How do you ship your products?

[tubejay]

I go FedEx ground with everything but media type stuff, like CD's and DVD's, which go with USPS media mail...which is DIRT CHEAP.

FedEx ground is highly reliable, the cheapest for just about everything, and super easy to use. You print out your labels from their website and drop them off at fedex or Kinkos. You don't even really need to interact with anyone at the fedex office. You just set in on the counter and leave. Nice, easy, and convenient.

For USPS media mail, it's like 1.40 to ship a CD anywhere in the US...or cheaper.

 

[AvoidTheClap]

I go FedEx ground with everything but media type stuff, like CD's and DVD's, which go with USPS media mail...which is DIRT CHEAP.

FedEx ground is highly reliable, the cheapest for just about everything, and super easy to use. You print out your labels from their website and drop them off at fedex or Kinkos. You don't even really need to interact with anyone at the fedex office. You just set in on the counter and leave. Nice, easy, and convenient.

For USPS media mail, it's like 1.40 to ship a CD anywhere in the US...or cheaper.

wouldn't just regular usps first class be cheaper for a cd? i can't immagine it needing more than 0.83 postage.

& just fyi, ups is the same deal, with printing labels online & dropping it at a ups store (many more of those around than fedex/kinkos

 

[amt7565]

I shipped out my Line6 HD147 amp today. With good packing it came to 40Lbs. On the FEDEX website, I got a rate of about $55.00 for ground shipping to Canada. I took it to the Fedex Store(original fedex store- not Kinkos etc). This woman told me that they do only airmail service and gave me a quote for $210.00. I showed her the online printout quote I had with me and she said something about calling a 800 number. I walked off the store. The woman was not even too courteous. What a bunch of losers!

I lugged the luggage to USPS and the rate was $55 for for a 4-10 day delivery. With insurance it came to only $65.00.

 

[AvoidTheClap]

I shipped out my Line6 HD147 amp today. With good packing it came to 40Lbs. On the FEDEX website, I got a rate of about $55.00 for ground shipping to Canada. I took it to the Fedex Store(original fedex store- not Kinkos etc). This woman told me that they do only airmail service and gave me a quote for $210.00. I showed her the online printout quote I had with me and she said something about calling a 800 number. I walked off the store. The woman was not even too courteous. What a bunch of losers!

I lugged the luggage to USPS and the rate was $55 for for a 4-10 day delivery. With insurance it came to only $65.00.

thats because fedex & fedex ground are 2 seperate companies. you need to contact fedex ground if you want fedex ground

 

[tubejay]

wouldn't just regular usps first class be cheaper for a cd? i can't immagine it needing more than 0.83 postage.

& just fyi, ups is the same deal, with printing labels online & dropping it at a ups store (many more of those around than fedex/kinkos

Yeah, sometimes it is...but usually only if going to a major city. In that case they always give me the lower price. But it really helps if you're shipping a lot of CD's, or text books or something like that.

 

[tubejay]

thats because fedex & fedex ground are 2 seperate companies. you need to contact fedex ground if you want fedex ground

They are set up as two different companies, and ship on two different trucks, but Kinkos should take packages for air or ground. There's no reason why she shouldn't have taken his package, except poor training. Shipping to Canada with FedEx ground is a HUGE nightmare though. Don't ever do it. You need a broker in Canada, and it's a huge pain in the ass. Their Canadian shipping business is set up as more a business to business deal.

 

[satchmo]

For cross border shipping (Canada/US) avoid UPS like the plague. Brokerage fees for the recipient are ridiculous.

I've bought a number of things from the US, paid for the shipping, and then upon arrival not only have to pay duty, but also the UPS brokerage fee, which in some cases has been more than 300% of the duty. And this wasn't on any of the express services, but a package which took 2 weeks to get here. Utterly ridiculous.

USPS I've always had to pay duty, but never a brokerage fee.

 

[mrface2112]

i don't ship (or buy) outside of the US, and 99% of the time i use UPS.

i've never had a package show up damaged, the rates are reasonable, and usually if you ship business to business (i have all my purchases come to me at work), it tends to be a 2-day shipment. plus the online tracking is great for impatient folks like me.

i've used FedEx and USPS (with adequate results), but i prefer UPS. i know lots of folks don't, though.


cheers,
wade

 

[AvoidTheClap]

but Kinkos should take packages for air or ground.

he said: "I took it to the Fedex Store(original fedex store- not Kinkos etc"

 

[Neelix]

that is 100% false. the ups store franchise is owned by ups themselves, & IS the same prices. the only thing that can vary is the cost of insurance, as each store can be using different insurance companies than eachother & than ups.

