USPS: features of the American delivery service
United States Postal Service (USPS) is the postal service of the USA. Its employees are easy to spot on the streets by the funny look of their trucks :) By law, this company is required to serve all Americans, regardless of where they live in the country, at the same rates and with the same quality of service. Since 1810, USPS parcels were delivered across the States 7 days a week. Now — 6 days (except Sunday). Thanks to this, online stores really love this postal service. Almost all major retailers in the USA use it for shipping. Including — outside the country as well.
When shipping a parcel from America, USPS is one of the most popular options. You can find it at Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and other stores if you choose direct shipping. They all use the company's standard terms, so both the cost and the size limits are about the same everywhere. You can get the same terms yourself if you order parcel shipping on the USPS website.
16.05.2025
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USPS shipping from the USA to Russia and CIS countries
The company ships to 170 countries around the world, including Russia. This is a reliable shipping method for packages worth up to $5000. But the speed is low, and the prices cannot be called low. For a private package to Russia, they usually start at $67.80. For comparison, Pochtoy.com delivers from America for $12-$15.
You can calculate the exact shipping cost with USPS to Russia here.
The company offers three international shipping options:
Priority Express – for packages with a maximum length of up to 152 cm, and a maximum length+width of up to 274 cm;
Priority International – maximum length 106 cm, length+width no more than 200 cm;
Global Express Guaranteed – packages with max. length 116, height 116, width 89 cm, maximum length+width – up to 274 cm.
Packages are automatically insured for up to $100. You need to pay extra for insurance above this amount. Delivery times are at least 10-15 days (the fastest method is GEG, the slowest is PMI).
With USPS, fairly large boxes can be shipped from the USA to Russia, and this is the service’s main advantage. But if you order goods often, the high cost of packages will quickly become noticeable, and overall will make shopping in America much less profitable. USPS is better to choose when the store offers no other options, or when this is a one-time case for a large amount, and the extra security of a government service is important to you.
How to read a USPS tracking number
There is only one element that lets you understand where your package is right now. It is the postal identifier (or tracking number). It is always nicer and more reassuring to know what is currently happening with your precious shipment and how it is being sent. From the tracking number alone (for example, the one issued by an online store), you can already assess a lot.
First of all, pay attention to the first two and the last two letters:
EA/EZ 000 000 000 US – the package is shipped via USPS Priority Express;
CA/CZ 000 000 000 US – the package is sent via USPS Priority International;
LA/LZ 000 000 000 US – a small packet or letter sent with USPS First Class, there is no tracking;
82 000 000 00 – Global Express Guaranteed.
As we can see, the first two letters of the tracking number indicate the type of shipment. Express (EMS) packages are marked with a value from EA to EZ, Priority International — from CA to CZ. The tracking digits in the middle are your unique number that identifies your specific package. The last two letters of the tracking number are the sender country code. If USPS delivers a package from the USA, the code will be US, from Canada — CA, and so on.
To see what is currently happening with your package, you can enter the tracking number, including directly on the USPS website. It is also convenient to use the TrackChecker program for Windows and Android. It has many additional features, and you can track several shipments from any postal services at the same time.
The package data and the route it will follow are instantly sent to the recipient's e-mail as soon as the tracking number is created. Issuing an incorrect number is impossible in principle: it is assigned automatically and immediately provided to customers in the notification.
By the way, even if it seems to you that something is wrong with your tracking and, say, it has stopped updating, do not worry. Packages from the USA are lost very, very rarely (essentially — never). Much more often, there are delays in tracking updates or temporary outages of tracking services. Even if USPS missed its delivery deadlines to Russia, this is still not a reason to panic.
And what about us?
- We deliver packages from US stores to Russia cheaper than USPS.
Advantages of Pochtoy.com over USPS:
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Price. For any package weight, shipping with Pochtoy.com will cost less. USPS shipping costs are several times higher.
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Speed. We can deliver from the USA in 4-8 days if you enter the package details on our website in advance (the SuperFast service).
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The option of temporary package storage in the USA. Up to 70 days – free.
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Additional services (item inspection, photos, extra protective packaging, and more).
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Convenient shipping cost calculation. Just go to our website, enter the package weight and the method you need.
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Many package delivery options (mail, pickup point, home courier delivery).
Shopping in stores with the help of Full assistance with purchases in USA stores. Just provide a link to the item in your personal account (the «Orders» → «Purchase through operators» section), and our staff will place and buy it for you.
