HOT: Screw USPS priority, Airborne launch its ground shipping service ...

[GroundedSailor]

At work we have accounts with Airborne Express, FedEx and UPS and over the last 7 years we have found AE to be most cost effective. We?re fortunate to be within easy distance of drop boxes as well as sorting offices of all three. Our shipping method of choice is AE next afternoon service, which we found usually gets delivered around noon the next day to most (urban) places.

In the last 2 years I can recall only 1 letter getting delayed and AE called us to apologize and credit the charges.

Everyone?s experience will vary but our experience with AE has been good so far, and now that they have started a ground service we will use them rather than UPS.


Almost forgot - we also get better rates from AE due to Verizon's Business Link Rewards membership as well as earning reward points.

 

[MortimRex]

Do any of these companies supply shipping boxes and such for business customers? I though I read a thread somewhere that said some of them do if you ship over a certain amount. Considering the amount of shipping my new company is about to do, that might weigh in heavily with my choice of shipper.

 

[woodcomp]

USPS ground is cheaper for packages under a pound. Try going to UPS for this and you will pay more.

I used Fedex ground for a year to ship computers, although I double box them all with 6 plus inches of packaing material between boxes.
They absolutely destroyed 6 computers. And the insurance they sell you is useless, as ahen you file a claim they never pay on them. On the positive for Fedex ground they do charge less for rates than UPS.

UPS higher rates yes, however I have made one claim from them in 6 years and they paid it. Took six weeks but they honored the claim with very little hassle.

I dropped UPS for a year to use Fedex ground aka RPS. They were good at first but after 4 months I noticed how poorly they were becomming. Also whats up with dropping off your stuff at the Fedex Express desk instead of at the Ground office which is 5 miles closer for me? At least that is what they require here.......


Woody

 

[flot]

UPS has destroyed/damaged/lost about 15% of the packages I've shipped with them. One of them, they mangled in shipping, so decided not to even try to deliver it - (when I called to ask about my package, they knew what was inside the box) - THEN they *LOST* it while trying to return to sender, and THEN they refused to reimburse me for it without jumping through a bunch of hoops - I never did get my $ back.

FedEx broke one very expensive package of mine, took my word that it was broken, and overnighted me a check for the full insured amount - I had the check in my hand about a week after shipping. Very impressed.

I have never shipped with airborne, but I have received packages from them - and usually they arrive ahead of schedule - wow.

USPS usually does a good job for me. They've actually never broken anything, although usually if something is fragile I'll choose another shipper. In general, I PREFER people to send USPS because the mailman is the only person who will reliably leave packages at my door. (UPS refuses to do it, I have to wait 3 attempts and then pick up at their ghetto warehouse during business hours)

The only shipping-related place I hate more than UPS is Mail boxes etc. Those jerks actually took a metal car fender I needed to ship, and BENT it to fit it inside the too-small-box. Then they had the nerve to try to NOT refund the $60 I paid them for packaging, saying that they only refund shipping damages, not packaging costs.

 

[labgeek]

Originally posted by: nickdigger
fedex would be fine, except for (a) $2.80 residential delivery fee, and (b) the a-holes @ local office don't accept cash, even though the bills say "Legal Tender for all debts, private and public"

It's not the payment of a debt it's a refusal of sale there's a difference. The do not have to sell you anything. About the only time a company HAS to sell you soemthing is if they are a monopoly, even then there are some limits.

 

[RSG2]

RSG2: how do you get free supplies from Airbone Express? Are they for Ground?

I set up an account with them (nothing to it), and then ordered online. Stuff usually gets dropped off within two days. The self adhesive labels are good to use for UPS and Priority mail.

I'm pretty sure someone here mentioned this to me, so I can't take credit for finding any of this stuff out.

 

[FatDragonn]

USPS - long lines, crappy service. those damn postal clerks always seem to be in a sh!tty mood for some reason. expensive for bulky packages (tried to ship a 19" monitor once, they wanted to charge me a $35 surcharge because it was TOO big)

UPS - cheap. handling of packages need to improve (have received a number of packages in which the box was all mangled w/ damaged goods). fortunately, i've never had to file a claim because i just called the vendor and informed them of the problem and set up a swap.

fedex - next day, 2nd day, and express saver service - no problems. fedex ground (formerly Roadpak) - be sure to insure everything you ship. fedex ground is still using independent contractors that Roadpak used. they have a nasty habit of leaving packages in front of your door unless you ask for signature delivery, which cost $4-5 more. packages will be left unattended regardless of value if you don't pay them the extra money to get a signature. fedex ground to date have lost a computer, monitor, digital camera and a printer of mine.

