Introduction
United States Postal Service or USPS is a very common courier service provider in the United States. They are known for door-to-door delivery and working very hard in tough times like during pandemics. The postal service comes with various shipping categories, among which includes – First Class Mail, Second Class Mail, Third Class Mail, Fourth Class Mail, and Priority Mail. Here let’s see the topic in detail- USPS Priority Mail vs First Class.
What is the difference between Priority Mail and First Class
The First Class Mail is used for shipping lightweight packages like thick envelopes, lightweight clothes, letters, important documents, etc. They are considered a top-rated shipping option to courier lightweight packages of less than 10 lbs, at an affordable price.
The Priority Mail, as the name suggests, is the priority of the USPS. It is usually used for international couriers and can send up to 70 lbs of the packages. The Priority Mail is considered the go-to for international courier delivery but comes at a hefty price.
- Which is faster?
The duration for the package to arrive with the USPS depends on which shipping zone the delivery address lays. As usual, the in-home delivery for both takes around two to three days. But in the case of international packages, there is no clear-cut deadline for First Class Mail. For the Priority Mail, the normal takes around five to ten days, while the express takes around three to five days.
- Which is economical?
The Priority Mail, though faster, comes with a price. The First Class is more economical and is kind of equivalent to the services provided by UPS or FedEx. But the USPS service is more affordable and is worth the money.
- What can we send in Priority Mail and First Class?
There are clear-cut demarcations on what can be sent in Priority Mail and First Class Mail. In the First Class Mail, lightweight packages like envelopes, letters, postcards, documents, clothes like T-shirts, etc. The maximum weight for the First Class Mail is 15.99 oz, and for First Class International is 4.4lbs.
Priority Mail includes any package which is less than 70 lbs. It can include anything from jewelry to highly prioritized documents or files. People usually also prefer Priority Mail to send their valuables as Priority Mail offers up to $100 coverage in case of misplaced or damaged goods.
- What are the characteristic shipping features for Priority Mail and First Class?
The First Class Mail and Priority Mail are both highly specific and have their benefits and advantages.
One of the best and probably biggest advantages Priority Mail has over First Class Mail is the insurance coverage. In the Priority Mail, the customer has insurance coverage of up to $100 for the national shipments and a coverage of up to $200 in case of international packages. In case the client feels the given amount is insufficient and their product holds more value than the given amount, they are more than welcome to buy additional insurance coverage from a third party or directly from the USPS, at an additional cost.
Another benefit, present in both, include the tracking option. The consumer is free to track their order, when it was placed, where it is at now, when it will be delivered and whether it has been delivered successfully or not.
Apart from them, there are numerous other special features in the Priority Mail and First Class Mail as compared to other shipping categories. The weekend deliveries, delivery only with signature, certificate of mailing, careful handling in the case specified, cost of return receipts, notification of successful mailing, notification of all the failed attempts at delivery, and reason for the same; are a few to list.
Other Shipping Option in USPS
Apart from First Class Mail and Priority Mail, the USPS provides other shipping options like,
- The second class mail. It is mainly used for sending out media prints like magazines, newspapers, or anything that are printed more than four times a year.
- The third class mail. It is mainly used for marketing purposes and consists of flyers, marketing mail, mailers, etc.
- The fourth class mail. It is a media mail and is mainly used to send CDs, DVDs, Vinyl records, any self-bought print media that has more than 8 pages like store-bought storybooks, novella, textbooks, etc.
Conclusion
The First Class Mail is used to send off lightweight packages with less than 10 lbs weight and 108″ width. It is affordable, an easy-to-reach shipment option but doesn’t provide any insurance. Is a good choice to send products of less value.
The Priority Mail is used to send off packages up to 70 lbs weight with a width of 108″. It is a bit costlier than the First Class Mail but is more economically feasible than the UPS or FedEx. It provides insurance coverage for the packages in case of damaged or lost items and has an option to buy more coverage either from USPS or a third party. Is used to send packages of value and for international shipments.
