Fred Parker on mon 15 mar 10
I have been using USPS Priority Mail to ship items sold on the Internet.=3D=
20=3D
Unfortunately, my community has what might be the most incompetent post
office in the entire system. I was just wondering if anyone has experien=
=3D
ce
using UPS or FedEx and could/would comment. Other than basic competence,=
=3D
cost is a big factor. That is why I have remained with the Post Office, =
=3D
but
things are really deteriorating with them. The next town over has a dece=
=3D
nt
staff but that's a 40 mile round trip.
Thanks,
Fred Parker
KATHI LESUEUR on mon 15 mar 10
On Mar 15, 2010, at 1:26 PM, Fred Parker wrote:
> I have been using USPS Priority Mail to ship items sold on the
> Internet.
> Unfortunately, my community has what might be the most incompetent
> post
> office in the entire system. I was just wondering if anyone has
> experience
> using UPS or FedEx and could/would comment. Other than basic
> competence,
> cost is a big factor. That is why I have remained with the Post
> Office, but
> things are really deteriorating with them. The next town over has
> a decent
> staff but that's a 40 mile round trip.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Fred Parker
>
I've used UPS for twenty-five years. I've rarely had breakage, but I
pack as if they are going to throw it across the room (if you've ever
watched a UPS truck unloaded you know why). I don't think USPS or
FEDEX do any better job. If you have a UPS store near you just box it
up and take it over. You can go to the UPS website and get your
shipping labels and the cost of each package and then just drop it off.
KATHI LESUEUR
http://www.lesueurclaywork.com
phil on mon 15 mar 10
Hi Fred,
I have shipped a lot of small to medium heavy to heavy or bulky things via
the UPS and also Fed-Ex.
If one has an Account, one can do the Shipping Label on-line, prepare the
Parcels however one likes, affix the Label in the litle clear-plastic
self-adhesive Envelope-thing, and, simply drop the Parcels off at the
nearest UPS Station or sub-Station, give a friendly wave, and, no need to
wait in line, if there is a line.
One then gets Billed for one's shipments Monthly.
Shipping Label making is more tedious and involved in the on-line format
requirements and their redundancies than filling out a relatively casual
Post Office Shipping Label, but, this is made up for in the ease of drop-of=
f
and cost savings when Parcels are over a pound or two.
Reliability is excellent, though Ground is best if used only for Domestic
destinations, and, Parcels have to go to a Street Address of course, and ca=
n
not be addressed to a Post Office Box.
Of course, always, regardless of the Shipper, anything fragile or breakable
should be packaged so the contents will remain safe if the parcel is thrown
off a Roof onto Concrete.
UPS used to have a 'Hand Carry' Catagory, where the parcel would not be set
onto the Conveyor Belts, and, this may or may not still exist, but was
especially useful for large, heavy, fragile things.
Phil
Lv
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Parker"
I have been using USPS Priority Mail to ship items sold on the Internet.
Unfortunately, my community has what might be the most incompetent post
office in the entire system. I was just wondering if anyone has experience
using UPS or FedEx and could/would comment. Other than basic competence,
cost is a big factor. That is why I have remained with the Post Office, bu=
t
things are really deteriorating with them. The next town over has a decent
staff but that's a 40 mile round trip.
Thanks,
Fred Parker
David Hendley on mon 15 mar 10
These days, it doesn't really matter if your local Post Office is
poorly run, over crowded, or otherwise lacking.
Just print all you Priority Mail labels online. You can then take
them to your Post Office and simply set them on the counter.
Surely they can handle moving a box from the counter to the
outgoing mail bag?
You can also schedule a pick-up and your carrier will know to
expect your package. If you don't want to leave it at your mailbox,
or it is too large, you can specify where it will be, such as
'front porch'.
When you pay and print online you also get a discounted price
and free Delivery Confirmation.
As far as price, you never know for sure what will be cheapest,
but, generally, the Post Office is cheapest for smaller packages
and nearer-by destinations, while UPS is less for large boxes
going cross country. The Post Office charges extra for insurance,
while $100 worth is automatically added with UPS. I consider
all insurance worthless, because all shippers will try to string
you along and/or deny your claim. Your money and effort is
better spent with industrial-grade packing rather than arguing
after the fact. I have never used FedEx.
If you do use UPS, you print your labels online, same as the
Post Office, but UPS always has been, and continues to be
customer un-friendly, and their website can be obtuse and more
time consuming to use. There is no need to deliver your UPS
package to a UPS store (the closest one to me is 40 miles
away). You can take it to any place that regularly ships for
people (for a fee) and drop it for free, or you can, if you see one,
hand it to any UPS driver making deliveries. I know that my
UPS driver will be having lunch at Big Bertha's Cafe in Maydelle
between 1 and 2 p.m., so I usually meet him there. If I am early,
I just leave my package with Bertha.
