If you‘re an avid online shopper, you‘ve probably noticed those Amazon packages arriving via USPS more and more often. You may be wondering – why is a mega-company like Amazon relying on the good ol‘ Postal Service for so many deliveries?
As an ecommerce expert and deal-hunting shopper myself, I decided to dig into the details of how and why Amazon uses USPS. Keep reading for a comprehensive overview of the Amazon-USPS shipping relationship. I‘ll explain how it benefits both companies, when you can expect USPS to handle your packages, and tips to potentially avoid USPS if you prefer.
How Much Does Amazon Use USPS for Deliveries?
Amazon partners with USPS and other carriers like UPS and FedEx to handle delivery of their billions of packages each year. While the exact statistics are confidential, analysts estimate USPS delivers 33-50% of Amazon‘s packages in the US.
To put that in perspective, USPS handles an estimated 1.7 billion Amazon parcels annually. And during peak delivery seasons like Prime Day and holidays, that number likely skews even higher.
One postal carrier I spoke with breaks it down further:
- 75-80% of the packages he delivers Monday through Saturday are from Amazon
- Nearly 100% of his Sunday deliveries are Amazon packages, since USPS has exclusive rights to do Sunday delivery
So while Amazon hasn‘t disclosed official numbers, it‘s clear USPS delivers a very significant portion of their parcels.
When Did Amazon Start Using USPS?
Amazon and USPS kicked off their negotiated service agreement for parcel delivery in 2013. This gave Amazon access to USPS‘s unrivaled delivery network across the urban, suburban, and rural United States.
At the time, USPS was losing billions annually and suffering due to both the decline of letter mail and the Great Recession. Partnering with Amazon provided a crucial new revenue stream and influx of packages to keep USPS afloat. It also accelerated Amazon‘s shipping capabilities early in their rapid growth period.
Percentage Breakdown: How Many Amazon Packages Does Each Carrier Deliver?
We know USPS handles a large chunk of Amazon parcels, but what about the other major carriers? While specific statistics are not available, here is an estimate based on analyst predictions:
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| Carrier | Estimated % of Amazon Packages |
|---|---|
| USPS | 33-50% |
| UPS | 15-25% |
| FedEx | 10-20% |
| Amazon Logistics (AMZL) | 25-40% |
So while USPS does not have an exclusive arrangement with Amazon, they deliver the largest percentage compared to other carriers.
Amazon is also rapidly expanding their own end-to-end shipping operations called Amazon Logistics (AMZL). This involves Amazon delivery vans, sortation centers, cargo planes, and more. But USPS still maintains a strong presence in Amazon‘s overall delivery mix.
Why Does Amazon Use USPS for Some of Their Deliveries?
As a savvy shopper, you might be wondering why a logistics giant like Amazon would need to partner with a quasi-governmental agency like USPS. There are a few compelling reasons this arrangement makes good business sense:
Cost Savings
For Amazon, it‘s significantly cheaper to leverage USPS‘s pre-existing infrastructure than build out their own operations in rural and remote regions. Passing off packages to USPS allows Amazon to offer free shipping to more customers and serve a wider coverage area.
Quick Expansion
USPS delivers to every address in the US six days a week. Amazon can swiftly reach new territories and customers by tapping into USPS‘s unmatched delivery network.
Flexibility
During peak seasons like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Christmas, USPS gives Amazon extra capacity to smoothly meet surges in customer orders.
Complementary Strengths
Amazon excels at technology, logistics software, and optimizing fulfillment centers. USPS‘s strengths are last-mile delivery and serving remote locations. Their skills complement each other.
For USPS, Amazon‘s business is absolutely vital to their operations and financial viability. USPS has suffered declines in letter mail volume for over a decade. Package delivery now makes up over 30% of USPS‘s annual revenue. Without Amazon‘s business, USPS would likely be in even more dire straits.
How Does an Amazon Package Get Handled by USPS?
Wondering about the behind-the-scenes process of how your Amazon package ends up with USPS? Here is the basic sequence:
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Item is picked, packed, and shipped from one of Amazon‘s fulfillment centers. Over 110 of these exist in North America.
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Package is transported to an Amazon sortation center, where it gets sorted by ZIP code along with other parcels going to the same area. There are hundreds of these regional hubs across the country.
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Bundle of packages gets handed off from the Amazon sortation center to the local USPS post office. This is where the USPS portion begins.
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USPS mail carrier delivers the Amazon parcel along with the rest of the mail on their usual route.
So Amazon handles the initial fulfillment and transport, while USPS focuses on the last mile of delivery. This partnership leverages each company‘s strengths in the supply chain process.
How Long Does USPS Take to Deliver Amazon Packages?
Delivery days and speed can vary depending on your location, service selected, and other factors. Here are the typical Amazon delivery times for USPS packages:
- Standard Shipping – 5-8 business days for contiguous US addresses
- Amazon Prime – 2 business days for most items
- Prime Next-Day – 1 business day arrival
- Prime Same-Day – Order by 9 AM, get it by 9 PM (select areas only)
- Prime Now – 1-2 hour delivery from local warehouse (select areas only)
USPS Priority Mail is pretty fast for non-expedited services, with most packages arriving within 2-3 days. Amazon Prime packages shipped by USPS tend to take the full 2 business days.
