post by: happytree on November 15, 2011, 09:38 pm
Greynick, yes I was referring to packages/shipments sent with the United States Territory (not including Hawaii, Alaska).

As you can see from JackRabbit's chime-in, he's exactly right. You're only paying for a tracking number, which, as he mentioned, you can choose the option b he lists.

I am not at all saying sellers cannot offer Priority Mailing, but I believe that they should provide the disclaimer it's not any faster, and if they do insist it as their method of shipment, it should be free. Because I know if I'm getting it, it will be a day longer.

I have noticed some sellers, requiring buyers purchase it as a separate service - bollacks to that I say!

--yes, a disgruntled postal worker feeling up a package conjures quite an image.
Title: Re: USPS Priority Mail - A few facts, myths and why's.
Post by: Cgault on November 16, 2011, 04:29 am
Did anyone catch the Nat Geo special on the Postal inspection service? Very interesting/ They are really focused on explosives and threats by mail, to a lesser extent on drugs, unless they are in an investigation concerning weight. This does not mean that there will not be a multi agency effort to "poison" SR, via the seeding of massive amounts of buyers and sellers, thereby fomenting FUD.

I also understand that there is work going on to break Tor - on going white-hat research and TLAs. Its just the way it is.