I pulled up 6 months of shipping receipts. The results made me angry.
The Numbers
For an 8 lb package, Florida to San Juan:
| Carrier | Base | Surcharges | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Priority | $12.80 | $0 | $12.80 |
| UPS Ground | $18.50 | +$6.50 Extended Area + $2.40 fuel | $27.40 |
| FedEx Ground | $20.10 | +$7.80 + $3.00 fuel | $30.90 |
UPS costs 114% more. FedEx costs 141% more. Same route. Same zip code.
Why?
UPS and FedEx classify Puerto Rico as an 'Extended Delivery Area' — same category as rural Montana. Except PR has 3.2 million people and more population density than 40 US states.
USPS? Treats PR as fully domestic. No surcharges. No games.
The Flat Rate Hack
USPS Large Flat Rate Box: 70 pounds for $22.45. Same weight via UPS: $80+.
Annual Savings (5 packages/month)
| UPS | USPS | Savings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $137 | $64 | $73 |
| Annual | $1,644 | $768 | $876 |
Add consolidation through PackagePR and it drops further to ~$5-10/package.
What to Do
- Always choose USPS for PR packages
- Use Flat Rate boxes for heavy items
- Ask retailers to ship USPS
- Use PackagePR for consolidation
The Jones Act makes ocean freight expensive. Don't make it worse by choosing the wrong carrier.
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