posted on April 21, 2003 11:47:15 AM new
[press release]
Watchdog Blasts Post Office for Deceptive Advertising
New PostalWatch Study Concludes Priority Mail Ad Campaign Misleading
WASHINGTON, April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Postal Service is executing a massive deceptive advertising campaign promoting Priority Mail as a low-cost 2-day delivery service while as much as 27% of Priority Mail fails to reach its destination within 2-days. The campaign includes a billboard in Time Square, a 30-second television commercial saturating the Nation's airwaves and a full-color ad placed in major newspapers around the country, a new PostalWatch study says.
"The ads misrepresent Priority Mail as a low-cost 2-day service, while failing to disclose that First-Class letters, at nearly one-tenth the cost ($0.37 vs. $3.85), generally arrive at their destination just as soon, if not sooner than do Priority Mail letters," according to Postalwatch Executive Director Rick Merritt in "Priority Mail Sham."
The study reveals that 45% of all First-Class letters arrive at their destination within one day compared to only 26.6% of Priority Mail and that less than 73% of the Priority Mail sent by consumers during the past five- quarters actually arrived within 2 days.
The newspaper ads claim that Priority Mail is "Used to ship more business packages than any other 2-day service" but neglects to tell consumers that, unlike the "other 2-day service(s)", delivery of Priority Mail within 2 days is not guaranteed nor is it accomplished a large percentage of the time.
"When consumers pay a premium for a 2-day service they believe they are purchasing guaranteed delivery within 2 days, not delivery that hopefully takes place within 2 days. Delivery within 2 days is the product, not a description of the product's delivery goals."
"The Postal Service has a long history of misleading consumers about Priority Mail, claiming sovereign immunity from the consumer-protection statutes making it unlawful to disseminate false and misleading advertising. Undeterred by repeated court opinions rejecting its immunity claims, the Postal Service has once again taken to the Nation's airwaves to deceptively market Priority Mail as a low-cost 2-day delivery service", says Merritt.
The study concludes, "Continuing to allow a governmental enterprise to abuse its power by deceiving consumers and competing unfairly is an extremely poor public policy that is ultimately unsustainable.
There is an urgent and compelling need to enforce our Nation's pro- competitive policies upon the United States Postal Service in order to protect both consumers and private-sector competitors from the agency's continual and persistent employment of unfair and deceptive business practices."
PostalWatch Briefing Paper - "Priority Mail Sham" - is at http://www.postalwatch.org/priority_mail/
PostalWatch is a non-partisan, non-profit advocacy organization committed to a fair, efficient and accountable U.S. Postal Service. PostalWatch maintains a website at www.postalwatch.org.
posted on April 21, 2003 11:53:52 AM new
YES! YES! YES!
I was just mentioning to my partner yesterday that I would be filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, now that USPS has renewed their massively-deceptive ads about Priority Mail being a two-day service.
Tell everyone you know.
I have watched and listened as postal clerks dutifully informed customers it was a two-day service. Only when you press them (and if you KNOW to press them) will they admit the service isn't guaranteed.
--
"I'm thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said `I drank WHAT?'"
posted on April 21, 2003 12:20:08 PM new
unlike ups,fed exp,airborne etc,USPS does not have its own planes and mail is moved by commercial airplanes owned by those airlines which are having problems and cutting back their flights.so i would not be surprised if priority mail takes longer to reach destination.
we are better off using parcel post ,unless you like to use their boxes.
posted on April 21, 2003 01:42:18 PM new
The TV ads always make me cringe when I hear the '2 day service' part. I always wondered why they were able to get away with saying stuff like that.
posted on April 21, 2003 02:58:41 PM new
(edited -one more time - to add: ahc, this is not directed at you ... the group sounds plausible enough.)
The postalwatch group is being deliberately misleading and they know it. The really ridiculous thing is that this criticism, when you examine it closely, actually chides the postal service for moving first-class letters too quickly. ("How scandalous! A 37-cent letter actually only takes a couple of days to arrive!" )
But PostalWatch is spinning the facts very carefully, and anyone with significant eBay experience should be able to see it in a heartbeat. The organization is comparing first class LETTER service to ALL priority mail services, including parcels. That's not a fair comparison.
Letters are much easier to process and move, because they're hardly touched by human hands in transit. You've probably seen that bar code that gets stamped across the bottom margin of envelopes ... after that's affixed, the letter is stacked so that bar code is always in the same position on every envelope. That's why first-class letters move so quickly, and even third-class mail.
Parcels are a different matter entirely. Consider the average box. It's roughly cube-shaped, meaning the address could be on any one of six surfaces. It could be oriented any one of four directions on any of those surfaces, which means there are a possible 24 correct configurations. Even if a bar code is used, somebody has to find the surface with the code and get it properly oriented each time it's scanned. That means people. People mean time.
