USPS delivering UPS and FedEx Packages

[exboyfil]

I have read that USPS makes final delivery of many of the UPS and FedEx packages shipped to rural areas. Does anyone have information on this fact. In particular how much is USPS compensated for this service and what would the alternative be for UPS and FedEx if USPS did not offer this service.

[Kingofalldems]

1. They have been doing this for many years

USPS goes everywhere.

[hlthe2b]

2. Not just in rural areas... Lot of retailers--including Amazon, LL Bean and others use this service..

It starts as UPS or FEDEX and then when it arrives in the city, end locale, is transferred to USPS for final delivery. I think this is mostly a home delivery service rather than business, but it saves UPS and FEDEX lots of money (as well as you, the consumer and the shipping retailer).

And, yes, this is a question that ought to be asked and publicized widely. If you don't want to pay the very high delivery fees of UPS or FEDEX-- we all need to save the USPS.

[exboyfil]

4. Thanks for the info

I am helping my daughter on an essay about the future of the USPS. It is an important piece of information that I came across trying to find labor rate information for the three organizations. I am surprised that Bernie Sanders did not talk about it (maybe he did and I just did not hear it).

[Frustratedlady]

6. They (FedEx) charges exorbitant surcharges for home delivery and gas...

It burns me up that you can have 3 packages going to the same house/name, but they charge 3 groups of surcharges for home delivery and gas to get there.

I didn't know USPS actually did the delivery.

[hlthe2b]

8. They (USPS) do SOME of the final deliveries for FEDEX... a special economy service

Not all. I suspect it is the regular FEDEX that you are referring to and yes, exorbitant is the word.

[matt819]

10. So does UPS

I ship via UPS, mostly to rural addresses, and, boy, am I ever socked with surcharges. I have a pretty good sense where the crossover point is for when one is cheaper than the other, but I do check rates all the time.

[PoliticAverse]

3. UPS and Fedex both offer a specific USPS final-delivery service...

UPS Mail Innovations: http://www.upsmailinnovations.com/

Fedex Smart Post: http://www.fedex.com/us/smart-post/index.html

[Lugnut]

5. I've received lots of UPS and FedEx packages delivered by the USPS.

I have no information about their reimbursement rates.

[OregonBlue]

7. It causes all kinds of problems in the rural area I live in. Many online retailers do not allow you

to use a p.o. box. I do not have delivery at home. I live 2 blocks from a rural post office. If my box number is not included in the address or as a supplement to the zip like 97037-0117, they have no idea which box to use. Of course my post office knows me and they put it in my box but technically, they are supposed to charge $6 for a p.o. box search.

I have talked to the retailers (newegg, penney's, toys r us,, etc.) and asked them to fix this on their sites so my p.o. box can be included. They are probably provided the shipping software free of charge by UPS, Fedex and those companies don't want the p.o. box included.

It's a real hassle. I have to call every company every time and speak to a human being who can override the address information and include my box number.

They truly are trying to drive the usps out of business.

[exboyfil]

11. I was in the same situation in 1993-1994

We had a post office box when we lived in a motel and apartment. When we moved into our house 1 mile north of town, it did not have a mail box. We just kept the post office box. Not as much mail order back in 1993-1994.

[matt819]

9. Been going on for a while

I haven't had any FedEx shipments delivered by the USPS, but I have had shipments that originated with UPS delivered by the USPS. It's a "lower class" and less expensive service for the shipper, usually a day or two slower than the typical UPS Ground shipment. I don't know that shippers are passing along this savings to the customer, but my guess is that they are not.

On the whole, I don't mind this, but I would appreciate if the shipper told me that this is what they were doing, especially since these shipments can't be tracked once they are handed off the Postal Service, and my impression is that these shipments are at the bottom of the delivery rung after Express, Priority, and First Class USPS mail.

[missheidi]

12. I've had lots of packages from UPS & FedEX delivered by USPS as well...

...and I'm not in a rural area; I'm in the 'burbs of Atlanta. IMO, it seems to slow down the service...I've had Amazon Prime packages that were supposed to be delivered on say, Monday by UPS, end up delivered on Wednesday by USPS.

[hay rick]

13. Low cost alternative for small non-urgent packages.

USPS can put packages in a mailbox, USPS and FedEx are not supposed to.

[Tansy_Gold]

14. Whenever possible, I specify USPS for all shipping

Invariably it's cheaper, and almost always just as fast. Although UPS is mostly union, many FedEx routes are franchised and subcontracted.

For outbound shipping, I use only USPS. Cheaper, more convenient. They provide free boxes, too, for priority flat rate shipping.

[moose65]

15. It's true, and most people don't know it!

My partner works for the USPS, and so I've heard all kinds of stuff about waiting around for the FedEx and UPS packages for final delivery. I don't know how much the Post Office receives for doing that. Every time I hear people complaining about the Post Office and saying that UPS and FedEx are "cheaper" and more efficient, I want to scream! There are lots of places in this country that FedEx and UPS will never deliver to, because it's not profitable. If there were no PO, the delivery charges for FedEx and UPS would skyrocket.

[moose65]

16. One more thing.....

We should all try to use the USPS whenever possible. They need our support.