USPS Priority- Why do businesses not use ?

It's simpler for them to just deal with one carrier and have a daily pickup. They don't really care what it costs because that is passed on to you; they do care about their labor costs. Also UPS and Fedex's tracking is better.

I order lead bullets from Missouri Bullet Company, they use USPS flat rate boxes and will ship 2000 bullets for $13.

You cannot track a USPS order like you can UPS or Fedex - and your shipment seems to be an anomaly -I get all three and USPS is always the slowest

USPS priority is always the best to and from AK. UPS is a nightmare and FedEx is $$$. So I guess it depends in part on where you are.

As a business owner, USPS is not worth the price savings. Their tracking system is useless, and trying to get paid for a damage/lost package claim is futile.

You cannot track a USPS order like you can UPS or FedEx

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Sure you can. Even the first class packages I send regularly with tracking tell you every step of the way and even give an estimate of delivery date.

and your shipment seems to be an anomaly -I get all three and USPS is always the slowest

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I've not seen that to be the case for me, either. FEDEX seems to be a day behind USPS consistently.

Their tracking system is useless

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Really? Mailed a package yesterday evening, it already has 5 updates of it's progress and it hasn't even left the metro area yet.

Another issue is many of the postal carriers claim the boxes are "too heavy" and refuse to take them off the truck. This creates a major hassle in some ZIP codes. I've had orders delayed by this

Seems to have gotten a bit better lately with the talk of Post Office closures and "downsizing" the work force.

My old carrier was great, she'd let me know they arrived and would bring them by the next Saturday morning, pull up in my driveway so I could unload them -- they are a load for a woman the size of my wife. Unfortunately she retired and her replacement didn't with to deal with it, saying I had to drive down and pick them up at the PO. I got on her supervisor and straightened things out, then I explained how her predecessor handled it and suggested she do the same.

oneounceload said:

You cannot track a USPS order like you can UPS or Fedex - and your shipment seems to be an anomaly -I get all three and USPS is always the slowest

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Not an anomaly. I sent a package from Kuwait to my home in Washington State via USPS priority mail. I placed an internet order for an item from Tennessee shipped to Washington State that shipped on the same day via UPS. My package from Kuwait via Priority Mail arrived 4 days before the UPS package did from Tennessee. The UPS package sat in a town 50 miles away at the UPS terminal for 10 days due to "weather". US Post Office didn't have any problems with the weather.

I'll take US Postal Service any day of the week.

USPS only added the same tracking UPS and FedEx have had for a long time.

USPS only added the same tracking UPS and FedEx have had for a long time.

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So, then, they have it, and it works.
Issue?


I can't send a 2oz package with tracking info and have it delivered in 3 days for $1.64 with anyone but USPS.
I also can't send 65lbs of lead for $13 in under 4 days using anyone but USPS.

blarby....I do not understand........

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You should be asking the seller this question BEFORE finalizing the sale.

kcshooter

Quote:
You cannot track a USPS order like you can UPS or FedEx

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Sure you can. Even the first class packages I send regularly with tracking tell you every step of the way and even give an estimate of delivery date.

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The only USPS service that has "tracking" equivalent to UPS/FedEx is Express Mail. What you think you are seeing as "tracking" on First Class or Priority Mail is not. I ship several handguns every week via Priority Mail and can confirm that the "tracking" you see at usps.com is not anywhere as accurate as the tracking system used by UPS and FedEx.

UPS and fedEx know where a package is at all times........USPS has no idea.

UPS and fedEx know where a package is at all times........USPS has no idea

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That's just not true. Look at this tracking list from a package I sent earlier this week.
And note that this is a 2oz package that cost me $1.64 to ship.

https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction?qtc_tLabels1=9101150134711399796748

Delivered

Jun-07-12, 12:19 PM, LEBANON, TN 37087

Out for Delivery

Jun-07-12, 08:46 AM, LEBANON, TN 37087

Sorting Complete

Jun-07-12, 08:36 AM, LEBANON, TN 37087

Arrival at Post Office

Jun-07-12, 06:07 AM, LEBANON, TN 37087

Processed through USPS Sort Facility

Jun-06-12, 19:21 PM, NASHVILLE, TN 37230

Processed through USPS Sort Facility

Jun-06-12, 19:20 PM, NASHVILLE, TN 37214

Depart USPS Sort Facility

Jun-06-12, 00:00 AM, KANSAS CITY, MO 64121

Depart USPS Sort Facility

Jun-06-12, 00:00 AM, NASHVILLE, TN 37230

Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility

Jun-05-12, 23:06 PM, KANSAS CITY, MO 64121

Dispatched to Sort Facility

Jun-05-12, 16:36 PM, BUCKNER, MO 64016

Acceptance

Jun-05-12, 14:31 PM, BUCKNER, MO 64016

kcshooter

Quote:
UPS and fedEx know where a package is at all times........USPS has no idea

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That's just not true. Look at this tracking list from a package I sent earlier this week.
And note that this is a 2oz package that cost me $1.64 to ship.