I suspect that's one reason why the postal service provides pre-printed priority boxes. Those more or less force you to write the address in a specific place and strongly encourage you toward a particular orientation ... plus the standard sizes make them easier to stack.
I would suspect that the on-time rate using the free priority boxes is pretty high.
Postalwatch's claim of "deception" is based on the fact that the USPS is claiming 100 percent on time delivery when we all know they don't. In fact, the actual on-time figure is pretty good - 72.46 percent of all packages made it to their delivery point within two days, and 87.9 percent made it there in three days. (I also suspect that Postalwatch used figures that don't subtract the numbers of packages that are misaddressed or otherwise incorrectly labeled.)
The group also claims that every private 2-day delivery service offers a money-back guarantee if the item isn't delivered within two days. That ain't necessarily so - and even when it is, those private delivery services charge three and four times as much.
Here's a few examples. Say I want to send a half-pound envelope to my mom (about an hour away.) FedEx 2Day is 11.59. Send the same package cross-country and the charge leaps to 12.37.
UPS Second-day air is $8.82 to the close destination, 11.37 for cross-country.
Both of these assume "letter" packaging which, like a priority mail envelope, requires minimal handling.
Priority mail is a pretty good deal, especially for the casual user. Some businesses might get a better deal from one of the carrier services, but there's a reason USPS is the No. 1 business shipper. Postalwatch, on the other hand, is engaging in deceptive practices ... claims that are refuted by their own report.
One more thing: Try doing a Google News search on "postalwatch" and see if any reputable media outlets picked this up. Actually, I'll do it for you ... searching ... searching ... nope!
[ edited by msincognito on Apr 21, 2003 03:05 PM ]
[ edited by msincognito on Apr 21, 2003 03:09 PM ]
posted on April 21, 2003 03:11:45 PM new
msincognito must work for the USPS...
Seriously, when the USPS started offering
"Priority Mail" [sic] several years ago,
they advertised it as a 2-day service.
When the couldn't meet their self-imposed
delivery timeframe they backed off, and
starting calling it a 2-3 day service.
Now they are, indeed, addvertising it as
a 2-day service again (I've seen the ads
for a few months now). What the USPS does
NOT tell you is that "Priority Mail" [sic]
is the same service as First Class. When
a First Class package weighs 13.1 ounces
or more, it becomes "Priority Mail" [sic],
gets a sticker and costs more. What our
friend msincognito doesn't mention is that
the USPS is a quasi-government agency, that
they have a MONOPOLY on mail service and
that they increase rates about once a year
(and then rent Grand Central Station out
for a party for an executive's birthday party).
---
"Cannot say. Saying, I would know. Do not
know, so cannot say". -- Zathras (Babylon 5)
posted on April 21, 2003 03:26:13 PM new
I have never been told that Priority Mail was 2 day service, always 2-3 day service & I believe that at least 90% of the pkgs. I send are delivered in 3 days or less. I mailed a pkg. from the central coast of CA to Chapel Hill, NC on Sat AM & the buyer had it on Monday. By the way at least 90% of Priority & Express Mail are flown by FedEx. There is a contract between the 2 & that is why you find a FedEx box just outside of most PO's.
posted on April 21, 2003 03:29:23 PM new
Sanmar - You may not have been told it is a 2 day service, but they sure as heck are advertising it as such.
msincognito - Parcels are certainly more time consuming to handle, but the point is that the USPS is advertising this as a 2 day service, when more than 25% of the time, it isn't...
posted on April 21, 2003 03:34:58 PM new
No, I don't work for the USPS. But the USPS works pretty well for me. And you're wrong about the classes of service.
First-class mail doesn't "become" priority mail. First-class mail is only available for packages under 13 oz. After that, you have a choice of priority mail or parcel post. As it happens, priority mail is cheaper until you get to a certain size (about 2.5 lbs, as I recall) so they just don't quote parcel post rates.
Not knowing, I'd advise you not to say.
and ...why is it that any time someone says "man, that criticism isn't really warranted" the response is always "you must work for (party being criticized)?" I never did quite get that.
edited to add: ahc3 If that were their only point, I'd concede the point. But that alone is not much of a point, which is why they seem to need to embellish so much.
AND ... (don't know why I keep thinking of more stuff) Does anyone have the on-time records of the private delivery services? In my experience, FedEx is pretty reliable but UPS is awful in every sense of the word.