 

[phreakyzen]

Cost effective? I know why, the damn employees are the bottom of the barrel. I have seen one AE delivery person kick one of my packages up the walk to my house( I mean the box was rolling over ). Another time they flopped my computer onto the street from the truck. I would never choose them given the choice. The few times they did deliver was because the store did not give me an option (Walmart). Cheap yeah maybe but you get what you pay for. I have never had a problem shipping items under 1lb Priority Mail and with free confirmation why complain. With smaller items Priority is a cheap better quality service to me and I ship lots of items.

 

[VaG]

For everyone crying about USPS. Get a grip! You are most likely the incompetent one. If you are either standing in line or paying for delivery conformation you have the problem not them. I have shipped over 1500 packages with them in the last six months and have never had a SINGLE problem.

HINT:
If you don't like the rate increase.

Everything under 1lb cost $3.85
Every up to 70lbs that fits into a flat rate envelope cost $3.85
Use fedex for the rest

 

[FatDragonn]

If you are either standing in line or paying for delivery conformation you have the problem not them.

NOT EVERYONE OF US LIVES IN SOME HICK TOWN W/ POPULATION OF 30

 

[dude]

Originally posted by: chksi
Where can I buy a decent scale to weigh packages? (assumming they don't weigh it for you and charge it to your account) Staples is a good place to buy or use your own scale at home. They do not care if it is a little bit off. Or at any hardware store.

It does not cost you to change delivery address if someone is not home.

get Proof of Delivery with signature image, full name and delivery address, and more;

.

You do get audited sometimes. So don't go crazy with the weight of the package.
They do NOT allow you to change the send to address, even if you have the wrong address, they send it back to you. They send the package back to you, after the 3 or 4 delivery attempts.

All packages via FedEx and UPS requires a signature at delivery. But, UPS charges $1 for this service for some reason. They still get signatures whether you pay the $1 or not.

 

[dude]

Originally posted by: VaG
USPS: HINT: Everything under 1lb cost $3.85 Every up to 70lbs that fits into a flat rate envelope cost $3.85 Use fedex for the rest

I'd like to see someone stuff something that is 70lbs inside an envelope!

Originally posted by: phreakyzen
I have seen one AE delivery person kick one of my packages up the walk to my house( I mean the box was rolling over ). Another time they flopped my computer onto the street from the truck.

Was the package big and was it heavy? If so, think about it... If you were working with ANY carrier, and you had to deliver a few hundred packages a day, and they were all heavy, would you bend over to pick it up or roll it? At my former workplace, we ship anywhere from 80-120 monitors a day. Imagine you worked as the delivery or pickup guy. Have fun.

I've seen FedEx and UPS kick, drop, and roll packages many times before so it's not limited to a company. It's the employees!

 

[VaG]

Originally posted by: FatDragonn
If you are either standing in line or paying for delivery conformation you have the problem not them.

NOT EVERYONE OF US LIVES IN SOME HICK TOWN W/ POPULATION OF 30

You are the epitome of what I described above. I live in Miami. If you consider that a hick town town ( I can think of other descriptions but not hick) I hope you plan on moving from DC to LA or NY. Let me spell it out for you. If you have a printer & a credit card you should not be standing in line at USPS or paying for delivery conformation. If you ship only a few packages a week you should be using the USPS Website to print your postage. If you are shipping quite a few packages a week and your time is worth anything you should be paying $8 a month to process all your USPS postage online One of the many. If you are waiting for them to hold your hand for you or buy you a printer so you will stop complaining it's probably not going to happen.

I'd like to see someone stuff something that is 70lbs inside an envelope!

I don't make the standards. The point is you can ship anything that will fit into an envelope up to 70 Lbs. for $3.85. If that doesn't fit your needs I would direct you to step # 3 use Fedex.

 

[FatDragonn]

Originally posted by: VaG

Originally posted by: FatDragonn
If you are either standing in line or paying for delivery conformation you have the problem not them.

NOT EVERYONE OF US LIVES IN SOME HICK TOWN W/ POPULATION OF 30

You are the epitome of what I described above. I live in Miami. If you consider that a hick town town ( I can think of other descriptions but not hick) I hope you plan on moving from DC to LA or NY. Let me spell it out for you. If you have a printer & a credit card you should not be standing in line at USPS or paying for delivery conformation. If you ship only a few packages a week you should be using the USPS Website to print your postage. If you are shipping quite a few packages a week and your time is worth anything you should be paying $8 a month to process all your USPS postage online One of the many. If you are waiting for them to hold your hand for you or buy you a printer so you will stop complaining it's probably not going to happen.

I'd like to see someone stuff something that is 70lbs inside an envelope!

