geppeta
|
posted on July 3, 2001 08:28:02 PM
Hi Heather,
Darn... sorry if I missed that! UPS has the thermal! Darn! Maybe Fedex will get in the act soon.
Have you compared Fedex's rates to UPS? I figured Fedex would be WAY expensive, so I didn't check. How'd they fair for you?
Thanks so much for your help! I luv being able to get input from everyone.
Angie
|
Eriu
|
posted on July 3, 2001 08:47:00 PM
So, $4.00 shipping is not gonna cut it anymore??? Time to update my auctions!
Thanks.....
|
barrelracer
|
posted on July 3, 2001 08:58:18 PM
It's not a question of rates for me yet it is a question of service. I get lousy service out here in the middle of nowhere.
If I had a regular driver it would be different, but my route is part of the overflow or something, we are always having subs or trainees. Both UPS and Fed Ex are not dependable out here. I know it is hard to believe but a lot of times they leave my packages at any house they see, so far the people have been good enough to tell me that they have my package.
I have to say that I think the last rate increase had little to no effect on my sales, my sales are still pretty strong even at this time of the year. If I do see another rate increase I might look at parcel post before UPS/Fed Ex.
I just think dealing with them would be too frustrating, and wait until winter when the roads ice up!
Anyway, I hope I have helped a few people today before the post office surprised them.
~Not barrelracer on ebay, don't pick on them!~
|
jema
|
posted on July 3, 2001 09:49:45 PM
I too knew about this increase weeks ago. I don't think it's been a secret. There have also been signs posted in my post office for quite awhile announcing the new rates. I think maybe this increase wasn't so widely discussed possibly because the first class 34 cent stamp did not change so the general public was not affected so much. Some of the priority rates changed (over 3 pounds) and a few other categories.
|
coffeemug1
|
posted on July 3, 2001 11:27:17 PM
Check out www.usps.com
Priority Mail Rates
Weight Rate
Up to 1 pound $3.50
Up to 2 pounds 3.95
Up to 3 pounds 5.20
Up to 4 pounds 6.45
Up to 5 pounds 7.70
if this is any help, its really not that much of a difference
|
doormat
|
posted on July 4, 2001 03:38:13 AM
Mrlatenite> Of those 1600 packages you shipped, how many did the post office lose?
My post office is losing about 2 for 50. It's too bad they can't use the money they get auctioning off my stuff instead of charging me more to lose it.
|
capotasto
|
posted on July 4, 2001 05:41:37 AM
Barrelrqacer said "Don't know why you felt the need to post here and insult other posters"
I didn't intend it as an insult, more of a wake-up call to sellers to pay attention to their business. Almost all the posters here are sellers, and as sellers we should be keeping up with, if not ahead of, changes that affect our business. At least two of us were aware of this pending change.
Vinnie
|
robnzak
|
posted on July 4, 2001 06:24:37 AM
Gee it's started already...I adjusted the shipping in my TOS to reflect the postal increase, and have already gotten 2 e-mails from buyers wondering/complaining about my high s&h charges. ($5.50 priority)
sigh!
|
rampaged
|
posted on July 4, 2001 07:41:31 AM
Here is how to get all the new postal rates from the USPS. It's in Notice 123 dated July 1, 2001.
Go to this link (USPO) http://www.usps.com/ and type in notice 123 in the keyword/search. This will take you
to http://new.usps.com/cgi-bin/uspsbv/scripts/content.jsp where you click on New Rate Tables, Notice 123
which is a 10 page download using Acrobat Reader.
This will give you the new notice 123 rates that will be available from the post office free for the asking in a couple of weeks.
|
rampaged
|
posted on July 4, 2001 07:48:36 AM
I should have mentioned that you can print these ten pages and always have the latest rates on hand.
|
phbroz
|
posted on July 4, 2001 08:16:48 AM
barrelracer.....
Seem's like you've got your figures a little mixed up....take a look at Coffeemug1 post. 
|
capotasto
|
posted on July 4, 2001 07:26:19 PM
phbroz - they are the same.
|
barrelracer
|
posted on July 4, 2001 08:35:48 PM
No, I see what phbroz means. Actually they both could use a little tweeking.
Weight Rate
Up to and including 1 pound $3.50
Up to and including 2 pounds 3.95
Up to and including 3 pounds 5.20
Up to and including 4 pounds 6.45
Up to and including 5 pounds 7.70
The way I wrote it, someone that didn't use priority a lot could think a 2 pound box was included in the 3 pound rate. I copied it the way the paper had it printed, but i could have explained it better.
