USPS just kicked UPS and FedEx's ass

[pfarber]

Order anything and ship UPS/FedEx from CA to PA is 5 days at standard shipping rates ($9 or so).

I won a valve adjusting tool off ebay that was in CA:

Arrival at Post Office 2014-05-16, 07:39:00, ASHLAND, PA 17921
Depart USPS Sort Facility 2014-05-16, 05:45:00, LANCASTER, PA 17604
Processed through USPS Sort Facility 2014-05-16, 00:50:00, LANCASTER, PA 17604
Depart USPS Sort Facility 2014-05-15, 01:01:00, ANAHEIM, CA 92899
Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility 2014-05-14, 14:36:00, ANAHEIM, CA 92899
Accepted at USPS Origin Sort Facility 2014-05-14, 13:21:00, FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA 92708

So from 72708 to 17921 was LESS THAN 3 days!

Seller only charged $4 to ship.

To all the MV vendors who will not offer USPS for whatever reason (well, number one being that they can charge the retail shipping rate and only have to pay the discounted business rate) you really should know that my USPS box was most likely handled by FedEx or UPS... all 3 carriers intermingle space to maximize each trip. With rare exception, they are all using common backhaul... its only the first/last mile that changes.

In this case my package was actually overnighted (flown) from CA to PA for $4. UPS and FedEx would have trucked it making me wait the full 5 day transit time.