As far as rough handling, I think there is no difference in the
shipping services. Most packages are fine, but there will always
be the occasional few that fall off the conveyor, fall off the
shelf in the truck, or get kicked by a pissed-off employee.
As far as speed, Priority Mail is not totally reliable. Most of
the time, packages arrive in a day or two, or 3 if going a long
distance, but occasionally, a package will take a few extra
days. With UPS, you can bank on the delivery date they give
you when you prepare your shipment. They are never late.
David Hendley
david@farmpots.com
http://www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
I have been using USPS Priority Mail to ship items sold on the Internet.
Unfortunately, my community has what might be the most incompetent post
office in the entire system. I was just wondering if anyone has experience
using UPS or FedEx and could/would comment. Other than basic competence,
cost is a big factor. That is why I have remained with the Post Office, bu=
t
things are really deteriorating with them. The next town over has a decent
staff but that's a 40 mile round trip.
Thanks,
Fred Parker
James Freeman on mon 15 mar 10
Fred...
Most of my pieces are on the larger side, typically 16 to 26 inches
tall, so my double-boxed packages tend to be rather large but not
terribly heavy. I prices out USPS, UPS, and FedEx, and FedEx was
always significantly cheaper, often on the order of $20 or so less.
Like with those using USPS or UPS, I can print out the shipper online.
For anything but very large packages, I usually drop them off at a
local business that serves as a FedEx agent. If I am able to catch
the FedEx driver, and if the shipment is Ground, they will just take
the package with them. If you schedule a pickup though, it is very
expensive. For smaller stuff, I just run it out to the local post
office. Unlike yours, mine does a great job.
I've never had anything break with FedEx. I lost one pot through
USPS, even though it was bubble wrapped and double boxed. I learned
my lesson, and don't write "fragile" on the box anymore. Seems more
like an invitation.
Just my experience. Others will differ.
Take care.
...James
James Freeman
"All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I
should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."
-Michel de Montaigne
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/clayart/
On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 12:26 PM, Fred Parker wrote:
> I have been using USPS Priority Mail to ship items sold on the Internet.
> Unfortunately, my community has what might be the most incompetent post
> office in the entire system. =3DA0I was just wondering if anyone has expe=
ri=3D
ence
> using UPS or FedEx and could/would comment. =3DA0Other than basic compete=
nc=3D
e,
> cost is a big factor. =3DA0That is why I have remained with the Post Offi=
ce=3D
, but
> things are really deteriorating with them. =3DA0The next town over has a =
de=3D
cent
> staff but that's a 40 mile round trip.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Fred Parker
>
Patty on tue 16 mar 10
All I know is that if you are shipping to me in Hawaii, I request that it b=
e
sent via priority mail. All those "free shipping" ads exclude Hawaii and
Alaska in small print. Fedex and UPS only have air service to Hawaii, no
ground shipping rate. We were recently quoted $53 shipping for 3 6" x 6"
tiles. They could so easily have packed them in a Priority Mail flat rate
box and paid $16.95 at the most no matter what it weighs. Parcel post can
take months to arrive and media mail can take 6 months. Recently received =
a
book we ordered 4 months ago. What I like about the USPS is that priority
mail is the same rate next door or across the ocean in the US. So I can
purchase from anywhere in the US and the shipping will be the same. Now to
see how the cups I sent to myself arrive at the Hotel in Philly.
Patty Kaliher
Sumi von Dassow on tue 16 mar 10
Fred
I have been using Fed Ex with my Potter's Council discount. Much cheaper
and faster and more reliable than USPS,
at least for moderately large packages such as pottery. Also insurance
up to $100 is free whereas USPS insurance
is relatively expensive. And you can go online with the address and
print up your shipping label and just go drop it off
at the Fed Ex office and they will bill you.
Sumi
> I have been using USPS Priority Mail to ship items sold on the Internet.
> Unfortunately, my community has what might be the most incompetent post
> office in the entire system. I was just wondering if anyone has experien=
ce
> using UPS or FedEx and could/would comment. Other than basic competence,
> cost is a big factor. That is why I have remained with the Post Office, =
but
> things are really deteriorating with them. The next town over has a dece=
nt
> staff but that's a 40 mile round trip.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Fred Parker
>
>
>
--
Sumi von Dassow
www.herwheel.com
sumi@herwheel.com
Johanna San Inocencio on tue 27 jul 10
--=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3DAVGMAIL-3BC12C91=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3DISO-8859-1; format=3Dflowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
I was cleaning out my inbox and stumbled upon this post. From a consumer
point of view, I have had many issues with UPS and often have delivery
failures on the customer end. I live in a rural area on a street that is
relatively new. Fedex and USPS can always find me, but UPS has issues,
especially with priority packages. On more than one occasion I have
received phone calls from a harried driver trying to figure out where
exactly I am. The last time I had an issue was in May. My dh travels for
his work and sent me a money order by UPS 2nd day air for my trip to
Italy a little over a week before I had to leave. It should have arrived
on Monday. By Wednesday we were trying desperately to figure where it
was. According to UPS the only record they had was from the ship point.
Friday afternoon my mail carrier brought me a package to sign for.
Evidently the driver from UPS couldn't find my house so he dropped it
off at the post office and had them find it. The most annoying part was
everyone I talked to at UPS refused to tell me anything useful, acting
like it was the ship agents fault.
Johanna
"A man is as free as he chooses to make himself,
never an atom freer."
The Raven, Lillith by George MacDonald
On 3/15/2010 7:23 PM, David Hendley wrote:
> These days, it doesn't really matter if your local Post Office is
> poorly run, over crowded, or otherwise lacking.
> Just print all you Priority Mail labels online. You can then take
> them to your Post Office and simply set them on the counter.
> Surely they can handle moving a box from the counter to the
> outgoing mail bag?
> You can also schedule a pick-up and your carrier will know to
> expect your package. If you don't want to leave it at your mailbox,
> or it is too large, you can specify where it will be, such as
> 'front porch'.
> When you pay and print online you also get a discounted price
> and free Delivery Confirmation.
>
> As far as price, you never know for sure what will be cheapest,
> but, generally, the Post Office is cheapest for smaller packages
> and nearer-by destinations, while UPS is less for large boxes
> going cross country. The Post Office charges extra for insurance,
> while $100 worth is automatically added with UPS. I consider
> all insurance worthless, because all shippers will try to string
> you along and/or deny your claim. Your money and effort is
> better spent with industrial-grade packing rather than arguing
> after the fact. I have never used FedEx.
>
> If you do use UPS, you print your labels online, same as the
> Post Office, but UPS always has been, and continues to be
> customer un-friendly, and their website can be obtuse and more
> time consuming to use. There is no need to deliver your UPS
> package to a UPS store (the closest one to me is 40 miles
> away). You can take it to any place that regularly ships for
> people (for a fee) and drop it for free, or you can, if you see one,
> hand it to any UPS driver making deliveries. I know that my
> UPS driver will be having lunch at Big Bertha's Cafe in Maydelle
> between 1 and 2 p.m., so I usually meet him there. If I am early,
> I just leave my package with Bertha.
>
> As far as rough handling, I think there is no difference in the
> shipping services. Most packages are fine, but there will always
> be the occasional few that fall off the conveyor, fall off the
> shelf in the truck, or get kicked by a pissed-off employee.
>
> As far as speed, Priority Mail is not totally reliable. Most of
> the time, packages arrive in a day or two, or 3 if going a long
> distance, but occasionally, a package will take a few extra
> days. With UPS, you can bank on the delivery date they give
> you when you prepare your shipment. They are never late.
>
> David Hendley
> david@farmpots.com
> http://www.farmpots.com
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> I have been using USPS Priority Mail to ship items sold on the Internet.
> Unfortunately, my community has what might be the most incompetent post
> office in the entire system. I was just wondering if anyone has
> experience
> using UPS or FedEx and could/would comment. Other than basic competence,
> cost is a big factor. That is why I have remained with the Post
> Office, but
> things are really deteriorating with them. The next town over has a
> decent
> staff but that's a 40 mile round trip.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Fred Parker
>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 9.0.790 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2748 - Release Date: 03/15/10 =
02:33:00
>
>
--=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3DAVGMAIL-3BC12C91=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Content-Type: text/plain; x-avg=3Dcert; charset=3Dus-ascii
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No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3029 - Release Date: 07/26/10 01=
:=3D
36:00
--=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3DAVGMAIL-3BC12C91=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D--
Robert Harris on tue 27 jul 10
Personally I have to defend UPS. Here in Gainesville FL, they give the
best service of all the major carriers. My UPS delivery guy is the
happiest friendliest person I've ever met, and he goes out of his way
to help me bring big deliveries into my studio. The local place where
I drop off my shipments are equally helpful - never complain and have
never lost a package (and I've had them ship stuff into the middle of
god know where in Idaho).
The post office on the other hand has broken more stuff than I care to
recall. One delivery that went to Chicago basically looked as if they
had taken one look at the Fragile sticker and decided to be as rough
with it as possible. I had a flat rate box of clay sent to me to test
and the postal worker made me come and get it out of the truck as it
was too heavy. (Fair enough it was about 40lbs or so, but a direct
contast to the UPS guy).
