What is the Difference Between Standard and Expedited Shipping?

What’s more, the marketplaces tend to have different ways of classifying their shipping options — meaning what’s called expedited at Amazon may not be exactly what eBay considers expedited. Some marketplaces, like Amazon, specify a delivery time, not service, so if you’ve promised 2‑day shipping, its up to you to choose the shipping service to make it happen. To further muddy the waters, “expedited” may not even refer to a marketplace’s fastest shipping service. With next‑morning and same‑day shipping available, that “expedited” option could in fact take longer and cost you extra days — and possibly customers.

Here’s what you need to know about the differences in these levels of service, and how you can best communicate shipping expectations to customers.

How USPS Defines the Options

The following table provides a quick look at the offerings of USPS, FedEx and UPS; always check directly with the shipper for any changes in services, names or costs.

Tips for Sellers

• Provide options.
  Offering expedited shipping, either as your preferred/regular method or as an option, can make products more attractive to buyers, since they can have a choice of shipping as well as more control over their buying patterns.
• Understand the terms.
  Regardless of the shipper(s) you use, never assume that “expedited” is the fastest under their definition or terms of service, since in many cases it is just a level up from the standard or economy options, especially if same‑day or overnight shipping is offered. Similarly, if a buyer convos you about “expedited” shipping, be sure to ask about the requested time frame and explain the levels, and costs, of the shipper you use.
• Clearly communicate.
  Be precise in your communications with customers about which shipping carrier you choose, when you’ll ship, the service you use, and the expected delivery time frame. For example, state if you ship every day, only on weekdays, or on certain days of the week. When you outline the benefits of expedited shipping, provide specific information about how it differs from standard shipping.
• Be mindful of marketplace messages.
  If you sell via a marketplace like Amazon or eBay, buyers often use the term “overnight’ when requesting expedited shipping. As a seller, make sure that when a customer wants “overnight’ shipping that you arrange to use a one‑day service, not just “expedited.”