27x24x24'', 44lbs, $144.40 to ship one state away!

USPS would have been less expensive.

 

This one time, at band camp, I....oh wait, I never went to band camp.

 

When I recently sold and shipped my 72 Precision to another TB'er I took it to FedEx, as neither he nor I trust UPS that much.

FedEx quoted me $60 for ground shipping to Texas for my well packaged bass (about 40 pounds). I ended up shipping it Air Express for around 140$, I took the hit on the shipping, but it was worth it for my piece of mind and the new owner's piece of mind. Less time in the shippers hands is less time to steal or break it.

 

Did you take it to UPS, or a UPS Store? Two different things. UPS Store is a seperate entity that charges you what UPS would charge you, plus about another $80.

 

Great incentive to buy/sell locally.

 

Do you have a account with them? If you ship a lot of packages get a account.
I have never paid more then $65 to ship a bass or guitar, and they pick it up.

 

Fedex is is always cheaper than UPS from what I have seen. The larger the package the greater the price difference. UPS once quoted me $75 to ship a bass and Fedex quoted me $45. That is a big difference. Ever since then I have always used Fedex.

 

I once shipped two coats and a hat to China. It ended up costing me just under $200

 

UPS charged me $30 to ship a bass I packaged myself. I've had so many bad experiences with Fedex that I won't buy from a seller that uses them. At least knowingly anyway. I'm always suprised when people swear by them.

 

I used to swear by UPS too but they have went way downhill. The last three packages that were sent to me went to the wrong place even though they had the right address. And it wasn't anywhere remotely close. Once one of them (a Gibson guitar) found it's way back to me I discovered that it had been opened and the guitar was removed. I basically got an empty box. After investigating (although they wouldn't admit it was possible) there was a bunch of evidence suggesting the driver had ganked it themselves.

I try my very best to discourage shippers from sending stuff to me via UPS because my local branch is so bad but if they want to use them I won't say no. If a buyer really wanted something UPS I would use them as long as they agreed to pay the extra cost of using them.

 

I always have the UPS store pack something if I need it but then I take it home and print out the label myself online. Those mailbox stores are horrible for price jacking but the UPS Store is almost as bad.

 

Let me tell you about FedEx. I was waiting for a package. I had it shipped over night. The tracking number said it was out for delivery. I was home all day, and it never came. The tracking then said a notice was left. There was no notice left.

The next day he left a notice, but never rang my doorbell, and I was home all day.

The next day I actually SAW the FedEx truck pull up in from of my house. The driver gets out with the note already in his hand, sticks it on the mail box and is walking back to the truck.

I stuck my head out the second floor window and yelled "HEY! I want my damn package!" That got his attention!

I think everyone saw the video of the FedEx guy throwing a TV set over a fence recently?

On the other hand my UPS driver is a great guy and just the other day I ordered a bunch of magnets and got them the next day.

 

It's oversized. They have a 72 total inch size, if L + W + D are added.

I sent a 34lb, 11" x 21" x 22" package to Illinois and it was $24.

 

Let me tell you about the $2200 bass that UPS left on my front porch, about 15 feet from the street and faked a signature on.

Let me tell you about the 3 or 4 times that UPS also pulled the same crap that you list above, including times where I watched them update tracking from in front of my house without ever getting out of the truck. Or when they listed my address as empty/abandoned even though its plainly not.

Or the Laptop that they left on my front porch even though it was signature required.

Or the numerous items that UPS broke on the way to my house over the holidays, while FedEx broke none.

 

You guys have to realize that it's not UPS that's doing all of this crap- it's bad drivers and if you don't complain, nothing will be done about it, other than bitching. I try not to use FedEx because they're slower, it costs more and the tracking info is crap. I prefer UPS by a wide margin and have never had a problem, AFAIK. My driver even bags everything when the weather is bad and leaves it at the side of the house, usually covered. The FedEx guy just left a package at ny front door and instead of putting the sticker on the door, he put it on the box.

 

I agree which is why sellers should remember to not choose their shipper based on the experience they have locally. I don't have trustworthy UPS drivers so I would not want someone using them regardless of how good their local drivers are.

As far as tracking, I don't see much of a difference between UPS and Fedex as far as their tracking. I have also not once found UPS to be any cheaper.

Like I said, I use Fedex because they are more affordable and do a good job. My local guys are great. If someone buying something from me prefers UPS I will happily use them but they will need to cover the price difference that it takes to use them.

 

It is UPS...those drivers just happen to work for them. And for years I have lodged complaints. I've even demanded that drivers come back to drop off things. I've lived here since 1995, and UPS has always been awful and FedEx has always been good.

 

All my packages get left at my apt complex office. Nice and safe inside until I get back home to pick it up. No muss no fuss.