And FedEx can't find me, but UPS can...
So it's probably just a case of who is good where you live (or deliver
to) rather than an across the board thing.
Just my tuppence worth.
R
On Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 10:28 AM, Johanna San Inocencio
wrote:
> This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3D3DISO-8859-1; format=3D3Dflowed
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
> I was cleaning out my inbox and stumbled upon this post. From a consumer
> point of view, I have had many issues with UPS and often have delivery
> failures on the customer end. I live in a rural area on a street that is
> relatively new. Fedex and USPS can always find me, but UPS has issues,
> especially with priority packages. On more than one occasion I have
> received phone calls from a harried driver trying to figure out where
> exactly I am. The last time I had an issue was in May. My dh travels for
> his work and sent me a money order by UPS 2nd day air for my trip to
> Italy a little over a week before I had to leave. It should have arrived
> on Monday. By Wednesday we were trying desperately to figure where it
> was. According to UPS the only record they had was from the ship point.
> Friday afternoon my mail carrier brought me a package to sign for.
> Evidently the driver from UPS couldn't find my house so he dropped it
> off at the post office and had them find it. The most annoying part was
> everyone I talked to at UPS refused to tell me anything useful, acting
> like it was the ship agents fault.
>
> Johanna
> "A man is as free as he chooses to make himself,
> =3DA0never an atom freer."
> The Raven, Lillith by George MacDonald
>
>
> On 3/15/2010 7:23 PM, David Hendley wrote:
>> These days, it doesn't really matter if your local Post Office is
>> poorly run, over crowded, or otherwise lacking.
>> Just print all you Priority Mail labels online. You can then take
>> them to your Post Office and simply set them on the counter.
>> Surely they can handle moving a box from the counter to the
>> outgoing mail bag?
>> You can also schedule a pick-up and your carrier will know to
>> expect your package. If you don't want to leave it at your mailbox,
>> or it is too large, you can specify where it will be, such as
>> 'front porch'.
>> When you pay and print online you also get a discounted price
>> and free Delivery Confirmation.
>>
>> As far as price, you never know for sure what will be cheapest,
>> but, generally, the Post Office is cheapest for smaller packages
>> and nearer-by destinations, while UPS is less for large boxes
>> going cross country. The Post Office charges extra for insurance,
>> while $100 worth is automatically added with UPS. I consider
>> all insurance worthless, because all shippers will try to string
>> you along and/or deny your claim. Your money and effort is
>> better spent with industrial-grade packing rather than arguing
>> after the fact. I have never used FedEx.
>>
>> If you do use UPS, you print your labels online, same as the
>> Post Office, but UPS always has been, and continues to be
>> customer un-friendly, and their website can be obtuse and more
>> time consuming to use. There is no need to deliver your UPS
>> package to a UPS store (the closest one to me is 40 miles
>> away). You can take it to any place that regularly ships for
>> people (for a fee) and drop it for free, or you can, if you see one,
>> hand it to any UPS driver making deliveries. I know that my
>> UPS driver will be having lunch at Big Bertha's Cafe in Maydelle
>> between 1 and 2 p.m., so I usually meet him there. If I am early,
>> I just leave my package with Bertha.
>>
>> As far as rough handling, I think there is no difference in the
>> shipping services. Most packages are fine, but there will always
>> be the occasional few that fall off the conveyor, fall off the
>> shelf in the truck, or get kicked by a pissed-off employee.
>>
>> As far as speed, Priority Mail is not totally reliable. Most of
>> the time, packages arrive in a day or two, or 3 if going a long
>> distance, but occasionally, a package will take a few extra
>> days. With UPS, you can bank on the delivery date they give
>> you when you prepare your shipment. They are never late.
>>
>> David Hendley
>> david@farmpots.com
>> http://www.farmpots.com
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>
>> I have been using USPS Priority Mail to ship items sold on the Internet.
>> Unfortunately, my community has what might be the most incompetent post
>> office in the entire system. =3DA0I was just wondering if anyone has
>> experience
>> using UPS or FedEx and could/would comment. =3DA0Other than basic compet=
en=3D
ce,
>> cost is a big factor. =3DA0That is why I have remained with the Post
>> Office, but
>> things are really deteriorating with them. =3DA0The next town over has a
>> decent
>> staff but that's a 40 mile round trip.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Fred Parker
>>
>>
>>
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 9.0.790 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2748 - Release Date: 03/15/10=
=3D
02:33:00
>>
>>
>
>
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3029 - Release Date: 07/26/10 =
=3D
01:36:00
>
--=3D20
----------------------------------------------------------
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|
