Why In The World Do Sellers Ship With USPS?

[bensley7]

This is the absolute worst way to ship. There is no decent tracking, and estimated delivery times are rarely accurate. As a buyer more than a seller, I would always pay more to have my item delivered reliably, and efficiently. If it is mney, why cant sellers give an option of shipping? 
Nothing ruins my day like seeing that USPS tracking number show up in an email....

[gagnon234]

Somehow I can't see myself mailing a vintage sewing pattern out UPS or FedEx. But that's just me.

[myescape]

because sellers may not have access to other shipping services.Usps locations are much more available as well as they will pickup for free.

ALL shipping services have issues  including service delays and lost or mishandled packages.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

I have bought, sold and shipped around 20k orders with Usps with very few problems. I think they’re great

[belleoftheprom]

I only buy from sellers who use USPS

[maridon7280]

If the item meets the weight requirement, USPS First Class Mail is the cheapest and one of the fastest ways to ship.  

Just sayin

[outofroom]

Our local post office is a block from my residence. To use another method, which would cost MUCH more than people are willing to pay, I'd have to get into my car and drive a distance.  I purchase my postage through eBay and have a tracking number applied immediately.  While not perfect, it does give me some protection.  I pack my items very carefully to hopefully avoid damage. So why would I want to go to the inconvenience and cost of using UPS or FedEx?

What works for some folks doesn't work for others.  A lot depends on what you're selling and where you live.

[stuff4divas]

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@bensley7wrote:

This is the absolute worst way to ship. There is no decent tracking, and estimated delivery times are rarely accurate. As a buyer more than a seller, I would always pay more to have my item delivered reliably, and efficiently. If it is mney, why cant sellers give an option of shipping? 
Nothing ruins my day like seeing that USPS tracking number show up in an email....

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Been using USPS exclusively domestically and internationally for my 10 yrs of selling on eBay. Very few problems, expecially in consideration of what they charge and how many items I've shipped. They are still the best value to ship which is how sellers can charge lower shipping cost and/or free shipping to buyers.

You can always ask the seller to ship via your preferred method if you don't see it on the listing when you click on the shipping tab. 

[kim_y_buran]

That's because buyers want free/cheap shipping.  I always offer shipping upgrades (for nominal surcharge) in my listings and virtually no one ever goes for it. 

[buyselljack2016]

In nearly 17 years:

Thousands of packages shipped.

1 refund for a lost package.

1 refund for damage. (unconfirmed)

70 mile round trip to send out UPS, or FedEx (can give to UPS driver if I see him in the area)

6 day a week pick up/delivery at my house with USPS

Pass several PO's where I can drop off if going someplace. (all closer than UPS,or FedEx drops)

Ship mostly 1st Class. (Cheaper than UPS/FedEx options)

Have seen UPS throw, and kick packages. (USPS may do it, but not in front of the customer)

[annadryl]

Well, let's see. I could hop in the car and drive 20 minutes for another carrier. Round trip about an hour. Item is very small and inexpensive, but of course I'd have to take on a huge amount for this option which with USPS I charge NOTHING. Nobody will want that $8 DVD that bad.

[lex-talon]

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@bensley7wrote:

This is the absolute worst way to ship. There is no decent tracking, and estimated delivery times are rarely accurate. As a buyer more than a seller, I would always pay more to have my item delivered reliably, and efficiently. If it is mney, why cant sellers give an option of shipping? 
Nothing ruins my day like seeing that USPS tracking number show up in an email....

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As a buyer, if a seller only offers Fedex or UPS shipping, I look elsewhere. The USPS is very reliable.

As a seller, the USPS is the way to go for me. Fedex/UPS charge you for pickups, the Postal pickups are free. 

[tofu107]

In the package delivery business,there is such term as 'the last mile' which is delivering to your home and everyone knows who can do it cheap and good,it is your local USPS carrier.

More and more private carriers are asking USPS to deliver the last mile.

[kensgiftshop]

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@bensley7wrote:

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As a buyer:
USPS: I know around what time my mail carrier delivers. so if I'm waiting on a package, I don't have to wait around the house all day waiting for it to be delivered.
UPS: They deliver around here anywhere from 8am to 8pm and I hate having to wait all day and find out they wont be here until tomorrow, some time between 8am and 8pm.
FedEx: Don't see them enough around here to know when they deliver.

As a seller:
USPS: Convenient location. Reasonable prices.
UPS: Higher prices and you can't drop off packages until 4pm, around here anyway.
FedEx: They are located in another state.

[thallidguy]

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@tofu107wrote:

In the package delivery business,there is such term as 'the last mile' which is delivering to your home and everyone knows who can do it cheap and good,it is your local USPS carrier.

More and more private carriers are asking USPS to deliver the last mile.

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An excellent point in a thread full of apt and excellent responses.

The OP seems quite clueless about the relative cost of USPS vs. UPS and FedEx. UPS and FedEx both charge substantial surcharges for delivery to residential addresses because they don't want to have to deal with going to addresses that are low-traffic, high-cost for them. And they add further surcharges for remote and rural areas. Whereas USPS has to deliver to every address every day, because that's their mandate.