I sent back a camera that probably weighed over a pound when shipped for $4.50 via FedEx ground on 12/24 and it was halfway across the country and delivered 12/29, in spite of weekends and holidays. I think fedex is a bargain for shipping heavy stuff, like a computer monitor. I had to get a 19" monitor (55lbs., HUGE box) shipped for replacement and it cost just over $10 with FedEx. USPS was $35 and UPS wanted $20..
Do not use USPS.
- Thread starter doctorhumbert
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I sent back a camera that probably weighed over a pound when shipped for $4.50 via FedEx ground on 12/24 and it was halfway across the country and delivered 12/29, in spite of weekends and holidays. I think fedex is a bargain for shipping heavy stuff, like a computer monitor. I had to get a 19" monitor (55lbs., HUGE box) shipped for replacement and it cost just over $10 with FedEx. USPS was $35 and UPS wanted $20..
I ship hundreds of packages via the USPS every year. (Molon Labe stuff) and I have had very few problems. I use them because the location is more convenient to me than Fed Ex or UPS and the cost to mail light weight packages (hats, single shirts) is better.
In the 3 years I have sold TFL stuff and Molon Labe stuff I have only had them lose a couple of packages, (which I made up to the customer out of my own pocket) delivery is usually well under a week.
I guess I've been lucky.
In the 3 years I have sold TFL stuff and Molon Labe stuff I have only had them lose a couple of packages, (which I made up to the customer out of my own pocket) delivery is usually well under a week.
I guess I've been lucky.
I love it when someone gives me the chance to tell my favorite USPS story.
I once put together a bid for some marketing research for the USPS and dutifully used their overnight delivery service to deliver to USPS headquarters in DC. (We generally used FEDEX but figured that if we were asking the USPS to spend $150,000 with us we should use them to deliver the bid.) Naturally, it got lost and, as far as I can tell, remains lost to this day, 10 years later.
We did not win the contract or even get a refund on the lost delivery. I don't really believe they'd be better today if we'd done the work for them then but, who knows?
I once put together a bid for some marketing research for the USPS and dutifully used their overnight delivery service to deliver to USPS headquarters in DC. (We generally used FEDEX but figured that if we were asking the USPS to spend $150,000 with us we should use them to deliver the bid.) Naturally, it got lost and, as far as I can tell, remains lost to this day, 10 years later.
We did not win the contract or even get a refund on the lost delivery. I don't really believe they'd be better today if we'd done the work for them then but, who knows?
Please proceed with caution when choosing FedEx Ground to transport your goods. The prices are reasonable, but package handling at the hubs (specifically, trailer unloading) is rough. Rough. Rough.
I used to work in "Unload", as it is called, and we were paid to move at 100% of our capacity, 100% of the time....from the moment we punched in until the moment we limped back to the time clock to punch out. A co-worker summed it up neatly: we were being paid to work out.
That said, expediency was the order of the day: "Get the boxes off the truck as fast as possible." It wasn't a question of which packages were thrown on the belt (regardless of size or weight), but how far were they thrown?
I lost eight pounds during my first three days, and during my first week I saw several boxes explode under their own weight due to our handling methods. More than once, loose rounds (usually 45acp, oddly enough) bounced around the bottom of the trailer when said boxes failed.
TM
I used to work in "Unload", as it is called, and we were paid to move at 100% of our capacity, 100% of the time....from the moment we punched in until the moment we limped back to the time clock to punch out. A co-worker summed it up neatly: we were being paid to work out.
That said, expediency was the order of the day: "Get the boxes off the truck as fast as possible." It wasn't a question of which packages were thrown on the belt (regardless of size or weight), but how far were they thrown?
I lost eight pounds during my first three days, and during my first week I saw several boxes explode under their own weight due to our handling methods. More than once, loose rounds (usually 45acp, oddly enough) bounced around the bottom of the trailer when said boxes failed.
TM
George Hill
Member
Fedex online... print the labels... put the label on the box... put box on the front porch... email off the tracking number... go to taco bell.
Come home, box is gone.
Next day, get email saying "Thanks!"
Positive ebay feedback.
Post Office?
Come home, box is gone.
Next day, get email saying "Thanks!"
Positive ebay feedback.
Post Office?
sturmruger
Member
FEDEX
I used to work at Fedex Ground. I lost 10 lbs in the first week. TallMAN you are 100% right. Most people would be amazed at how rough thier packages are handled. I work on the irregular belt. That means all the really odd sized packages(tires, skis, and tractor parts) were on my belt. What would often happen is one little box would get stuck on something. Then all the other boxes would start to push on that one box. Usually the box would get shreaded!! Ever since I worked there I am very careful on how I pack my shipped items.
I used to work at Fedex Ground. I lost 10 lbs in the first week. TallMAN you are 100% right. Most people would be amazed at how rough thier packages are handled. I work on the irregular belt. That means all the really odd sized packages(tires, skis, and tractor parts) were on my belt. What would often happen is one little box would get stuck on something. Then all the other boxes would start to push on that one box. Usually the box would get shreaded!! Ever since I worked there I am very careful on how I pack my shipped items.
I work for a major software company. My office is located in their distribution center. We ship with everybody from Airborne to USPS to the local trucking companies. We ship all over the US and Canada, our sister warehouse in Europe and practically every military PX in the free world.
I can say I have personally seen everything that has been described so far, and then some. Most of the time things go smoothly, but when they go to s*** they go all the way. We even have a couple of people on staff full time whose only job is to track and trace the packages to insure delivery.
It's like any other business. You pay your money and you take your chances.
I can say I have personally seen everything that has been described so far, and then some. Most of the time things go smoothly, but when they go to s*** they go all the way. We even have a couple of people on staff full time whose only job is to track and trace the packages to insure delivery.
It's like any other business. You pay your money and you take your chances.
general
Member
In the '90's I worked in a coin museum that had a USPS postal contract station...
We would send out 50+ registered packages a day... one day sent out over a hundred packages with .25 mil value in 2 pickups... Only had 1 loss in 2 years... Expensive is the word with registered...
Certified w/ R.R. - but still can't tell you WHERE package is.....
IMO a few $$ for UPS and you can go online and look at where and when it was last... is worth it.
We would send out 50+ registered packages a day... one day sent out over a hundred packages with .25 mil value in 2 pickups... Only had 1 loss in 2 years... Expensive is the word with registered...
Certified w/ R.R. - but still can't tell you WHERE package is.....
IMO a few $$ for UPS and you can go online and look at where and when it was last... is worth it.
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