eCommerce businesses are quickly adapting to the needs of their customers. Out-beating the competition and expanding your market is essential to the success of your online business. Customer satisfaction is also key to keeping long-term relationships with your customers and the shipping process has much to do with that happiness.
Advantages of offering weekend delivery options to your customers
A smooth and easy shopping experience and quick and cost-effective shipping are easy to provide when working with the tools provided by your eCommerce platform such as Shopify or WooCommerce and the shipping solutions available within its marketplace. There are also many online resources that can help guide businesses to developing a shopping experience that is personalized, engaged – and easy to navigate.
Weekend delivery options are a huge bonus for most eCommerce brands. If a customer shops on a Friday and needs their important package ASAP, Monday might not be good enough. They may skip your business and choose a competitor that does offer weekend delivery. Not offering some form of weekend delivery, especially when it is so easy to accommodate, could break your business or keep it from growing as others do.
Does USPS Deliver on Saturday?
USPS (United States Postal Service) is the main courier and mail delivery service in the United States. As part of a government official service, working on weekends can become an issue. Although the question of whether USPS delivers on Sunday is typically easier to answer – as we know that it’s still widely known as the day of rest, Saturday is still an often asked question.
In short: Yes, USPS deliveries are made on Saturdays and there is no added extra cost as Saturday is considered a normal service day.
Mail and parcels sent via USPS First Class shipping are less concrete as to whether or not they will be delivered on Saturdays. It usually depends on the local service workers and their own discretion.
USPS Priority and USPS Priority Express both deliver on Saturdays as part of USPS’ guarantee that packages will arrive within 1-3 business days. There is no Saturday guaranteed delivery, however. Whether or not a customer’s package arrives on Saturday and what time it will arrive depends on the busyness of the local postal workers. If there are enough packages and mail that warrant someone going out on a Saturday, then they will. If there is a backlog of deliveries or few deliveries that need to go out, it will determine whether a delivery is made in the morning or evening.
- Priority Mail shipments start at about $6.65
- They can be managed and finalized from a Post Office online via the USPS portal or through your website.
- Both Priority and Priority Express offer free pickup from your home, office, or anywhere.
- Both Priority and Priority Express come with compensation/insurance starting at $50.
For customers wanting to choose Saturday as their only delivery day due to a work schedule or personal preference, you will need to provide an alternative option. Unless Priority Express (overnight) is chosen on Friday, Saturday delivery is not guaranteed. Other shipping companies such as FedEx may be the better option as they can accommodate a customer’s specific requirements more easily.
Another option for customers who prefer to have their packages delivered on Saturdays and not on any other days is to arrange pickup from a post office. Have your customers reach out to Customer Service with their tracking number and reason for early pickup (it typically needs to be urgent). If they choose to have a signature on delivery, if no one is home, a notice will be left. The package will be brought to the closest post office for pickup.
Does USPS Deliver on Sunday?
Unlike Saturdays which are a normal workday for most USPS Post Offices, Sunday is not. The only way a customer can have a delivery made on a Sunday is if they choose USPS Priority Express on a Saturday which guarantees overnight delivery. You may need to speak to the postal worker to ensure the package won’t be held for delivery on Monday.
As for what time USPS Priority Mail Sunday deliveries will arrive, most will reach their destination by 10:30 am the next day.
Note: If a parcel is being shipped via Amazon or an Amazon third-party, then it will automatically be considered for delivery on Sundays.
Shipping with USPS Priority Mail Express starts at $26.75 and depends on the distance to its destination and the package’s weight. A parcel with a guaranteed Sunday delivery also will have an added fee of $12.50. This may sound costly, but for customers who want their package delivered as quickly as possible, the cost isn’t always an issue. Offering the option is a good choice for providing customer satisfaction.
Cut-off times for Sunday delivery are typically by closing time the night before, which is usually around 6 pm. Some post offices are open later.
Interested in finding out how PluginHive can integrate the best of USPS’s shipping services, like real-time rates, tracking and multi-carrier shipping, right into your Shopify, WooCommerce, or other commerce-based web platforms? Reach out for a conversation with our customer support team.
Hari Krishna
Senior Digital Marketing Executive at PluginHive. Love to spread knowledge, and educate people about eCommerce around the globe.
FAQs
Along with delivery on Saturdays, USPS delivers on Sundays only if the customers choose USPS Priority Express on Saturdays which guarantees overnight delivery.
Do USPS packages get delivered on Sunday? ›
Yes, depending on the mail class used and the metro area you live in, the U.S. Postal Service does deliver packages on Sundays.
