Colder than Inuvik in February: FedEx, UPS, Airborne raising home delivery prices

[jonnashville]

Beginning Monday, January 7.

$1.10 to $1.35 additional for home deliveries, plus separate fee for air "out-of-the-way" deliveries.

Merchants will obviously pass these extra costs on to us at some point.

 

[Kwad Guy]

"Merchants will obviously pass these extra costs on to us AT SOME POINT"?

Try immediately! More incentive to use the USPS when reasonable to
do so (low weight stuff, stuff that doesn't require insurance, etc.)

Kwad

 

[rickforrest]

<< "Merchants will obviously pass these extra costs on to us AT SOME POINT"?

Try immediately! More incentive to use the USPS when reasonable to
do so (low weight stuff, stuff that doesn't require insurance, etc.)

Kwad >>



I use USPS for everything, including heavy items, because it's cheaper, they
take better care of stuff, and they stand behind their insurance, unlike UPS,
FedEx, etc.

 

[Chrono]

I agree, USPS all the way. I paid 7-8 dollars shipping on an item for UPS and I still haven't received it yet. Pre-scheduled date of 9 days after the item has shipped. I don't know about you, but for a package that weighs 2 pounds I could've received it in 2-4 days via USPS priority mail. It would've cost me around 5-6 dollars as well. Fifty cents more for a tracking number too. WTF IS up with UPS? I'm starting to get more peeved by them lately.

 

[Kwad Guy]

USPS is GREAT for low weight, low value stuff.

High value insurace at the USPS is quite expensive.
And shipping heavy packages is also quite expensive unless you
use Parcel Post (== Russian Roulette with respect to when they
might arrive).

For packages <= 10 pounds that I'm not going to insure, there is
no better deal that Priority Mail, that's for sure. With insurance,
it's still a better deal in many cases, depending on how much
insurance it's going to require.

Kwad

 

[DealLurker]

While I fully agree that Priority is good for "low weight, low value" items, there are things you need to know about Priority.


1: They have NO guarentee of "2-3 days" that's just their best estimate in LOW volume pre 9/11/01 days. (Slower now due to less commercial air-travel=less plane cargo bays to throw sacks of mail=more moving by truck)

2: The last time Priority ever got a package to or from me in "2-3 days" was August. (and I ship 10-15 packages a month for eBay, and receive 3-6 a month from eBay)

3: Lately they have been taking upwards of 10 days for many "half cross-country" packages to/from me. (Worst examples: One from CA to MN took 14 days accd to the post mark, another from MN to NH took 11 days; and yes, all my packages are computer printed labels so no mistakability in reading handwriting/etc..)

4: Last Christmas (mid November 2000 til end of Jan 2001) they were taking upwards of 14-20 days for many.

5: There is NO tracking available, unless you pay an extra 40 cents per package for "confirmation", or convince them they have free confirmation if you print it out from their web site (not all post offices will believe you--they arn't trained well)

6: Delivery confirm is NOT tracking... In fact it really isn't "Delivery confirm" in most cities. Many places, as soon as it's loaded on the truck to GO OUT FOR delivery it's scanned, only to be "loosable" before it gets to you.

7: Real tracking isn't available, and confirmation of receipt/signature required costs a HECK of a lot more than $1 if you need the extra coverage.

8: No automatic insurance. Rates start at about $1 PER $50 of coverage. UPS is free to $100, 35 cents (I think) for every $100 over.


Don't get me wrong, I'm no UPS rah-rah (I've had many run ins with them in the past that have cost me enormous amounts of time and hassle), and hate the fact that this increase is going to make it ever-so-much-easier for the USPS to raise Priority rates another 25% in September 2002 (Yes, this is true...there will be scaled "distance"rates for all packages over 1 pound, and the rates are HIGH..check USPS's web site for the new rate suggestions)

Just don't fool yourself into believing the USPS Priority Mail is the solution to all your shipping needs. It works great (currently) for basically anything worth less than $50, and weighing less than 5-7 pounds. Otherwise, UPS (or FedEx ground) is going to be the better solution.

 

[GetReal]

Kwad is right. If you are shipping anything over a few pounds, the USPS is really screwing you on the "extras". Things like insurance,tracking, location pickup will often double or triple the retail rates of private carriers for the same package and no one but people who go to places like Mail Boxes Etc pay retail rates for FedEx or UPS. The USPS insurance claim procdure is also very slow. It takes on average 3-4 months to resolve a claim. If you are a legitimate business, you can get lower rates from FedEx or UPS than the USPS can provide. Both of these private carriers by default provide tracking and insurance on each shipment and additional insurance can be purchased at reasonable increments. Both FedEx and UPS, like the USPS provide free shipping supplies. We ship almost exclusively via FedEx Express and FedEx Ground and pay about 1/3 the retail rate of Priority Mail equivalent for 3 Day Economy shipping.