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Gee..thats one package.....and thats not a minute by minute tracking system. USPS does not update status as often as UPS/FedEx.

I wish I could show you the USPS "tracking" that shows packages as "processing" when its sitting in my living room.

Ask any USPS employee if they offer the same quality "tracking" as UPS/FedEx.....they'll enjoy the laugh.

Gee..thats one package.....

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Yeah, and it looks just like the 3 identical ones I've sent in the last week.

and thats not a minute by minute tracking system. USPS does not update status as often as UPS/FedEx

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Unless FedEx and UPS started installing GPS devices, or scanning the packages every few minutes, theirs isn't minute by minute either. They update any time the package comes on or off a truck or arrives, is sorted thru, or leaves a facility. Does UPS do something different? Is that not enough for you?

Yes UPS tracking is more precise. It's allowed me to watch rifles I bought do a detailed 20 state tour before finally getting on a jet from some inexplicable location.

Be forewarned! Both FedEx and UPS now utilize the mail system in their "cut rate" delivery system. UPS calls it UPS Mail Innovations, which is how my order from Optics Planet got so incredibly hashed after they failed to follow clear shipping instructions.
UPS Mail Innovations will take your item to the nearest LARGE post office, (Mine was over 60 miles away, apparently), and then the USPS system delivers it from there. So you might PAY for UPS, but still end up using the Post Office anyways. It's kinda like the worst of both worlds.

As a business owner, I use USPS every time I can. I have much better results with them.

blarby said:

So, here I am on shipping day seven, waiting on 300 bullets I just realized were shipped via UPS.

Also, after reviewing the invoice the shipping on this order was almost $20 including handling insurance.


Why is it that so many businesses refuse to use USPS priority mail flat-rate services ?

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Ahhhh, because it's a FELONY to ship ammo via the US Mail would be my first guess, unless these are just Bullets, and not loaded ammo.

Most medium/large business have rates with either FedEx or UPS that nearly matches, or beats, priority mail. Add to that the far superior tracking ... and it's a no brainer.

That said ... -I- ship USPS priority mail all the time .. mainly handguns. They end up being MUCH cheaper than shipping UPS/FedEx.

I have 19 items from Midway being shipped USPS right now. Ordered Tuesday night at about 2 AM, Shipped Wednesday evening, and I have an estimated delivery date of tomorrow.

UPS is rarely as quick for me.

I've had pretty good luck with the post office shipping. I think the reason people don't use it more is not because shipping is slow, it's usually just as fast as the others, it's because if you have to deal with an actual person at the usps you'll understand why it's a federal offense to carry a gun in the post office. It's to keep us from shooting the completely incompetent customer facing employees.

Yes FedEx give a discount to account holders. When I signed up it was about 10%. No extra charge for Tracking or the mimamal insurance that is included. FedEx ground service most anywhere in the lower 48 3days or less. Rates are lower also and you don't have to worry about fitting it in a flat rate box. Not saying that the Flat rate is a bad thing may just not allways be the best option.

Oh ya I think that FedEx carrys all the Priority mail for USPS. But thats just the drift I got from the clerk at the Post Office.

WB

I had a package shipped Fedex ground last week, final delivery was by USPS. Unfortunately the package was turned over to USPS on Thursday in Albuquerque, about 30 miles from me. It was delivered by USPS the following Wednesday. Six days for 30 miles :banghead:

I use USPS (both ways) at every opportunity. I hate UPS. Nothing but aggravation, both ways. Fedex is my second choice if I cant use USPS.

Ive sent, and recieved tons of stuff, across the country using Priority Mail, and if its not there in 2-3 days, its an oddity.

UPS has twice left stuff Ive ordered at other peoples houses a couple of miles away. Luckily, they were nice enough to bring it by both times. Calls to UPS bitching were a waste of time. Dealing with them at the hub is nothing but aggravation. They dont have a clue as to what their own regs are.

When they are the only choice, anything I have shipped to me using them, usually takes at least a week, unless its very close.

I think the reason people don't use it more is not because shipping is slow, it's usually just as fast as the others, it's because if you have to deal with an actual person at the usps you'll understand why it's a federal offense to carry a gun in the post office. It's to keep us from shooting the completely incompetent customer facing employees.

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I understand how you feel here. Its not something you need deal with though. You can do just about everything from your computer and they will pick it up. I havent had to go to the PO to ship a package or buy postage for a long time.