Amazon’s shipping services are extensive for a reason: strategically, it makes sense to have as many different ways to send packages as possible. That way, customers can trust that they’ll get their orders no matter how they want them shipped. But some online sellers are still wary of Amazon because of its partnership with the United States Postal Service (USPS). After all, many stores have suffered from increased competition with Amazon because they ship so much via UPS and FedEx. Now you can add USPS to that list. Even if you don’t sell on Amazon but rather on another marketplace like Shopify or WooCommerce, this article will help you understand why using the USPS is a risk. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with using the postal service – it’s just not the most efficient option at this time. And even though your packages may be sent with delivery confirmation and tracking codes, they won’t always arrive on time or in one piece.
How To Make Amazon Not Ship Usps
Get a USPS shipping label
You can create a USPS label online, but you’ll need to have your own shipping account (or use a label printing service) in order to send packages. Even if you don’t have any products or inventory to sell on Amazon, it’s still worth using the postal service. That’s because they can only deliver to specific addresses. You can make your packages available for pickup at Amazon warehouses – or anywhere else – using the “Ship to an Amazon Fulfillment Center” option. You can also choose “Amazon Pickup at my location,” which is great if you plan on selling your items elsewhere as well.
Choose a shipping carrier
The USPS is one of the most popular options for online sellers because it has the most options and offers some of the lowest rates for certain types of shipments. But it may not be the best choice for every situation: If you want to ship something that weighs more than 70 pounds, then UPS is usually going to be cheaper and faster than USPS (but not always). Also, if you are sending something that requires tracking information such as expensive electronics, then UPS is going to be better (but not always). For example: If I were selling camera equipment on eBay and wanted my customers to know exactly when their package was arriving, then I would opt for USPS instead of UPS because they offer to track info with all their shipments. However, if I were selling hand-made jewelry, then I would opt for UPS because they offer a more reliable delivery time frame and guarantee their shipments.
Choose the right package size
The USPS offers packages in various sizes, so it’s important to know which one is going to be the most cost-effective for your product. The most popular is the medium flat rate box, which can hold up to 110 pounds and has dimensions of 8.5 x 13 x 6 inches. If you’re sending a larger item that will take up more than one box, then you may want to go with the large flat rate box, which can hold up to 300 pounds and has dimensions of 13 x 21 x 8 inches. The largest option is the oversized (or extra-large) flat rate package, which can hold 500 pounds and has dimensions of 24 x 32 x 10 inches, meaning it’s perfect for all types of products. The largest packages are also available at some post offices or local retail stores in your area – but not all locations have them on hand or at all times, so it’s best to call ahead before you head out there (especially if you live somewhere rural).
Pick up your package from a mailing center instead of direct from Amazon
This might sound like a lot of work – but if you want your items shipped directly from Amazon instead of having them picked up at an Amazon warehouse (which means they will be shipped first class), then you should opt for a mailing center. This way you can pick up your items and avoid the extra costs associated with shipping them, first class. Just make sure to check with that mailing center before you head out there – because some of them will charge a fee for picking up packages (which could be cheaper than using UPS or USPS).
Why You Shouldn’t Ship With Usps On Amazon
USPS is unreliable
While it’s true that USPS has a solid track record of delivery, it is not the most reliable option. Most people are aware that USPS is notorious for missing deadlines and being late with their deliveries. This is particularly problematic when you ship to someone in another country because the package will be left at the doorsteps of your buyer. In fact, Amazon itself warns customers not to use USPS for international orders.
The Postal Service isn’t very safe
The United States Postal Service provides some security in that they offer tracking options and delivery confirmation numbers – but these options aren’t always available or effective (as we discuss below). That said, there are other risks associated with using the postal service. First, USPS is not insured, so you’re on the hook for any damage or loss that may occur during shipment. Second, the postal service doesn’t have a lot of security measures in place to protect against fraud. For example, third-party sellers have reported receiving fake tracking numbers. On top of that, packages can be stolen from mailboxes, and thieves can get into your home and steal your packages at night when no one is looking.
The Postal Service is expensive
Of course, shipping with USPS isn’t cheap either. You’ll pay a few extra dollars for each package sent out (depending on which service you use). But that price doesn’t include any of the other costs associated with using the postal service – like insurance coverage or delivery confirmation numbers. So while it might seem like a good deal to save some money by shipping with USPS, it could actually cost you more than you think!
The Postal Service isn’t very secure
This point is important because it points to an issue that plagues all shipping services: fraud and theft are very common problems that affect all major shippers. With USPS, this problem is exacerbated because it doesn’t offer many security measures to protect against theft or fraud. In particular, there are two main ways in which USPS can be vulnerable to theft: 1) packages can be stolen from mailboxes; 2) packages can be stolen from mail trucks.
Amazon And The United States Postal Service
USPS Does Not Guarantee Delivery
In early 2017, Amazon launched a service called Prime Now. This is a service that offers same-day and one-hour delivery on large orders of certain products. Shipping is free for Prime members, and you can use the USPS exclusively to deliver your packages. But that’s not all. If you are an Amazon Prime member, there’s no need to visit a store to pick up your order. You can have it delivered to your doorstep for free as long as it’s one pound or less in weight.
USPS Has Poor Tracking
Unlike UPS and FedEx, the USPS does not offer to track information for its shipments like tracking numbers or delivery confirmations. Even if you use the tracking option on their website, the information won’t tell you when the package was delivered or when it will be delivered next. It will only show the “expected delivery date” which is usually a few days after shipping but not always on time. To make matters worse, some packages are left at random locations instead of being delivered to their destination address. This could be because of issues with addresses or locations but could also be due to people refusing to accept packages left outside their homes because they aren’t home at the time of delivery.
Amazon Ships Using The Postal Service
Unlike other shipping services like UPS and FedEx, Amazon sends all of its packages using USPS. The only way that you can guarantee that your package will be delivered on time is if you use the USPS. And that’s exactly what many sellers are doing.
USPS Doesn’t Have Tracking Information
Unlike UPS and FedEx, the USPS does not offer to track information for its shipments like tracking numbers or delivery confirmations. Even if you use the tracking option on their website, the information won’t tell you when the package was delivered or when it will be delivered next. It will only show the “expected delivery date” which is usually a few days after shipping but not always on time. To make matters worse, some packages are left at random locations instead of being delivered to their destination address. This could be because of issues with addresses or locations but could also be due to people refusing to accept packages left outside their homes because they aren’t home at the time of delivery.
Conclusion
Amazon is a huge company, and it can be intimidating for smaller sellers who are just trying to get their feet wet in eCommerce. But even though it’s an excellent choice for some customers, others may be turned off by its shipping methods. Whether you sell on Amazon or another platform, it’s important to educate yourself on the best shipping methods. You don’t want to risk losing customers because they never received their orders. If you want to avoid this, you should use a shipping consolidator or shipping software.