BTW - THE USPS is also raising Priority Mail prices again this April ater two price increases this past year. The price of a 1lb Priority Mail parcel is increasing from $3.20 to $3.95, and a 2lb is increasing from $3.95 to $4.80.

 

[Nutzo]

If they keep raising rates it'll soon be cheaper to hand deliver it.......

It's making it harder to sell low-end stuff on ebay. Nobody is going to pay $5 to ship a $4 item. (well almost no one <G>)

 

[Rally1]

dumb question,

cant you just say it is a business address when you ship something?

 

[Mephistokur]

Guys, who do you think the USPS uses to get stuff to its destinations? Fedex. They struck a deal last year (2000) to cover each others routes. Thats why it only takes 4-5 days fro USPS now. It used to take two weeks. Now USPS shipments go on Fedex Ground carriers.

Go ahead and rave about the USPS. You are only giving kudos to Fedex.

BTW, I have gotten no notice of rate increase on my Fedex Ground account. Try that service. Fedex Ground is guaranteed 4-5 days, and is sometimes cheaper than USPS with DC.

 

[Vette73]

Even if USPS sometimes uses FedEX or AirBorne, it is still cheaper then going straight through them. So I use USPS even for big items.

 

[GetReal]

<< Even if USPS sometimes uses FedEX or AirBorne, it is still cheaper then going straight through them. So I use USPS even for big items. >>



Wrong! Ramblings of a naiive shipper. USPS is never cheaper. The only advantage that USPS offers is conveince of immediate shipping. The rates speak for themselves check them out!

 

[greg]

>>>3: Lately they have been taking upwards of 10 days for many "half cross-country" packages to/from me. (Worst examples: One from CA to MN took 14 days accd to the post mark, another from MN to NH took 11 days; and yes, all my packages are computer printed labels so no mistakability in reading handwriting/etc..)


That's odd, I too ship in excess of 30 packages a month from ebay etc. via USPS - but when I used USPS priority I track ALL of my packages and of the last 170 USPS priority packages, zero have take more than 6 days (exluding the week of the 11th), most take between 2-5 days. Are you in an out of the way area?

 

[Overzeetop]

You folks might want to look into FedEx Ground. It's what used to be RPS. The ground system isn't yet intergrated fully with the Express service, but they're getting better. They already charge about 1.25 for a residential delivery, but there's no additional fee for an evening or Saturday delivery. Best of all, if you're mailing short distances or heavy packages they're CHEAP!

For example, a 2 lb shipment within your zone (a couple hundred miles) is about $3.00 to a business address, $4.25 to a residential address. Big deal - same as Priority Mail, right? WRONG. Even with the delivery surcharge, it's (1) a few cents cheaper than Priority Mail (2) the tracking system is far better and (3) it's delivered THE NEXT DAY guaranteed. (Okay, I'm not sure on the guarantee to a residence, but it is guaranteed to a business addy). Even cross country shipments are guaranteed in 5 or 6 days. I just shipped a 10lb package from Virginia to a residential address in California for about $7-$8. UPS ground for the same package was over $13. Parcel Post "you might get it while GW Bush is still in office" was about the same as UPS.

Of course, you've got to go to a counter, since you can't put FedEx Ground packages in their Express boxes (yet).

FWIW - I'm not affiliated in any way with FedEx, just a happy, low volume, no-discount customer.

 

[GetReal]

Of course, you've got to go to a counter, since you can't put FedEx Ground packages in their Express boxes (yet).

FedEx Express & Ground both offer free shipping supplies to anyone just like Priority Mail except they give you more than a couple of options for box sizes and all your shipping can be does online..

 

[jgaud]

I worked for the PO in a Priority mail processing plant.
1: They have NO guarentee of "2-3 days" that's just their best estimate in LOW volume pre 9/11/01 days. (Slower now due to less commercial air-travel=less plane cargo bays to throw sacks of mail=more moving by truck) TRUEThe engineer at work told me the best they could do was 5 days at the time. ( just a few weeks ago)

5: There is NO tracking available, unless you pay an extra 40 cents per package for "confirmation", or convince them they have free confirmation if you print it out from their web site (not all post offices will believe you--they arn't trained well)

6: Delivery confirm is NOT tracking... In fact it really isn't "Delivery confirm" in most cities. Many places, as soon as it's loaded on the truck to GO OUT FOR delivery it's scanned, only to be "loosable" before it gets to you.

