I actually had a driver tell me once that if a package says Fragile (fraaageeelay) on it, some workers will actually go out of their way to treat it more harshly. Can you confirm that?
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Why dosen't anyone ship USPS?
- Thread starter Craigster
- Start date
I actually had a driver tell me once that if a package says Fragile (fraaageeelay) on it, some workers will actually go out of their way to treat it more harshly. Can you confirm that?
I'm sure there are a handful of giant a-holes working at any of the package sending companies that do that, but it wasn't the norm when I worked at UPS in the 90's.
However, Kael's scenario is pretty much dead-on to what I experienced when I worked there. That's exactly how they teach you to unload trucks, and they bust your balls about getting them unloaded on time, so that's usually the only way to get done in a timely manner. Nobody I know ever smashed fragile packages on purpose, but nobody reads the packages when they yank one from the middle and make the wall come down. I don't know that any other package companies are any different, though.
At my local UPS, we'd handle over 12,000 packages an hour and maybe 5 or 6 a day would end up damaged, and they were always the flimsiest packed packages. So pack whatever you send to survive a 10-ft drop.
I greatly prefer USPS shipping and receiving. I have never had a problem with large instrument parcels via USPS. USPS generally takes longer to ship, but the price is better so what do you expect?
I have had major hassles with UPS because they insist on me physically being at the delivery location during normal business hours, which does not work with people without that flexibility. USPS allows customer the option of locally picking up the parcel at the convenience of the customer, and I greatly appreciate that freedom.
On one transaction in the past, UPS falsified their tracking records, claiming that I refused delivery when I wasn't even home to refuse it. It made me look like a scammer to the seller and ultimately the transaction fell through. When I called UPS about it, UPS refused to be accountable for their public report, and flat out refused to correct their tracking record (which was viewable to the seller).
The "UPS Store" franchises are a different company than UPS the shipping company. I hate those places. On two occasions now, I have received instruments from customers who paid the exorbitant "UPS Store" fees to pack and ship the items; and the packing was patently inadequate to the point that it was misrepresentation to call the "UPS Store" a legitimate, professional packing service. In one case, the "UPS Store" secured a guitar case in a huge box of peanuts, but did nothing to secure the guitar inside its case. The instrument was destroyed in shipping. The attitude of the "UPS Store" after destroying a mint guitar no longer in production: "What do you care, it was fully insured?" The second case, the "UPS Store" packed a 6-pound pair of cymbals in a cheap bubble mailer used to send lightweight items. The packaging ripped completely in half in transit. I can imagine a forklift operator chasing cymbals along the tarmac. Somewhere along the line, with delay, a worker pieced the cheap package back together and encased it in packing tape.
The "local" Fedex Ground depot in my area is located about an hour away, and more than once suggested I drive to them when I was not home for their daytime delivery. They use run down rented moving vans (no Fedex signs) and once dropped a box on my doorstep that was ripped open and literally had the contents spilling onto the sidewalk not packing material, the actual shipped items. The delivery man scooted off to his truck like he had just set a flaming paper bag full of dog poo on my porch.
I would never choose to use those yahoos.
I have had major hassles with UPS because they insist on me physically being at the delivery location during normal business hours, which does not work with people without that flexibility. USPS allows customer the option of locally picking up the parcel at the convenience of the customer, and I greatly appreciate that freedom.
On one transaction in the past, UPS falsified their tracking records, claiming that I refused delivery when I wasn't even home to refuse it. It made me look like a scammer to the seller and ultimately the transaction fell through. When I called UPS about it, UPS refused to be accountable for their public report, and flat out refused to correct their tracking record (which was viewable to the seller).
