posted on December 21, 2005 10:49:37 PM new
Well the new year's almost here and along with it comes not only higher USPS postal rates but UPS and FedEx rates are also going up. Just thought I would let everyone know that I called DHL (who I use) and inquired if they were also increasing rates. The customer service rep said that DHL does NOT have a rate increase scheduled. WOOOO HOOOO!!!!! Finaly some good news. If you have never used DHL I would highly suggest it. Same services as UPS and FedEx but they have alway's had lower rates and from the looks of it with the new year their rates will beat UPS and FedEx by even more. Great service, reliable and the best customer support people that I have ever had the pleasure of talking with (and there even American's speaking clear english). Every penny I save my customers with shipping is a penny more they can spend on my auctions.
posted on December 22, 2005 01:35:49 AM new
Great advice!
It's amazing that many sellers don't relize that a lower postage cost will increase the selling price (and more bids) for their items (such as manditory Priority shipping for items weighing only a few ounces, etc).
posted on December 22, 2005 06:30:35 AM new
As with everything, your mileage may vary.
The DHL customer service IS very friendly and helpful and does stand head and shoulders above most other services.
However, in our area, the DHL drivers should be put through remedial customer service training.
I've had 2-3 different ones stand about 10-15 feet from our front porch and "fling" a package in the direction of our front door. I wish I could trust they were different in other locales so I could benefit from using them -- but I just can't chance it.
Wayne
Never explain -- Your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.
~ Elbert Hubbard
posted on December 23, 2005 10:12:42 PM new
UPS and Fedex usually have their rate changes the first of April. Most of the time it is just a penny or two per pound for standard shipping.
.
.
.
Alive in 2005
posted on December 23, 2005 11:05:50 PM new
Not sure about FedEx as I have never and never will use them but I do still have a UPS account even though I don't use them anymore. I got a notice in the mail two weeks ago and the rate increase is not a few penny's this time. It's a sizable chunck. Here's a article with the new increases and fee's. Like I said, time to use DHL. Note in addition to the percentage there are also additional fee's, 25cent residential service and ,35cent air residential, 25cent signatures, 50 cent adult signature. DHL's signature service is also still free, just stick their signature lable on the package. Looks like if I was using UPS most of my packages would go up anywhere from $1.00 to $3.00, YIKES.
United Parcel Service announced rate hikes for most of its U.S. small-package services, effective Jan. 2. The new rates include a 3.9% increase in commercial ground services and a 5.5% increase in air and international services.
Last year UPS increased its ground and air rates a more modest 2.9%. But, spokesperson Susan Rosenberg points out, “it’s important to remember that we’re reducing the rate index by 2 percent points when determining the air fuel surcharge.” By factoring in that 2% reduction, the index pushes the air fuel surcharge below the current 12.5% cap. UPS plans to maintain that 12.5% cap, she adds, even though jet fuel prices have increased as much as 68% this year.
“Despite all the volatility in fuel prices, things seem to be trending in the right direction,” Rosenberg says. “We are hoping that our customers will see the benefits of a dropping index as soon as February 2006.” The air fuel surcharge applies to UPS Next Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air, UPS 3 Day Select, and international services. The surcharge index calculation for UPS Ground, which is pegged to fluctuations in the U.S. Energy Department’s On-Highway Diesel price, is not changing.
Other pricing changes include a $0.25 increase in residential ground surcharges and a $0.35 increase in residential air surchages. A fee will also be added on packages that have undergone three failed delivery attempts. Packages requiring a signature will incur an additional charge of $0.25; if an adult signature is acquired, the rate rises by $0.50.