The way coffemug1 has it with the "up to" is a little confusing on where a box that is exactly 2 pounds would be.
I copied my first post from the paper and I hope it didn't confuse any of the readers of this thread.
~Not barrelracer on ebay, don't pick on them!~
|
belalug3
|
posted on July 5, 2001 03:55:58 AM
Would some kind sould PLEAZZZZE POST ALL THE NEW RATES, or at least a link??
hoping and waiting....
|
mrlatenite
|
posted on July 5, 2001 06:16:41 AM
> doormat : "How many of my 1600 did they loose?"
None.
I have had about 3 buyers "claim" loss, but when I asked them to fax or mail a sworn statement that I could take to the post office, "amazingly" the package showed up the next day.
So I've been VERY lucky for delivery percentages on both the items I sell as well as buy. (100%)
Let me make it clear:
- I do NOT approve of the job the post office is doing based upon the fees they're charging. I just wanted to reply to the question that I have had no MISSING packages in 1700 (1600 sells, 100 receipts). However I've had multiple broken items delivered to me, but I've never had the stuff I send broken (because I pack a LOT better than most people do and only sell stuff made of plastic/metal--NO GLASS) I've had many "issues" with the post office, like 14 day "Priority" packages last December/January 
- I do NOT want to be a UPS rah-rah. I've had MULTIPLE run-ins (some nasty ones---too bad google doesn't have usenet archives from 1991..you'd see my bad run-in posted from then with over 40 replies from others with similar problems!) with them. But, the fact remains:
UPS gives you $100 free insurance
UPS gives you TRUE TRACKING
UPS is cheaper than Priority, even for one time drop-off at higher weights (e.g. most everything above 8-10 pounds)
UPS is cheaper than Priority if you have daily pickup at very low weights (e.g. most everything above 4-5 pounds)
UPS ground is generally guarenteed to be there within a week. Priority is "supposed" to be 2-3 days, but often takes 4-5, and at Christmas... all bets are TOTALLY off, some items taking 2 weeks or longer...making YOU as a seller look VERY bad.
Also, FedEx Ground is very competitive to UPS Ground, if you can use it in your location/the location you're sending too.
If I had access to FedEx Ground, I'd offer that as an alternative to UPS Ground...
The main thing is I don't want to use Priority mail unless I have to/is most economical to the BUYER.
|
packer
|
posted on July 5, 2001 06:52:29 AM
My garage is FULL of priority boxes(I just got a new order in), so I'm wondering if it would be ok to turn those boxes inside out and use them for UPS shipping?
I'd hate to see them go to waste.
packer
|
jwpc
|
posted on July 5, 2001 06:55:54 AM
BE CAREFUL
We have had a UPS pick up account for over 2 years, basically because we often ship very large, heavy items which UPS transports at a much more reasonable cost, and the insurance on them is considerably less than the PO. BUT when you have a standard pick up account the rules on insurance change. That is, if you take your UPS package to the UPS counter and they accept it, basically they are libel if it is lost, broken, etc., and there is little hassle in getting an insurance refund. BUT if your package is a regular location pick up then they make it much harder to collect on insurance. They inspect the package at the customer’s home and if they don’t like your packing you are out – period – no recourse.
After one of these happenings we had the local UPS folks come to our shop and check some of our packing to see if it met their “standards.” We use “corner” supports on almost all large packages and this has saved more items than any other one packing item. Our UPS people are totally opposed to “popcorn” and will seldom pay insurance on something packed using “popcorn” because it can shift so much during shipping. We use wadded newspaper which makes the packages heavier but it is safer.
Go through all this info with your UPS representative before you jump into an account blindly.
NOW on the other hand, with the latest postal increase we are switching almost all our shipping to UPS, we have had little trouble with them, but one does need to know their ground rules and abide by them if you have a regular pick up account.
|
mrlatenite
|
posted on July 5, 2001 06:58:33 AM
Packer --
You can't reuse priority boxes. Drop them off at your post office counter if you're not going to use them for Priority. They will appreciate having a few extra to give out since most PO's don't get many as too many people steal them for storage (at least thats the story I've heard)
On the other hand, you can risk it, and be subject to fines/procecution.