[ edited by msincognito on Apr 21, 2003 03:40 PM ]
posted on April 21, 2003 07:17:47 PM new
I have not had any problems with Priority Mail as I would say 80% of my packages do arrive in two days BUT, my 1st class packages also get there in two days. It's to bad that the post office got greedy with their Priority packages and put the prices that they have on them I find it discustful that from Wisconsin to California that it costs so much to mail a package. I don't buy for that reason. I try and keep the mailing as close to actual as I can as to try and not discourage buyers from bidding. I do offer Parcel Post which is $2.00 cheaper than Priority, but that also gets there in good time. I mailed a plate to Texas and it got there in 4 days I honestly think that since the airlines are slow they don't have to take packages off anymore because of the overload and that is why they are advertising Priority in 2 days.
posted on April 21, 2003 07:26:35 PM new
I think it depends on where you live as to what the speed of your PM packages are delivered. If you live in the central area of the country it may be a lot of your packages are delivered in only two days but if you live on the West Coast the majority of your East Coast packages fall into the 3 to 4 day range.
posted on April 21, 2003 08:19:36 PM newHere's a few examples. Say I want to send a half-pound envelope to my mom (about an hour away.) FedEx 2Day is 11.59. Send the same package cross-country and the charge leaps to 12.37.
UPS Second-day air is $8.82 to the close destination, 11.37 for cross-country.
That isn't quite right. Both Fedex and UPS ground would guarantee that to be delivered the next day. If you use the 2 day air service it will still be delivered the next day 90% of the time. I have found that the USPS doesen't make it very far the next day by priority mail. With fedex and ups they tell you the day it will be delivered.
I don't use UPS but Fedex is very reliable. 99% of the ground packages are delivered the correct day. And the do give the money back if it is late. I have never had a Fedex Air package late. (even right before christmas).
I did have an Express mail envelope take 4 days to get to me from about 120 miles away and they wouldn't give a refund.
posted on April 21, 2003 09:01:33 PM new
I read of a test months ago right here. I stopped helping the Post Office RIP OFF my Customers and just went to parcel post for all packages months ago. I mentioned it to the postal clerks LOUD and CLEAR right at the Counter in the LOBBY(just wanted to make sure all the people at that time HEARD it LOUD and CLEAR,,,,,)They just gave the Stepford Wives stare,,,,,NO REPLY,,,,,,Just Good little,,,,, I am ONLY FOLLOWING ORDERS Personell. They Knew they were crook......And,,,,,, Using The Guise of the TRUSTED, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA to do their dirty little deeds......Rip off the People!!!! Suckers are born Everyday!!!!!! Now!!!!!! how about SOME REFUNDS!!!!! hahahahah,,,,,,Just try and get that. Got a receipt? The nightmares and hoops.....hahaha.....kinda like gettin' yer NON paying BIDDER fees back......20 days.....of oops........
posted on April 22, 2003 06:58:22 AM new
msincognito: I'm not going to quote what you said, but despite your smugness, you are wrong. zathras11 knows, and says.
Priority Mail IS First Class Mail over a certain weight, that weight being 13 ounces.
posted on April 22, 2003 07:06:12 AM new
This is nothing new to me the service has been poor with the USPS Priority or Parcel Post for years. The only reason I use Priority mail service is the free supplies and I think that is why 50% or more use it. I tried UPS and they suck too but they suck with no free supplies.
posted on April 22, 2003 07:40:40 AM new
I send everything either First Class or Media Mail. If I have something lost in the mail I replace it.I never use delivery comfirmation or none of their extra bull.I have had more complaints about slow packages using Priority than any other way.Every package I ever sent that was lost was Priority.If you have to live in fear that everything you send through the Post Office is going to cause you a problem if you don't buy all this extra crap they want to sell you...what good is it. They have come up with more money making scams in the last few years and all because of the internet so they can get rich.
posted on April 22, 2003 08:31:39 AM new
I was confusing the general category of first-class mail with first-class rates. First-class rates do not apply to anything over 13 oz. (There is no weight limit, up or down, on Priority Mail.) Apparently, priority mail is one of three sub-categories in first-class mail (the other two being 1) postcards and 2) letters and small parcels.)
At any rate (so to speak) it's a pretty good deal. And I still haven't seen anyone else post on-time rates for the other delivery services. Has anyone here ever actually collected on one of those guarantees?
posted on April 22, 2003 09:31:26 AM new
My most extreme Fed-Ex experience...
I fed-exed tapes and art work to a client for overnight delivery. He was on the road with a band so they were in a differnet city every day. The materials were needed for a meeting with European promotors on Friday night in New York but since they woud were driving in that morning and leaving for the next city after their show and meeting, there would be no hotel so I sent the package out to be delivered to their hotel in DC on Thursday. Package did not arrive and everyone went into full freak out mode.