I don't make the standards. The point is you can ship anything that will fit into an envelope up to 70 Lbs. for $3.85. If that doesn't fit your needs I would direct you to step # 3 use Fedex.

Vag, funny how your profile was visible earlier, then all of a sudden it's not.

i happen to like DC and have been here for a # of yrs now, do you have any issues with that? i've not seen anyone get so defensive about the usps. if your mama or someone else in your family is a postal worker, then i can understand the anger and rage you have towards those that are attacking the usps.

 

[VaG]

Originally posted by: FatDragonn


Vag, funny how your profile was visible earlier, then all of a sudden it's not.

i happen to like DC and have been here for a # of yrs now, do you have any issues with that? i've not seen anyone get so defensive about the usps. if your mama or someone else in your family is a postal worker, then i can understand the anger and rage you have towards those that are attacking the usps.

NO, what is funny is that my profile said I live in Puerto Rico & you believed it. I don't have any anger or rage towards people attacking the USPS. I could care less but if you're going to complain at least get the facts straight instead of complaining just to complain.

You keep being one of the 30+ people with the stupid look on their face when I walk past you on my way to the counter while you wait in line. (by the way that's if I'm not home when my mail carrier delivers my mail otherwise he takes them for me- outside of postal regulations I guess but he does it with a smile on his face almost everyday)

 

[FatDragonn]

Originally posted by: VaG

NO, what is funny is that my profile said I live in Puerto Rico & you believed it. I don't have any anger or rage towards people attacking the USPS. I could care less but if you're going to complain at least get the facts straight instead of complaining just to complain.

You keep being one of the 30+ people with the stupid look on their face when I walk past you on my way to the counter while you wait in line. (by the way that's if I'm not home when my mail carrier delivers my mail otherwise he takes them for me- outside of postal regulations I guess but he does it with a smile on his face almost everyday)

unlike you, i have no interest in looking @ other users' profile. i just noticed the pair of eye glasses next to your post ealier. it makes no difference whether you're from PR or Miami.

as far as me being @ the post office, i think not. i've avoided the post office like the plague for the past yr or so.

 

[StringAttached]

Disregard.

 

[StringAttached]

You keep being one of the 30+ people with the stupid look on their face when I walk past you on my way to the counter while you wait in line

Funny, I tried walk past the line with the prepaid postage in my PO and got turned down by a clerk who said I still had to stay in line. Not to mention all the looks I received from the folks there... I wonder how you, guys, get away with that. Secret handshake, or something?

 

[usmc666]

Originally posted by: Smokey0066
for some reason all my stuff from fedex needs to be signed for. UPS always left stuff infront of my house even if it shoulda been signed for.. big no no.. fedex NEVER leaves stuff infront of my house..
hate it when i dont hear the doorbell.. that means i getta go for a drive..

i think i'll stick to the FedEx which has proven itself to be good in my book.

Go to your local fedex and fill out the release form they have. That way from then on they will leave your packages without a signature.

Dan

 

[solarisjames]

Airborne is no good. I recently purchased some stuff from Fry's (Outpost.com) and they ship by AE. Anyhow, I noticed that Fry's charged my CC and then I got credited back minus shipping charges. I called customer service and they told me the package had been refused. I'm not sure how that was possible. Upon further investigation, it seemed like AE attempted delivery once, came back that same day, and said someone refused delivery. It sure wasn't me. Anyhow, they really suck.

 

[jimmyhaha]

so seems to me that Fedex ground has the best PRICE / PERFORMANCE ratio ?

too bad they no longer accept online a/c application..

 

[mwdelta]

I've had good experiences with Airborne...

When my Dell monitor burned out (under warranty), Dell used Airborne to ship me the replacements, and the delivery guy was very helpful, even carrying the monitor into the house. Of course it took Dell 3 tries to get me a replacement monitor that worked, and each time the Airborne guy would come pick up the old one and drop off a new one. The first time though, he came in a tiny pickup that wouldn't even fit the box, and had to come back the next day. Good service compared to UPS, who lost one package and delivered another to my neighbor's a block away. Plus, there are several Airborne drop boxes near me.

 

[fornax]

Braxus and jna:

You don't need an account with FedEx ground to be able to ship, if you have a FedEx office nearby. You just go there with your stuff (labeled and packed), fill in the green form, and pay with a credit card (they hate cash). That's it. I've shipped hundreds of packages and no problems whatsoever. I do have an account, in fact, but prefer this way since you know right away how much you paid, etc. If you use the account, you get a monthly statement.

 

[dealeo]

Thx, Jimi. Competition can't do anything but help the consumer -

 

[Devistater]

Interesting. I will have to check airborne express out, I didn't realize they shipped ground.