What Is UPS Red Shipping?
UPS Red is another way to say UPS Next Day Air. UPS does not use color codes for its shipping options, but Next Day Air is tough to miss with the bright red color found on the envelope or package. UPS does offer many options when it comes to overnight delivery and can even deliver overnight on a Saturday. Read on to learn more about UPS Next Day Air (UPS Red) and its different options.
What Is Next Day Air?
With Next Day Air regular, UPS promises that you can send out a package the day prior (with time cutoffs) in order to have it arrive anywhere within the contiguous U.S. states between 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. the next day. In some cases, packages may even be delivered earlier than 10 a.m., but the promise states that packages should not arrive later than noon. UPS includes the packaging for Next Day Air packages (with the recognizable red label) and guarantees your money back if it’s not delivered within the time frame.
What Is Next Day Air Early?
In some cases, you may need to get a package to someone for the start of the business day, but perhaps they’re halfway across the country. In this case, you would want to use Next Day Air Early. Instead of guaranteeing the package arrives between 10:30 a.m. and noon, this service ensures your package will arrive between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Like regular Next Day Air, UPS provides the packaging for this service and will refund your money if the package does not arrive on time.
What Is Next Day Air Saver?
If you need to get a package to someone the next day, but time of day isn’t much of a factor, you would choose Next Day Air Saver. This service ensures your package will arrive the next day, but the time limits aren’t as strict. This service doesn’t promise an exact time frame. It advertises Next Day Air Saver will arrive to commercial addresses by the end of the business day (4:30 p.m.) and that residential addresses will receive their package by the end of the day. Like other UPS Red options, this service includes free UPS packaging and your money is refunded if the package isn’t delivered by the end of the day.
What Is Next Day Air Saturday Delivery?
If you have a package that needs to arrive the next day, but the next day is Saturday, you’re in luck. UPS does offer Next Day Air – Saturday delivery in many areas, though not in all areas of the United States. For Saturday delivery, you can choose Next Day Air Early, Next Day Air, or 2nd Day Air. Next Day Air Early on Saturdays can deliver as early as 9 a.m., while regular Next Day Air Saturday is often delivered between 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. You would choose UPS 2nd Day Air for Saturday delivery if you were mailing the item out on a Thursday.
What Are the Shipping Rates?
Shipping rates can change yearly with cost of living and inflation, but the most expensive service UPS offers is Saturday delivery, with UPS Next Day Air Early – Saturday being the most expensive. Beyond that, UPS Next Day Air Early has the largest price tag, followed by UPS Next Day Air and UPS Next Day Air Saver. Essentially, you pay more in shipping for the guarantee of overnight delivery, but your money is refunded if the time frame is unmet.
What Other Shipping Services Does UPS Offer?
UPS offers many options when it comes to shipping, particularly if you’re a business customer or if you’re shipping internationally. The most common type of UPS shipping is UPS Ground. Very often, if the receiving location is close by, the package may be delivered by end of day the next day. If you’re shipping to a location that’s just several states away, UPS says the package may arrive within two days. If you are shipping beyond nearby states, UPS Ground takes three days or more. It’s the most economical option for non-business customers who don’t have a time-sensitive package.
Beyond UPS Next Day Air, other domestic options include UPS 3-Day Select, which promises your package will be delivered within a three-day window in the contiguous U.S. While many UPS Ground packages arrive in three days or less, some can take up to a week for delivery if the destination is far away. UPS 3-Day Select guarantees the three-day window and offers the time-sensitive money-back guarantee if the package fails to arrive in time.
