What is USPS? USPS Review, Features

The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the United States Post Office or the United States Postal Service, is an independent agency of the United States federal government. The United States Postal Service is one of the few agencies mentioned in the United States Constitution. USPS is responsible for postal services throughout the United States. Its business scope includes mail delivery, package delivery, cargo transportation, postal services, and a series of other businesses, and it can also provide online services.

About USPS

The history of the United States Postal Service can be traced back to 1775, when the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General of the United States. In 1792, the Postal Service was upgraded to the United States Postal Department, becoming one of the departments under the United States Cabinet, with Franklin as the first Postmaster General. In 1971, the Postal Department was abolished according to the Postal Reorganization Act and downgraded to the current United States Postal Service.

The United States Postal Service has 596,000 employees and 218,684 vehicles, making it the world's largest civilian fleet. It handles 177 billion letters each year, accounting for 40% of the world's total. The Postal Service delivers to every corner of the United States, sets up special mailboxes, and adopts a uniform rate, but its express delivery business is still inferior to private American companies such as FedEx and UPS.

As a self-sustaining, independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that can reach every address in the nation: 155 million residences, businesses, and post office boxes. The Postal Service receives no taxes for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to fund its operations.

· With more than 31,600 retail locations and the federal government's most frequently visited website, usps.com, the Postal Service generates nearly $69 billion in annual revenue and carries 47 percent of the world's mail. With more than 500,000 employees, the Postal Service is one of the nation's largest employers. If it were a private company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 43rd on the 2015 Fortune 500 and 137th on the 2015 Global Fortune 500 list. The Postal Service has one of the world's largest computer networks, connecting nearly 32,000 facilities and enabling communications between hundreds of thousands of employees and customers.

The mission of the Postal Service is to provide a reliable, efficient, trusted, and affordable universal delivery service that connects people and helps businesses grow. Everyone living in the United States and its territories has access to postal products and services and can receive a first-class stamp no matter where they live.

The Postal Service has established a core set of enduring goals that guide all of its strategic initiatives and continuous improvement efforts: provide high-quality service; deliver an exceptional customer experience; and ensure a safe workplace and an engaged workforce.

USPS Domestic Express Service

1. First-Class Mail: An economical way to send envelopes and light packages; small packages or envelopes, suitable for mailing items under 13 ounces; postage is calculated based on weight and distance, and does not exceed $3.5; delivery time is about 1-3 days.

2. Priority Mail: Enjoy economical and fast domestic mailing service (including flat-rate shipping), with mail delivered within 1-3 business days, depending on the origin and destination of the package; Post Office™ locations and online sales, starting at $6.70.

3. Priority Mail Express: The fastest domestic service; with a few exceptions, this service is available 365 days a year; can be sent to most addresses in the United States, including PO Boxes, with a delivery and money-back guarantee; sold at Post Office™ locations and online, starting at $24.70.

4. Military and Diplomatic Mail: Special supplies, boxes and forms for military mail; prepare and send packages to loved ones and friends in the military, whether they are serving overseas or at home. Mail to APO (Army/Air Force Post Office)/FPO (Fleet Post Office)/DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) and pay only domestic prices; plus, save $1.50 with large flat rate boxes.

5. Parcel: The slowest, usually 2-9 days; suitable for non-urgent or heavy goods, charged according to weight and distance.

6. Media: Specialized in mailing books or audio-visual products, such as CDs and DVDs; the price is cheap.

USPS International Express Service

1. Global Express Guaranteed: Service offers fast international shipping, competitive shipping rates and a money-back guarantee in more than 190 countries/regions; delivery within 1-3 business days (including overnight international shipping to many destinations in Canada); FedEx Express provides international transportation and delivery; Post Office™ locations and online sales; starting at $64.50.

2. Priority Mail Express International: Provides affordable, fast international delivery service to more than 190 countries/regions, with date-definite delivery service and a money-back guarantee to selected destinations; delivery within 3-5 business days; provides free Priority Mail Express International shipping supplies; sold at Post Office™ locations and online, starting at $42.50.

3. Priority Mail International: Reliable and affordable international delivery service to more than 190 countries; 6-10 business days; access to free shipping supplies; available at Post Office™ locations and online; starting at $24.95.

4. First-Class Mail International: Affordable international service; the most economical mail class for sending postcards, letters and flat mail to an additional 190 countries/regions; Global Forever stamps can be used to send letters and postcards weighing less than 1 ounce to anywhere in the world. Forever stamps are priced at the current 1-ounce rate, but they do not expire when stamp prices increase. Global Forever stamps can be purchased online at The Postal Store® or at Post Offices™; prices start at $1.15; this service cannot be tracked.

5. International transport insurance and additional services: Provide corresponding insurance services for the above 4 types of express delivery.

Restrictions on Prohibited Items

Branded goods and textiles, aerosol containers, ammunition, liquids and powders, lottery tickets, aerosols, air bags, alcoholic beverages, ammunition, cigarettes, dry ice, flammable and explosive items, fresh fruits and vegetables, gasoline, nail polish, perfume (containing alcohol), poison/drugs.

China EMS and US USPS

From the perspective of operation process, the relationship between China Post EMS and USPS is the same. For example, when China EMS mails to the United States, USPS will transfer it to USPS to deliver it to the customer. Customers can query relevant package information on both the official website of China EMS and the website of USPS. EMS and USPS are in a mutually cooperative relationship. China Post mails entering and leaving the United States are handled by USPS. On the contrary, China Post EMS is responsible for mails entering and leaving China from USPS. Therefore, as long as there is a tracking number between China and the United States, the receipt and delivery information can be found on both EMS and USPS.

USPS Applicable Packages

Letters or small packages under 2 pounds; heavier products are mailed, but they can fit into a USPS flat rate box; next-day delivery or morning delivery is not a big requirement.

USPS and Amazon related information

Amazon reportedly estimates that 62% of US packages are delivered through the USPS. If the USPS increases its delivery rates, this will bring greater risks to Amazon. In this case, UPS and FedEx will also increase their delivery rates at the same time, affecting the entire e-commerce industry. Amazon shipped about 1.3 billion pieces in 2017, with the USPS providing delivery services for 62% of the packages, UPS 21%, FedEx 8%, and local logistics providers 9%. It is estimated that 850 million packages are delivered through Amazon's sorting network. In terms of last-mile delivery, Amazon currently has difficulty finding alternative partners other than the USPS; UPS and FedEx are struggling to cope with capacity constraints, and local logistics providers also lack the corresponding scale.