How do I know if USPS will deliver on Sunday? ›
You can use the website or their app to determine if USPS package delivery is in your location. You can also call -ASK-USPS, where you will be able to get all the information you need about a specific package. USPS delivers packages on Sundays for customers in some areas.
Does USPS ship on Saturday or Sunday? ›
Every day except Sunday is a USPS business day. Local office hours vary from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, but some offices close earlier. Check your local post office hours before visiting. USPS delivers on Saturday, although it has short business hours and is closed on Sundays, and on federal holidays.
Does USPS deliver on holiday weekends? ›
Usually, USPS does not operate Sunday deliveries. However, if the holiday falls on a Saturday, you should expect the delivery on the next day, that is, Sunday.
Why does USPS not deliver on Sunday? ›
In 1912, without any debate on the matter, Congress added a rider to a funding bill. It ordered that "hereafter post offices ... shall not be opened on Sundays for the purpose of delivering mail to the public." On August 24, Taft signed the bill into law. On September 1, it was enacted.
When did USPS start delivering on Sunday? ›
items was mandatory from offices that were open on Sundays; beginning in 1913, first- and second-class Post Offices also had to provide for Sunday delivery of special delivery mail (1902 Postal Laws & Regulations, 117; 1913 PL&R, 439).
What time will USPS deliver my package? ›
All deliveries should be made by 5:00 p.m. local time Monday through Saturday. Unusual circ*mstances (such as traffic, staffing fluctuations, severe weather, natural disaster, changes in carrier route, etc.) can cause deliveries to be made after this time.
Can I pick up a package from USPS before delivery? ›
You can request that the destination Post Office hold the item for you or have it returned to sender. Verify that your shipment is eligible for Package Intercept. If eligible, you can submit your request online after logging in with your USPS.com account.
Can you pick up a package from USPS? ›
Customers may go to the Post Office to pickup the item on or after the date and time indicated on the PS Form 3849 delivery notice. When an item is looked up via the USPS Tracking® feature, the Post Office® information may not be provided immediately after an attempted delivery.
5 Although areas in New York with exceptionally heavy mail volume received two daily deliveries until the late 1990s, this practice has been phased out. Today, standard policy limits business deliveries to one per day.
Does USPS deliver at the same time every day? ›
The carrier is assigned his route and he must deliver it in a particular order with a few exceptions. It usually ends up being about the same time each day that you get your mail. This can change if he is delayed for any reason. Or if he is helping carry another route for someone.
How does USPS deliver packages? ›
Postal Freight
The Postal Service moves mail with a combination of Postal Service vehicles and contracted air, rail, truck, and ground services. Even though the daily volume of the mail can be estimated, there must be sufficient excess capacity to meet any variances and to meet service standards.
How do I know if mail is being delivered today? ›
Users can access their Informed Delivery online dashboard informeddelivery.usps.com to track and manage incoming mail and packages.
Why does USPS say delivery on a Sunday? ›
Why is the Postal Service delivering on Sundays? Due to package growth, particularly during the holiday season, the Postal Service will deliver packages in major cities and high-volume locations to keep the network clear and moving.
When did USPS stop delivering on Sunday? ›
The invention of the telegraph in 1844 ultimately spelled the end of Sunday mail. It was now possible to get market information without the mail system. By the 1850s, postmaster generals were eliminating the movement of most mail on Sunday.
Does USPS deliver at night? ›
How late does USPS deliver? The United States Postal Service (USPS) generally delivers mail from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Saturday. Sunday delivery is usually only available if you've paid for the Priority Mail Express package.
Where does USPS leave packages? ›
The default option is to always leave a package at the front door, assuming said package doesn't fit in your mailbox. Here are some situations that can cause a package to not be left at your door or taken back to the office: (1) Signatures: a signature was required and no one was home to sign.
Are USPS packages delivered with regular mail? ›
Will Amazon Packages Be Delivered After Regular Mail? No. Amazon packages delivered by the USPS will ALWAYS be delivered with the regular mail, even at night after 5 p.m..
Does out for delivery mean I get it today USPS? ›
So what does out for delivery mean? It means that a package has reached a shipping transit point near the recipient and been loaded on a truck headed toward its final delivery destination. In most cases, once a package is marked as 'out for delivery', it will arrive later that day.
GoComet's USPS courier tracking allows you to instantly track & trace the movement of all your cargo with USPS in real-time by simply entering the Master AWB/tracking or booking number.
What time do USPS trucks leave for delivery? ›
USPS usually delivers mail between 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, irrespective of the delivery service you use. However during peak seasons when there are a lot of mails to be delivered as late as 6.30 pm. However, USPS maintained, “We cannot find when a carrier or delivery person is guaranteed.
