What Is UPS Ground Saver (Formerly SurePost)?

UPS Ground Saver, formerly UPS SurePost, is UPS's lower-cost shipping option for less urgent deliveries. UPS's own FAQ answers yes when asked whether Ground Saver and SurePost are the same service. UPS moves the package through its ground network, and final delivery is handled by UPS or USPS, depending on the destination.

Who delivers a Ground Saver package

Because the final carrier depends on the address, two orders shipped on the same day can be delivered by different carriers. Your customer gets one UPS tracking number for the whole trip, and UPS says visibility "may continue" once USPS takes over, so the USPS stretch can show fewer updates. If tracking shows the package was passed to the Postal Service, here is what "tendered to service provider" means.

Delivery photo confirmation is only available when UPS makes the delivery. UPS also lets your customers upgrade to a faster service through UPS My Choice if they want the package sooner.

How long Ground Saver takes

UPS puts Ground Saver delivery times at about UPS Ground plus one to two days, with deliveries generally Monday through Saturday. UPS Ground itself takes one to five business days, so Ground Saver is the slower of the two. Treat the Ground Saver window as an estimate: the Ground Saver terms say delivery dates are not guaranteed and the UPS Service Guarantee does not apply.

For a closer look at the faster option, see what UPS Ground is and when to use it.

Where it delivers

UPS says Ground Saver can deliver to U.S. PO boxes and to APO, FPO and DPO military addresses, because eligible packages may be handed to USPS for final delivery. If you ship to military addresses often, read our guide to shipping military mail before you pick a service. Ground Saver is not available for international packages. For Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories, check UPS's current Ground Saver terms before you count on it, since UPS notes that eligible origins and destinations can change.

The fine print that affects small brands

UPS sells Ground Saver only on a contract basis, so you won't buy it at a UPS counter. Before you switch orders to it, know these terms:

• Coverage: UPS's liability is capped at $50 per package, and UPS is not liable for loss or damage while the package is with USPS.
• Delivery: UPS makes one delivery attempt, and the package can be left at the address without a signature.
• Contents: no lithium batteries, hazardous materials or other dangerous goods, including Limited Quantity (ORM-D) shipments.
• Packaging: you can't use UPS- or USPS-supplied boxes or packaging.
• Size and weight: packages must be at least 4 inches high and 6 inches long and can weigh up to 70 lb, and anything under 1 lb must be smaller than 864 cubic inches.

When to use it, and when to skip it

Ground Saver fits light, low-value orders where the customer isn't counting days.

Skip it for orders worth more than the $50 coverage cap, orders where you've promised a delivery date, anything with a lithium battery, and orders that need a signature. For light parcels on the Postal Service side, compare USPS Ground Advantage and Priority Mail.

If you'd rather not manage carrier contracts yourself, Simpl ships with UPS, USPS and FedEx, and carrier selection is included in the flat per-order rate, starting at $7 per order. There's a $750 monthly minimum. That's about 100 shipments a month at the lightest weight (0.5 lb or under); heavier shipments cost more each, so fewer of them reach $750. If a month comes in under the minimum, you pay only the difference. See Simpl's pricing.