Express mail 1998891 224341248 2008-07-08T12:40:26Z Cheungpat 155181 /* EMS Cooperative members */ Changed “Speedpost - Hongkong” > “Speedpost - Hongkong Post”. {{globalize}} [[Image:Emslogo.png|right|'''Express Mail Service (EMS)''' logo]] [[Image:Cover Austria 1938-650px.jpg|right|175px|thumb|Express mail used after the [[Anschluss]] in [[1938]]; letters from [[Austria]] to [[Germany]] required German stamps to be added, resulting in a [[mixed franking]].]] In most [[Mail|postal systems]] '''express mail''' refers to an accelerated delivery service for which the customer pays a [[surcharge]] and receives faster delivery. Express mail is a service for domestic mail and is governed by a country's own [[postal authority]]. Since 1998 the international accelerated delivery services are governed by the EMS Cooperative. ==Express Mail Service== Express Mail Service (EMS) is an international express postal service offered by postal-administration members of the [[Universal Postal Union]] (UPU) which created the EMS Cooperative in 1998 within the framework of the UPU, a specialized agency of the [[United Nations]], to promote the harmonization and development of postal services worldwide. [[2006#July|Currently]] EMS is offered by 146 of the 191 UPU member countries' postal authorities<ref>[http://www.ems.coop/site/Main.php?Oid=273&Lid=1 EMS membership] (retrieved April 16, 2008)</ref> and an integral part of their normal postal services. Seven additional countries have arrangements to deliver EMS items. An independent [[auditor]] measures the express delivery performance of all international EMS operators and each member is awarded a Gold, Silver, or Bronze certificate depending on their yearly performance. These countries are recorded in the EMS Cooperative's Hall of Fame.<ref>[http://www.ems.coop/site/Main.php?Oid=299&PHPSESSID=a79f97f4b677b541f4f565311ce5e24a EMS Hall of Fame] (retrieved July 1, 2006)</ref> ==Express mail in the United States== The [[United States Postal Service]] (USPS) offers EMS but calls this service Express Mail International,<ref>[http://pe.usps.gov/text/Imm/immc2.5.8.htm Express Mail International] International Mail Manual - Issue 34 (retrieved May 15, 2007)</ref> previously called Global Express Mail.<ref>[http://pe.usps.gov/text/Imm/immc2_015.html#vnameref_1 USPS Global Express Mail] International Mail Manual - Issue 33 (retrieved July 1, 2006)</ref> This is often confused with their service called '''Express Mail''', which is a specific classification of mail for domestic accelerated postal delivery within the U.S. ===History=== [[Image:Stamp US 1944 13c special delivery.jpg|thumb|right|175px|1944 13¢ Special Delivery stamp]] '''[[Special delivery (postal service)|Special Delivery]]''', a domestic accelerated delivery service, was introduced on [[3 March]] [[1885]] initially with a fee of 10¢ paid by a ''Special Delivery'' stamp. It has been transformed into Express Mail that was introduced in [[1977]] after an experimental period that started in [[1971]],<ref>[http://www.usps.com/history/history/his1.htm History of the US Postal Service 1775-1993]</ref> though Special Delivery was not terminated until [[June 8]], [[1997]].