We’ve all been in a position where we need something shipped in a rush, whether it be a forgotten birthday gift or a last-minute holiday present. This includes your customers. There will be times customers might ask for expedited shipping on an order, so it can arrive in time for a special occasion. Priority Mail Express^® is a great carrier service for customers in need of expedited delivery. Plus, Priority Mail Express^® includes a guaranteed delivery date, so you can request a refund if your package doesn’t arrive within the given delivery window. 

Features of Priority Mail Express^® 

Priority Mail Express^® includes: 

• A next-day to 2-day delivery guarantee (by 6PM)
• Flat rate packaging options and free supplies from USPS 
• Tracking throughout your shipment’s entire transit 
• Up to $100 worth of shipment insurance included 
• The option for holiday and Sunday delivery for an extra cost 

Additionally, Priority Mail Express^® includes a money-back guarantee. However, it’s worth noting that Priority Mail Express^® refund requests do take other factors into consideration like the recipient’s zip code and when your package was dropped off. USPS provides a free Service Commitments tool, so you can see which services are guaranteed as well as estimated delivery dates for each available USPS service. More information about Priority Mail Express^® refund requests can be found on the USPS website. 

Priority Mail Express^® refunds 

If your Priority Mail Express^® shipment doesn’t arrive on time and meets USPS requirements, you can request a refund for the shipping costs of your package. Refund requests can be submitted through the USPS website, and you’ll need to create a free account to start the process.   

Priority Mail Express^® refunds need to be submitted within 2-30 days of the date the package was mailed*, and you’ll need the receipt and tracking number to successfully submit the request. You can find your postage receipt through these steps: 

• Login to Stamps.com 
• Click on the History tab on your dashboard 
• Select Search Print History 
• Locate the tracking number for the order you’re requesting the refund for 
• Click on the info box (i) next to the tracking number 
• Print the physical copy of your receipt*

*Note: For those using the Stamps.com software, you’ll first click Search on the left-hand side of your screen and then click the info box next to the correct tracking number to generate your receipt. 

Priority Mail Express International^® refunds 

Like Priority Mail Express^®, certain Priority Mail Express International^® are eligible for refund requests. One of the biggest differences between the two is that refund requests for Priority Mail Express International^® shipments can only be submitted for the following countries: 

Priority Mail Express International^® shipments will also need to be filed with USPS directly through their website and must be submitted within 3-90 days of when your package was shipped.  

Conclusion 

Priority Mail Express^® gives customers an expedited shipping option, so their packages can arrive quickly. Also, the option to request a refund for eligible shipments provides a safeguard for your business if the package arrives late. If you’re an international shipper, Priority Mail Express International^® can be offered to your customers as an expedited option and includes a similar refund request option for eligible packages. Help your customers receive their packages in the nick of time with Priority Mail Express^® and Priority Mail Express International ^®.  

Start your 30-day free trial with Stamps.com today.

The U.S. Postal Service is proposing a delivery time change for Priority Mail Express.

Currently, Priority Mail Express has two guaranteed delivery times within the 1-2 business-day service standards:
– Option #1: 12 Noon or 3 p.m. (depending on originating zip code and delivery address)
– Option #2: 10:30 a.m. (in select locations, for an extra $5 fee)

The USPS is proposing to eliminate the 10:30 am delivery time and will be adjusting the regular Priority Mail Express delivery from 12 noon/3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the designated delivery day.

If the Postal Regulatory Commission approves the change, starting Sunday, May 23, 2021 all Priority Mail Express packages will be delivered by 6 p.m. regardless of the originating zip code and delivery address.

The shipping price for Priority Mail Express will not change with this delivery time adjustment.

Get more information on Priority Mail Express.

As of Sunday, July 28, the USPS has made some significant changes to Priority Mail.  These changes DO NOT include any postage rate increases — they are operational changes only.

We’ve listed some FAQs below:

#1 Has the delivery service changed for Priority Mail?  I now see “Priority Mail 1-Day,” “Priority Mail 2-Day” or “Priority Mail 3-Day” listed on the label.

Delivery service for Priority Mail is exactly the same as before — 1 to 3 day delivery. Keep in mind that Priority Mail is not a guaranteed date-specific delivery service. Since most Priority Mail packages are delivered within 2 days, the USPS has added estimated delivery dates on the shipping label to help communication between the shipper and the package recipient. Delivery date estimates are based on where the package is being shipped from and where it is being delivered to.

