The United States Postal Service (USPS) has been around since 1775, so it’s no wonder that they have quite a few competitors. Some of these competitors are private companies, while others are owned by foreign governments; some specialise in international shipping while others only provide domestic services within their own countries. When you decide to switch over to a competitor, make sure you fully understand the differences between them and the USPS so you can make an informed decision. Let’s take a look at some of these differences and the main competitors of USPS here in the United States today.
Competitors of USPS
FedEx
The main difference between FedEx and USPS is that FedEx is a private company with a fleet of trucks, meaning it has much more control over its delivery times. This also means that FedEx is much more expensive than USPS. But some businesses are willing to pay for speed, accuracy, and reliability, so you may want to consider using FedEx instead of USPS.
DHL
As far as competition goes, DHL is one of only a few companies that can match USPS in terms of global reach. They’re especially strong in Europe and offer unique tracking capabilities for shipments bound for Asia. They also have a domestic delivery service. Because of its international presence, DHL is perfect for businesses that deal heavily with overseas partners and clients. It’s important to note that DHL isn’t just a courier service, either—they also run an extensive logistics network throughout Europe and Asia. The scale involved at that level is comparable to FedEx or USPS but with even greater international reach.
UPS
With more than 43,000 trucks, UPS is an easy choice for shipping packages nationwide. The company operates more than 350 hubs across North America and offers expedited delivery and reliable services to meet customers’ needs. For a competitive price, you can ship your package to its destination in 1-3 business days with UPS; you also have access to real-time tracking so you can see where your shipment is at any time of day.
Amazon Flex
Another e-commerce giant, Amazon, is getting into same-day delivery with its service called Amazon Flex. Shoppers who want to get their products same-day can sign up to work as a driver for Amazon Flex. For example, if you live in Chicago and make deliveries around your home or office in that area, you can make between $18-$25 per hour.
Lazy Shipper
If you’re shipping a lot of packages or parcels, Lazy Shipper is an easy way to automate that process. Through Lazy Shipper, business owners can print their shipping labels and affix them to boxes instead of having to use official U.S. Postal Service (USPS) shipping materials and then go through USPS channels for all of their shipments.
ShipBob
When it comes to shipping, businesses don’t have a lot of options. They either pay close to $40 at local shopping centres or ship items themselves (which can lead to damaged goods). But now there’s ShipBob, a disruptive logistics company that allows merchants to offer same-day delivery at affordable rates. The way ShipBob makes things easier for business owners is simple: It handles everything that needs to be done in-house (from pick-up and packaging to delivery) so that business owners don’t have to hire an entire team of employees just for shipping. ShipBob also saves time by offering deliveries within hours, as opposed to days or weeks.
Fresh Direct
The New York City-based food delivery service offers a wide range of grocery items and produce, but it’s best known for its selection of prepared meals, which are made fresh each day by a team of chefs. And if you don’t feel like leaving your house to get dinner ready, there’s always last night’s pizza—and next night’s pizza. $ 3.99 for two slices (plus $1.99 shipping).
Postmates On-Demand Delivery
Two years after expanding into food delivery, Postmates is doing another about-face. After acquiring a startup that delivers groceries on demand (and at a discount), it’s rolling out a similar option for everyone else. Few weeks ago, Postmates announced its acquisition of LAbite and its service, which does same-day delivery from dozens of grocery stores in major cities across North America, including New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Conclusion
When choosing a shipping service, it’s important to consider both price and time. There are many options for shipping out there, but USPS will serve your shipping needs well. When you have a package that is heavy or doesn’t fit in a normal-sized mailbox, USPS Priority Mail is perfect for you. With their flat-rate pricing, you can ensure that your package won’t get charged any extra fees because of its size or weight.
F&Q
Are USPS and UPS competitors?
The United States Postal Service and UPS are both shipping corporations, although their operations are quite different. The Postal Service competes with the private sector as well as partners with it.
Which is better, USPS or FedEx?
FedEx delivers to both ground and air addresses, but not to PO boxes. You’ll need USPS for that. In most other ways, USPS and FedEx are nearly identical: they both provide tracking, normal overnight shipping, and other services.
Is USPS owned by the government?
Yes, USPS is a government-run entity. USPS was formed by an Act of Congress in 1971. It’s governed by a Board of Governors appointed by The President and approved by The Senate.