Regarding ground and air rate increases, Rosenberg says that UPS is usually the first of the major parcel carriers to announce rates, with competitors applying comparable rates shortly thereafter. This year however, FedEx announced a 5.5% rate increase back in October. In the meantime, impacts on fuel volatility all over the world remain the highest in
[ edited by mikes4x4andtruckrepair on Dec 23, 2005 11:10 PM ]
posted on December 23, 2005 11:53:20 PM new
::the best customer support people that I have ever had the pleasure of talking with (and there even American's speaking clear english)::
Couldn't agree more! What I really love aboput them is that their customer service lines are open 24/7. There have been two times when i have realized potential problems with packages coming in from overseas on Sunday evenings (once at 2am) and have been able to get someone on the line and cleared up the issue before it caused delays. They have always been extremely helpful and friendly.
I won't even comment on UPS other than - who the hell ever heard of a company that does not have the phone numbers of their service locations and mucst rely on any given managers willingness to open and respond to an email in order to contact them?
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on December 26, 2005 07:55:47 AM new
I have been using DHL for a couple of years and I do have great things to say about them. They are the least expensive of all shippers on bigger items and they do have great customer service.
But they really had some billing issue.
Once I took something into them to ship and was quoted and paid $45.00. I used my paypal card and about a month later they came back and billed my card another $35.00 for that item. Another time I wrote a check for the quoted amount and then they came back and billed my account (which I don't really use anymore) I got the money back in both cases but it was time I could have used for something more constructive.
posted on December 28, 2005 09:31:58 AM new
[ b] REGARDING DHL[/b] I am a seller, but we do buy some items off Web sites, and 3 times items have been shipped via DHL, and 3 times, it was a total fiasco! One was actually delivered to the wrong house (at the wrong address), and the driver refused to pick it up and redeliver it to us! Therefore, we had to go to the house was delivered to, and pick it up. Another purchase was delivered to our Antique Shop (whose address was NOT on the label) and not to our home address which was on the label – this was a nightmare as the delivery was 2 electric (hospital style) electric beds, one part alone weighing 250 pounds!! Again, they would not pick it up and re-deliver, and my husband had to haul those heavy pieced to our home.
Fortunately, we have a hauling trailer, and professional moving equipment. We presumed that the DHL drivers in our area are local, and knew that we owned the Antique Store and just on their own decided to deliver it down there. We are seldom there, as our employees generally handle the store, and we handle the internet.
I would not use DHL if it were the last service available!
Beau
~"It does not matter what I think, it does not matter what you think. The only thing which matters is: What is the TRUTH!"~
posted on December 28, 2005 01:18:54 PM new
jwpc I would be interested to know how the shipper got DHL to ship a 250 pound package. Their weight limit is 150 pounds for day guarented delivery and 200 pounds for non-day guarented delivery.
Sorry to hear you have had problems with them. All of my transactions with them have been a joy. But as with most large companies you may have a "boob" for your local delivery driver. My suggestion would be to email customer support and file a formal complaint against the driver. If they don't hear about drivers not doing their job correctly they have no way to either correct, discipline or terminate the person.
posted on December 29, 2005 01:52:17 PM new
jwpc--I had the same problem with DHL. I complained, but nothing will happen to the driver as they have a very strong union--it's like the post office. They are terrible and I will never use DHL.
posted on January 2, 2006 10:43:40 AM newmikes4x4andtruckrepair
Mike I am not sure how the acceptance of that weight got through, but it did. Perhaps 2 of the 5 boxes in one major shipment were only 200 pounds each, but I thought for sure they were 250.
We have talked to DHL customer service department (central/home office) and they were okay, but that does not seem to change much.
[b]What we have started doing is contacting the shipper/seller, and have them do the complaining as they certainly have more clout with DHL, than does the receiver.[b]
In two mis-delivered cases, we were buying from national companies (not individuals), and the companies immediately refunded us our shipping costs, and contacted DHL, whose CENTRAL/HOME office called us to apologize, but that hasn't changed the delivery problems we continue to have with deliveries that come via DHL.
This is why we will not use DHL – they have serious problems with their schooling, hiring, or ability to learn when it is in regards to their drivers.
Wishes for a Blessed 2006!
~"It does not matter what I think, it does not matter what you think. The only thing which matters is: What is the TRUTH!"~
