Dale Neese on fri 13 jan 06
I used to really hate packing and shipping pottery. It is still not the most
enjoyable thing to do but when you have to it sure is better to learn the
online shipping process with UPS. Open an account, print your own labels,
schedule a UPS driver come and pick the boxes up at your studio. All done
online. Follow directions. You will need a fairly accurate scale to weigh
the shipment, bathroom scale or better yet a digital platform scale. If you
miss the actual weight a little, UPS will make the adjustment and charge
your account the difference. This is also an easy way to record keep, print
the computer screen shipping information, put in a folder.
This method has really saved me time by not having to fill out all those UPS
forms and hassle of having to haul the boxes to UPS. Back in the olden days
just mentioning the word "pottery" when asked what is in the box by the UPS
counter person, lights started flashing, horns blew. All the employees came
to the front and they opened your carefully packed, double boxed package,
just to check if you packed them properly, in front of a long line of
customers. I felt like I was being stripped searched. After several of those
experiences I never went back.
I purchase new boxes in several sizes and packing material in bulk from a
supply warehouse and store them in my designated shipping area
complex...overhead in the garage. One great box is the "dish barrel" size.
It is really strong and can hold a good size order securely packed. I
enclose an invoice for the customer with original ordered items checked off.
Sometimes a small thank you bowl is also enclosed. A totaled receipt for the
pottery, shipping charges along with a self address stamped envelope for
convenient return of remaining payment less deposit. Place the boxes where
the UPS person can pick them up and they are on their way. You can even
track the shipment and receive email when they were delivered to their
destination.
If you have big dogs like I do..... "The Dos Lickers"... introduce them and
your UPS driver to each other. This way they won't be concerned to come down
the driveway to pickup the shipment if you are working out back in the
studio.
More time to keep hands on the clay.
Dale Tex
"across the alley from the Alamo"
San Antonio, Texas USA
Kathi LeSueur on fri 13 jan 06
Dale Neese wrote:
> I used to really hate packing and shipping pottery. It is still not
> the most
> enjoyable thing to do but when you have to it sure is better to learn the
> online shipping process with UPS. Open an account, print your own labels,
> schedule a UPS driver come and pick the boxes up at your studio. All done
> online. Follow directions. You will need a fairly accurate scale to weigh
> the shipment, bathroom scale or better yet a digital platform scale.
> If you
> miss the actual weight a little, UPS will make the adjustment and charge
> your account the difference.>>>>>
I also have an account with UPS. I love my driver. He does everything he
can to get my shipments to their destination intact. However, there are
a few things about UPS that I hate and I can only think that they are
done to increase profits. First, box size. I now record the box size on
my shipping record. I've had too many times where UPS said I had an
oversized box for a shipment. The fee for this "mistake" is high. On
every box that goes out I have a second person verify the weight I'm
reading off of the scale and I have them check to see that all of the
necessary information is on the shipping record. I've had UPS claim one
box out of four shipped to the same address was "residential" and tried
to charge me $30 for the "mistake". I've had them charge for no zip
code. All of these "adjustments" have correction fees attached to them
and unless you've developed a system to prove you did the right thing
you'll just have to eat the extra charges. I haven't had UPS try to
charge me for an oversize box since I started noting the dimensions on
the shipping record. You really have to keep on them or you'll have lots
of extra charges for your "mistakes".
Kathi
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