Beware of Priority Mail 2-Day Service

imported
#1 
									I've been using Priority Mail 2-Day Service from the US Postal Service, and its flat rate boxes, to mail supplies to my thru-hiking husband. Everything went OK with the first few deliveries, probably because I mailed them early, but when he didn't get his scheduled delivery today, I called USPS to see what's up.

Apparently their Priority Mail 2-Day Service can take up to 5 days for delivery, AND, it is not guaranteed. The only service that is guaranteed is Priority Mail Express 2-Day.

I have written to the USPS Consumer Affairs Office in Washington DC to complain about this deceptive advertising.

But I also thought I should let people in the hiking community know, in case they are using this service to get their scheduled supply packages. I think it will be OK if you allow extra time for delivery; but if you have a critical package you need by a specific date, it might be better to use the guaranteed service.

									_Lovely Laurie_
#2 
									Thank you for the heads up, this info is definitely needed for planning mail drops.  USPS shouldn't be using misleading statements to potential customers.

									_Ken Davidson_
#3 
									There's PM 2 day as well 3 day service, and you won't know which you're choosing until you print the mailing label. Basically it's a delivery timeframe estimate, not a guaranteed service. It's also a branding liability because of not one but two layers of obfuscation - the trademarked service estimate passed off as a de-facto guaranteed service, and then the Priority Mail vs Priority Mail Express services which are too close in name, too far apart in what they offer, and too easy to confuse even for experienced shippers. Strategically, though, the confusion may actually pay off for USPS by luring unsuspecting shippers into using the much more expensive, guaranteed Express service, who before would have more easily distinguished between the old Priority Mail and Express Mail service options (and stayed clear of the latter). 

									_hoch_