Rossen Reports: Surprise results in our holiday shipping challenge; FedEx vs UPS vs USPS
Jeff Rossen tests FedEx, UPS and USPS to find the fastest and most cost-effective shipping option for holiday gifts.
Updated: 1:17 PM PST Dec 3, 2024
Our shipping challenge is back rosset reports, putting the US Postal service Ups and fedex to the test as you get ready to send your gifts for the holidays. Ok, here's what I'm doing. You see this toy right here, the magnets. It's *** great gift, by the way, side note, but I bought three of them and I have three of these boxes. Ok. I'm going to be shipping these at the exact same time to our hurst reporter Jason Marks from KCR *** in Sacramento our Hearst Powerhouse. So I am going to pack up each one of these toys. Same exact toy, same exact size box. One's going to UPS, one's going to fedex. One is going to the US Postal Service. We're gonna see what each one costs. We're gonna do the standard ground shipping and see how fast it gets there. Which one gets their fastest? Which one is cheapest? Let's go. I box everything up. Now, let's go ship our gifts. Ok, here at the post office, let's go. Ok. So she just gave me the standard for ground is $16.20 and it's going to get there in five days. So 1620 here at the U SPS. Ok. Here at UPS, let's check it out. Ok, just finished the address here. Ok. So here at UPS, uh, we're shipping it UPS $17.84 and it's getting there in four days. It's getting there on Friday they say. So, let's see. All right, I'm at Fedex. Let's check it out. We just got the price. It's $23.24 for delivery in seven days. So seven days, $23.24 here at Fedex right off the bat. The US Postal Service wins on price. It's the cheapest at 16 dollars, 20 cents ups coming in second at 1784 and fedex the most expensive at 2324. But how will they all do on speed? Will they keep their promises? Let's find out as our gifts cross the country to Sacramento. Jason Marks at our her station KCR *** picking up the story from here. Hey, Jeff, the packages have all arrived. Thanks so much. The boys are really excited. So how did they do? Well, Fedex, they told you it would come in seven days guys. It took only four United States postal service arrived next five days, just like they said, here's another one guys. And how about us? Well, they told you it would take four days. It actually took seven to get to me. So fedex was the fastest then the US Postal service and didn't last UPS. Ok. Go ahead and open it on. What do you say? Thank you. So, when should you send your gifts to get there for the holiday? So the deadlines for each of the three carriers are out, what they recommend if you want your gifts to arrive before Christmas using that standard ground shipping. The same we did for fedex. It's December 17th ship it by then for the US Postal Service, December 18th and for UPS, they want you to use their time and cost calculator on its own website. So I'll be sure to share that plus deadlines for expedited shipping options, all of it in my Ross and reports newsletter. I know there's *** lot there. Just scan the QR code on your screen right now to sign up. It's free. It comes right to your inbox. That's all for today. Back to you.
Rossen Reports: Surprise results in our holiday shipping challenge; FedEx vs UPS vs USPS
Jeff Rossen tests FedEx, UPS and USPS to find the fastest and most cost-effective shipping option for holiday gifts.
Updated: 1:17 PM PST Dec 3, 2024
Need to ship gifts for the holidays?Rossen Reports shipped three identical gifts through each of the major U.S. mail carriers – the United States Postal Service, UPS and FedEx, to see which one delivered fastest and for what price.Watch the full report in the video player above.2024 Holiday shipping deadlinesMake sure your gifts get wherever they need to go for the holidays with these important deadlines.USPSRecommended send-by dates for expected delivery before Dec. 25:USPS Ground Advantage Service: Dec. 18First-Class Mail Service: Dec. 18Priority Mail Service: Dec. 19Priority Mail Express Service: Dec. 21Click here for more information.FedExRecommended last days to ship to arrive by Dec. 24:FedEx Ground: Dec. 17FedEx Express Saver: Dec. 19FedEx 2Day & FedEx 2Day AM: Dec. 20FedEx First Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight, FedEx Standard Overnight, Extra Hours: Dec. 23FedEx SameDay: Dec. 24Click here for more information.UPSRecommended last days to ship to arrive by Dec. 24:UPS Ground: Check UPS time and cost calculator hereUPS 3 Day Select: Dec. 19UPS 2nd Day Air: Dec. 20UPS Next Day Air Dec. 23Click here for more information.Have a question for Jeff Rossen? He’s answering your consumer questions every Friday in the new segment "Rossen Responds." Email your questions to him at RossenResponds@hearst.com. Want bonus content and exclusive deals? Make sure to sign up for our free newsletter at RossenReports.com.
Need to ship gifts for the holidays?
Rossen Reports shipped three identical gifts through each of the major U.S. mail carriers – the United States Postal Service, UPS and FedEx, to see which one delivered fastest and for what price.
Watch the full report in the video player above.
2024 Holiday shipping deadlines
Make sure your gifts get wherever they need to go for the holidays with these important deadlines.
USPS
Recommended send-by dates for expected delivery before Dec. 25:
- USPS Ground Advantage Service: Dec. 18
- First-Class Mail Service: Dec. 18
- Priority Mail Service: Dec. 19
- Priority Mail Express Service: Dec. 21
Click here for more information.
FedEx
Recommended last days to ship to arrive by Dec. 24:
- FedEx Ground: Dec. 17
- FedEx Express Saver: Dec. 19
- FedEx 2Day & FedEx 2Day AM: Dec. 20
- FedEx First Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight, FedEx Standard Overnight, Extra Hours: Dec. 23
- FedEx SameDay: Dec. 24
Click here for more information.
UPS
Recommended last days to ship to arrive by Dec. 24:
- UPS Ground: Check UPS time and cost calculator here
- UPS 3 Day Select: Dec. 19
- UPS 2nd Day Air: Dec. 20
- UPS Next Day Air Dec. 23
Click here for more information.
Have a question for Jeff Rossen? He’s answering your consumer questions every Friday in the new segment "Rossen Responds." Email your questions to him at RossenResponds@hearst.com.
Want bonus content and exclusive deals? Make sure to sign up for our free newsletter at RossenReports.com.