There are some bad shipping options out there, and I'd wager most small business owners have shipping horror stories, but Global Express Guaranteed is really a special kind of hell and I think folks deserve a fair warning.

GXG is a joint offering of the US Postal Service and FedEx. The idea is that you pay the USPS for postage and insurance and ship your international package just like you would with regular mail, but at some point the USPS hands it off to FedEx for final delivery.

It's the unholy union of a government entity and a private shipper in a poorly-structured and executed agreement that makes it such a uniquely awful experience. On the surface it looks fairly attractive - the rates are lower than you'd get from FedEx, and it's not quite as fast but the quoted delivery times are still competitive and it's supposed to be a time-definite delivery service.

I've used it several times over the last few years, and more often than not it's gone poorly. For starters, the guaranteed delivery has a whole bunch of catches - you can't even find out what the guaranteed delivery date will be without visiting a post office in person, and only certain post offices will accept GXG packages with a delivery date guarantee. In my town, that's inexplicably the small satellite post office on the edge of town and not the main post office.

It's when there's a problem with the shipment that things really go wrong. If you call the post office, most of the support people there haven't even heard of GXG and don't know how to handle it. Same for FedEx - I had one person there hang up on me because they insisted it had nothing to do with FedEx.

My most recent (and final!) experience with GXG has been infuriating. We had a > $2000 order to ship to a big theatrical company doing a special show in Saudi Arabia. These were custom-made props. The shipment went out on August 8, fully insured, with a delivery guarantee of August 17. The total for shipping and insurance was over $960.

The package disappeared from tracking after just 5 hours of movement. A missing mail search turned up nothing. We had to drop everything and build a replacement order that cost $1400 to ship by DHL. That one made it through just in time. DHL has their problems, but they've always gotten packages where they need to go for us, or have paid up on insurance claims when they haven't.

Meanwhile, I was instructed by the USPS to file a claim with FedEx. I followed the instructions to the letter, and have screenshots to show it. FedEx denied the claim because they had never received the package. USPS insisted that it was still FedEx's problem. FedEx wouldn't even talk to me. Eventually USPS said the issue would be escalated to the global business office in DC and that they'd be in touch soon. It's been weeks, and the support ticket has been closed - there's no further escalation path available there.

But this week it got worse. The original package reappeared and was handed over to FedEx and now it's stuck in customs in Saudi Arabia because there's no one there to receive it and pay duties. FedEx refuses to do anything about it because as far as they're concerned it was shipped last Thursday - the day the USPS finally found it and handed it over. They want return postage or it'll be destroyed. At this point the package isn't worth the $900 it'd take to send it back - the items were built to order and at this point would have to be refurbished anyway after so long packed up.

Because FedEx didn't take the money for shipping, they can't even be sued in small claims court. Everyone involved can just stop responding and there's no way to force a resolution short of federal court.

Neither the USPS nor FedEx are bad shippers. Both have their resolution processes and at least a certain amount of accountability. But the GXG program is run so poorly that there's basically no way to resolve issues like this. Avoid the service at all costs.

Hi everyone,

I hope you and your families are safe and healthy. For the USPS employees out there (thank you for your service!), I have a few questions regarding Global Express Guaranteed (GXG):

1. I know it is a partnership between USPS and Fed-Ex and the package's origination is with USPS - I went into a post-office to complete the transaction. At what point does Fed-Ex get involved? Does USPS tender the item to Fed-Ex immediately (e.g., after reaching a USPS distribution center), does the item fly on a USPS plane overseas and then gets tendered to the overseas Fed-Ex branch, or somewhere else along the process?

2. Is there a Fed-Ex tracking number for GXG parcels? I only have a USPS tracking number.

3. I mailed some legal documents to my attorney in Taiwan. I filled out a Commercial Invoice even though I didn't have to (per Publication 141 because I was only sending documents) but I didn't really complete all the required sections in the CI - I only filled in my and the recipient's contact information on the F6182. Wondering if anyone knows whether that will come back to bite me in the butt?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

From the beginning, the process of sending something GXG was problematic. I needed to send a package to London from US, and needed to get it there ASAP. At the post office, the rep didn't even know what forms I needed to fill out, which barcodes needed scanning, and if I filled out everything properly. "Guaranteed" Delivery Date was supposed to be yesterday 7/25 (package was sent out 7/21).

On Sunday, 7/24, tracking showed it had departed CHICAGO IL INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER.

