USPS shipping conundrum...

[K_B]

So the ol' US Postal Service has implemented new shipping "rules" or whatever. I come to find out that if a box is over 1 cubic foot in volume, they automatically nail you for 20 bucks regardless of weight. So to ship a 1 cubic foot box full of nothing but air: 20 bucks.

Does anyone know if they have more than 2 sizes of flat-rate boxes? I looked online and they say only two. I went to the PO to ask them but the line was outta control so I abandoned that idea real quick.

I'm trying to ship out a body and to go Priority, it will cost me almost 30 bucks! I'm desperately trying to avoid sending it Parcel Post, but I may have no choice.

Is UPS or FedEx any better? I haven't looked into those options yet. Any suggestions appreciated...

[smokinubyrc]

ups will play soccer with the box

i like fed ex!

or even that new company dhl!

[hawnmt]

Originally Posted by smokinu_by_rc

ups will play soccer with the box

That's what happened to a body I got off ebay. It was smashed! They still haven't settled the claim 2 months later. KB I don't know if you guys in Alaska get nailed like we do in Hawaii, but FedEx, DHL, and UPS are all way more expensive than USPS.

[K_B]

That's my problem. UPS, et al. treat AK and HI like it's China or something. I had a body delivered to me by USPS that looked like an elephant sat on it. Thank God it was lexan. I'm wondering if the $20 surcharge is just for the non-contiguous US, but I don't think so...

[JeremyH]

Originally Posted by hawnmt

FedEx, DHL, and UPS are all way more expensive than USPS.

There's a reason for that....because those companies will actually deliver your package....not just lose it.

[Big Mike]

ups will play soccer with the box

Yep unfortunately true. UPS slave-drives their drivers so hard that they reach a point (quickly) where they just don't give a shat about the freight they move.

I've always had good results from FedEx...

[JasonInAugusta]

I've had dozens and dozens of boxes come to the house via UPS.

Only one item had damage and it was a quick fix with CA.

Guess I've been lucky.

[BGGruff]

I recently had a problem with UPS which took 3 weeks to solve, but I finally got mt stuff! I had had good luck with them up until that point and I get a lot of stuff sent to the house. I haven't had any bad luck here in Miami with USPS so far (knock on wood!) I think its a crap shoot with all of them b/c most of us probably get lots sent to the house so unless your just cursed then every once in a while isn't tooo bad!

[_BEN_]

Whenever I send stuff. I use FedEx ground.
There rates are resonable(sometimes better than USPS). You get tracking (that is accruate), delivery confirmation, and $100 insurance included on every shipment. If you need direct signatures or more insurance they can do that too. Even if you ship to Canada.

www.fedex.com has a rate finder on there site that is fairly accruate.

[dittohead]

I refuse to ever use UPS again. When one of their packages crosses the border, they add a "brokerage fee". How do you feel about $87 shipping for 2 servos?:-x I had to pay it before they would release the package to me. This sh!t happens EVERY time i get something sent to me using UPS, which btw, stands for United Parcel Smashers. I have had great luck using the PO.

[Mikekx65]

Well i traded some maxx parts for a micro-t he shipped the micro-t using ups...i was suppose to get the package today but on the delivery progress thing it said it was delivered..now thats BullSh!t...i got a package from towerhobbies today and i know for a fack that i didnt get 2 packages....so ill give it till tomarro then im filing a claim...I mean this is bullsh!t you pay extra to get extra but these fawking idiots loose sh!t just like that

[ctrwannabe]

i have used ups and fed ex and dislike both, i have had very good service/shipping "sending and reciving" and no problems with usps

just noticed it was usps with this fee, one time i sent some headlights "off a 1:1 car" to a guy in another state and it was like 20 something shipping i had the biggest box lol i think i would prefer ups over fed ex though

[dotson]

u can really bone them...build the box around the body..inside and out.. you usps

[TunaMaxx]

Originally Posted by dittohead

When one of their packages crosses the border, they add a "brokerage fee".

I got dinged a $35 brokerage fee on a $7 dollar magazine that I had shipped up from the States. The real kicker was the notice for the fee didn't show up until two months AFTER the package arrived.

This was a UPS shipment too, but it was UPS' brokerage company that was charging me. I just ignored it for a long time and told them to screw themselves when they finally called.

Oops!

They put it through to collections and I had bill collectors on my tail! I went and paid it right away then, but it was too late. They'd added another $10 surcharge for being late and it showed up on my credit rating...

Now I have a mailbox in across the border and I go pick stuff up myself.

[whoodie]

I had been expecting a package to arrive sometime this week via DHL. I was at school yesterday and got a call from an unknown phone number, it was the DHL driver. She asked if I was at home, and of course I was not, I asked her if she could leave the box at the apartment office. "Of course MR. Whoodie." Needless to say I am sold on DHL, pretty cool service they got there.

[binaryterror]

DHL is ok, expensive though. They bought Airborne Express to become US and nation about 7 years back.

FedEx has never ONCE done anything right. Even at my work we pay for first am service and see it about 3pm. I would never use them and actually will buy from places who do not use it.

UPS and me get along no problem. I ship UPS ground all the time for my eBay shipments, for the price and the free $100 insurance. I've never had a problem with UPS so long as the package is properly packed. A lot of the problem with smashed boxes goes back to the shipper...some people need to learn how to fill/pack a box.

USPS, I hate that they can not track online...thats about it with them though. I haven't had any loss, though I tend to add insurance when buying on eBay, seems adding insurance guarantees they won't lose it at all.