Wrong, the UPS stores were originally Boxes Etc, and they have a markup of around 40% over standard UPS counter rates. They still do this. It's a convenience fee basically. That's how the franchise owner's make their money.

 

[amt7565]

Wrong, the UPS stores were originally Boxes Etc, and they have a markup of around 40% over standard UPS counter rates. They still do this. It's a convenience fee basically. That's how the franchise owner's make their money.

Yes- this is what I got. About 40% more than what was offered on the UPS website.

 

[AvoidTheClap]

Wrong, the UPS stores were originally Boxes Etc, and they have a markup of around 40% over standard UPS counter rates. They still do this. It's a convenience fee basically. That's how the franchise owner's make their money.

no, it's not.
if that's how franchise owners made money i'd be rich & happy. heh.

go to the ups web site & price out a package 2 ways, 1 for the ups counter, & 1 for 'retail location'. its the same.

if there was a markup of 40% that would mean a UPS next day letter would cost like $40 cross country, you think anyone would pay that?
i don't know where you're getting your info from. even mailboxes etc's markup was as low as 20%, depending on the package details.

UPS ownes the ups store corp. the pricing is the same, but store owners get discounts based on volume & other details. really store owners need to own 2-3 stores to make any money due to the lack of markup & needing ridiculous volume to make up for it.

 

[AvoidTheClap]

Yes- this is what I got. About 40% more than what was offered on the UPS website.

then quesiton it, ask why. don't just badmouth & spread things that aren't true on the internet
there isin't supposed to be a markup. but there's A LOT of variables involved. so many sure everything is done properly. people have to be aware.

 

[amt7565]

then quesiton it, ask why. don't just badmouth & spread things that aren't true on the internet
there isin't supposed to be a markup. but there's A LOT of variables involved. so many sure everything is done properly. people have to be aware.

Dood-
You seem to be completed oblivious to reality. Perhaps you should take 2 packages of equal weight- one to a franchise store and the other to a real UPS store and ship it to the same address. Then you will know what the rest of us are talking about.

 

[AvoidTheClap]

Dood-
You seem to be completed oblivious to reality. Perhaps you should take 2 packages of equal weight- one to a franchise store and the other to a real UPS store and ship it to the same address. Then you will know what the rest of us are talking about.

i HAVE a ups store. i know what customers pay me.

 

[Nutdotnet]

i HAVE a ups store. i know what customers pay me.

You're still wrong.

UPS Stores CHARGE MORE then going to UPS Directly...you're saying they are not because you want people to come to you for their business.

 

[AvoidTheClap]

You're still wrong.

UPS Stores CHARGE MORE then going to UPS Directly...you're saying they are not because you want people to come to you for their business.

right. because everyone on this board is going to come to a store in my little town?

i'm not going to rehash this. this will be my last post in this thread. i'm just trying to clear up some misconceptions about shipping as a whole.

better than doing it online, price a package with ups direclty, then call a ups store & give them the same info & get a price quote. say you're selling somethign on ebay, it's already packed. give them the weight & size & zip. & get the price. if it's differnet. ask why it's differnet. i'm sure there's ups stores around intentionally charging more than the prices given.

fact: ups stores have the same computers with prices DIRECTLY from ups. meaning there's no way there can be a markup if they're doing what they should be. i'm not going to repeat what i've already said in this thread. but to think that i'm saying it because it supports my indivdiual store than i'm sure no one here lives within 100 miles of even is ridiculous.

i'm just saying what i'm saying because i believe in suporting local small business over ups themselves, when pricing is the same, AND it's more convient for most. & i would hope people like us on this board would feel the same.

back on topic of this thread, the bottom line is:

international: declare low value. ship dhl for things of importance, usps air parcal post with insurance for things aren't in a hurry or very valuable. or send it usps express mail if its still cheaper than dhl. always say it's a gift.

domestic: for very light & inexpensive things, priority mail is good. but the tracking still isin't the same as ups or fedex tracking, so be careful. things over 4-5lbs work out cheaper ups anyway usually, & include the first $100 of insurance & real tracking. fedex ground is fine, but the drivers tend not to care because they're contrat workers & not really employee's. fedex is really mostly good for air packages (2day, 3day, next day). ups ground is really the best ground service. just make sure things are packed well so they travel well. 2-3" of padding all around fragile things, no newspaper or coke bottles for cushion (oh the things i've seen people do...). & you'll be fine.

the end.