<ref>[http://www.allcountries.org/uscensus/936_u_s_postal_service_summary.html 936. U.S. Postal Service--Summary]</ref> {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} ===Modern USPS Express Mail=== Express Mail is a money-back guaranteed overnight to 2-day service offering, tracking, proof of delivery, and insurance up to $100. Items shipped using this service can be delivered within the 48 contiguous [[United States]] and the [[Washington, D.C.]] within 1 to 2 business days. One advantage of Express Mail is that USPS will deliver 365 days a year, including Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays at no additional charge to some locations. USPS competitors often charge for delivering on anything other than a business day. Unlike Priority Mail and First Class Mail, USPS provides real-time tracking information online and by phone for Express Mail shipments. The USPS's Express Mail service has been criticized for late delivery.<ref>[http://www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/PR02080.pf.html Senator Schumer: Express Mail is a great deal especially for small businesses – but the Postal Service has to give us the manpower we need to get it delivered on time]</ref> Private express carriers guarantee overnight or 2-day delivery by as early as 8:30 or 10:30 AM. Many users have found that Express Mail is more reliable and less expensive than the private carriers's services. Many eBay sellers, for example, use Express Mail because the service can be more convenient and cheaper than private carriers. Express Mail also conveys other benefits under specific circumstances; [[United States patent law|U.S. patent]] applications and related documents transmitted to the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]] via USPS Express Mail carry the postmark date as the date of patent priority, so long as each document is mailed along with a signed certificate of mailing bearing the Express Mail tracking number of the mailing label. ==EMS Cooperative members== Since its creation, 146 postal administrations have joined the EMS Cooperative, representing over 65% of EMS operators worldwide. In addition, the EMS Cooperative has negotiated EMS delivery contracts on behalf of seven countries: EMS delivery agents. {| class="wikitable" |- !EMS member !Operator name |- |[[Afghanistan]] |Afghan Post |- |[[Albania]] |Albania Post - EMS |- |[[Algeria]] |Algérie Post |- |[[Angola]] |EMS Angola |- |[[Anguilla]] |Anguilla Postal Service |- |[[Antigua and Barbuda]] |Antigua and Barbuda Post |- |[[Argentina]] |Correo Argentino |- |[[Armenia]] |Haypost - EMS Armenia |- |[[Aruba]] |EMS Aruba |- |[[Australia]] |[[Australia Post|Australia Post - Express Courier International]] |- |[[Azerbaijan]] |EMS Azerexpresspost |- |[[Bahamas]] |Bahamas Post Office |- |[[Barbados]] |Barbados Post - EMS |- |[[Belarus]] |EMS Belarus |- |[[Belgium]] |Taxipost s.a. |- |[[Belize]] |Belize Postal Service |- |[[Benin]] |Benin Post |- |[[Bermuda]] |International Data Express - Bermuda |- |[[Bhutan]] |Bhutan Post Express Mail Service |- |[[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] |Public Enterprise BH Post |- |[[Botswana]] |Botswana Post - EMS |- |[[Brazil]] |[[Correios|Brazil Post]] |- |[[Bulgaria]] |[[Bulgarian Posts|EMS Bulpost]] |- |[[Burkina Faso]] |Sonapost - Burkina Faso |- |[[Burundi]] |EMS Burundi |- |[[Cameroon]] |Cameroon Post |- |[[Canada]] |[[Canada Post|Xpresspost - Canada Post]] |- |[[Cape Verde]] |Correios de Cabo Verde |- |[[Cayman Islands]] |Cayman Islands EMS |- |[[Central African Republic]] |Central African EMS |- |[[Chad]] |Chad Postal Administration |- |[[Chile]] |Correos de Chile |- |[[People's Republic of China|China, People's Republic]] |[[China Post|China Post EMS]] |- |[[Colombia]] |EMS Internacional |- |[[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo, Democratic Republic]] |EMS Congo/CD |- |[[Republic of the Congo|Congo, Republic]] |Congo EMS |- |[[Costa Rica]] |EMS Costa Rica |- |[[Croatia]] |[[Hrvatska pošta|Croatian Post - EMS]] |- |[[Cuba]]* |Correos de Cuba |- |[[Cyprus]] |Cyprus Post/Datapost Service |- |[[Czech Rep.]] |[[Česká pošta|Czech Post - EMS International]] |- |[[Djibouti]] |La Poste de Djibouti |- |[[Dominica]] |Dominica Post |- |[[Ecuador]] |Ecuador EMS |- |[[El Salvador]] |EMS El Salvador Post |- |[[Eritrea]] |EMS - Eritrean Postal Service |- |[[Estonia]] |EMS Estonia |- |[[Ethiopia]] |EMS - Ethiopian Postal Service |- |[[Fiji]] |Post Fiji |- |[[Finland]] |[[Posti|Finland Post - EMS]] |- |[[France]] |Chronopost |- |[[Gabon]] |EMS Delta+ |- |[[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] |Georgian International EMS |- |[[Ghana]] |Ghana EMS |- |[[Gibraltar]] . |EMS Datapost Gibraltar |- |[[Greece]] |Tachimetafores ELTA |- |[[Grenada]] |Grenada Postal Corporation |- |[[Guinea]] |Guinea Post |- |[[Guyana]] |Guyana Postal Corporation |- |[[Hong Kong]] |[[Hongkong Post|Speedpost - Hongkong Post]] |- |[[Hungary]] |[[Magyar Posta]] |- |[[India]] |[[India Post|India Post - EMS Speed Post]] |- |[[Indonesia]] |EMS - Indonesia Post |- |[[Iran]] |Pishtaz Post |- |[[Iraq]] |Iraq Post |- |[[Ireland]] |[[An Post]] |- |[[Israel]] |EMS Israel |- |[[Italy]] |[[Poste italiane]] |- |[[Jamaica]] |Jamaica Post |- |[[Japan]] |[[Japan Post Service|Japan Post EMS]] |- |[[Jordan]] |Jordan Post |- |[[Kazakhstan]] |[[Kazpost]] |- |[[Kenya]] |EMS Kenya |- |[[Kiribati]] |Kiribati Post |- |[[South Korea|Korea, South]] |[[Korea Post]] |- |[[Kosovo]]* |Post of Kosova |- |[[Kyrgyzstan]] |Kyrgyzstan Post |- |[[Laos]] |Lao Express |- |[[Latvia]] |Latvia Post EMS |- |[[Lesotho]] |Lesotho Post |- |[[Lithuania]] |Lithuania Post |- |[[Macao]] |[[CTT-Macau Post|EMS Macau]] |- |[[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]] |Express Mail Service - Macedonia Post |- |[[Madagascar]] |EMS Mailaka |- |[[Malawi]] |EMS Malawi |- |[[Malaysia]] |[[Pos Malaysia|EMS - Poslaju Malaysia]] |- |[[Maldives]] |Maldives Post |- |[[Malta]] |Malta Post Express International |- |[[Mauritania]] |Mauripost |- |[[Mauritius]] |EMS Speedpost Mauritius |- |[[Mexico]] |[[Servicio Postal Mexicano|Mexico EMS]] |- |[[Moldova]] |EMS Moldova |- |[[Mongolia]] |Mongol Post |- |[[Morocco]] |EMS Chronopost International Maroc |- |[[Mozambique]] |EMS Mozambique |- |[[Myanmar]] |Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications |- |[[Namibia]] |Namibia Post Limited |- |[[Netherlands]]* |TNT Post |- |[[Netherlands Antilles]] |Post Netherlands Antilles |- |[[New Zealand]] |[[New Zealand Post|New Zealand Post Limited]] |- |[[Niger]] |EMS Niger |- |[[Nigeria]] |[[Nigerian Postal Service]] |- |[[Pakistan]] |[[Pakistan Post|Pakistan Express Post]] |- |[[Panama]] |Panama Post |- |[[Papua New Guinea]] |Post PNG |- |[[Paraguay]] |EMS Internacional |- |[[Peru]] |Serpost - Express Mail Service |- |[[Philippines]] |[[Philippine Postal Corporation|Phil Post - International Express Mail