Does USPS Deliver on Sunday?

Have you sent out an urgent marketing campaign on Friday? Or did you wait too long to mail a client a birthday card?

The weekend is approaching, but what are the delivery hours for USPS? We are no longer a society that rests on Sunday; we’ve become accustomed to having access to everything 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Businesses that rely on the timely delivery of marketing collateral and direct mail can breathe a sigh of relief; USPS does offer a limited delivery service on Sundays. And Postalytics has partnered with USPS to deliver and track your direct mail campaigns any day of the week.

Keep reading to find out what you can expect for a Sunday delivery, how your business can plan for deliveries, and why Postaytics offers the best solution for businesses sending direct mail campaigns.

What Is USPS?

The United States Postal Service, most commonly known as USPS, is an independent agency of the U.S. Federal Government. USPS offers postal service throughout the United States, and every citizen of the United States is guaranteed to have a postal service.

USPS has made many improvements in its delivery system to benefit its clients. Increasing the number of delivery days appeals to a society that has become used to having anything and everything delivered to their front door whenever they want.

Businesses can take advantage of weekend deliveries to better serve their customers.

Postalytics works with the USPS to offer the best mail solutions to our clients.

Does USPS Have Sunday Delivery?

The United States Postal Service does have Sunday delivery, but it depends on the item’s delivery status. They provide Priority Mail Express service and Sunday deliveries of some Amazon packages.

USPS priority mail express starts at approximately $26. It’s a premium USPS delivery option offering the fastest delivery time USPS has to offer with an additional charge for Sunday delivery.

Most first-class package service arrives Monday, but Amazon is the exception to the rule, thanks to the United States Postal Service’s agreement in 2013 to deliver some of Amazon’s packages.

The government brokered this agreement to help alleviate weekday deliveries. Amazon packages can arrive at any time, and their website shows delivery times as late as 11 pm.

Is First-Class Mail Delivered on Sunday?

First-Class Mail is the label assigned to regular everyday mail such as letters and bills paid for by a stamp, often called “snail mail.” Snail mail is not a priority, so USPS only delivers it Monday to Friday to keep shipping costs low.

However, if an area becomes overwhelmed with high volumes of mail and packages during peak time, USPS mail services may deliver First-Class Mail on Sundays until the backlog has cleared.

Sunday delivery of First-Class Mail depends on the market and staff availability.

What Time Does USPS Deliver on Sunday?

USPS Sunday delivery times also depend on the delivery destination. Typically, you can expect your delivery in the morning. Overnight delivery of parcels with Priority Express will usually arrive by mid-morning.

For other Priority Mail Express services with a guaranteed delivery day, such as priority mail packages, your package is guaranteed to arrive by supper time on the promised day, or you will get your money back.

Is There Postal Delivery on Saturday?

USPS does deliver on Saturday. It’s considered a regular business day in their delivery schedules, with package and parcel service occurring during typical weekday working hours.

Mail usually arrives mid-afternoon, but some can come in the early evening during peak seasons.

Saturday is a possible delivery day if you use Priority Mail Express, and like Sunday, if your parcel does not arrive on time, you will get your money back.

Will You Have the Same Mail Carrier on the Weekend?

Usually, USPS mail carriers have a regular route that they work every day, so you’ll generally see the same person through the business week and a different USPS employee making the deliveries on the weekend.

Does USPS Weekend Delivery Service Include Tracking? What About Insurance?

The cost to deliver packages includes the cost of tracking and postage. The Postalytics dashboard will also display key metrics that you can measure and follow.

There is also general insurance of up to $100 for Saturday and Sunday postal services included. Still, you can buy additional insurance from USPS on top of that in case the package is lost or damaged.

Are Local Postal Offices Open on Weekends?

Local USPS post offices are generally closed on the weekends, but areas with large mail volumes and large populations may have temporary hours on the weekend to assist with the backlog.

These weekend hours will be shorter than the regular weekly business hours and may not include other USPS services. Check with your local post office to learn about their business hours and post office locations.

