# USPS Priorities

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-priorities/628360>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 16, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-priorities/628360 "2012-07-16T00:22:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-priorities/628360/1 "2012-07-16T00:22:39Z")

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Is there still 1st class mail, etc. And, is there still a priority to when different classes of mail are delivered on different days of the week? If so, what is the priority?

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-priorities/628360/2 "2012-07-16T01:38:03Z")

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> [@Jinx](#):
>
> Is there still 1st class mail, etc.

[Yes.](http://pe.usps.com/businessmail101/classes/welcome.htm)

> [@](#):
>
> And, is there still a priority to when different classes of mail are delivered on different days of the week?

I don’t know what that questions, but the main difference is that Express Mail can be delivered on Sundays or Holidays. None of the others can, although if it has been picked up, it still navigates thru the system.

> [@](#):
>
> If so, what is the priority?

Express Mail generally gets there the next day. In cases like mailing from the East Coast to Hawaii, probably the second day (as it was in my case).

Standard Mail (formerly called Bulk Mail) is cheap, but slow.

First Class is fast, and (relatively) cheap.

Priority Mail costs a good bit more than First Class, but in most cases the delivery time will be the same. Most of the added value with Priority Mail is psychological (in my experience).

The “Parcel” rates used to be a fair amount lower than Priority Mail rates, but depending upon where you’re mailing to and from the difference in cost might not be much.

Personal observations on all the above. YMMV.

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-priorities/628360/3 "2012-07-16T02:22:04Z")

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> [@Jinx](#):
>
> Is there still 1st class mail, etc. And, is there still a priority to when different classes of mail are delivered on different days of the week? If so, what is the priority?

**Moderator Warning**

**Jinx** , you’ve been instructed repeatedly not to ask such easily researched questions in General Questions, by both **samclem** and myself.

I remind you, _again_, of the [General Questions Rules:](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=466202)

> [@](#):
>
> 1. Please take some time to consider if your proposed thread is really a General Question … Perhaps more importantly, many queries can be solved with a simple web search. Please give your favorite search engine a shot if you can before starting a thread.

In the past, we’ve simply closed your threads of this kind. You don’t seem to be getting the message. This is an official warning for violating moderator instructions. If you continue to ask questions of this kind here, you will receive additional warnings.

Colibri  
General Questions Moderator