GUIDELINES TO SHIPPING      vs. 

Introduction:

Comparison Chart:

Item:                                 USPS (United States Postal Service):                               UPS (United Parcel Service):

Domestic Rates:              Less expensive for smaller items weighing less than 5lbs.                             Excellent for large items

International Rates:        Less expensive with USPS International Priority                                         International rates higher - Canadian Rates cheaper

Address Correction:        NO - If you write or have an incorrect address - too bad                           YES - UPS database will correct your address if
                                                                                                                                                               some of the information is incorrect

P.O. Box Shipments:       YES                                                                                                           NO

Online Tracking:             YES - shows city, state and zip code                                                          YES - displays recipients full name & address

Flat Rates:                       YES - Use a specific flat rate box and stuff it full                                         NO

Same Day Delivery:        NO                                                                                                           YES - UPS SonicAir - not available at all locations

Next Day Delivery:         YES - USPS Express Mail 99.9% accurate                                               YES - UPS Next Day Air & Next Day Air Saver
                                                                                                                                                                 99.9% accurate

Three Day Delivery:       YES - USPS Priority Mail (2-3 Days) 95% accurate                                  YES - UPS 3-Day Select 99.9% accurate

International Ship:           YES - USPS Priority International                                                              YES - UPS Worldwide            

Delivery Confirm:           YES - must pay for service                                                                         YES - no extra charge

Signature Confirm:         YES - must pay for service                                                                          YES - no extra charge

Insurance:                        YES - covered partially on international - must pay for                                YES - UPS covers $100 for free - pay to increase
                                          for additional and domestic shipments                                                                    coverage

International Insurance: Yes - Limited to $650 max on coverage                                                        YES - No limit

Delivery Transit Info:     YES - with very little detail on most occasions                                            YES - step by step transit in full detail

Alternate Depots:            YES - All US Post Offices in the USA                                                      YES - Any UPS or The UPS Store (no extra charge)
                                            (Some second party mail drop off stores have surcharges - make sure to ask before utilizing there services)

Online Shipping:              YES                                                                                                          YES

Online Advantages:         Discount on certain shipping services and FREE Delivery Confirmation        Discount on certain shipping services (not available @ The UPS Store)

Supplies:                           FREE boxes and tape - order online and delivered at no charge                NO - must purchase boxes - they will let you use
                                                                                                                                                               there tape and kraft paper
Home Pick-Up:                YES                                                                                                        YES

Summarization:

In general both services have there advantages and disadvantages.

I mostly utilize USPS for shipping small/light items for domestic and international (except Canada) locations.

For UPS, I send expensive and larger/heavy items (10 lbs or more) for domestic and Canadian shipments.

PAYPAL CLAIMS:  

Item was shipped via USPS:

With USPS, you only have the city, state and zip and there is more a shipper must do to file a proper claim or to get a refund. You must provide the receipt with postmark (red stamp that provides location and date the item was shipped) and must email a pdf or jpeg of the receipts to PayPal. Secondly, you must call the local post office or call a 1-800 number to file a claim. Since USPS does not show the actual recipient's name and full address, your out of luck - you must depend on the local PO or call the 1-800 to provide additional information. They usually contact the last person handling the mail which is the actual delivery carrier that brings the recipient their mail. That can take up to 60 days. And PayPal will not wait that long and will not issue a refund to the seller.

If you ship USPS and use the automatic mailer - print the confirmation number with the machine - do not use a pre-printed label because if the postal worker does not scan the package then you have no proof of delivery. You will have the receipt but it doesn't provide an actual address (since addresses are not entered in the system and is solely dependent to what's written on the parcel) and no postmark.

Item was shipped via UPS:

The major advantage is that you have the sender's name, recipient's name, detailed tracking and all of it is time stamped. PayPal will reward the seller or buyer with a refund since all proof of sending and receiving is available.

Summarization: