posted on August 6, 2004 09:09:04 AM
I'm currently using UPS Worldship program to ship my packages. However, lately I had to ship a lot of envelopes and international shipments and USPS is way cheaper choice with those. Mail man offered me USPS' service. Do you guys have any opinions on which you would prefer for what kind of shipments?
posted on August 6, 2004 09:53:05 AM
I use USPS for almost everything I ship. I may not be typical as the post office is close to my home, and Fedx and UPS are not.
I recently shipped 2 chairs (disassembled) to buyer in CA, and the post office was within $2.00 of Fedex. Last time I used UPS, things had really changed at their terminal. They had 3 computers waiting for you to do your own labeling and insurance info. I can't imagine trying to ship from there during Christmas rush.
posted on August 6, 2004 01:15:13 PM
I use USPS for all of my shipping and found it to be cheaper than UPS quoted me. Most of my packages are under 8 pounds and shipped in the US. The few Canada and UK shipments that I have done were okay, considering they got slowed down due to a change in the Terrorism Rating. Priority Mail has been really good to me. I am in a tiny rural town, so no one will offer "overnight" but Priority usually gets to either coast in 2 days. I have only had 1 damage claim and my postmaster handled it for me with no problems. Hope that this helps.
Kevin
posted on August 6, 2004 04:14:45 PM
on lighter or less fragile items, i always use USPS. on heavier or more delicate items, i check cost on both UPS and USPS (Fed Ex more expensive here for some reason), and ship the most cost effective way.
i have had a few (3) insurance claims with UPS in 3 years and they have all been handled and completed successfully within a two week period.
posted on August 6, 2004 04:43:22 PM
I've never used any shipper other than USPS for international shipments. Fast, dependable and not expensive.
Had a nice surprise a month or so ago. I sent a rather expensive item to England and was able to track it all the way to the bidder's home. My posties and I were all surprised because we figured the tracking would probably end as soon as the package left USPS control in England.
Just twice I've had packages take a long time to arrive. One went AWOL in the Paris postal system, the other was held in the Indonesian PO for nearly three months. Fortunately both did show up eventually and both my buyers could see from the postmark I HAD shipped promptly.
