posted on August 23, 2001 12:19:58 AM
I am thinking of getting UPS to pick up my packages daily ~ does anybody else do it? Do you like it? ~ etc ~ you know the routine!
posted on August 23, 2001 12:44:47 AM
The last time I looked at UPS pick-up you had to guarantee a certain numbers of parcels to be picked up every day. I don't send stuff every day, twice a week.
But the main reason is that I don't like UPS period, as a seller and buyer. Most of my buyers don't like UPS either.
Any thing I have ever received broken or damaged has been delivered UPS.
Any package sent to me that has gone missing has been sent UPS. (One package took 3 weeks and ended up with enough frequent flyer miles for a round trip ticket to London.)
UPS ground can take up to 10 BUSINESS days to arrive which I think is too long for a $5.00 minimum charge.
I find it to be too expensive for lighter parcels, minimum charge is $5.00 I think? I can send a light weight parcel for less than $3.50 through the PO. Buyers I deal with don't like the minimum $5.00 charge.
Some UPS people give you a hard time about packing and want to rip open the parcel to check your packing. UPS is known to give people a hard time about damage claims.
Actually I dislike UPS so much I often will not bid on an auction if the seller states they ship UPS.
The Post Office is a can of worms too, but it is can of worms that works better for me.
posted on August 23, 2001 04:47:28 AM
I don't use daily pick up, but I have an account with them. Once in awhile if it's going to save a customer money, I'll ship UPS, and I follow their guidelines to the letter for packing (it's at the website).
The only reason I have an account is because, though it doesn't save on the first item picked up for the day, if I have more than one item, I save $3/package on the add'l packages. So, if you play this correctly, and list your heavy items at the same time, it can work for you.
To save the $3/package, I must either drop the package off (25 miles away, it's not going to happen) or hand it to a UPS driver. Well, once he's there to pick up the first package, I just hand him the add'l ones. You also have to make your own labels at the website.
Another way to save your customers money is to tell them that if they have a commercial address at which they can receive the package, UPS is a little less.
So, while I can't help you with daily UPS, I can bump you up.
posted on August 23, 2001 04:54:08 AM
We use it. You get big discounts from the onetime pickup price, nice software that does your lables, keeps track of your shipments, etc.
You do need to do $50.00 worth of shipping a week to max out the discount.
posted on August 23, 2001 05:20:28 AM
I use UPS pickup -- it is $16.00 flat weekly fee if you do not send anything for that week - send one package and the weekly fees drops to $11.00 -- send $50.00 or more and the fee is $7.00.
We send almost everything over 1 lb by UPS. You get free insurance and tracking and it normally is between $4.50 and $5.50 unless it is some remote location the the heart lands. When you figure US Post Office cost is going to cost you $5.15 with insurance... and then give you a hassle if you try to claim the insurance....
UPS is by far a better choice if your in this for the long haul.
Oh - as stated by another user -- you do receive software and free labels.
posted on August 23, 2001 06:04:30 AM
I think UPS offers the worst service of ALL the carriers.
I have used FEDEX, Airborne and USPS as well as UPS.
The last time an item was shipped to me via United Parcel Service, it arrived damaged. Immediately, I called the seller and he graciously refunded my amex card immediately (it was an EBAYer!). Then, he told me to leave the box downstairs with my doorman and he would call UPS. Six weeks, four phone calls and 12 emails later, UPS still had not picked up the box and the seller told me he was giving up and just taking the loss.
Airborne is a little better; they break and lose things too, but they do pay off on insurance. Never had the problem with FEDEX. The post office is OK with insurance although I almost never have to file a claim.
posted on August 23, 2001 11:36:10 AM
I have not had any problems with UPS ~ my nightmares have all been with FedEx ~ I am going to give the daily service a try. I am also thinking of getting a postage service too.
posted on August 23, 2001 02:51:19 PM
I have been using UPS daily for a couple of years now. It has worked great for me and sure beats packing all of those package's to Post Office or some overcharging shipping service place. You are going to have a problem with damage unless you learn to package your items correctly. It isn't going to matter who you use, if the item is not packed (BOMB PROOF) it is going to get broke.