7: Real tracking isn't available, and confirmation of receipt/signature required costs a HECK of a lot more than $1 if you need the extra coverage
The PO is technologically 20 years behind the competition.Good luck if you lose your shipment.

"Even if USPS sometimes uses FedEX or AirBorne" Maybe 75% of usps Priority is flown by FEDEX since they made the deal w\ FEDEX. They rarely ever use AB

Did you all know the reason the rates are cheaper from the PO? It's the law. The other carriers can not undercut the PO by law! And this billion Dollar bussiness we all support (taxes) is going to lose a few BILLION this year. The PO is one of the most poorly run and ineffecient buisinesses you will ever see. And we're paying for it.

 

[dew042]

<< I use USPS for everything, including heavy items, because it's cheaper, they
take better care of stuff, and they stand behind their insurance, unlike UPS,
FedEx, etc. >>



huh?

Fedex Ground is by far cheaper for heavier things (and its on par or cheaper for light things if you add ANY of the usps services):
Ground for 65# package: $29.33
Priority (without signature, tracking, or insurance mind you): $71.70
You do the math.

Never had a hassle with an insurance claim on fedex. I have used them for probably 500 packages and I have submitted two claims. One for a speaker and one for a cpu. Never a probelm and they will ship the bad part back to me.

Fedex has never lost one of my packages. USPS has just completely *lost* a number of my packages, Where did they go? Do the packages just get up and leave?

I like fedex ground and i still believe its the best shipper around. Best part about it is I never wait in a line of more than one person. Can't say the same for my shipping with USPS. can you? waiting sucks. i have better things to do.

dew.

 

[XFreebie]

ha, UPS once ping-ponged a package for 2 weeks, oops wrong routing station again...oops... and just this week fedex took 11 days when original estimate was 2-5 days. and fedex just lost my friend's playstation 2, he lives in san jose, CA and they send it to san jose MO? is there a san jose in montana?

and USPS.... longest lines, longest waits, and they lose packages not often but where do they go?! and sometime's they're fast sometimes not

UPS plays ping-pong with ur packages
USPS plays soccer....

 

[XFreebie]

however... usps is good at absorbing those losses when u ship out something to hawaii or alaska. costs them a ton but they cant charge us more cuz the flat rate... but then they just raise the flat rate!

as far as i'm concerned USPS should raise the price on sending envelopes to 35 or 36 cents and kill off those junk mailers once and for all.

 

[explrsport]

"And this billion Dollar bussiness we all support (taxes) is going to lose a few BILLION this year. The PO is one of the most poorly run and ineffecient buisinesses you will ever see. And we're paying for it."

While I agree that it is poorly run, the Post Office does not receive ANY federal funding. It's been that way for many, many years. From the USPS Web Site:

"1983- Ended public service subsidy from federal government"

 

[xsecurity]

check out the details on this... I'm still waiting for this farcker.... A package from DELL even.. figures

http://wwwapps.ups.com/etracking/tracking.cgi?tracknums_displayed=5&TypeOfInquiryNumber=T&HTMLVersion=4.0&InquiryNumber1=1Z1837030306560194&InquiryNumber2=&InquiryNumber3=&InquiryNumber4=&InquiryNumber5=&track=Track

 

[rickforrest]

<<

<< I use USPS for everything, including heavy items, because it's cheaper, they
take better care of stuff, and they stand behind their insurance, unlike UPS,
FedEx, etc. >>



huh?

Fedex Ground is by far cheaper for heavier things (and its on par or cheaper for light things if you add ANY of the usps services):
Ground for 65# package: $29.33
Priority (without signature, tracking, or insurance mind you): $71.70
You do the math.

Never had a hassle with an insurance claim on fedex. I have used them for probably 500 packages and I have submitted two claims. One for a speaker and one for a cpu. Never a probelm and they will ship the bad part back to me.

Fedex has never lost one of my packages. USPS has just completely *lost* a number of my packages, Where did they go? Do the packages just get up and leave?

