How would you rate FedEx, UPS, and the USPS?

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LordRaiden

Banned
Dec 10, 2002
2,358
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Having had my own bad experiences with delivery services like FedEx and UPS, and excellent experiences with the US Postal Service, I'm curious what Anandtech'ers think of these 3 services and what gripes or praises they might have with them? What would your 1-10 scale rating be of them?

FedEx - 3/10 - Too slow and too many damaged packages. Also too expensive for the service you get.
UPS - Ditto
US Postal Service - 9/10 - Excellent delivery time, good price, WAY faster than UPS and FedEx combined. Only complaint is that they don't have an on call pickup service like FedEx and UPS.

That's my ratings. What about yours?
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,928
389
136
It depends on what you're shipping, how quickly you want it to arrive and in what condition.

Generally I rate FedEx at the top with Airborne Express a close 2nd.
 
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Kevin

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2002
3,995
1
0
Priority Mail for everything unless its very large. UPS for East Coast shipping and FedEx for the rest...
 
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LordRaiden

Banned
Dec 10, 2002
2,358
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I'm thinking overall in general. Not just one type of package. I normally ship non-fragile items, some PC stuff, mostly oriental items like wall scrolls and posters.
 
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waylman

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2003
3,473
0
0
FedEx-10/10 never had a problem, fast and easy pickup.
UPS-8/10 pretty good. drops packages off at neighbour without permission though which bugs me.
USPS-7/10 good, but worst of the 3. Terrible pick up hours.
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,928
389
136
Originally posted by: LordRaiden
I'm thinking overall in general. Not just one type of package. I normally ship non-fragile items, some PC stuff, mostly oriental items like wall scrolls and posters.
Click to expand...

Personally I would define general items as paper documents and items under $100 in value.

In that case I would go with USPS Priority with delivery confirmation or certified with return receipt.
 
B

burnedout

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
6,249
2
0
FedEx (Includes Ground) - 9/10: Professional staff in my area. Timely delivery. Some damaged goods
UPS - 6/10: Rude and unprofessional staff in my area. Decent delivery. Many damaged goods
USPS- 9/10: Bureaucratic, but professional staff. Fast delivery for smaller items.

Bottom line: For smaller items, we ship USPS Priority. Larger items go FedEx Ground.
 
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Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
UPS cost to much
US Mail is good for small items, anything more than 5-7 pounds ans the price gos up WAY to fast
Fed-Ex GROUND is cheap, fast, and price of larger heavy items is very good.
 
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Kenazo

Lifer
Sep 15, 2000
10,429
1
81
I ship almost exclusively with USPS. it rocks. The only time I ever had a problem was during the 2nd week of september, 2001. I had bought a modem from someone and it never got to me.

However, I had bought a powerbook and it was shipped via UPS. some bastard pilfered the laptop along the way and all i got was a box. So, UPS Sucks
 
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aeroguy

Senior member
Mar 21, 2002
804
0
0
I like receiving USPS because, especially if it's a small item, they put it in my mailbox, and I don't have to worry about being there to pick it up.
 
HomeBrewerDude

HomeBrewerDude

Lifer
Jan 18, 2001
14,465
1
0
i usually receive rather than send, and prefer FEDEX and USPS. Its a complete pain to get UPS packages if you aren't at home. Fedex lets me pick it up the same day if i miss the truck, and USPS just leaves it.
 
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shekondar

Golden Member
Apr 10, 2003
1,119
0
0
Face it. They ALL suck, just some more than others.
That being said, I prefer USPS for small stuff (they'll leave it in my mailbox). For larger things, I prefer UPS (I live in an apartment, so they'll leave it at the office). Having to pick stuff up at the post office sucks.

FedEx is the worst - I've had more problems with them than any other company (packages delivered to the wrong address, left packages at the office & didn't bother to leave a note at my door, damaged items - had a tablet PC shipped to me at work, arrived with HUGE cracks in screen!)
 
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Ionizer86

Diamond Member
Jun 20, 2001
5,292
0
76
Fedex seems to send stuff to me very quickly. IE Newegg order getting flown in from CA to FL. 9/10

USPS has been quite cheap and reliable. They do have a weird policy on 3/4" minumum item depth to mail a 1st class with DC. I think putting a peanut around the package will help get around that though :) 8/10

UPS guy keeps ringing the doorbell and dropping off the item there and then without asking for signatures or anything. What if my item gets stolen? Thankfully the community is gated...6/10
 
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Tsaico

Platinum Member
Oct 21, 2000
2,669
0
0
Originally posted by: Kenazo
I ship almost exclusively with USPS. it rocks. The only time I ever had a problem was during the 2nd week of september, 2001. I had bought a modem from someone and it never got to me.

