posted on February 6, 2001 07:51:35 AM new
Hi all, I just thought I would throw this out on the table. There has been an awful lot of carping about the postal increases (myself included!), but I just checked on the rate to send an 8 lb parcel from FL to SC, not a huge zone difference. The priority rate (with free box and tape, delivered to my door) was 8.50.
The UPS rate (with free insurance but scavenged boxes)is 9.26!
Fed Ex ground was the cheapest, at 6.50 for 8 lb, but that is to a business address only and they don't do a lot of rural areas yet with ground service. Anyone else notice the USPS ain't so bad for the medium wieght items?
posted on February 6, 2001 07:56:55 AM new
Nope! From here I can send many items that weigh 3 lbs or more much cheaper by UPS since the priority rates increased so much! I used to send EVERYTHING that was 5lbs or less by priority mail. Since the rate increase I started using UPS much more and saving the buyers sometimes $2 to $3 on shipping just on the 3-10lb parcels. Of course, now the UPS rates are going up but the increase is very small compared to the increase for priority mail rates, thank goodness!
posted on February 6, 2001 08:06:13 AM new
I sell an item fairly light but needs a good-sized box to hold it. the medium priority boxes fill the bill fine, and at $3.50 (which I can affix myself in stamps), it can't be beat.
Consider that for many people, UPS and FedX are a big hassle -- because they deliver during the day when many people aren't home, and are difficult to get to compared to your local PO. I *hate* getting items by UPS or FX, because *I* have to figure out how to re-route it to me, or go to the trouble of having them hold it for pickup. My nearest UPS center is an hour drive away, and I don't even know where fedex is.
I only use Priority Mail reguardless of cost. I have not found a great difference in cost and my local UPS employees are pure evil and horrible to work with. I would gladly pay the Post Office a little more.
Also, like many others, I have suffered the horrors of UPS and FedEx not delivering packages because I am not home during the day. Unlike the Post Office, they seem to expect you to sit home each waiting for them just in case they need to deliver and if you miss they... you wait forever for a redelivery.
Priority Mail boxes come with my mail, are also delivered on Saturday and I have never had one lost of damaged.
posted on February 6, 2001 09:08:26 AM new
I have had so many problems with UPS, misdelivered packages, packages that sat on the truck for days, packages left in front of the house with no signature. USPS has always delivered my priority packages in 3 days max, even coast to coast, to Hawaii and Alaska. I just had my first one get lost in two years, going to an army base overseas. Unfortunately, getting info on it and claiming the insurance is a hassle. But this is the first problem in two years and hundreds of packages and it was going overseas. UPS messed me up about 25% of the time with packages going a few hundred miles. In one case, a package going from NY to NY, ended up in Florida. I think they should spell the company name OOPS
posted on February 6, 2001 09:19:57 AM new
Wow! I was not aware that in some parts of the country there are so many problems with UPS pkgs getting lost. I work at a place that mails things (like MBE, only privately owned), and in the past year have only had to report ONE pkg not arriving at it's destination!
posted on February 6, 2001 09:26:29 AM new
The savings comes in with UPS when you have a daily pick up account, because you save $3.00 per box. So, your 8 pound package would cost $6.26 instead of $9.26.
I got tired of lugging packages to the post office, and I made an arrangement with my UPS driver to come MWF instead of every day. Works great for me, and I have not had any problems.
posted on February 6, 2001 09:37:10 AM new
Thank you for the nice words about USPS.
Just like yisgood, I have experienced some difficulty with UPS, plus the fact that they are slow, when more than 3 or 4 zones away....6 days and up, no week-ends...
I always liked USPS; I crabbed a bit around Xmas, because it was unusually bad, compared to other years, but I get the one thing I LOVE: Return Receipt...No one has ever said they did not receive parcel...and only one package temporarily gone astray due to customer's mistake.
It's much like EbAy: I may moan and disapprove of some of their moves, but, when compared to other sites, they still offer the most action and choice. So, I pout for a couple of days , then get back into the harness....
posted on February 6, 2001 12:13:15 PM new
kidsfeet - I'm with you...I just switched to UPS, can't beat the service and packages are much cheaper. Even today with the rate increase, can't compare! The told me at UPS that rates would be going up 3.5%...you can't compare that to USPS whose 2lb package went up about 20%! Then add on insurance (included with UPS) and delivery confirmation (tracking # included with UPS) and they just can't be beat!
posted on February 6, 2001 12:46:08 PM new
I won't use UPS again if I have any other option. I sent a package from Florida to Louisana and they just left it outside. It disappeared. Their answer to this is "we only leave it in what we feel is a safe place." A wide open carport on a busy street is not a "safe place" in my opinion. I have filed for the insurance I'm still upset over the loss. The worst part is they kept insisting they left it in the garage. There is no garage.
posted on February 6, 2001 01:31:31 PM new
december3: Talk about deja vu! I had a package sent UPS from my distributor in Florida to a customer in Florida. The driver claims he left it by the side door. Customer doesnt have a side door. A $700 camera disappeared. The driver went back and customer signed an affidavit stating he never received it. Driver reported that customer stated he DID receive it. UPS denied the claim. I called them and told them I spoke to the customer and he states emphatically that he did not receive it and filled out the statement with the driver. Driver claims he went back a second time and again customer said he got it. Customer mailed me a letter stating he never got it and filled out the affidavit the ONE time the driver came. At this point I am certain the driver himself stole it. But I forwarded all this to my distributor who probably does tens of thousands of dollars with UPS and UPS paid the claim. This is only one of many problems I had with them, such as two monitors disappearing for two months and then showing up on my doorstep with no explanation and a laser printer that sat on the pickup truck for three days because the driver forgot to unload it. I havent used them in months and I dont plan to.
posted on February 6, 2001 01:36:19 PM new
It seems obvious to me (NO offense intended, honestly!) that if I were sending something by UPS with a high dollar value I would have a signature required on the delivery so that it did NOT get left outside. If the customer doesn't have an address that it could be delivered at where somebody would be there, another method of shipping would be more appropriate so that the valuable item can be delivered and signed for.
posted on February 6, 2001 01:40:31 PM new
All my UPS items were sent signature required. UPS told me that it is at the driver's discretion to leave it in a safe place if no one is home. Unfortunately in the case I mentioned, the driver either considered the front stoop in full view of the street a "safe place" and then lied about it afterward or he stole it himself. Since then UPS has now started a policy that you have to pay extra for a signature required instruction.
posted on February 6, 2001 02:12:02 PM new
I use priority USPS for everything.
I compared the shipping supply expense (boxes, tape, shipping labels and my time to go the drop box daily).
With the USPS, they pick up from my door, they supply everything I need and I print my postage from the computer.
It is by far cheaper for me and my buyers to ship USPS priority.
A little note. Most of my shippments are 2 to 4 pounds each.
Although I have to say, priority has been taking up to 7 days to get from MT to FL.
*shrug*
I like my postal person so USPS works for me.
Jenikah's Closet
'online'
"Things always get better"
posted on February 6, 2001 02:36:49 PM new
yisgood -
Signature Required for UPS doesn't mean anything here where I am. My UPS driver leaves everything and signs the signature lines himself. He said that "Your a stay-at-home Mom, so what does it matter if I make you sign for it or do it myself." I guess when I'm out with the baby for doctor's visits and things get stolen it doesn't matter then either?
posted on February 7, 2001 04:42:13 AM new
When I checked the tracking page it said "driver sign-off-left in garage." There were 4 people home that day, they had the flu. There is no garage. To top it off, they have asked UPS on several occasions to not just leave packages outside. I have to agree with Merzibelle, requiring a signature doesn't mean much to them. A driver "sign off" is a signature, just not the intented recipients. They will also repeat the "left in a safe place" mantra when you question them about it.
posted on February 7, 2001 06:30:29 AM new
We signed up with UPS for daily pick up, and it is cheaper by far than USPS for anything but really light weight stuff. In 3 years, we've had one damaged package and one lost package, both paid for by insurance. When you consider cost, figure the free tracking, and free $100 insurance... A $100 worth of insurance, and tracking cost about 2.50 with USPS
, then get back into the harness....