posted on February 10, 2004 11:27:10 AM
OK -- I just registered at UPS. I have no problem with USPS but want to know is there ANY advantage to using one or the other...opinons PLEASE . Thanks in advance
posted on February 10, 2004 11:43:32 AM
It depends on what you are selling. I use FedEx Ground for anything over 3 lbs. as it is cheaper, which I use a lot as most of sales are china which weighs a lot.
posted on February 10, 2004 12:01:00 PM
it also depends where you sell -if you are selling from your website and you want to maintain a certain level of customer service.
UPS-
will get the signature of the buyer and you can recall it in case there is a chargeback.
100 dollars insurance is included with shipping.
if the item is broken,your customer will just call ups ,while with usps,she has to take the whole package and stand in line at the post office.
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 10, 2004 04:31:52 PM
I'm guessing that they have set an account. I did this with RPS before it became FedEx Ground. I get billed every 2 weeks & can pay by check.As for the PO, I just mailed a pkg today that was insured for $100.00, weight was 2+ lbs. The total was 10.75. Insurancw e was $2.20 of that.
Fortunate here in that my satellite post office down the street is also a shipping center, so I have choices of Airborne, UPS or FedEx or post office.
In my experience, common carriers are less expensive over 4 lbs. to the West Coast from the East Coast -- unless the person is in a rural area in which case some carriers surcharge and some don't. I do use priority mail for very fragile items even if they're heavy -- less chance of having breakage when package is not surrounded by transmissions, microwave ovens, etc -- and usually priority mail involves less handling/quicker delivery.
As noted by other posters, it depends what you sell, and how much you sell. If you carry one or two items only, pick one service and stick with it. If your items are varied, and you're concerned with shipping costs, you probably need to use the 3 to 4 lb. guide. I've found the eBay shipping calculator is actually pretty accurate.
Unless you request and pay extra, I don't believe that UPS or any of them require signature. In fact, UPS just dropped off a parcel on my porch this afternoon -- no signature.
In general, my common carrier packages seem to go Airborne most often, followed by FedEx, and last, and rarely, UPS.
And the only thing that ever broke in some 2,000 transactions over the years -- with some very odd and very fragile packages going out of here -- was a FedEx shipment of an electric mixer. Go figure!
posted on February 10, 2004 09:28:24 PM
Here is a good way to get the cost of shipping by USPS, You can go into their web site & if you have a scale you can get the cost of shipping to any Zone if you put in the weight.
posted on February 10, 2004 09:32:13 PM
We shipped over 1,000 packages via USPS in January 2004. After a while, you get tired of customers asking where their package is. The "Track and confirm" on the USPS web site often times was inaccurate or not up to date. It actually could have been delivered, but buyer fraud is possible when delivery confirmation is not updated. There is also the extra work with tracking a package through the post office. You have to call the local post office, find out which carrier delivered to that location that day, and figure exactly what happened. This all takes up valuable time.
Using UPS, you still run into these issues, but I think the package tracking process is more streamlined and you receive your answers much quicker. If your time is more valuable than following up on missing packages, UPS is a good alternative. If you do any sort of volume, a daily pick rate for 2+ lbs. is very competitive with USPS. I'm getting to a point where I feel the little extra you pay frees up your time for "revenue generating activities".
[ edited by sun818 on Feb 10, 2004 09:35 PM ]
posted on February 11, 2004 08:06:38 PM
birgitxxx: If you hsve breakage by either UPS or FedEx Ground, I say it is your fault. I have sent hundreds of pieces of china by FedEx Ground with no breakage. I always double wrap & double box any valuable pieces & have had 100% success in shipment. I ahve been buying & selling china since 1995 & have learned what it takes to get it sent oi without breakakage.
