Shocked by UPS shipping charge

[Chrisk-K]

I haven't sold basses for a few years, so I didn't know how expensive UPS ground shipping was going to be.

From Maryland to Oregon: $72.
From Maryland to Tennessee: $45.

Yes, I'm talking about ground shipping. I'm just shocked.

 

[Razman]

Another reason why I use FedEx ground. Recent issues with receiving items from UPS and their customer-no-service.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

GC ships using UPS, and instead of changing carriers, they upped their shipping prices by about 4x.

 

[Snakeman1066]

Another reason why I use FedEx ground. Recent issues with receiving items from UPS and their customer-no-service.

Fed-Ex isn't any cheaper....I just shipped a bass to the east coast via Fed-Ex ground....was almost $80.00

 

[buldog5151bass]

Check out usps, and check out Greyhound, if you are on their routes.

 

[Razman]

Fed-Ex isn't any cheaper....I just shipped a bass to the east coast via Fed-Ex ground....was almost $80.00

I've shipped basses for $30 or so, but one time due to human error they added length to the width of one box and the charge was $150! Took a while but they finally made it right. I don't like UPS though.

 

[AudioDwebe]

You gotta ship in the smallest box possible since the length, width and depth plays a huge role in the price. I've sold a few basses and have never paid less than $100.

 

[Bent77]

USPS is routinely 1/2 the cost of the others, at least in this part of the hood

 

[Alkali Ike]

That sounds about right for its size. Probably the "book rate" for a one-off shipment.

Are those prices from a UPS Store, or DIY packing & online shipping purchase?

 

[Joe Nerve]

I ship through craigslist , or I ask the buyer to pay shipping.

 

[beaglesandbass]

I haven't sold basses for a few years, so I didn't know how expensive UPS ground shipping was going to be.

From Maryland to Oregon: $72.
From Maryland to Tennessee: $45.

Yes, I'm talking about ground shipping. I'm just shocked.

I've shipped two basses in my life, I asked the buyer if it was ok to take the neck off and ship in a smaller box, they both didn't have any problem with it.

GC ships using UPS, and instead of changing carriers, they upped their shipping prices by about 4x.

You're telling me. I went to buy a $10 item online since they didn't have it in store. Shipping to a store, not even to my home, was $9.

 

[Metalbasspro]

I haven't sold basses for a few years, so I didn't know how expensive UPS ground shipping was going to be.

From Maryland to Oregon: $72.
From Maryland to Tennessee: $45.

Yes, I'm talking about ground shipping. I'm just shocked.

I paid 44 dollars a few weeks ago to ship one back. Huge box, then I send a much smaller box but more weight having sold my GK800rb and it ran 37.00 and some cents.

 

[Metalbasspro]

Fed-Ex isn't any cheaper....I just shipped a bass to the east coast via Fed-Ex ground....was almost $80.00

I was gonna say that. Fed ex is about the same rates.

 

[Marial]

You gotta ship in the smallest box possible since the length, width and depth plays a huge role in the price. I've sold a few basses and have never paid less than $100.

Same here.

 

[Snakeman1066]

USPS is routinely 1/2 the cost of the others, at least in this part of the hood

had a guy ship a bass USPS to me once...took 2 weeks to get to me and the box looked like it was used to sweep a cement floor and possibly used as a step stool...

 

[Metalbasspro]

had a guy ship a bass USPS to me once...took 2 weeks to get to me and the box looked like it was used to sweep a cement floor and possibly used as a step stool...

And that is why you can't always use the smallest box possible. With an item that has to get there with no damage you need a big enough box so that enough packaging or even a box within a box can be sent. You want the item to not move around inside the box and have a few inches on all side should someone gash or stab the box.

 

[PortlandBass77]

USPS is far cheaper, I've been quoted $30 - $35 to ship a bass across the country, though that deal never materialized.

 

[leesbrushes]

I bought a bass from Canada shipped here to the Chicago area..
When it arrived and I unboxed it I sent the seller a note stating how much I liked the cool checking in the nitro..and that I hadn't noticed it in the pics.
He said. Uh cause there wasn't any..
Keep that in mind in the cold weather season..I thought it added a vintage touch but if this would bother you consider that as well.

 

[FenderP]

Everyone - including the USPS - charges not only by weight, but by dimensional weight. Basically, if your 2lb item is 3' x 4' x 2' shipped, that's going to be mega expensive. FedEx and UPS are about the same. USPS can be slightly (and I mean very minimally) cheaper in some cases. Shipping outside of the Lower 48 is mega expensive (factor in at least another $100, if not more), and internationally - hoo boy.

Everyone has their own USPS/UPS/FedEx horror story. I'm lucky I have a great UPS Store near me that packages things up exceptionally - I always get comments on how well things are protected - and I generally ship bigger things like basses via UPS. A bass recently cost me $130 but was totally worth it when it got there safe and sound. YMMV of course, but no one is really a bargain for shipping. It's sad, but as both a seller and buyer you need to take that into account.

So very rarely these days do I include shipping in a price unless I know it won't be a lot. And don't get me started on amps ...

 

[bassstrangler]

I shipped a bass this last summer from Colorado to Indiana, it was $26 with FedEx.