I like fedex ground and i still believe its the best shipper around. Best part about it is I never wait in a line of more than one person. Can't say the same for my shipping with USPS. can you? waiting sucks. i have better things to do.

dew. >>



I took your advice and did the math:

65# package from my zipcode is between $30 and $95 depending on distance for Priority,
and between $12.52 and $39 for Parcel Post.

$100 insurance adds $2 to those prices. You only get the first $100 free with UPS and Fedex, right? So you'd have to pay roughly the same rates as USPS above that, true?

If I want to ship fedex or UPS I have to go through one of the Mailboxes,etc or other pack and mail services, and they tack on a hefty service charge, which eliminates any savings. Further, I ship Parcel Post for heavy items. I've shipped THOUSANDS (literally) of parcels and had only a couple of problems. And I always insure, so it really isn't a problem. Further, I receive a lot of packages via UPS, and they just destroy too many of them for me to feel comfortable shipping with them.

Lastly, UPS and Fedex do not stand behind their insurance for any item with glass in it - monitors, projectors, tv's, etc. They limit you to $500 for these items. NOW, PAY ATTENTION - they will gladly take money from you for insurance for any amount, but they'll only reimburse up to $500.

 

[DealLurker]

> Are you in an out of the way area?

No. West Fargo, Fargo ND/Moorhead MN. Not a "Huge metropolitin city" by any stretch, but easily with all the 3 cities, 150,000+ population in a 12x10 mile 3-city area..... 5 "official government" post office buildings, multiple contract ones (e.g. grocery store counter drop-offs with daily pickup) But clearly not "Rural Route 1, tinysville, border of Canada, in mountainous Montana" !!!


MOST of my problems are shipping to the east coast --- New Hampshire, Maine, Florida, New Jersesy. Receiving is slow from California and Florida.

Seems if it gets routed through Chicago (most of the east coast stuff does) that's the problem. I've heard rumors they are the source of a lot of the delays.


However, UPS/FedEx all make it to/from here (ground service) just as promised... typically 3 - 6 days from anywhere in the US. The post office cannot match that unless it's middle of summer for low package volume.


And to those who pay more than "customer counter" rates for UPS or FedEx... don't... That might be why you think the post office costs less. Drop by any OfficeDepot and they charge customer counter rates with more convience (for UPS) and don't gouge you for stuff like Staples or MailBoxesEtc do.

And in addition, if you have a business account with UPS, rates are VERY VERY low. Here is an example from last week:


7 Pound package, Priority Mail: MN to MN, NO insurance, NO tracking: $8.90
Same package UPS Ground MN to MN, $100 insurance, FULL tracking, to Residential Address, Customer counter rate: $7.56 [e.g. OfficeDepot drop-off rate]
Same, but with UPS business account: $5.68

And even better, if it had gone to a business the rates would have been: $6.50 (drop off at Office Depot) or $4.52 (UPS account). Priority would still have been $8.90


So, I don't see how anyone can compare $8.90 as being cheaper than $7.56, $6.50, $5.68 or $4.52 with more benefits.

Again, things (prices, speed) CAN vary depending on distance (zip code) and weight of package, but you should definitely compare before you assume!!!

 

[DAWeinG]

OMG!!! OH NO! AIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! NOOOOOO!O!OO!O!!!!

 

[DealLurker]

> If I want to ship fedex or UPS I have to go through one of the Mailboxes,etc or other pack and mail services, and they tack on a hefty service charge, which eliminates any savings.

There *ARE* options other than Mailboxes or Staples.

If you have an Office Depot, they charge REGULAR UPS WEB SITE "CUSTOMER COUNTER RATES!!! No extra service fees, etc... Also, at least around here, many grocery stores accept either at customer counter rates or only with small service fees ($1 per package, 10%, etc...) Not a MBE type 2x or 3x fee.

Granted, not everyone can work a trip to the UPS Customer Counter based upon their ever changing and always limited hours (and possible out of the way location), but you can always do that if you are concerned about cost.


> Lastly, UPS and Fedex do not stand behind their insurance for any item with glass in it - monitors, projectors, tv's, etc. They limit you to $500 for these items. NOW, PAY ATTENTION - they will gladly take money from you for insurance for any amount, but they'll only reimburse up to $500.

That is likely correct, and they also will not insure anything that is *NOT* immediately replaceable, e.g. "antiques". If it's something that you can go out and get another one (or one like or "better"), they will (like a television), but if you're thinking they will cover that 1930's antique radio or 1850's dress.... they won't...

But I also challenge you to get the post office to pay for some of that should it be damaged..... Just seems people haven't been told, as a rule, it's not covered with them.