GSO, short for Golden State Overnight Delivery Service, is a regional shipping carrier that services the western part of the United States. A relatively young shipping carrier, they incorporated 20 years ago on the premise that California companies shouldn’t have to pay national delivery rates for in-state shipments. They ship to California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Overview:
GSO is an alternative to the major carriers if you’re shipping to the western United States. They offer competitive prices and delivery times on priority overnight and ground services. Like the major carriers, customers can buy postage online, print shipping labels, and even schedule pickups. Most consumers and businesses use GSO when they find themselves in time-critical situations. Compared to FedEx, their prices are cheaper for overnight delivery. However, since service is limited to only the western United States, they aren’t the best carrier for E-commerce businesses. Shipping with USPS will almost always be cheaper and more reliable. Certain USPS mail classes like Priority Mail Cubic have similar delivery timeframes, and you’ll save way more money on postage. In addition, Priority Mail Cubic also includes $100 of shipping insurance if you buy postage with shipping software.
Highlights:
- Services include Priority Overnight, Ground, and Freight
- Delivery occurs by 8:30 am or 10:30 am to most areas
- Later pickup times (as late as 8 pm in certain areas)
- On-time delivery percentage exceeds 97%
- Cost savings often exceed 40% for priority overnight services compared to national carriers such as UPS and FedEx
Not sure if GSO is right for you?
To explore the best carriers, check our guide:
Donnie
This is NOT a shipping company they are… I don’t now what they are but, they lost my package in Phoenix , I live in Albuquerque it’s been 7 days still no package. Now I will have to wait probably several weeks to get a refund for their incompetence.
Tina
Terrible! If this company is shipping your item then it’s going to be late! I didn’t realize they were shipping my clothes for my trip until I got an update saying they not only picked it up late but that meant my entire order would be 3 days late (so I couldn’t take things on my trip) I’d you are ordering from fashion nova 1 day shipping then DONT. Your items will not arrive on time. It’s a scam to get you to pay more while not receiving the service .
Marlene
This is absolutely the worst company ever to ship with they should close their doors just look at all the one star reviews!!!!! This is my third day I’ve been waiting for a manager for two days to call me back my perishable items have been on their truck for three days now I live in Arizona this is absolutely ludicrous!!! they lie they say that we are not home when both my husband and I have now missed three days of work total we’ve alternated the days off just to receive this perishable items and again promised it would be delivered by 10 AM it is now 10:20 and no delivery and they told me it’s now between 12 and 4pm they can’t even keep their word they have no integrity whatsoever!!! They are a disgrace and a disservice!!!!! I’m NOT thankful for GSO or GSL whoever they call themselves I’m sure they’ll have to change their name again because of the reputation!!!!!
nancy
Was your package ever delivered? I am also having the same problem
Christina
I order food from a meal company who serves seniors and sick people. This food is shipped by GSL (formerly called GSO). The first time I called them asking why they just left the box of perishable food outside they rudely told me they don’t get paid for signature. I just wanted to know why they didn’t knock like other delivery drivers do and it was left outside for over 30 minutes before I checked outside. The next time they were supposed to deliver in a Saturday. They delivered it on Monday. I was told to ttoss the box out and another box would be overnighted. Then I learned this week the meal company was using them again. Yesterday, around 3-3:30PM I called them and they say they guarantee delivery by 5PM. I called the food company before thru closed to tell them if they are late to call me and I will let them into the gate. Not only did they not show by 5, 6 or 7, but I call them and was told the driver was working late to 8PM and I waited patiently til after 9PM. No call, just an update that it’s out for delivery around the same time as yesterday 10:30AM. This shipment is perishable food going from one side of town to the other. Why is that so difficult to deliver. I’m ready to cancel all future orders because I can’t take a ride of eating spoiled food. What good does the BBB do if people don’t recognize complaints until they need to complain?
Sandra Kemp
I ordered some bath and body works, this company was hired to deliver my package they left my package outside of the gate. I got a message saying that my package was delivered, went out to get it, it wasn’t at the front door, walked out to the gate there it was outside the gate.
Gio. Oregon.
So the tracking number was invalid took about 3 hours to find out were my overnight package was. Buy that time it was being shipped back to the company I had bought it from. This mind you was 9 days later. If my 12 year old son gets it before he moves out and gets married ill be counting myself lucky. The delivery was never attempted as far as I know because the time was 11:45 p.m.? Yep I figured it was a typo so how many typos does it take 2 deliver a package? Well I don’t know but when I find out I’ll let u know.
Sean
We ordered a gift through Bath & Body Works and apparently they use this horrible carrier. The shipment arrived in Spokane 10 days ago and has yet to have gone out for delivery. Every day it gets code/updated with a “Weather Delay”. We’ve only had one day of snow since this arrived at destination and we only had about and inch. This is ridiculous.
Ben
They are by far the cheapest carrier and it shows. They specialize in packages from California so if you order beer / wine or electronic items from California you may well be receiving a package from them. In the last eight years of being in the Pacific Northwest I have received a grand total of three packages on time through this shipper, commonly there only a day or two late but they also somehow managed to lose packages for extended periods of time with absolutely no scanning activity. They also will promise you the Moon but fail to deliver (we will email you or call you within X hours). If you have an option for any other carrier choose them they are worth whatever extra they charge.
Travis
absolute garbage delivery company. My package was scheduled to be delivered on a particular day, and the driver made 3 attempts to drop off my package, but apparently he didn’t want to get out of his vehicle. Instead of parking out front he wanted my gate code which i don’t have.. same story the following day, still no package, then another day after that they magically make it in then fail to leave my package with out a signature which wasn’t required. I’m blown away on how terrible a delivery company can be.
Yesica Molina
Medical supplies for a wound patient were trusted to this delivery company. They drove to the location, ignored the “special instructions” (call upon arrival). I could see in the surveillance camera that the driver drove by address, notice the apartment complex required a key for entrance, and drove off. This is unacceptable!
Dave
Absolutely the worst experience I have ever had with any shipper, ever. I handed a package with two expensive bottles of Japanese whisky to a the driver. I watched as he got back into his vehicle without scanning the package. The package never showed up in the GSO system, and I followed their instructions (having them perform a trace and ultimately submitting a claim for a lost package). I declared a value of $250 when creating the shipping label and their IT support acknowledged this fact in an email to me. My claim has been denied and they say it’s because the package was never entered into their tracking system. I’ve explained that I handed the package to the driver and watched him drive away without scanning it. I’ve asked them how I can be held accountable for the actions of their driver, but they are no longer answering emails or returning phone calls or emails.
Ted
Way cheaper then FedEx for overnight deliveries, you get the same service but at a way better price