A Postal Mystery – Why Does First-Class Mail Seem So Much Slower than Marketing Mail?

From Snailworks: I am regularly asked, “So Marketing Mail is faster than First-Class?” Well, not exactly. Since there is no incentive for mailers to transport First-Class Mail, it is generally entered at origin, and the Postal Service transports it. Marketing Mail is often transported by the mailer or commingler to an SCF close to where the mail will be delivered, and the start-the-clock is created where the mail is inducted.

Marketing Mail also has much laxer standards than FCM. Still, even the days to delivery have held steady for Marketing Mail.

Why the disparity? I’m always hesitant to speculate as to causes, but it appears that the Postal Service is doing a good job maintaining last-mile performance but has not been able to get transportation right.

The Postal Service made the decision to transition First-Class Mail away from air transportation and begin trucking it. One would expect worsening service in this scenario, but why it continues to deteriorate is something of a mystery … (click to read more)