The Postaytics plans include printing and postage, so there is no need to visit the local post office.

When Should You Go to the Post Office?

The best time to go to the post office is Tuesday morning, about half an hour after opening.

Tuesday is the slowest day of the week for mail, with the most packages arriving Monday that couldn’t be delivered Friday and over the weekend. At this time, you’ll miss the morning rush.

However, Postalytics customers can manage and run their direct mail campaigns using our platform without visiting the post office.

Are There Days That USPS Does Not Deliver Mail?

There is no regular postal service on the ten federal holidays, although there are exceptions for some classes of delivery available for an additional fee:

•  New Year’s Day
•  Martin Luther King Jr. Day
•  President’s Day
•  Memorial Day
•  Independence Day
•  Labor Day
•  Columbus Day
•  Veteran’s Day
•  Thanksgiving Day
•  Christmas Day

If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, USPS may delay delivery on Monday to compensate for the missed holiday.

What Is the Peak Season for USPS?

Every year, there is an increase in mail and package volume from November through January as the holiday season continues to be the busiest time for USPS.

Online shopping and same-day delivery have only increased the USPS’ burden.

If you plan to send a package during this time, add to the estimated delivery lead time and send it as early as possible. We recommend planning direct mail campaigns well ahead of the peak season to ensure prompt delivery.

Delivery times can be a little slower during this peak unless you take advantage of USPS’s Priority Mail Express guaranteed delivery date.

Who Still Uses USPS?

Most people still rely on USPS for their everyday tasks, including:

• Marketing
• Paying bills
• Bank statements
• Those without internet
• Medicine by mail
• Voting

Although online purchasing and sales take up significant parts of every day, some regions in the country have poor to no internet service.

The Federal Communications Commission estimates that 14.5 million people in rural areas have little or no access to broadband.

Up to 18% of Americans still pay their bills by mail either due to a lack of internet or because it’s the way they have always done it. For many people, banks still send out their statements in the mail each month and have only recently begun to move to paperless statements.

The National Community Pharmacists Association states that 20% of adults over the age of 40 have their medication delivered by mail.

Several towns vote by mail because they are not populated enough to open up. For example, in Minnesota, 130,000 citizens have to vote by mail because they live in a town with fewer than 400 people.

For many Americans, USPS is a lifeline to the rest of the world. It might not be as fast or convenient as electronic delivery, but it is all they have. The Federal Government guarantees that the United Postal Service is responsible for delivering mail to any address in the United States.

If USPS cannot reach rural addresses, they will deliver mail to community postal boxes.

What Services Does USPS Offer?

USPS offers a variety of delivery services at different price points to meet the needs of its clients. Here is a quick look at the services they offer:

First-Class Mail & Media Mail

First-Class Mail is an affordable delivery service for envelopes weighing up to 3.5oz. The items will be delivered in 5 business days or less at a rate starting at $0.58.

Large envelopes or small parcels weighing up to 13oz will be delivered in 3 business days or less as a first-class package but will cost more than lighter items.

For businesses using direct mail advertising from companies like Postalytics, first-class mail delivers large quantities of items like custom postcards to areas all over the US. The Direct Mail options offered by Postalytics fall within this range, so First-Class mail is often recommended to our clients. 

Postalytics subscription plans can also lower the cost per item for USPS delivery.

Features

• Insurance up to $5000 for lost or damaged items
• Delivery confirmation is available
• The shape and weight of the first-class package will determine the price

Media Mail

Media mail is an affordable way to send media and educational materials with a maximum weight of 70 lbs. The rates start at $3.19 per item.

The items that qualify for media mail include:

• Books
• 16mm or narrower width films
• Printed music and test materials
• Video and sound recordings
• Playscripts and manuscripts
• Printed educational reference charts
• Medical loose-leaf pages and binders
• Computer-readable media

You cannot send video games, computer drives, and digital drives by media mail.

USPS Retail Ground

USPS Retail Ground is one of the USPS shipping services designed to deliver priority mail that is too large such as oversized packages.

