Because a few weeks ago, I sent a package via Priority flat rate. It took a little over a week to get there, through Los Angeles for what I thought at the time was a good reason (see below).
On Tuesday I sent a very slightly smaller (and somewhat lighter, though both were under 2 pounds) package from the same post office branch to the same place via plain old first class. It did NOT go to L.A. (instead going to a much much smaller city that’s actually near where I sent it), and is due to get there either on the day promised (four days hence) or a day early. And it was nine bucks cheaper (which I only realized to my chagrin when I sent it).
AFAIK, First Class and Priority Mail are the same thing, except that First Class is limited to flat envelopes under a relatively small weight, and Priority is for everything else meant to ship “first class” or “air” or “expediently.” I don’t know what difference in delivery there might be between, say, a 9x12 envelope with a five-page document in it, and the same document sent PM flat rate.
I can say that a clear, machine-readable address will speed your mail along like nothing else. Take the time to type out and print a label in 14-18 pt Arial, and you’re just about guaranteed the fastest possible transit.
ETA: Also, using USPS flat-rate mailers whenever possible will cut your mailing costs substantially in most cases. Open-rate Priority can be 4-5 times as much as a flat-rate box.
I ship to CA from MD all the time using Priority (3 days average delivery) and Parcel Select (3-9 days). A USPS Priority package taking 7 days to CA from any of the 48 states is a substantial delay over normal ship times.
A few clarifications: the first of the two packages (not envelopes) went THROUGH L.A., not to; it was the flat rate that was nine bucks more expensive; and I didn’t think of the address possibility (although it wouldn’t explain the part about having to go through Los Angeles, which seems out of the way).
It makes no difference. To LA or through LA to some small CA town the shipping transit time for USPS Priority is usually 1-3 days nationwide except for Alaska and Hawaii. 7 days means the package was held up somewhere for some reason.
Can you give the specifics of the packages? I can’t think of a case where the appropriate flat rate package could be nine dollars more. (Unless the other one was sent Media or Parcel, and even then.)
Well, like I said, the second I sent just first class mail. That’s pretty much the difference right there. I was annoyed because I could’ve saved the money I spent on Priority for the first package too; it wasn’t that urgent.
