posted on December 9, 2000 07:37:00 AM
I would appreciate ANY information from someone who uses one of these services for their auctions. What they are pleased with and what are they not. They both mention laser printers to print their bar codes and pre-printed bar codes. Your preference? Ease of use of their software or do you use their software? Pick-up service? Thank you, Emerson
posted on December 9, 2000 08:32:44 AM
We have a daily UPS pickup and we have been quite satisfied. We have never tried FedEx because have found over all that it is more costly.
Normally, we use the USPS for 6lbs and under and UPS for 6 pounds and over.
BUT before you commit yourself to a daily pick up service, which is having an established account with UPS, realize that claims for Merchants Accounts are Harder to get okayed than for the customer who takes their items to a UPS counter. IF a Merchant doesn't pack according to UPS standards, UPS won't pay the claim.
Therefore, if you don't ship a goodly bit, on a daily basis via UPS, your best bet is to take it to one of their counters.
posted on December 9, 2000 01:51:15 PM
Hi Jwpc,
Thanks for your reply. I'll call UPS Monday.
I have a small nursery so my business is somewhat seasonal, but the monthly expense would be worth it if the service is good and the paper work is not too time consuming. For their labels, do you use a laser printer, rent a thermal printer or use pre-printed bar codes? (More questions!!!)Thanks again, Emerson
posted on December 9, 2000 02:12:47 PM
I LOVE FedEx Ground! Cheapest of all mailing methods right now. My only problem is I have to drive 26 miles to drop off. MailBoxesEtc and other mailing services take FedEx drop offs but not FedEx Ground.
posted on December 9, 2000 02:34:37 PM
I use FedEx ground. Cheaper than UPS. I also use it for my incoming shipments to avoid the handling fees suppliers sometimes charge.
One good thing is that FedEx Home Delivery (ground to residential addresses) delivers on Saturday.
posted on December 9, 2000 04:54:48 PM
Heygrape & Miracle118
Thanks for replying. On Fed-Ex's website, I was checking the rates for home delivery. Two-thirds of the zip codes came back with: Invalid destination for Home Delivery. Is this just a qlitch with the rater or do you have any problems shipping to residential addresses?
posted on December 9, 2000 05:41:43 PM
I LOVE FedEx Ground! I have been using it for my larger packages. I had one package that USPS wanted to charge me $117 to ship. UPS was $33 - but FedEx Ground was $12 and my customer got their item in three days! It was a great thing to give my buyer a cheap, and fast shipping option - they were thrilled!
I have an account with FedEx Ground service and I live only a 1/2 mile from their drop off counter. UPS is just down the street - so either way it is easy for me to get to both. I have pre-paid stickers and a tracking book. I have to drop off at FedEx or else they charge me $4 a pick up. UPS costs me $7 per pick up!
Consider all of the extra little charges like a "pick-up" charge when figuring your shipping cost. It could really eat into your profits if you don't.
They should be more clear about this at their website. Fed Ex ground delivers Monday - Friday. Home Delivery delivers Tuesday -Saturday. If the zip code is invalid for home delivery, then it will go ground.
It is stupid that they do not state this upfront. OTOH, it is actually pretty stupid that it works this way.
posted on December 9, 2000 06:17:03 PM
Emerson--Just go ahead and get the rate and add $1. FedEx Ground adds $1 to ship to residential. It's still outstandingly cheap.
I forgot to add: They do NOT ship to PO Boxes. Important that you get a house address from your customer.
posted on December 9, 2000 08:31:49 PM
I, too, have switched to Fed Ex ground! Their rates are terrific. Re: the problem of zip codes coming back as invalid for home delivery, just don't check home delivery as your option. Check ground instead. They deliver to every city, town, village etc., in the US as long as the recipient has a STREET address. Just add $1 to your shipping fee. You can call Fed Ex and actually set up an account with them, even if you are not a "business". Individuals can set up accounts, too. They send you a starter packet that includes a ton of preprinted shipping and tracking labels. You also get a record book. When you get something ready to ship, just write down the info in the record book (be sure to make two copies -- they even include the carbon paper for the copies), slap one of the tracking stickers on the original, one on the second copy (your copy), put the Fed Ex label on your package and your good to go. The original copy goes to Fed Ex with the package, the second stays in your log book and is a very nice way to keep track of who and when you shipped packages to, as well as having the tracking number right there in front of you.