This service is an excellent option for too large packages for Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail. This method provides an expected delivery within 2 – 8 business days at a price starting at $8.50.

Features

• Price includes tracking
• Includes USPS Sunday delivery
• Only available at USPS Post Offices

Priority Mail Express

Priority Mail Express is the fastest guaranteed delivery service for domestic shipping, and it’s available every day, including Saturday and Sunday, 365 days a year, with limited exceptions.

You can mail from the post office or print labels from home or the office.

They provide a next-day or two-day shipping service for USPS customers by 6 pm to most U.S. addresses and P.O. Boxes.

Choose Priority Mail express if your package must be on time because if your package does not arrive on time, you get your money back.

Priority Mail Express items incur a flat rate beginning at $26.95, so you can ship packages weighing up to 70 lbs to any state for the same price.

Features

• Sunday and holiday delivery are available for an additional fee.
• USPS will pick up your package from your home or office free of charge.
• USPS tracking to the delivery destination
• Insurance up to $100.
• USPS will record proof of signature.

Priority Mail

Priority mail is the most popular service offering many of the same features as Priority mail express but at a lower cost.

USPS delivers priority mail domestically within 1 – 3 days at a starting rate of $8.70. The price includes tracking and insurance, and any shipping boxes and envelopes you may need are free.

For packages up to 70 lbs, you don’t need to weigh the shipment.

Features

• USPS will pick up your package from your home or office for free
• USPS tracking
• Up to $50 insurance on most shipments
• No additional charges for fuel, rural delivery, or USPS Saturday delivery
• Prepaid pricing available

Does USPS Provide Retail Services?

In addition to their delivery services, USPS provides a variety of retail services at their physical post offices for the convenience of their clients. Here is a list of their services:

• Post Office Box rentals
• Selling shipping supplies
• Accepting debit/credit payment
• Sale of postage in any denomination
• Providing USPS mailing information
• Weighing and classifying postage of envelopes and parcels
• Assisting with dispense forms for priority mail ships such as Priority Mail Express
• Confirmation services
• Providing receipts
• Change of address service
• Money order sales

Frequently Asked Questions About USPS and Direct Mail

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about USPS.

My carrier did not pick up my outgoing mail. How can I report this?

It is best to report this incident directly to your local post office. If this is not possible, contact the USPS Help Desk.

Can I use USPS-produced Mail Express or Priority Mail packaging for other classes of Mail?

No. It would be best to use the packaging for the delivery system stated on the packaging. The labeling on the packaging determines the price of your delivery.

My postage labels didn’t print. How can I get credit for the postage?

Contact the Click-N-Ship Help Desk at 1-800-344-7779 choose option 3.

What are the hours of operations? 

The hours of operation for USPS are as follows: 

• Monday to Friday – 8 am to 8:30 pm
• Saturday – 8 am to 6 pm
• Sunday/Holidays – Closed

How do I file an insurance claim?

Ensure that the appropriate amount of time has passed, then start the claims process.

You can use this website to create claims for domestic and international deliveries and contact USPS customer support with any additional questions.

How do I order free packaging?

Ordering free packaging from USPS.com is easy. Visit their online Postal Store, click on shipping supplies, and choose the items you need. You can also acquire free packaging from a local post office.

The best solution

The simple answer to ‘does the USPS delivery on Sunday?’ is yes, for specific packages.

The United States Postal Service offers a wide range of mailing services that is reliable and affordable for the convenience of its clients, including USPS weekend delivery options. 

Priority Mail Express guarantees that you can have your mail or packages delivered on any day of the week that you need, even if that means Saturday and Sunday deliveries.

If all the above seems confusing, don’t worry, there is an ideal solution for you- Postalytics.

Our platform will calculate the best pricing and determine the best mailing solution for your needs. You will save time, money, and stress by utilizing the Postaytics tool. You will also avoid the need to visit the local post office.

If you’re looking to send automated direct mail for your business, visit Postalytics and use its services to save money on personalized bulk mailing.

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