Amazingly about 15% of my purchases have either priority turned inside out or wrapped with grocery bags and shipped ups, parcel post or media mail to me. Some people are daring.. I'm just waiting for the PO to leave me a postage due sheet on one of them like others have gotten.
|
barrelracer
|
posted on July 5, 2001 07:02:27 AM
Hmmm, You guys are making UPS start to interest me.
I might have to suck up the afternoon and take a list of say 50 addresses and weights to the UPS terminal and see what it would have cost me to ship with a pick up account.
The things that worry me are the rural charges and things like that.
~Not barrelracer on ebay, don't pick on them!~
|
packer
|
posted on July 5, 2001 07:09:37 AM
What made me think of it was a couple of weeks ago I sold a very expensive piece of pottery and I had it double boxed and was going to send it by USPS, but after visiting with postmaster about the insurance I decided to ship it UPS. I put the priority box in a 3rd box and took it to UPS. All packages have to be left open for their inspection. Upon opening the box there sat that honking Priority box. NO PROBLEM with them about it.
I don't think the UPS is going to tell or report a person if the Priority box is reversed.
I don't reverse them for USPS, I used to on USED ones but I don't anymore since they made such a fuss over it.
I'll ask our UPS rep about it.
Trust me my post office DOES not want all these boxes back. The building is smaller the a single car garage.
packer
|
sadie999
|
posted on July 5, 2001 07:10:25 AM
Just a quick note, Media Mail also went up, but only three cents in each weight category up to 10 pounds. (I didn't check over 10 pounds.)
I watch the boards, knew about the danged increase, totally spaced it on FLD and oh well - thank goodness for my recently implemented handling charge. That 50 cents should help a bit. I try very hard not to sell items over 5 pounds anymore - those usually go right to consignment. And my media to priority ships are running about 7:1.
But thank you for the reminder!
|
mrlatenite
|
posted on July 5, 2001 07:20:13 AM
> barrelracer
" I might have to suck up the afternoon and take a list of say 50 addresses and weights to the UPS terminal and see what it would have cost me to ship with a pick up account. "
Ummm... why take the time to go there?
Go to www.ups.com, and click "Rates" and enter in your zip code, the zip code you're sending to, the weight, and then choose "Your Packing" and also "Customer Counter". Select "Business address or Residential Address" as appropriate
See the rate -- that's how much it would cost if you took it to them.
Then page back and change it to "Daily pickup service".. see how much lower it is.
Compare this with rates from http://postcalc.usps.gov to see the difference.
> jwpc
"BE CAREFUL" (insurance may not be covered if you don't drop off)
Actually, as eluded to by another poster... MOST customer counters now force you to open your package or won't accept it. They don't want to accept poorly packed stuff. Also often times they will make you purchase and double box stuff even when shipping it back in "original shipped package" to cover themselves.
|
micheneraddict
|
posted on July 5, 2001 08:17:25 AM
I just went to check UPS site and calculate a couple of boxes that I'm about to ship. I do 99% of my business as bookrate and it doesn't look like UPS will be an option.
For one package, USPS it will go for $2.23 and UPS for $5.04. I used the daily pickup for an option to shave about $1.00 off the ground rate.
Priority it would ship for $5.20 versus the $5.04. For the $.16 I'll take the free boxes, tape, labels etc.
|
mrlatenite
|
posted on July 5, 2001 09:22:20 AM
If you can ship bookrate, then yes, UPS is out of the question I agree 100%. However for the rest of us that ship 6+ pound packages via Priority there are better options.
|
beekmanbooks
|
posted on July 5, 2001 01:55:46 PM
I've always thought UPS was better.
Mail rates went up again for two reasons:
1)The "Governors" voted to modify rates on 5/7 because the Postal Rate Commission recommedations did not provide enough revenue.
2)USPS is not govt subsidized, so it relies on postage rates to support itself.
Pick up a "Modified Postage Rates" card at your PO. The people at my PO (45214 in Cin OH) knew about the rate increase and all Priority rates are going up.
The Post Office will no longer put postage on meters, so everyone needs to get a new one - the workers didnt know this, though.
[ edited by beekmanbooks on Jul 5, 2001 02:07 PM ]
|
Crystalline_Sliver
|
posted on July 6, 2001 09:38:26 PM
I don't think anyone has mentioned that Express Mail went up as well.
My 6 oz Letter went from $12.25 to $12.45.
Oh well, guess those 20 cent Postcard Stamps will help pay the surcharge...
:\\\\\\\"Crystalline Sliver cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
|