Gone are the days of keeping track of countless pieces of paper! They will even bill you at the end of the month if you want for all your shipping if you don't want to pay at the time you ship.
The downside is the info they send you. It's written in gibberish! I had to ask the folks at the Fed Ex counter my questions, and they answered in plain English!
I love Fed Ex! So far, they have been faster at getting my packages delivered than UPS!
posted on December 9, 2000 10:17:47 PM
I've used FedEx Ground for several deliveries that the website rejected. Like the others have noted, add $1 (actually I think it was $1.30 or $1.50) for residential, and there are also some rural addresses that are $2.75 additional. Even in those cases it was always cheaper than USPS. We have a FedEx counter at our local Kinkos that accepts my ground packages.
posted on December 10, 2000 12:56:12 AM
I wonder if someone could help me. I have a package weighs 34 lbs has to go from
19342 to 42129 size is 16"long x 13"wide x 19"high.
value 240.00. I checked on the fed ex site & shipping was 12.00. I couldn't find out anything about insurance & I wasn't sure I was figuring right so I called fed ex. The person there after giving them all the info said the charge would be 39.00 ins included.
Now someone is really wrong, but I don't know who. I would be dropping the package off at fed ex. I want to send it ground or the cheapest way possible.
posted on December 10, 2000 07:35:00 AM
Fedex Ground has a residential surcharge of $1.25 for urban areas and $2.75 for rural areas. Fedex home has a flat charge of $1.00, but you must have an account with them to use Fedex Home. Fedex Home is a new service which is why a lot of zip codes come up as not available for this service. I was told that by Fedex Ground that Fedex Home Delivery will be available to over 90% of the country by February 2001.
mcjane -
I just ran your package through the rate calculator and came up with a total of $14.55 with an estimated 3 days transit time. This includes a base rate of $11.10 + $.70 Insurance + $2.75 residential surcharge. As long as you drop the package off, that is the most it should cost. I beleive the rate they gave you when you called was Fedex Express Saver (3 day air service) which would cost $38.22 (without additional insurance).
posted on December 10, 2000 07:55:00 AM
This is an interesting discussion - problem is, as I see it, with FedEx Home Delivery is lack of servicing all areas -
I haven't checked their rates, so can't comment on that but if your comparisons are correct that is Great - BUT, are their drivers company drivers or are they like Airborne with "independent contract drivers?"
How is the insurance with FedEx Home Delivery? Has anyone tried to collect on insurance and what was the result?
I intend to seriously check into FedEx - do they have standard accounts? We have a daily pick up from UPS, and we have to have one - too many large, heavy packages and too far to haul to a service desk.
posted on December 10, 2000 10:12:19 AM
Every box I've mailed so far, they said $1.00 fee period for residential and they wrote that on the paper. I don't have any type of account with them. I just haul the boxes in.
posted on December 10, 2000 11:26:47 AM
I've had two bad experiences with Fed Ex Ground:
1) My wife bought something from an eBay seller who sent it Fed Ex Ground. He addressed the package correctly but Fed Ex Ground returned it to him saying there is no such address. Fed Ex and UPS are able to find the house almost daily, but Fed Ex Ground says it doesn't exist.
2) I sold a printer to someone in Hawaii. Fed Ex Second Day and UPS Second Day were about $95. USPS Parcel Post was $114. Fed Ex ground was $60 with an eight-day delivery period. The buyer elected to use the Fed Ex Ground. I took the printer to Fed on the a few days before Thanksgiving and they confirmed the eight-day delivery. I sent it. Two days later, I cheked the tracking number just to see where it was. The tracking number came back with a scheduled delivery date of Dec. 15, a full 22 days after I sent it and two weeks longer than the eight-day delivery they quoted.
Those are my only two experiences with Fed Ex Ground and they will probably be my last.
