posted on August 2, 2002 11:28:46 PM
I am going to start selling and I'm not quite sure who I should use for items around 2 pounds and higher. I have been researching all three UPS, FedEx and Airborne. I have been reading this message board and others and I get the feeling that some buyers don't like UPS too much. Among the complaints, 9-5 hours not convenient, packages damaged, too slow, etc. I have not shipped with any of them, so I really don't have an opinion either way. Any feedback on this would be great.
posted on August 3, 2002 06:02:35 AM
From what I have read, it depends a lot on the local employees of the company in your area. While many love FEDEX, I have found them nearly IMPOSSIBLE to work with on a local level.
I have used UPS for over a year and love it. Just now starting to explore Airborne.
My advice would be to see which one ACTS like they wnat yor business.
posted on August 3, 2002 06:04:17 AM
from a pricing aspect you will find USPS "most" expensive overall.....i find fedex are cheaper, helpful and provide accurate online tracking
posted on August 3, 2002 06:07:51 AM
I'm sick of them all! Every two weeks I load the sold items into my mini-van and deliver them myself. This cuts down on packaging, however some customers do balk at the $100.00 s&h fee!
posted on August 3, 2002 09:14:16 AM
Airborne is looking pretty good these days, and they have a drop off really close by. They also will pick up... they are like UPS ONLY in the sense that they do insure automatically up to $100, and free tracking system. Haven't tried it yet, but I may soon.
Just one problem; they DO NOT deliver to P.O. Boxes.
posted on August 3, 2002 09:26:38 AM
Only USPS will deliver to a PO Box. I guess it depends on your locale. I have used FedEx Ground even back when it was RPS & have a great relationship with them. Not only that but their office is less than a mile from me,UPS is 2 miles & the PO is 5 miles. Alldings that was a tongue in cheek remark, right? My last 3 sales went to NY, FL & IL. I live in CA, I should "jump" in my van & deliver? Oh Yeah.
I hope my info helps you. I am currently using Fed-Ex Ground/Home Delivery and USPS. I use USPS for packages up to 3 pounds, mainly because of the free boxes and up to that the shipping with them doesn't cost too much but over 3 pounds it can get a little pricey. I am in love with FedEx. I love the fact that I can have an account with them and am able to print out all of my shipping labels on my printer and just run into the FedEx center and drop them off!!! I don't have to wait in line, nothing!!! It's GREAT!!!! I have an account with UPS but it is more expensive than Fed-Ex so no one opts for them, so I haven't had the opportunity to ship with them yet!
posted on August 3, 2002 12:07:59 PM
Thanks to all who posted, I got some good advice. I guess it just a matter of trying each of them out and seeing who is better.
posted on August 3, 2002 02:24:01 PM
USPS doesn't deliver after 5pm either, and they close earlier. Fedex and UPS stay open later.
They all three have problems with damaged packages. It's usually the sellers fault for not packaging it well enough.
I worked for UPS long ago and I can tell you there is absolutely no way for a package to get damaged under normal circumstances. There's no throwing, and boxes are put onto trucks with heavy on bottom, light on top. I've also worked airfreight and know the process is perfect unloading and loading planes.
USPS counter clerks throw packages around, I've seen them. One guy threw my package 12 feet to another clerk! They also throw them in bins as more packages get thrown upon them.
The lines at the PO tend to be long and slow. At Fedex I'm usually the only customer.
I don't use UPS because Fedex is always cheaper. So it's media mail or parcel post for light items and Fedex for heavier.
posted on August 3, 2002 08:06:22 PM
I tried to open a FedEx account recently and they said they weren't accepting any new ground accounts at that time. I could still drop off packages though. The problem is that the nearest drop point is 35 miles away and they charge $4.40 to pick up. That makes them about equal to UPS. I have never had anything damaged by UPS or USPS.
posted on August 3, 2002 08:23:31 PM
I spent 40 years in the transportation industry, and have had extensive deaalings with all of the small shipment carriers, even REA Express for those of you old enough to remember them For a variety of reasons to numerous to list, my choice is FedEx Ground. They have lived up to all my expectations and have provided excellent service at a very reasonable cost. They run their company the way a transportation company should be run. The bottom line is, at least in my area, they seem to appreciate my business.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on August 4, 2002 06:33:17 AM
Over the years, I have had problems with all the choices mentioned, but with the volume of business I have, that is to be expected.
I tend to agree that most damage problems have been due to the vendor's lack of packing expertise. Too many packages are packed poorly, and it doesn't take much to cause damage.
The most common culprits are mixed items in one box like solid glass snow globes shipped with champagne flutes. They are all wrapped in small bubble wrap. But when the box is handled, the solid ball migrates through peanuts or rumpled paper and taps the lip of the glass, and instant breakage is the result. This is especially true if the shipper was cheap and did not use enough peanuts, or used cheap bubble wrap which deflates, or worst of all, just balled up newspaper to fill the void.
Well, that said, the choice of carrier has to depend a lot on finding the right mix of price and convenience.
All three can be difficult on claims, slow on delivery and hard on packages.
All three can also be fast, efficient and caring. There is no way of knowing!
posted on August 7, 2002 07:48:20 AM
I have a UPS Pick Up Center 5 minutes from my house but yesterday when I dropped off a package, I was told that they are now going to be charging $1.00 per box to hold for the pick up. I called UPS and I was told that this pick up site is free to charge whatever they want to hold my items until they are picked up. When I asked her about UPS pick up at my home she said that is OK but I cannot use the internet labels and that the UPS driver would deliver the labels when he picked up my packages. She said I will have to be home between the hours of 9Am to 7PM so that I can label the boxes when the driver arrives. Is this nuts or what? I live in a town of over 100,000 people and UPS does not even have their own pick up location here. I would have to drive about 1-1/2 hrs round trip to their site in a small town. Guess my trial period with UPS is over!!
posted on August 7, 2002 09:44:41 AM
Coonr, I used to work for a company that used Airborne. I thought they were lousy. We needed a shipment to go from Boston to Virginia Beach overnight. The next day it still had not reached Virginia. It was stuck in Ohio. This was a $20,000 machine and I remember this for all the stress it caused me (and frustration).
posted on August 7, 2002 10:17:17 AM
I took a bike to be shipped to a packing shop yesterday.
UPS was $29.??
Fed Ex Ground $24.??
That's a $5 difference!