One of the main reasons I went UPS is because I can use all of the packing material I need and do not need to worry about the extra weight. Example: We just shipped 4 plates, they weighed 4 pounds before packing and 9 pounds after packing. By the way, the automated Email tracking and .35 cent per $100 insurance is nice too. Best of all I can set my watch every day when the UPS person comes to my door. Almost always within a 5 minute time frame. I have filed 3 claims in
2 years and on all I had it within 10 days of filing.
posted on August 23, 2001 03:16:47 PM
Love it!
I have shipped over 3000 auctions in the last couple of years and I can count on one hand and not use all my fingers the items that I have arrived broken or lost.( I have never had them lose one). I ship about 20 packages a week with them.
Now usps is another story.....I pack well so few arrive broken but trying to collect insurance with them is a joke!I have been on the buyers end several times with items arriving broken.
I only ship usps if item is 3 lbs or less.
I have NEVER had a complaint from a bidder on UPS delivering there packages...in fact I have lots of compliments that they get the tracking number emailed to them and that it is insured at no extra charge.
posted on August 23, 2001 03:19:42 PM
One neat feature in the world-ship software (after I figured out how to use it ) is that they will send your buyer an email notice when the package ships.
posted on August 23, 2001 03:30:04 PMMicrobes
Just use the option link and there is a box to check for ship notification......check this and it will activate the window then check the box for email.....this will highlight and open the window for an email address......you can do this up to 2 email address. (I sometimes ship one to my email).These are then sent when you do your end of day.
I had an account a couple years ago where I got the daily pickup service.
When the UPS guy came to my house the very first day, he said:
"Make sure you package the items well; we only check to see if they bounce once!"
Yeah, hilarious. And he wasn't kidding, either! I had items that took WEEKS to get to my customers right here in the states, I had to file DAMAGE & LOST ITEM claims on a WEEKLY basis. I literally had items show up at my customer's houses with TIRE TRACKS on them! I had one package that was going to NY to AL that took 22 days. Kept getting "misrouted", and when the delivery guy FINALLY delivered it, the items were in a MILLION PIECES. And, of course, he left if on her doorstep and walked away, knowing it was in a million pieces.
Horror stories upon horror stories with UPS (aka "oops".
I also get customers who email me asking me to make sure I do NOT to ship via UPS because they've had problems with them also. Which isn't a problem, since I only ship USPS Priority Mail. And not a problem in nearly 4 years with them.
posted on August 23, 2001 03:36:35 PM
lanetzliving, Thanks. Maybe I wasn't quite plain enough, I did figure out how to use the shipping notification after using world ship for about 3 months. Another neat thing is the "reference numbers". Ebay numbers fit in these fields, and it gets printed on the lables, and makes keeping track of shipments very easy.
posted on August 23, 2001 03:42:33 PMmicrobes
sorry, I didn't see the past tense of the verb ..maybe some one else will come along and need the information
Great idea on the reference number!
I will use that!!!!
posted on August 23, 2001 03:42:43 PM LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT
I can't give enought kudos to UPS. I started using the daily pick up a few months ago and like it is said above... I can't set my clock to when he comes.
Contrary to the negative comments... I get great service, nice people, and it is a heck of lot easier than standing in lines at the post office. I only take a couple items to the post each week and my UPS bill is about $300-$400 each week. But since my items are usually over a pound it is MUCH CHEAPER and the tracking is the best. We all have the customers that email you a day after you tell them it is on it's way and this way I can reply with a tracking number and info from www.ups.com as to when the scheduled delivery should be.
I have had ZERO customers complain but I think when the seller has a good attitude so will the buyer. The negative nillies on this post are negative about most things I have seen and it must come across to the buyers. My buyers love it because they get free insurance and they know how to track it.
Good luck and have fun with it!!!
There's no danger of developing eyestrain from looking at the bright side of things!
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LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT