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Some of you may be aware that USPS has discontinued their Parcel Post service, and has now increased the rates and changed the name to Standard Post. Yesterday, I shipped 2 packages and almost had a heart attack when they told me the rates. What would formerly have cost $30-35 is now $49. Forget this, I thought! I'm checking out UPS, they HAVE to be cheaper! Compared the rates today, and found one package was $1.70 more than USPS, and the 2nd package $1.85 less than USPS....overall, $$$-wise, it's a wash, or at least not enough to squawk about.

Soooooo.....who do you guys use? I ship everything Priority that I can in Flat Rate boxes/envelopes from USPS, and luckily, that hasn't changed YET. But for big, bulky items (glass, reel sets, coin trays, etc.) I have to go ground.

ANY suggestions are appreciated!

Roslyn

Hey Roslyn...  I've always used UPS.  They insure free up to $100 and include package tracking.  My general rule of thumb has been for large packages; UPS ... smaller stuff; USPS.   I've heard that Fed Ex is good too; but I've never tried them.  Bill

UPS and FedEx is good. Could be quicker but it's more $$$. USPS first class mail takes longer than those services unless you're using Priority Mail. Good Luck!

I use fedex all the time for larger items. Priority mail IS NOT FASTER THAN FIRST CLASS!!? I can ship a chip coast to coast for $1.85 first class and it is there in 2-3 days. Priority small flat rate box it $5.95 and takes 5-6 days. Items 5 to 20 lbs I have found fedex half the price of USPS? Average glass kit $15 -18 via fedex. Just shipped a 24x24x24 45lbs package from maryland to texas for $24 fedex ground

 
I kind of thought it was the other way around. I had a Triple Stars kit sent in by priority mail and it was there in about a week. When I bought the Key and Clear Chips it was there about a week or two. I have a 13 SIMM on the way still in transit. The hard part is getting it through customs when you live  outside the country like Canada. But if you live around your area you won't have any problems. Cross your fingers and it will be there in no time. :204-

i won some stuff in auction in fla  had a friend take it to fed ex to ship there was 5 boxes about 250 lbs total  cost me 440  to ship they  got her to pay for  someone signing for shipment that was 10 bucks a box even that i only signed once. it was the cheapest rate but it was here in 2 days which i didn,t care   i did care about 50 bucks to sign for it

Man you guys are all getting ripped off. You guys need to learn to open accounts with UPS/FedEx/ USPS.  You get heavy Discounts with UPS/FedEx and a good discount with USPS when you have accounts. I ship items everyday and don't pay near what you guys are talking about. If you take the packages to the stores/post office to ship that is where you are getting ripped off. The stores are ridiculous.

i,m sure my friend took it to fed ex store , she save me a 800 mile each way trip but cost me a lot i tryed to set up a fed ex account before hand but i only had a few days to pickup stuff or lose it

The rates I refer to our through our UPS account? Perhaps its a volume discount, as i dont use UPs regularly. USPS is just through Paypal. I don't use the USPS site too much, as cant ship ground there, so I just ship USPS via PayPal.

I can't stomach $2.50/lb cross country for ground, wether its USPS or UPS, so I will check FedEx today.

Everything I sell weighs more than the limit for First Class (13oz, I believe, or is it 9oz? I'll remember after coffee kicks in), with just a couple exceptions (chips, decals, WBA harnesses, door optics).

Thanks for the input guys!

I use FedEx I have a UPS account and used them for years but FedEx is Faster, they handle the packages better and cheaper. If you need to change an address for drop off UPS charges like 5 or 10.00 per package. FedEx it's free.

Roz as you know I live 20 miles from no where in the middle of nothing, but I do have accounts with Fedex and UPS, I live about 1/2 a mile from a Post Office where two customers is a crowd. I don't do enough shipping to qualify for discount shipping fees. If I have something to ship that is large or heavy I use Fedex and have found that it's at least 10% less to use my computer and print out a shipping label than go to the store, which by the way is 29 miles away. When I print out the label I schedule a pick up date, I Now see " Sorry We don't Pick Up In This Zip Code" ( they deliver to this zip code ) So here I am, I saved about 10% and still get to drive the 29 miles one way to their damn store.

Steve I don't know how they do it on the East Coast, but on the West Coast, using your computer less than 5 minutes and a credit card  and you have a Fedex account.

Last time I used UPS they broke glass and the Office Depot took care of the claim since they was moving  from an old Safeway store to a new building and UPS was taking way too long.
So from now on I am going use USPS or FedEx

Ouch! Sounds like "UPS" has its "DOWNS".

When shipping from the US to Canada.
UPS is an expensive royal pain.

They charge $20 as brokerage fees or 3% of the declared value - whatever is more.
Not sure how they can justify varying the price as the effort to fill in a 2x3" green custom form.
The form is not complicated - and all the information required is on the bill of lading that you had to fill out for UPS to collect the package in the first place.
Once when shipping xmas presents from PA to Canada I snagged a couple of forms from the post office and put it on my package all filled out.
UPS charged a $50 verification fee.

They also then add these fees to the declared value and we get to pay 5% GST on the total value.
Now get this UPS refuses to ship to PO boxes.... however my Canadian based PO Box is at a UPS store.
I use a PO Box as they receive my packages and sign for anything registered.
If I was to ship to my home UPS forces a failed delivery before I can call them and ask them to hold at depot.
Depot is open from 9 - 4 M-F and no weekends.
SO basically anyone with a office job has to take time off to collect packages.

If I ship USPS I only pay the shipping costs.

Per shipping glass. I have glass broken by all carriers.
I have found the best way to ship glass is to bubble wrap it put it in a box then fill a larger box with cornstarch pellets or the foam kind and then put the smaller box in it and then put more of those pellets on top. They can drop the box off the top of the empire state building and your glass will survie.

Good grief  :279-   I was hoping for better news! I thank you all for your inputs. Looks like we're somewhere between FedEx and UPS. I know our little town doesn't have a FedEx store, but maybe they have a PickUp location.

Thanks again guys!  :88-

Good Luck CVSLots. Hope for the best.