Service]] |- |[[Poland]] |[[Poczta Polska]] |- |[[Portugal]] |[[CTT|CTT Expresso]] |- |[[Qatar]] |EMS - Mumtaz Post |- |[[Romania]] |[[Poşta Română|Romanian Post EMS]] |- |[[Russian Federation]] |[[Russian Post|Russian Post - EMS]] |- |[[Rwanda]] |EMS Rwanda |- |[[Saint Christopher and Nevis]] |EMS Service |- |[[Saint Lucia]] |Saint Lucia Post |- |[[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]* |Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |- |[[Saudi Arabia]] |Saudi Post |- |[[Senegal]] |EMS Senegal |- |[[Singapore]] |[[Singapore Post|Singapore Post Limited - Speedpost]] |- |[[Slovakia]] |Slovenská pošta a.s. |- |[[Slovenia]] |Pošta Slovenije d.o.o. |- |[[South Africa]] |South Africa EMS |- |[[Spain]] |[[Correos|Postal Exprés internacional (EMS)]] |- |[[Sri Lanka]] |[[Sri Lanka Post|EMS Speed Post - Sri Lanka]] |- |[[Sudan]] |Poste Rapide EMS |- |[[Sweden]] |[[Posten (Sweden)|Posten AB]] |- |[[Syria]] |Syrian Post |- |[[Taiwan]] |Express Mail Service |- |- |[[Tanzania]] |E.M.S. Tanzania |- |[[Thailand]] |Thailand Post EMS |- |[[Togo]] |EMS Togo |- |[[Trinidad and Tobago]] |TT Post |- |[[Tunisia]] |Rapid-Poste Tunisia |- |[[Turks and Caicos Islands]] |Turks and Caicos Post |- |[[Uganda]] |EMS Courier Services - Uganda Post |- |[[Ukraine]] |EMS Ukraine |- |[[United Arab Emirates]] |Mumtaz Post - EMS |- |[[United Kingdom]] | [[Parcelforce]] |- |[[United States of America]] |[[United States Postal Service]] |- |[[Uruguay]] |Correo Uruguayo |- |[[Uzbekistan]] |Express Mail Service Uzbekistan |- |[[Vanuatu]] |Vanuatu EMS |- |[[Viet Nam]] |Vietnam Express Mail Service Company |- |[[Yemen]] |Yemen Post |- |[[Zambia]] |EMS Zambia |- |[[Zimbabwe]] |EMS Zimpost |} ( * ) Provisional member ===EMS delivery agents=== {| class="wikitable" |- !EMS delivery agent !Operator name |- |[[Austria]] |Österreichische Post AG |- |[[Denmark]] |[[Post Danmark|Post Danmark A/S]] |- |[[Germany]] |[[Deutsche Post|Deutsche Post AG]] |- |[[Netherlands]] |TNT Post |- |[[Norway]] |[[Posten Norge|Posten Norge AS]] |- |[[Slovenia]] |Pošta Slovenije d.o.o. |- |[[Switzerland]] |[[Swiss Post|Swiss Post International]] |- |} ==Other express mail providers== Many transportation logistics firms offer similar accelerated services. [[United Parcel Service|UPS]], [[DHL]] and [[FedEx]] are the most popular alternatives. Those carriers offer even faster delivery with their early morning delivery services. * [[City-Link Express]] * [[Aramex]] * [[eCourier]] * [[United Courier Systems|UCS]] * [[TNT N.V.|TNT]] * [[Purolator Courier|Purolator]] * [http://www.quickintl.com/ Quick International] ==References== {{reflist}} ==See also== *[[Mail]] *[[Pony express]] *[[American Express]] *[[Postal authority]] *[[Click-N-Ship]] ==External links== *[http://www.consumeraffairs.com/delivery/usps_express_mail.html Complaint about USPS Express Mail service] Consumeraffairs.com (visited 9 July 2006) *[http://www.ems.coop/site/Main.php EMS, Express Mail Service, Cooperative website] *[http://www.upu.int/ems/en/index.shtml UPU, Universal Postal Union, EMS webpage] *[http://www.usps.com/shipping/expressmail.htm USPS domestic Express Mail service] *[http://www.ems.coop/site/Main.php?Oid=206&Lid=1 What is EMS?] [[Category:Postal system]] [[Category:Express mail]] [[Category:Universal Postal Union]] [[ar:بريد سريع]] [[ja:速達郵便]] [[ru:EMS]] [[sv:Express Mail Service]] [[zh:特快专递]]