What is the Difference Between Courier Services and the Mail?
For many years, couriers were a service primarily used by large businesses, hospitals, and corporations. These services were something that most people found to be a luxury that was outside of their budget and daily needs.
Now, however, courier services are a valuable tool that is utilized by millions of people – individually and as businesses. Courier and delivery companies offer services that are safer and more efficient than other methods of transport, and their prices are more affordable and competitive than ever.
What is the Difference Between Courier Services and the Mail?
With courier services offering similar services and competitive pricing, you may be wondering why you would choose a courier service over the U.S. mail. Remember we mentioned safety and efficiency? Those are among the important differences between a courier service and the mail. Below, we look at these and other differences, as noted by a courier in Birmingham, AL.
The most notable differences that may sway your decision between the mail and a courier include:
Pickup
When you use the mail to ship a package, you have to pack it, wait in line, pay for the package, and then hope that the package arrives in one piece. With a courier, you can skip most of these steps. A courier will pick up your package from where you are and will make sure it is properly shipped. Some couriers will even hand deliver items, depending on the distance.
Delivery
When you ship something through the mail, you may get a tracking number and estimated time of delivery. Often, that estimation is off, and you may lose valuable time and money if your mail is delayed. With a courier, you can get a written guarantee of when your package will arrive. A courier can also make sure that it arrives within a certain timeframe, which is great for time-sensitive packages or documents.
Cost
Using the mail is often less expensive than using a courier service. However, the adage “you get what you pay for” applies here. As noted above, you don’t always get what you pay for when you rely on the mail service. With courier services becoming more popular, the prices are also more competitive. You may be surprised at how affordable their services are compared to other methods, including the mail.
Reliability
The U.S. Mail service has struggled in recent years with reliability. Staffing issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors have created a lot of delays and problems with shipping. Courier services do not have these same struggles. Couriers are operated by individuals and companies that specialize in pickups and deliveries that meet customer expectations every time.
Convenience
Going to the Post Office to mail or ship something takes up valuable time out of your day. Even if you send someone in your business to go for you, that also requires re-allocating someone from other tasks that may be more important. With a courier service, you have the convenience of simply scheduling a pickup and delivery, and letting someone else do the work for you.
A courier service can also make sure that time-sensitive documents are delivered within business hours, even on the same day. These are conveniences that are well worth the cost.
Conclusion
Of course, there are some similarities between a courier service and the mail. But as you can see, the differences really make it clear that there are valuable benefits to using a courier service. This is especially true if you need something delivered within a specific timeframe, or want the guarantee that your package will arrive unharmed.
