The 2 majors among shipping carriers are FedEx and UPS, undoubtedly. It is almost an oligopoly on top with these two. They have to their credit, several high profile clients to sear by them, through thick and thin. Apple is pro FedEx and Amazon is pro UPS.
Customer Loyalty:
UPS has more repeat customers than does FedEx. UPS, the one founded earlier, has advantageous service locations. It was found 64 years earlier than FedEx. That does count. It appeals to a multigenerational audience. UPS has more office locations which makes it more convenient for customers. The probability of having UPS in your neighborhood is higher. That explains the customer loyalty that UPS enjoys. But FedEx offers some free pick-ups and they also have drop boxes.
Size matters:
UPS handles more than double the number of packages per day than FedEx. But FedEx’s fleet of jets handily surpasses that of UPS. UPS is the undisputed king of ground delivery and FedEx has a superior air fleet. Because of this, UPS gets packages to their destination on time better than FedEx.
The bouquet:
FedEx has these shipping options: FedEx Express is the overnight courier service. The shipment is delivered the next day within the US and time-guaranteed international service. FedEx Ground guarantees day-definite delivery within the US and Canada at a cheaper price. It uses trucks. FedEx SameDay is for domestic deliveries and FedEx International Next Flight for international deliveries. It also offers freight services.
UPS has these options: The US Domestic Package service deals with time-definite delivery of letters, documents and packages in the US. The International Package delivers to over 220 countries. UPS Express Critical delivers within the same day. The UPS Next Day Air delivers the next day. These two services are, obviously within USA. UPS offers Supply Chain & Freight services. This service includes supply chain design, execution and management, customs brokerage and freight distribution.
FedEx Office involves itself with other business services to customers. It includes copying, digital printing, Internet access, computer rentals, and signs and graphics. The UPS counterpart here offers similar business services and shipping materials. After acquiring Kinko’s, FedEx has an edge with printing services.
Price Points:
Statistics clearly show that FedEx services are generally cheaper than UPS services. However, this cannot be compared on absolute terms.
When to choose what?
Choose FedEx for urgent delivery. Their air fleet explains why you should choose them for urgent deliveries. FedEx is slightly cheaper than UPS but it is not cheap on absolute terms. Needless to say, you need to pay more as your level of urgency in delivering the shipment rises. FedEx gives you the advantage of free packaging, insurance and pick-ups.
Tracking and Insurance:
UPS offers detailed tracking for up to 25 packages. You can follow the shipment through email. If you ship in bulk, you can check on 70 of your most recent shipments. You can also store up to 50 tracking numbers in your tracking history. FedEx provides detailed tracking for up to 30 packages.