How long does it take for a letter to travel cross country (home, live)

[pw72]

I think this thread is a good explanation of why so much commerce is being done over the internet these days. The "time" involved on the web is usually spelled out explicitly. I know, some don't trust the new technology, but for the most part it is safe, and cheaper than a postage stamp. The USPS answer is to keep raising rates. If they operated like a real business they would be REDUCING their cost to the consumer, not increasing it. But that is how we roll in this country these days. However, internet fees probably will be increasing in coming years for ALL services. Bear down.

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

I have wondered about this also. I know last month I mailed my Insurance payment to State Farm's Insurance Center in Dallas. I live in Portland, Oregon, I mailed it on a Tuesday at 7pm and the State Farm office cashed the check the next day. I have no idea how that check got from Portland at 7pm, travel all the way to Texas and be processed and clear the bank in basically less than 24 hours. Thankfully I wasn't mailing a bill before I had the money in the bank. I have sent mail to Florida and it doesnt show up there for a week. I guess we never really know how long mail takes from point to point.

wow! is all I cam say

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by pw72

I think this thread is a good explanation of why so much commerce is being done over the internet these days. The "time" involved on the web is usually spelled out explicitly. I know, some don't trust the new technology, but for the most part it is safe, and cheaper than a postage stamp. The USPS answer is to keep raising rates. If they operated like a real business they would be REDUCING their cost to the consumer, not increasing it. But that is how we roll in this country these days. However, internet fees probably will be increasing in coming years for ALL services. Bear down.

In my case now, my family member mailing birthday money for our son he old school way. Normally i do all my regular banking on line. but my parents that live in Sweden wire transfer money from their account in Sweden to my account here in the States. They do this from any of their computers at the house. No bank visits. I haven't been inside a bank in years.

[glass_of_merlot]

We are at 7 business days now. If I don't see anything today I will have to call my father in law and tell him to remail the check.

[skinem]

Originally Posted by glass_of_merlot

My family mailed us a letter from Spokane, WA to Memphis TN
How long does it take to get here. It has been 6 days now?

I'm from Spokane and now live in middle Tennessee...been mailing stuff back and forth for 30 years.

Don't have him re-mail the check yet!

Quickest I've seen mail run is 3 days. Longest has been 3 weeks.
Usually 5-6 business days, but if you're on day 7, it wouldn't worry me--yet!

[jtur88]

This fact is not lost on the credit card companies. Most have several mailing addresses for their users. Each account is provided a mailing address at the other end of the country, to mail the check to. The longer it takes your check to get there, the better the chances it will arrive late and you will be charged a $35 late fee. Between Canada and USA is really amazing. About two weeks, Detroit to Toronto.

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by jtur88

This fact is not lost on the credit card companies. Most have several mailing addresses for their users. Each account is provided a mailing address at the other end of the country, to mail the check to. The longer it takes your check to get there, the better the chances it will arrive late and you will be charged a $35 late fee. Between Canada and USA is really amazing. About two weeks, Detroit to Toronto.

Late fee? It is birthday money for my son. Maybe he will charge grandpa a late fee..

[skinem]

Well, glass_of_merlot, did it ever show up or did it have to get resent?
Gotta get that boy his birthday money!

[jtur88]

In the 1950's, the cost of a stamp to mail a letter was 4c. The letter got there when the train got there, usually 5 or 6 days for across the country. But, you could pay 6c, and put an airmail stamp on it, and the letter would get there in a couple of days.

Now, you put on 44c, and it supposedly goes on a plane, but takes the same week that it used to take on the train. And there is no higher priced option that gets there faster. Well, there is, but it's $4.00

By the way, when was the last time you received an envelope in the mail with a legible postal cancellation date? It is now impossible to tell how long it took an envelope to get to you, except in rare instances. I got one yesterday, metered on 5/19 in Michigan, delivered 5/22 in Texas. Actually, pretty darned good, but there was no weekend in there, when things grind to a halt. Things mailed Monday and maybe Tuesday have a fighting chance for same week delivery.

The post office has overcomplicated things. Here's a case in point., When I worked in Hiawatha, Kansas, we received the newspaper from Falls City Nebraska by mail. That was less than 20 miles away. When the paper was mailed in Falls City, it went 100 miles to Lincoln NE to be resorted. Then on another truck to Topeka KS, (passing through both Falls City and Hiawatha on the way), 200 miles, and sorted again. Then on another truck to Hiawatha KS, another 100 miles. So the article went 400 miles and was handled and resorted three times, to arrive 20 miles from where it started, passing through both cities twice..

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by skinem

Well, glass_of_merlot, did it ever show up or did it have to get resent?
Gotta get that boy his birthday money!

No it never came...