#2  Can I choose 1, 2, or 3-day delivery for Priority Mail?
No, you will not be able to choose 1, 2 or 3-day delivery.  The scheduled delivery date will be automatically determined by the zip code your package is being shipped from and the zip code where the package is being sent to.  If you need overnight delivery, you can use Priority Mail Express (formerly called Express Mail), which provides overnight delivery to most addresses in the U.S.

#3 Does Priority Mail now include insurance?
Yes, Priority Mail now includes package insurance.  You will receive $50 of coverage if you print your labels online through an approved PC Postage vendor that offers Commercial Base Pricing (such as Stamps.com).  If you are approved for Commercial Plus Pricing, you will receive $100 of free coverage.

#4 How do I know how much insurance I receive with my Priority Mail package?
By default, Stamps.com prints all shipping rates using postage discounts known as Commercial Base Pricing.  Rates for Commercial Base Pricing includes rate discounts for the following mail classes:

• Priority Mail Express: Save up to 63% off retail rates on all Priority Mail Express shipments.
• Priority Mail: Save up to 20% of retail rates on all Priority Mail shipments, depending on weight and distance.
• First Class Package Service: Save up to 18% off retail rates on all First Class Parcels.
• International Shipping: Save up to 9% on Priority Mail International shipments, up to 10% for Priority Mail Express International and up to 10% on First Class Package International Service.

Commercial Plus Pricing is a program offered by the USPS that provides highly discounted postage rates for high volume shippers that meet a required number of shipments annually.  For Priority Mail, the minimum number of shipments starts at 75,000.

#5 What is Priority Mail Express?
Express Mail was renamed Priority Mail Express on July 28, 2013. Also, Express Mail International has been renamed Priority Mail Express International. Other then the name change, the Priority Mail Express service remains exactly the same as Express Mail.

The reason for the name change was due to USPS research showing that customers often got confused between Priority Mail and Express Mail.  So the USPS changed Express Mail to Priority Mail Express, bringing everything under the Priority Mail brand umbrella.

#6 I still have old Express Mail boxes.  Can I still use them to ship my packages?
Yes, you can still use your Express Mail boxes through January 2014.  The USPS will be introducing new packaging for Priority Express Mail in the coming weeks, but the old boxes will work with Priority Mail Express.

The U.S. Postal Service is making operational changes to select shipping services starting Sunday, July 28, 2013.  The changes being made include the following:

IMPORTANT! USPS postage rates are NOT INCREASING on Sunday, July 28, 2013 – these changes are operational only!!!

Express Mail Renamed to Priority Mail Express
Express Mail is being renamed Priority Mail Express and Express Mail International is being renamed Priority Mail Express International. USPS research shows that having two shipping product names is confusing to customers, and so the USPS will simplify everything under the Priority Mail brand name.

Example of the new Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Box

Delivery service for Priority Mail Express will remain the same (overnight for domestic, 3-5 day for international).  Also, older Express Mail boxes can still be used with the newly named Priority Mail Express through January 2014.

Estimated Delivery Date Included on Priority Mail Shipping Labels
The USPS will be printing the estimated delivery date on all Priority Mail shipping labels. The date will be displayed at the top of the shipping label in bold text and will contain either “Priority Mail 1-Day,” “Priority Mail 2-Day” or “Priority Mail 3-Day.”

This is only an estimated delivery date and package shippers will not be able to choose a date-specific delivery service for Priority Mail.  Delivery dates will be determined by where you’re shipping your package from and where you’re sending it.

Example of new Priority Mail shipping label. Note the "Priority Mail 1-Day" in the top section, and the Carrier Route Code next to the delivery address.

Additionally, Priority Mail labels will now include a four-digit Carrier Route Code to help speed up package delivery.  The four-digit code will be printed just to the right of the delivery address.

Electronic Delivery Confirmation Now Available to 14 Countries
Along with Canada (added in January 2013), the USPS will be adding Electronic Delivery Confirmation to 13 additional countries for First Class Package International Service, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Boxes.  This service will be available for no additional cost.

New countries offering Electronic Delivery Confirmation include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and Switzerland.

Package Insurance is Being Added to Priority Mail
Priority Mail is now going to include $50 of insurance for FREE if you print postage online (Commercial Base Pricing).  If you are approved for Commercial Plus Pricing, you will receive $100 of insurance coverage. This insurance coverage is provided automatically by the USPS and claims will be to protect shippers against loss, damage or missing contents.

Stamps.com Will Automatically Update on July 28, 2013
As a Stamps.com customer, you will not need to do anything — the Stamps.com software and website will automatically be updated with all necessary changes for this USPS update.