Until late last night, 7/25, it still had the above for the tracking update. Now it just says In Transit, Arriving Late. (Tbh I feel like USPS says this when they have no clue where the package actually is)

When I called USPS, they transferred me to GXG support who transferred me back to USPS because they said "Its not in our (FedEx) possession so we can't help you.

I'm extremely frustrated because there is no clear communication or tracking updates from USPS, and it's concerning that it hasn't been handed off to FedEx. I know customs can take some time, but it would be nice to know if it was even at thr customs office.

I just want my package delivered, so I can deal with what I imagine will be a long and annoying refund process.

UPDATE

I was looking on my Waybill for GXG and found a similar set of numbers to that of the tracking. Entered on FedEx and sure enogh they have posession..possession... but the scheduled delivery date on the FedEx website shows 7/28 instead of the 7/25 USPS promised. It's clear there is a massive disconnect between the two companies.

Hi everyone, I have a lot of family in Mexico and I ship goods time to time there. I want to start using usps global express guaranteed to ship my items. I understand they use FedEx to transport and deliver the packages. Question is how to I pay the duty’s and taxes once there due at customs To avoid my family in Mexico from paying them upon delivery ? Ups which is way more expensive usually let you know on there app that duty and taxes are due and even send you to payment portal. is it similar to FedEx ?

Dear US Postal Workers,

First, before delving into concerns of self, I want to say thank you for your service. Too many, take for granted your individual and collective efforts. Much appreciated.

On Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, I mailed out legal documents to my attorney in Taipei, Taiwan via Global Express Guaranteed (GXG). The estimated delivery date is Friday, November 19.

Here are the (limited) scans so far:

November 17, 2021In Transit, Arriving On TimeYour package is moving within the USPS network and is on track to be delivered by the expected delivery date. It is currently in transit to the next facility.

November 16, 2021, 3:25 pmArrived at USPS Regional FacilityOAKLAND CA DISTRIBUTION CENTER 

November 16, 2021, 12:54 pmArrived at USPS FacilityOAKLAND, CA 94611 

November 16, 2021, 12:51 pmUSPS in possession of itemOAKLAND, CA 94611 

As you can see, not a lot has happened. I'm wondering if people have used GXG in the past and have had a similar situation? I know that packages can go without scans and get delivered. But is this normal for a GXG package?

I ask because these originals of legal documents were difficult to obtain and I would hate to have to redo the process if the package is lost.

Thanks in advance.

UPDATE: Package was delivered to my attorney in Taiwan on Monday - one business day later than promised by GXG. No additional tracking scans appear on the package. Weird.

Hi there I had some clothes shipped to me. NC to UK. We spent a lot on global express with a guaranteed delivery of yesterday. It’s been in Miami since Tuesday morning.

July 13, 2021, 11:21 am Arrived at USPS Regional Facility MIAMI FL INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER

July 14, 2021, 4:32 pm Arrived at USPS Regional Facility MIAMI FL DISTRIBUTION CENTERYour item arrived at our USPS facility in MIAMI FL DISTRIBUTION CENTER on July 14, 2021 at 4:32 pm. The item is currently in transit to the destination.

There’s nothing on fedex’s side.

Anyone know if it’s possible to get a refund? Also any experience if it’s going to be a long wait till it arrives?

Thank you!

There is no benefit to using express vs just plain priority mail for international destinations. It takes just as long. USPS used to have a policy of refunds for late deliveries but they quietly canceled it and are now treating both exactly the same except the "Express" option costs twice as much but still takes 2-3 weeks to deliver (if you're lucky)

Hello, so I had my first GXG customer today. We rarely do this (I've only seen my lead do it once during my 6 months here and of course he had to be off today). As such, we try to not promote it and instead push Express instead. The customer insisted on GXG though and was willing to pay up. No one else is "trained" on GXG (seems like learning is done through trial and error around here though).

Some questions:

1. can we use any box? can we use priority tape on it? do box dimension limitations still apply?

2. who is authorized person on the commercial invoice? (I'm guessing the recipient?)

3. does it go in the express bag?

4. For the final amount on the commercial invoice, is it pretty much declared replacement value plus postage?

5. on the commercial invoice, the tracking number you write there is the USPS tracking, right? (My lead said if you mess this up it will be sent back)

I might have more questions but these are the immediate ones that come to mind. Thanks!