Postal Service glad to engage businesses big and small

Question: How can the Postal Service assist a small business in Hawaii looking to sell its products on the mainland?

Answer: There are so many ways. In the mail, we have Every Door Direct, as well as a broad range of direct-mail vehicles enabled by digital. We are eager to tailor solutions for all of your marketing needs. On the package side of the business, we are speaking to all parcel customers about our new pricing for packages under 20 pounds, our broad range of products and services, and of course, our flat-rate shipping.

Q: What can I do to lower my shipping costs and speed up my deliveries?

A: Well that depends a lot on what you are shipping. And how important is speed versus cost. What we actually tend to find is that what consumers want most is predictable delivery with a reasonable cost supported by excellent communications of when they can expect a shipment, generally in two to three days. So for most, priority mail is the best service overall. And now with all of the enhancements we have made in scanning, tracking, returns and commercial pricing, we are finding that many customers are embracing USPS shipping options as an excellent way to ship.

Q: What are the advantages to using USPS instead of UPS or FedEx?

A: FedEx and UPS are excellent partners of the United States Postal Service and we appreciate their business. Of course for small business there are differences and advantages to each of the offerings in the marketplace and our team is eager to work with customers to evaluate options.

Q: If I want to ship my products to international destinations, what do you recommend?

A: We have a broad range of pricing and speed options that cover the whole range of needs, including our international express mail product which tends to be the best choice for most.

Q: USPS has started delivering Amazon packages on Sundays in some cities. When will that service come to Honolulu?

A: We are delighted to be delivering Amazon packages in many markets. I don’t know about the specific plans for Hawaii, but I can say that the Postal Service is committed to delivering packages seven days a week across the U.S. and in many markets including Hawaii. We plan to be delivering seven days per week during our busiest time of the year — from Thanksgiving to Christmas. In Hawaii we will adjust our delivery frequency as needed during the holidays, up to seven days a week, if that is what is needed.

Q: Amazon is testing drones for package delivery. Is that something the postal service is considering?

A: We are constantly evaluating all delivery options that could potentially improve our network.