|
This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
|
Author
|
Topic: Why Would Anybody Ship By USPS?
|
|
|
|
David Stambaugh
Film God
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/1102d.jpg)
Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002
|
posted 08-27-2005 10:44 AM
I've used USPS for nearly all my ebay sales. Never had a single problem. Priority Mail gets there in 3 days tops, usually 2 days. There's no extra charge for a residential or Saturday delivery. Overall it's significantly cheaper than FedEx or UPS. A delivery confirmation (which is all I care about when I'm shipping something) is only 45 cents.
Bill: Are you confusing Express Mail and Priority Mail? Express is overnight. Priority is 2-3 days.
According to the UPS website, a ground pkg. shipped from Eugene to New York City on Aug. 29th would be scheduled to arrive in NYC on Sept. 6th.
I receive packages of all sizes where I work, from USPS, UPS, and FedEx. Trust me -- They ALL mangle packages, fairly regularly, especially UPS.
EDIT: I chose a bad example -- The 5th is a holiday. That UPS shipment would normally arrive in 7 days, not 8. [ 08-27-2005, 12:02 PM: Message edited by: David Stambaugh ]
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Blakesley
Film God
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/26c.jpg)
Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99
|
posted 08-27-2005 01:38 PM
USPS "Overnight" or "Express" or whatever they want to call it, is a joke. If you send something "overnight" from here (or any small town that doesn't have a USPS hub in it), it will take two days to get there if the destination is over 100 miles away. UPS, on the other hand, will get it there the next day guaranteed, with every package fully trackable from the day it's picked up. But, you pay extra for efficiency.
As far as damage -- at my day job, we operate a UPS counter as a sideline. We send out thousands of packages a year. I would have to say that 99% of damage claims (and there are very few) are caused by the improper packaging done by the customer. I once had a guy try to ship a TV set in a box that was not deep enough for the set -- the back end of the tube was literally pushing out the side of the box. (We didn't accept it until he got a bigger box.)
Where UPS really gets you is in the rates. UPS's bottom rate is one pound, between 3 and 4 dollars depending on distance. Then they tack on surcharges for things like fuel, rural areas, residential addresses, etc. You can easily spend 7 or 8 dollars to send a one-pound package. If you send something large, oddly shaped, or "not encased in cardboard," God help you as they tack on "Oversize," "Large package surcharge," "Additional handling charge," and so on. And they keep on changing the applicable measurements, weight limits, etc. It's almost impossible to keep up with all the changes.
As you go up in weight, the rates tend to get closer and UPS will beat out the post office in many cases.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott Norwood
Film God
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/30f.jpg)
Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99
|
posted 08-29-2005 07:30 AM
I tend to ship most small stuff via USPS because they are convenient and usually cheaper than UPS or Fedex. Film can be shipped "Special 4th Class," which is significantly cheaper than parcel post, although the packages tend to be handled roughly. Technically, I believe that this is only supposed to be used for 16mm film, but no one at the USPS seems to notice or care about the film gauge.
I have yet to find anyone who has had success in making an insurance claim with the USPS; therefore, I never buy the insurance, nor do I buy the delivery confirmation service.
USPS's tracking system is pretty much useless; for packages that need to be tracked, I've been reasonably happy with both UPS and Fedex Ground. I prefer to receive packages via UPS, however, as Fedex and Fedex Ground both have a tendency to leave packages on my doorstep (which a bad idea in a downtown apartment, though I've only had one that was apparently stolen). Fedex actually does make good on their insurance. I've never had to make a claim with UPS, but have heard bad things.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
|
This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
|
Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM
6.3.1.2
The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion
and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.
|