The "UPS Store" franchises are a different company than UPS the shipping company. I hate those places. On two occasions now, I have received instruments from customers who paid the exorbitant "UPS Store" fees to pack and ship the items; and the packing was patently inadequate to the point that it was misrepresentation to call the "UPS Store" a legitimate, professional packing service. In one case, the "UPS Store" secured a guitar case in a huge box of peanuts, but did nothing to secure the guitar inside its case. The instrument was destroyed in shipping. The attitude of the "UPS Store" after destroying a mint guitar no longer in production: "What do you care, it was fully insured?" The second case, the "UPS Store" packed a 6-pound pair of cymbals in a cheap bubble mailer used to send lightweight items. The packaging ripped completely in half in transit. I can imagine a forklift operator chasing cymbals along the tarmac. Somewhere along the line, with delay, a worker pieced the cheap package back together and encased it in packing tape.
The "local" Fedex Ground depot in my area is located about an hour away, and more than once suggested I drive to them when I was not home for their daytime delivery. They use run down rented moving vans (no Fedex signs) and once dropped a box on my doorstep that was ripped open and literally had the contents spilling onto the sidewalk not packing material, the actual shipped items. The delivery man scooted off to his truck like he had just set a flaming paper bag full of dog poo on my porch.
I would never choose to use those yahoos.
Never had a problem with either USPS, FedEx or DHL for that matter . . .
UPS . . that's a whooooole other story. ******** thieving bastards . . .
UPS . . that's a whooooole other story. ******** thieving bastards . . .
Yep. They run you so hard in there that there is no time to read anything. I was expected to average 60 packages a minute. There just wasn't time to read any of them. I was just ecstatic when they guy who loaded the truck managed to get all the heavy packages at the bottom. When they stick the heavy ones at the top, the wall sometimes fell sooner than expected and with greater force. Ouch.
For larger packages (i.e. basses), I never had an issue with UPS, but have a longer positive track record with Fedex. For smaller stuff (i.e. pedals), USPS has always done the trick (knock on wood). Only once have I experienced the use of DHL (seller used them) and I was thoroughly disappointed in the fact that they randomly left a packaged bass neck in a random spot in my front yard.
I have a 400RB coming my way via USPS at the moment. This is probably not a good thread to be reading. Nonetheless, I have actually never had any problems with USPS in the past or UPS. I hope I don't jinx myself here. Seeing the big brown truck always makes me excited
I've never used FedEx, can't comment on them.
I've never used FedEx, can't comment on them.I have used USPS many times and have always had good luck. They are less expenisve than Fedex or UPS and you can get a tracking number.
I won't use UPS. I spent 20 years in the logistics business and despise UPS. They don't screw up any more than their competition. The difference is that UPS has a policy of absolutely refusing responsibility for anything. Claims for packages with tire tread marks on them being denied for "insufficient packaging", failure to even try to deliver, leaving packages at neighbors' without leaving the notice at the delivery address, scanning a delivery without actually stopping, suspending and rerouting all deliveries to a building ( with individual suite numbers) because one tenant moved...
Nope, they are the last resort, after Pony Express, dog-sled, carrier pigeons, and wishing.
Jogn
Nope, they are the last resort, after Pony Express, dog-sled, carrier pigeons, and wishing.
Jogn
This is my experience, as well. I use USPS for small, relatively inexpensive items,and if the shipment doesn't need to get there quickly. Their rates for small packages are quite nice, and they're quite reliable with handling small packages.
They're an expensive disaster for large items. Many mail carriers won't even bother to attempt delivery for large packages, and the USPS seems happy with the situation. If a package gets miss-routed, good luck.
I almost exclusively use USPS but only priority or its glacially slow. ++ on the tracking system comments. Ive shipped at least 20 basses without a single problem, even a Rob Allen to Denmark!
Just to clarify - I've sent and received probably 1500-1800 packages in the past two years - hundreds with each of USPS, UPS, and FedEx...and ZERO packages have been lost, only 5-8 packages have been damaged, and only a few were having significant tracking issues.
For me, it's almost entirely about price, price, price. And a little bit of "when will it get there?"