Can I keep a package that was delivered to me by mistake? ›
Legally, you're allowed to keep a mistaken delivery. Surprising, right? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has rules that allow you to keep merchandise that's wrongly delivered — even if you didn't pay for it. The logic is that sellers can't just send you goods and demand money for them.
Does USPS deliver on expected delivery date? ›
USPS does not guarantee delivery by the Estimated Delivery date for any service, except Priority Mail Express.
Can I pick up my package from the USPS instead of waiting? ›
Yes. Go to the Package Pickup webpage (https://www.usps.com/pickup) and follow the prompts.
Why was my USPS package never delivered but available for pickup? ›
Their Delivery Attempt Failed
Usually, you will get this message when USPS has attempted to deliver your parcel and failed. This can happen for quite a few different reasons, including that the address was written incorrectly, there was nobody at home, or there was no safe spot for the parcel if there was no one home.
Why didn't USPS deliver my package? ›
A blocked receptacle could be due to a parked vehicle, local utility work in the area, weather conditions or emergency responders impeding access. Please check the area for any obstruction that may prevent delivery OR you may use Postal Locator to pick up the item at your local Post Office™ facility.
How much mail does USPS deliver in a day? ›
On average, the Postal Service processes and delivers 162.1 million pieces of First-Class Mail each day. On average, the Postal Service processes 421.4 million mail pieces each day, 17.6 million each hour, 292,628 each minute and 4,877 each second.
Why does my USPS package say out for delivery but mail already came? ›
It is possible for your package to say “out for delivery” even when it has been delivered, because the system sometimes takes time to update. That's why it is worth checking your mailbox and other safe hiding places even if your package does not say that it has been delivered.
Does the mail ever skip a day? ›
It is normal for an address to not have any mail slated for delivery on a given day, or to have mail delivery times fluctuate daily.
Air delivery is one of the most popular forms of transportation that USPS uses, for obvious reasons. When they need to deliver packages quickly, the fastest way to get them around the country is via an airplane. USPS typically uses airplane delivery for express services such as Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express.
Does USPS deliver to your door or mail? ›
USPS delivers mail and parcels to every single residential address in the country. However, some homes are different from others. For some homes, you may need to go elsewhere to retrieve your mail and packages from USPS.
Is it faster to drop mail at post office? ›
No, all letters received throughout the day are picked up together at end of the day and delivered to main post office for sorting to local and out of state zip codes. Mail is dispatched at the times indicated in the post office, no matter when you bring in the letter.
How accurate is USPS Informed Delivery? ›
USPS email notifications aren't always accurate
Even if you do receive an email notification with a mail preview, there have been instances where the mail is still delayed and stays in your dashboard for days without delivery.
How can I see my mail before it arrives? ›
Informed Delivery is a free service from USPS that shows you preview images of incoming mail, as well as status updates about your incoming and outbound packages. You can see those notifications in a morning Daily Digest email, or at any time via the dashboard from your phone, computer, or the USPS Mobile® app.
Can the Post Office tell me where my mail is? ›
Check the Current Status
Before you begin your search, if your package or mail has tracking, check USPS Tracking® to see its current status. Informed Delivery provides a digital preview of your incoming mail. There may be occasions where a mail item may be delayed in reaching its destination.
At what time USPS delivers in my area? ›
USPS usually delivers mail between 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, irrespective of the delivery service you use.
Can I see exactly where my USPS package is? ›
Go to the USPS Tracking page and enter the USPS tracking number on the mailing label or receipt. You should be able to view the history and current location of your USPS package.
How do I know when my USPS package will arrive? ›
If you already have a USPS.com® account: Go to your account preferences, scroll to the Informed Delivery section, and opt in to Informed Delivery. If you do not have a USPS.com account: Go to the Informed Delivery page and click the sign up link. Enter your address to check if it's eligible for Informed Delivery.
Does USPS deliver packages separately from mail? ›
USPS packages are processed separately from your other incoming mail because they will not fit in your mailbox. For packages and mail that needs to be signed for, special handling is required.
For USPS mailmen, Saturday is the same as Monday through Friday. They make their rounds between 9 AM - 5 PM to deliver packages, regardless of the delivery service.
Does USPS deliver to mail box or door? ›
The USPS delivers to your mail box, not to your house. If the mail box is attached to your house near your door, they deliver to near your door. If you have a mail slot in your front door, they deliver to your door. If your mail box is on a post by the side of the road, they deliver to the box.
Who flies USPS mail? ›
In addition to passenger airlines, the USPS also contracts with cargo airlines like FedEx.
