By Mashum Mollah
The U.S. Postal Service, or the post office, is the primary way that American’s mail documents and ship packages. Post offices are run by the federal government. The environment of a post office is often hurried and not as delicate as many people would like.
Enter an Atlanta courier service. Courier services are private companies that specialize in shipping, pickup, and delivery of items, mail, and goods. Some couriers specialize in same-day or rush delivery, and others handle regional or nationwide deliveries. Most courier services offer both and have trained drivers who can handle specific items.
Of course, you can have something shipped from the post office or through a courier. So which one should you choose? Let’s take a look at some of the differences that may help you decide.
Differences Between Courier Service and the Post Office
There are a few differences between a courier service and the post office that are worth noting if you are deciding which one you want to use. The primary differences are:
Price
The post office will generally have a flat rate or can easily calculate the rate based on weight and zip code. Courier service prices can vary depending on where you are shipping and how soon you need it to get there. You will likely pay more for a courier service than the post office, but you are also getting a higher level of quality.
Quality
Speaking of quality – that is another major difference between the post office and courier service. The post office has less expensive rates, but you may get what you pay for – lack of customer service, rough handling of your packages, infrequent tracking information, and longer delivery times.
With a courier service, however, your pickup and delivery needs are handled on a one-on-one basis. Drivers are trained in how to handle goods, even sensitive items like lab specimens or food. A courier is more expensive, but again – you are getting what you pay for – in this case, good customer service, delicate handling of your items, and delivery when you need it.
Reliability
There are many items that you cannot ship through the post office. There are also locations that you cannot ship to using standard post office services. Shipping internationally is one of the biggest challenges that people have with the post office. Shipping times are unreliable and customer service is hard to come by.
With a courier service, however, couriers are responsible for setting up shipping and being responsible for your package throughout the entire journey. That means you have better insight into where your package is and when it will be delivered. Customer service and tracking are much more reliable this way.
Conclusion
Now that you know the differences between the post office and courier service, you can make the best choices for you, your shipment, and whomever you are shipping to. Before deciding which option is right for you, consider your goals, the value of the shipment, and how important customer service is. If you are concerned about cost, most courier services offer free quotes, so you can find out what to expect before starting a shipment.
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