However, I had bought a powerbook and it was shipped via UPS. some bastard pilfered the laptop along the way and all i got was a box. So, UPS Sucks
Click to expand...

They still sent you a box with nothing in it? didn't they notice the box is now ~10 lbs lighter? I don't like UPS

USPS 9/10 good people, pick up times do blow though, unless is large or heavy, I always go through them (i mean something over 100 lbs)
USP 5/10 Always something with these guys, I live in a house and a lot of times if no one is home, they just throw it over the fence. I have found damaged boxes from being thrown over the fence, lands in mud or water, and ti is obvious they have no common sense or just don't care. Only good for HEAVY items
FedEx n/a don't really use these guys, but have received things from them on time..
 
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simms

Diamond Member
Sep 21, 2001
8,211
0
0
USPS > Fedex > UPS for me. That's INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING to Canada.
I can tell you right now that this is the best order for imports duties. So it goes both ways.

USPS - NEVER been accessed duties.
Fedex - about half the time
UPS - ALWAYS. EVERYTHING I recieve is taxed. You don't think that's a lot? $100 tax on a $233 camera (Canon S200).

--Simon
 
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isekii

Lifer
Mar 16, 2001
28,578
3
81
Originally posted by: simms
USPS > Fedex > UPS for me. That's INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING to Canada.
I can tell you right now that this is the best order for imports duties. So it goes both ways.

USPS - NEVER been accessed duties.
Fedex - about half the time
UPS - ALWAYS. EVERYTHING I recieve is taxed. You don't think that's a lot? $100 tax on a $233 camera (Canon S200).

--Simon
Click to expand...

What UPS charges isn't tax but brokerage fee. Atleast to my knowledge

 
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elbirth

Member
May 8, 2003
156
0
0
I live in North Carolina, and UPS seems to be be the best method for me nearly 9 times out of 10.
When I order something that's shipped via UPS, I always can easily track it immediately online and they update it in a VERY timely manner, so knowing when it's out for delivery is great. Plus I get my package in the morning, so I don't have to wait all day to get it.

USPS is probably next, because I've only had something shipped with them a couple times and it's been ontime both times, with no trouble.

FedEx is the worst in my case, because of too many bad experiences I've had. Not only do they (around here at least) update the tracking information in a horrendously slow rate (it took them over 24 hours to update the information saying my camera had been delivered). They are really screwy with wanting signatures.... on some of the most off-the-wall things that say they DON'T require one, they have a fit if they don't get one, and won't leave it. On something expensive that SAYS it REQUIRES a signature, they just leave it (my $500 camera, for example, sitting on the porch waiting to be stolen). I've also had them say they delivered it to my backdoor (which is impossible due to 6foot wooden fence with a locked gate, and 2 large dogs in that fence) when the driver still had it, and later that evening (around 8:00) decided to drive up in his Camero and toss it on the porch and walk off.

Of course this all varies with where you are, who the drivers are, etc, but I prefer UPS where I'm at.
 

USPS: 10/10 never had a problem, media mail is teh rox0r for shipping textbooks
UPS: 9/10 price is a bit steep, but tracking is awesome and packages are delivered on time or sooner
FedEx: 8/10 Not much experience but I've found they're a bit slower than UPS, and the tracking info is much less informative than UPS'
Airborne: 8/10 Good service, they delivered my Dell computer pretty quick last summer
 
K

KthxBye

Senior member
Aug 7, 2001
404
0
71
Whatever you do, DON'T SEND A COMPUTER BY UPS. I do not care how well you pack it, they WILL find a way to destroy it.
 
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isekii

Lifer
Mar 16, 2001
28,578
3
81
Originally posted by: KthxBye
Whatever you do, DON'T SEND A COMPUTER BY UPS. I do not care how well you pack it, they WILL find a way to destroy it.
Click to expand...

I'll post a picture of how UPS destroyed a Laptop box. Thank god that it had like quarter inch of clearance left. The box got stabbed by something and has a gash on it.
Glad it didn't hit the laptop.


 
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