posted on June 4, 2003 07:52:36 AM new
Hello,
I have been using usps priority for a couple of years. The office just reduced its hours to 5 pm and it is hard for me to get there. Also, the lines are awful and they have lost a few of my items lately.
I am thinking about using UPS pickup. As long as I have 60$ or more in shipping it will cost me only 7$ per week to have my stuff picked up by the driver. I ship about 30 items per week so this wouldnt be a problem. I would be installing their software and print my own labels. Also, they said I would be saving on shipping cost by having pickup instead of taking my stuff to their service counter.
This sounds real good to me. The only down side is that I have to figure out shipping material instead of using the priority material.
Has anyone else used UPS pickup and how did/does it work for you? Are there any other negatives I have not thought about?
posted on June 4, 2003 08:43:49 AM new
Use Fedex instead. They have the same pickup charge or you can drop it off at a service center for no extra charge. Also if you do enough volume, they will give you the label printer free. UPS charges $2 per week for it.
Fedex home delivery also delivers on saturday for free. UPS ground saturday delivery isn't even available.
posted on June 4, 2003 09:01:49 AM new
are you kidding??
fed exp fed me BS and said free home delivery for ground and 4 for air per package.
they billed me 11 per week for ground pickup.
there is also more charges which come later if delivery address is a rural one,also if delivery addres is an apt inside a complex which requires the driver to meander thru the complex to find that unit.
they call it extra gasoline charge or something,nothing wrong with extra pay for extra work,but you dont know if you just log on to their site to find the rate,these charges come later.
so just know all these facts before you call fed exp or ups.
with post office,what you see is what you get,you paid at the counter and thats no further billing.
posted on June 4, 2003 09:12:10 AM new
I use FedEx ground and love it. It was a problem when I first started about picking up at the house, but when I complained they pick up anytime I want. They haven't charged me for pickup yet.
I used to use USPS but when they refused to pick up boxes over 16oz because of flight 800 accident then I stopped shipping anything over 2lbs. I wonder why that is?
FedEx is cheaper than UPS or at least what I have checked on. I don't have to buy insurance because every box is covered to 100.00. They only bill once a week and I like that too. FedEx Ground drivers own their truck and routes and the service is really good.
posted on June 4, 2003 09:13:16 AM new
Does UPS ever charge extra or just fedex? What if I used ups.com and paid on a daily basis instead of using software and billed weekly? I wonder if they would put additional charges on my card if I paid at time of purchase. I never thought about UPS not delivering on saturday.
Nate
posted on June 4, 2003 09:27:14 AM new
UPS will have all the same exact charges as Fedex. They only charge $11 per week for pickup if you have less than $60 in shipping charges for that week. If you want them to pickup at your house, it is up to the local driver. I have them pick up at my house and the driver is happy to do it. (they get paid per package)
I have more problem with the few incomming UPS deliveries than I have ever had with thousands of Fedex shipments.
Another thing with Fedex is that you can have the charges put on your paypal card and get 1.5% back, or I think it is 5 or maybe 10% if you use an American Express small business card. (The info is somewhere on there site)
posted on June 4, 2003 09:56:29 AM new
I am using Endicia to print postage. Most of my packages fit in the mailbox. The few that don't I either hand to my postman or drop it off at the PO, but I don't have to wait in line. I just put it on the counter and leave.
As for rates, the Post Office is cheaper on small items but once you get to 2 lbs, it all depends on the value and how fast you want it to get there. I sell mostly small items. I can ship digital camera batteries or media cards for about $1 including delivery confirmation (only 13 cents). UPS can't touch this.
As for safety, in three years I have had only one package get lost and it was going overseas. Well over 1,000 packages delivered safely. UPS can't touch this either. I had numerous problems with them.
So for all the griping about the Post Office, I am still impressed at their record. I am not impressed with their customer service, or the fact that if they screw up, they make you jump through hoops. The one package they lost, I had to wait 30 days to file a complaint, then wait another 6 weeks while they investigated, then file another form. It took months to get it resolved. UPS resolved most of my complaints in about a month and unlike the PO, they did apologize. The PO does at times forget the scan the delivery confirmation and in one case they forgot to get any proof of delivery when I paid for signature confirmation. Had the customer decided to cheat me, I would have been in real trouble.
posted on June 4, 2003 02:43:38 PM new
USPS has pickup as well, but as someone else said, it might be worthwhile to use some sort of online postage option, that way you can just drop off your packages instead of standing in line. I go to the post office three times a week, and usually mail out between 50-100 packages each time. I don't use online postage, I use stamps, but with shipping assistant, 99% of my packages are set to go, I just drop them off. I only need something special if it weighs over a pound and going via priority mail, or if I need insurance...
posted on June 5, 2003 02:37:25 PM new
I have used all three shippers, & use USPS for all of the lighter pkgs (under 2 lbs) All others go by FedEx Ground which I have used way back when it was known as RPS. I have never had a pack lost by FedEx which is more than I can say for the PO. If your shipping charges are more than $60.00 per week, you will be charged $7.00 pickup charge. I only use the pick up when I have very heavy items, optherwise I take them to the center which is only 2 miles away.