It took about a dozen calls and speaking to half of the east coast staff but eventually we ended up figuring everything out and they definately went above and beyond to make things right. ...
The package had been delivered to the DC hotel Friday morning long after the band had left. Since there was no way Fed-Ex themselves could get the package thru their system in time they apparently hired a motorcycle courier to pick the package back up from the DC hotel and to take it to the NYC club where the band was playing. Delivery address - Large black tour bus, vacinity of.(nightclub). He made it with an hour to spare. They offered to refund the fees but I figured they had aleady akenn a big enoug loss on that one.
posted on April 22, 2003 02:59:37 PM new
My general impression of the big three goes like this:
FedEx: Excellent customer service, high price (though they now have a rate that's comparable to UPS ground) high reliability. Having never had a problem with a FedEx shipment, I've never needed to try to claim their guarantee.
UPS: Horrible customer service, generally high prices (unless you get a volume discount) and NO reliability. I am admittedly biased. My experiences with UPS are close to a 100 percent failure rate and they've cost me serious money.
USPS: Mediocre customer service, low prices and reliability somewhere between UPS and FedEx.
For the size (small) and value of packages I generally ship, USPS is simply the best value - far and away. One factor that I didn't mention previously is that USPS is still the only service that delivers to regular PO boxes.
auctionace Doh!You're right. I should have said "no downward limit." They will cheerfully take your money to send one sheet of paper Priority, knowing it would probably get there just as quickly with a 37-cent stamp. I freely admit that. But overall, I still maintain it's a pretty good service and that the postalwatch comparison is unfair because it doesn't explain that it's comparing parcels to envelopes.
posted on April 22, 2003 10:23:05 PM new
For packages up to 3 lbs., USPS is the way to go. Under 14 oz., use first class. At 1 lb., use priority. At 1.1 lbs. - 3 lbs. use parcel post.
Above 3 lbs., Fedex Ground is the best deal unless the the shipping address is only a zone or two away (the USPS may be cheaper).
Don't bother with UPS.
Here's a hint: call your local post office's manager and ask if you can hand off your outgoing packages (with correct postage affixed) to the mail carrier. As long as you have an accurate scale and you can get postage rates online, you shouldn't have a problem. Over the last two years, I went to the post office only to cash my money orders.
posted on April 23, 2003 10:01:06 AM new
Refering back to the first post.....that the ads are misleading.......When is the last time anyone had a Whopper (or Big Mac or whatever) that looked like the one on TV? My guess (guess only) is that 99.99% of what you see advertised is NOT what you are going to get......
On the other posts...I have had good luck with the Post Office, they deliver to a lot of places that the others won't (PO boxes, very remote locations etc). This is all just my opinion, you can send your stuff however you want.....
posted on April 24, 2003 08:50:18 AM new
For packages over 13 oz to 1 lb Priority is a good deal. I have shipped 1,179 Priority Mail Packages in the past year. Average delivery is 2.8 days, with a Maiximum of 9 days. If USPS was honest they would call it 2-9 day service. I have found very little difference with using Parcel Post for shipping.
I don't use many of the USPS boxes. They have to few of sizes available for me. If I need an 8x8x6 for an item that weighs 10 oz, and I use there 12x12x8, I now have with the box an item that ships at the 2 lb weight when you include packing material. I can purchase boxes for $.20 to $.50 from surplus box places. This provides me a much larges assortment of sizes so I use less packing materials, my time to pack is less, and the cost to ship is less.
I find a lot of small items will ship for 6oz to 8 oz. Since I charge a flat rate of shipping my profits from shipping have risen considerably.
There are a tremendous number of variables when it comes to which method to ship. If a package is 2 lbs and shipping to a business it is cheaper to send UPS, but if it is 4 lbs and shipping to a Rural address who does not want insurance it is cheaper to send Parcel Post.
Shipping at the lowest cost is a skill. I learn more every day. It is worth my time becuase I make an extra $300-$500 a month by shipping smart instead of shipping everything Proirty Mail.
"For I know the plans I have for you." says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11
posted on April 25, 2003 08:58:38 AM new
Oh yeah. here we go. I remember during Christmas this past year, the post office advertising that packages shipped on or before December 21st via Priority Mail would arrive on time for Christmas. Ironically, all of my packages that were shipped on the 21st did get there by December 24. It was the packages that were shipped between December 18th and December 20st that were late!!! Go figure. I had a ton of people that were pretty pissed at the post office. I clearly note in my auctions during the holiday that Priority Mail is NOT guaranteed service, and that it may or may not arrive on time. Only one person was pissed at me and emailed me back complaining, but I told them to read the post date on the package when it arrived and inquire with their post office.
Oh My God! I killed the window clerk. You bastard!
