Express mail
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In most postal systems express mail refers to an accelerated delivery service for which the customer pays a surcharge and receives faster delivery. Express mail is a service for domestic mail and is governed by a country's own postal administration. Since 1998 the international accelerated delivery services are governed by the EMS Cooperative.
Express Mail Service and the EMS Cooperative
Express Mail Service (EMS) is an international express postal service offered by postal-administration members of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) which created the EMS Cooperative in 1998 within the framework of the UPU, a specialized agency of the United Nations, to promote the harmonization and development of postal services worldwide. Currently EMS is offered by 154 of the 191 UPU member countries' postal authorities[1] as an integral part of their normal postal services. Seven additional countries have arrangements to deliver EMS items.
An independent auditor measures the express delivery performance of all international EMS operators. EMS Performance Awards are based on postal operator's performance, including service performance and tracking. Gold, Silver, or Bronze certificate are awarded to EMS Cooperative members depending on their yearly performance. These EMS award winners are recorded in the EMS Cooperative's Hall of Fame.[2]
EMS Cooperative members
Since its creation, 154 postal administrations have joined the EMS Cooperative, representing over 74% of EMS operators worldwide. In addition, the EMS Cooperative has negotiated EMS delivery contracts on behalf of seven countries: EMS delivery agents.
* Provisional member
EMS delivery agents
EMS delivery agent | Operator name |
---|---|
Austria | Österreichische Post AG |
Denmark | Post Danmark A/S |
France | Chronopost |
Germany | Deutsche Post AG |
Netherlands | TNT Post |
Norway | Posten Norge AS |
Slovenia | Pošta Slovenije d.o.o. |
Switzerland | Swiss Post International |
Express Mail in the United States and Express Mail International
The United States Postal Service (USPS) provides Express Mail for domestic U.S. delivery, and offers two EMS categories of services for Express Mail International. One is simply called Express Mail International[3] and the other service is called Global Express Guaranteed(GXG).[4] These two USPS International Mail terms are often confused with their service called Express Mail, which is a specific classification of mail for domestic accelerated postal delivery within the U.S.
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Stamp_US_1944_13c_special_delivery.jpg/175px-Stamp_US_1944_13c_special_delivery.jpg)
Special Delivery, a domestic accelerated delivery service, was introduced on 3 March 1885 initially with a fee of 10¢ paid by a Special Delivery stamp. It has been transformed into Express Mail, which was introduced in 1977 after an experimental period that started in 1970,[5] though Special Delivery was not terminated until June 8, 1997.[6]
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Modern USPS Domestic Delivery Express Mail And International Express Mail Delivery
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Express Mail is a money-back guaranteed overnight to 2-day service offering tracking, proof of delivery, and insurance up to $100. Items shipped using this service can be delivered within the 48 contiguous United States and the Washington, D.C. within 1 to 2 business days. Packages sent to Canada, Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii frequently require up to 2 additional business days.
One advantage of Express Mail is that USPS will deliver 365 days a year, including Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays at no additional charge to some locations. USPS competitors often charge for delivering on anything other than a business day. Unlike Priority Mail and First Class Mail, USPS provides real-time tracking information online and by phone for Express Mail shipments.
Global Express Guaranteed(GXG) service is an international expedited delivery service provided through an alliance with FedEx Corporation. It provides reliable, high–speed, guaranteed, and time–definite service from selected Post Office facilities in the United States to a large number of international destinations. (See Countries and Cities Served Section of Publication 141, Global Express Guaranteed Service Guide, for destination service commitments.) Global Express Guaranteed delivery service is guaranteed to meet the specified service standards or the postage paid may be refunded. For almost all network destinations, liability insurance is provided for lost or damaged shipments.
Other private express carriers guarantee overnight or 2-day delivery by as early as 8:30 or 10:30 AM. Express Mail also conveys other benefits under specific circumstances; U.S. patent applications and related documents transmitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office via USPS Express Mail carry the postmark date as the date of patent priority, so long as each document is mailed along with a signed certificate of mailing bearing the Express Mail tracking number of the mailing label.
Other express mail providers
Many transportation logistics firms offer similar accelerated services. UPS, DHL and FedEx are the most popular alternatives. Those carriers offer even faster delivery with their early morning delivery services.
See also
References
- ^ [1] (retrieved March 1, 2010)
- ^ EMS Hall of Fame (retrieved March 1, 2010)
- ^ Express Mail International International Mail Manual - Issue 35 (retrieved April 10, 2008)
- ^ USPS Global Express Guaranteed International Mail Manual - Issue 35 (retrieved April 10, 2008)
- ^ "Significant Dates in Postal History". Postal History. USPS. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ^ "U.S. Postal Service--Summary statistics - USA Census numbers". allcountries.org. Retrieved 2010-10-01.