The key is, if you pack it good, it will reduce 98% of your damages. I've had guys send guitars with no protection, bouncing in a box. They'd arrive with the strap peg protruding out of the bottom of the box, bashed up inside of the guitar. That's the majority of the issues I've seen - end damage.
I do this: under 4 lbs. = USPS. over 4 lbs. = UPS or FedEx, which ever is cheaper.
For me, it's almost entirely about price, price, price. And a little bit of "when will it get there?"
The key is, if you pack it good, it will reduce 98% of your damages. I've had guys send guitars with no protection, bouncing in a box. They'd arrive with the strap peg protruding out of the bottom of the box, bashed up inside of the guitar. That's the majority of the issues I've seen - end damage.
I do this: under 4 lbs. = USPS. over 4 lbs. = UPS or FedEx, which ever is cheaper.
For every person who has a horror story with FedEx there will be another with a horror story about UPS or USPS. Any delivery service that combines automation and humans will have damage. It's a crap-shoot and any time you ship something you roll the dice.
Main reason I don't use USPS is because their tracking is an absolute joke joke joke.
Main reason I use UPS is because I'm lucky enough to have access to incredible corporate shipping rates through the company I work for. )$12 to ship a bass from Nashville to Alabama UPS Ground with $500 Insurance.) So I use UPS.
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Main reason I don't use USPS is because their tracking is an absolute joke joke joke.
Main reason I use UPS is because I'm lucky enough to have access to incredible corporate shipping rates through the company I work for. )$12 to ship a bass from Nashville to Alabama UPS Ground with $500 Insurance.) So I use UPS.
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A year or so ago they had an ad stating 10% cheaper than UPS. It's hard to gauge because they each have these unique somewhat convoluted ways for calculating price. It all depends on weight, but even more-so for the larger packages the size...and then throw in some extra rural charges. Ebay had teamed up with UPS and was able to knock down their prices to FedEx range but now FedEx teamed with Ebay. I'd say on average, FedEx is cheaper. Some of their rural surcharges can hit you (they have less distribution points than UPS I believe). Up in Eastern Maine, the closest FedEx was 2 hours away and 1 hour for UPS. I used UPS only because the delivery guy was a real ace and I could call him up and get the packages picked up for free. FedEx would bring packages to me 1-2 times a week; the guy had a route covering all of Eastern Maine (an area bigger than the size of Rhode Island IIRC). He said I was probably the biggest customer. Imagine that?
Anyways, I found that in Eastern Maine EVERYONE went for the Parcel Post when they shipped to me. It drove me NUTS. A three lb. package would come Parcel Post and take over a week.
The only thing I'd give UPS credit for on the value front is they likely have less surcharges. However, now that I'm back in NY I ship FedEx again and their prices for oversized boxes are better and their prices for smaller boxes are better. I'd say probably 10% better across the board with my discount (it's not hard to get one).
I use USPS for small packages. Their priority mail is pretty quick and reliable, and you can get a delivery confirmation (not actual tracking). I use Fedex when it's important. They have tracking, and you can get a human on the phone when you need it.
I bought some cheap guitar switches on ebay from a seller in Hong Kong (or China, I forget). It arrived in the US within two days according to the USPS 'tracking' web site. Cleared customs and in transit in mid-February. Didn't get it until mid-May. And it was priority mail. That, in a nut shell, is why I don't use USPS for anything important.
I bought some cheap guitar switches on ebay from a seller in Hong Kong (or China, I forget). It arrived in the US within two days according to the USPS 'tracking' web site. Cleared customs and in transit in mid-February. Didn't get it until mid-May. And it was priority mail. That, in a nut shell, is why I don't use USPS for anything important.
- Aug 5, 2005
- 7,243
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- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
I compare prices at FedEx, USPS, and UPS. Generally, smaller items (especially if they can fit in those new Priority Flat Rate boxes) are sent cheapest through USPS. FedEx and UPS are pretty much on-par with each other, have better tracking, and slightly cheaper for large items, so larger items tend to go through them. Of course, I give the buyer the choice first.