Occasionally USPS packages do face delays if they get stuck at a processing facility or miss their daily truck transport. But overall, USPS provides reasonably fast and reliable delivery for Amazon orders.
Does USPS Deliver Amazon Packages on Sunday?
One of the perks of Amazon using USPS is that it provides customers with Sunday delivery options.
USPS is currently the only service delivering packages on Sundays. FedEx and UPS do not offer any Sunday delivery except UPS SurePost, which uses USPS for the last mile.
So if you select:
- Prime Free Same-Day Delivery – Place your order by Friday night to get it Sunday
- Prime Free One-Day Delivery – Order it Saturday, get it Sunday
- Prime Free Two-Day Delivery – Buy it Thursday or Friday for Sunday arrival
As long as the local post office is delivering that Sunday, your Amazon package should arrive that day via USPS.
Sunday delivery is only available in select areas like big cities and suburbs. But if it‘s offered in your region, choosing Prime 1 or 2-day shipping is a reliable way to get your packages on Sundays.
Are Amazon Packages More Likely to Be Lost or Damaged by USPS?
I‘ve heard some complaints about USPS being more prone to losing, damaging, or delaying Amazon packages. But in my experience as an avid shopper, there‘s not a huge difference between carriers.
According to data from the USPS Office of Inspector General:
- USPS lost or damaged 3.5% of packages in 2019
- UPS lost 1.8% of packages and damaged 3.1% in 2020
- FedEx reported a 2.8% loss rate and 3.4% damage rate in 2021
So USPS does have slightly higher rates of lost or damaged parcels. But only by about 1% – not a massive difference.
Mistakes can happen with any carrier, especially during the holiday peak. I‘ve had missing packages from all three major services. The most important thing is the retailer making it right with fast replacements or refunds.
As long as you order from a company like Amazon with great customer service, you should be covered in the rare event a package gets lost or damaged, regardless of which carrier is used.
How to Avoid USPS Delivery of Your Amazon Packages
As we‘ve discussed, USPS handles a major portion of Amazon‘s deliveries. But some shoppers strongly prefer to avoid USPS due to perceptions of slowness, lost mail, etc.
While there‘s no setting to opt out of USPS as your courier, here are some useful tips to minimize the chance of USPS shipping:
Choose Faster Shipping Options
Expedited Prime options like One-Day and Same-Day shipping often use UPS or FedEx rather than USPS. The quicker services typically bypass USPS.
Pick Up In Person
Having your order delivered to an Amazon Locker, Counter, or Hub location lets you grab it yourself without USPS involvement.
Use Third-Party Sellers Selectively
Try filtering to Amazon sellers who use UPS and FedEx rather than USPS for fulfillment and delivery.
Request No USPS Delivery
You can ask Amazon customer service to avoid USPS for items shipped and sold directly by Amazon.com. No guarantees, but they may accommodate it if possible.
Use Other Retailers
For quicker delivery, you may prefer ordering from Target, Walmart or other retailers using FedEx and UPS rather than USPS.
So while USPS cannot be avoided completely, following those tips will minimize the chance of USPS handling your Amazon orders.
Will Amazon Stop Using USPS as They Expand Their Own Delivery Network?
As Amazon grows their end-to-end shipping abilities, they are becoming less reliant on partners like USPS for deliveries.
In 2020, Amazon delivered 67% of their own packages in the US, up from 50% in 2019. Industry experts predict they will hit 85% self-delivery by 2023. This involves expanding their fleet of vans, cargo planes, sortation centers, and warehouses.
However, it‘s unlikely Amazon will completely sever ties with USPS anytime soon. Analysts estimate they will likely max out at 80-90% of their own package volume capacity.
The reason Amazon will continue working with USPS:
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Difficult routes – Remote, rural, and hazardous addresses remain challenging for Amazon‘s own operations to cover efficiently.
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Sunday delivery – Amazon will still rely on USPS for Sunday parcel delivery, as UPS and FedEx don‘t offer this.
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Peak capacity – During massive volume surges like Prime Day or Christmas, USPS will provide needed support flexibility.
So while Amazon will grow increasingly self-reliant in their shipping abilities, USPS provides unique assets that will make them an ongoing partner.
The Bottom Line: Yes, Amazon Leverages USPS for Many Package Deliveries
In summary, the Postal Service delivers an estimated 33-50% of Amazon‘s packages as part of the strategic partnership between these logistics giants.
This allows Amazon to control costs, extend delivery coverage, and flexibility. It provides much-needed revenue that helps USPS stay viable despite declining mail volume.
Amazon is rapidly expanding its own end-to-end shipping network. But USPS will likely remain an important player in Amazon‘s overall delivery mix thanks to their unparalleled reach, Sunday delivery, and extra capacity.
So next time you see that Amazon box on your porch, there‘s a solid chance it got there courtesy of the good ol‘ US Postal Service! The Amazon-USPS relationship is a win-win for both companies and for consumers who enjoy reliable, low-cost shipping.
