Suggestion THERE IS SUCH A THING AS U.S. MAIL!

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ahohen1

BFL
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Nov 26, 2006
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If you are a distributor, do you check to see if it is less expensive for your customer to ship the item(s) using U.S. Mail instead of UP(-ee)S? I ordered an item from a company that weights only an ounce or two and it cost me almost 10 bucks for shipping cost (1 lb. minimum!)! :bdh: I called the distributor and asked them WHY they did not sent it by U.S. Mail. Their only answer :fire: was: "We only send packages out using UP(-ee)S." Why do they do this? Do they also make a profit on the cost of shipping? When ordering from certain distributors ASK them if you have a choice. If you don't, check with other distributors... they might.
 
One of the reasons that some suppliers/distributors use UPS, DSL, and the likes is because these companies come right to their place and picks up no matter the size. U.S. Mail will go to your place but they do have weight & size limits. I ship a lot of prints & framed art through the mail and always check first if it will go by USPS - that is just more convenient for me and normally cheaper for my customers. I use Buster Brown (UPS) the least because I feel that they are normally the most expensive and the hardest to work with. With that said, I have a couple of friends that use UPS because they state UPS is the cheapest and easiest to work with. I know that most suppliers will not check for differences in price mainly because it cost to have someone taking the time to check and supliers just don't want to add another person to the payroll - can't say that I blame them.
 
I ship framed art out through the post office periodically and it is always less expensive, arrives in the same amount of time and most importantly it arrives in good (unbroken) condition.

When they ask the contents and I tell them framed art they tell me they don't insure the glass.

My reply is always that "It is packed so well that even UPS could get it there without breaking it".

Always get a big laugh even from the customers waiting in line.
 
Why not just set up your own DHL account?
DHL is often even less than the USPS, especially for larger, heavier items.
When you want to have something shipped to you, call to find out the weight and dimensions from your supplier, log on to DHL, print out a tag, send it to your supplier and it's on its way and on your account.
There is more of a time lag in this method, but I could see it working out for certain items.
The price difference may well be worth it.
Edie triedit goddess
 
PaulSF said:
And UPS ground is fast?
Click to expand...

It's not FAST, especially from VT to CA as you well know ;)

BUT, it is more than 99% consistent (on average, about 99.8% for our shipments). You can count on it getting where it's going in the predicted time. In fact, even Ground is GUARANTEED to be delivered in the predicted time-in-transit or your money back*, just like the Air services.

I think it's a marvel how fast they move packages around. We have a customer on Block Island, RI which is a good 4 hours drive plus a ferry ride, and UPS picks up our packages around 6 PM and he has them the NEXT morning!

*to commercial addresses only, and if they attempt when you aren't there, or don't have COD money ready you're out of luck.
 
One reason for vendors using UPS/FEDEX/etc is that the vendor is required to have "proof of delivery" in many instances in case the charges are disputed.

USPS well kept secret

GREAT for small, heavy items. Priority mail, flat rate envelopes & boxes. Put as much "stuff" in the package that the USPS provides and it's one flat rate regardless of weight. Priority mail delivered in 2-3 days. Envelopes are less than $5. Boxes less than $10.

You print the label, tracking numbers generated that are emailed to whomever you put in the list, click a checkbox and your mail person comes to you to pick it up. Don't expect the tracking numbers to do anything because they're a joke but it does give some sense of security.
 
Rick nailed it.

Priority mail for small parcels is a great way to go.
 
I worked in a warehouse before I bought my shop. I ran the shipping computer off and on during the three years I was there. We shipped a tremendous number of packages every day. There are all kinds of things that warehouses (distributors) do and don't consider when shipping packages to you.

We shipped through UPS, FedEx, DHL, and USPS:
We shipped tiny, lightweight boxes and envelopes through USPS.
We called DHL (and a couple other shipping companies) when we had something very heavy going a long way or needing to meet a shipping container at a pier to go overseas.
Everything else went UPS and FedEx. We had a deal that we got cheaper shipping rates if we were consistent on how much we shipped. So, we'd switch back and forth on every other package, sending half through UPS and half through FedEx unless there was a time and geography issue, in which case we sent it either the cheapest or the fastest way (depending on the customer). During our busy season we could fill up four 40-ft trailers (two for FedEx and two for UPS) each day.
We rarely asked the customers if they had a preference how things were shipped, and since they were paying the shipping, we didn't concern ourselves with the cost.
I often sent out tiny 4"x7"x3" boxes with five seed packets in them as overnight packages, which cost about $30, when they could have been sent by USPS for maybe three stamps and would have gotten there one day later.

Keep in mind too, that the people printing the shipping tags and sending the boxes out aren't concerned with the cost that either you or the company they work for is paying. It is worth asking about rates or requesting a specific shipping method, just don't expect to necessarily get what you asked for!
 
One of the reasons is that most distributors have a set charge for anything under 2 lbs. What we do is charge what it takes to get the package anywhere in the US. In some cases, by the time we have boxed and packed a small order, labeled it to ship and take it to the PO, we have a lot more than just the cost of the postage into it. Our shipping person makes $14 an hour, so if it takes us 15 minutes to get it ready, the package has cost us $3.50 in wages, not to mention the cost of the box, the packing material, and the gas to take it to the PO. Almost every package that is shipped has cost us $4 without the postage included. When we ship via UPS or FedEX, they pick it up, but the rest of the cost is still the same.

In a few cases we may make a dollar or two on small packages, but for the most part our cost to ship is greater than the charges. We have set amounts for shipping and handling based on the size of the order. These charges are factored in that way to keep it simple.

The other thing that people are not aware of is that if you have UPS packages that are being shipped to a residence as opposed to a business, we will pay $2-4 more for the residential delivery. On small orders we sometimes lose money because the shipping cost is higher than what we made on the product being shipped.

Another good reason for using UPS or FedEX is that many business's don't have daily mail delivery. What it boils down to is that UPS is easier, we can track an order, and they pick up twice a day. When someone needs needles we get them out the same day via UPS... as long as the order is in by 3:00. If we had to go to the PO we wouldn't be able to offer same day shipping.
 
For shipping OUT....

Got an idependent shipper handy? I have been using a local indy for about a year now(woulda done it sooner,didn`t know he was there!).What a great guy!!! He will tell me my options,and suggest less expensive ones every time.He will even box items if I am in a rush,or don`t have an appropriate box on hand. L.:D
 
Sorry, but USPS provides the priority flatrate boxes at no charge. They even deliver the boxes to you in almost any quantity. Postage is printed online. Weight doesn't matter so the price is fixed. USPS will come to any business or residence for pickup within 24 hours of clicking the button, or drop in any public mailbox, no standing in line. You even tell them where in the building the package will be ready. Priority mail is 2-3 days depending upon whether you are going east to west or west to east. Quicker than UPS or Fedex ground. USPS delivers to busines or residence for the same price.
 
Now it seems to be the world of those express companies.like it or not, the fact is there. The traditional Mail, more often too slow and not convenient, is dying away. The same occurs in our nation too.
 
I'm with Rick.... right up to the moment I need to track a shipment.

Had a "tracked" USPS Priority that was guarenteed 2-3 days. 7 days out I tried to track the package that had not only "Track" but signed receipt. 12 days and I re-shipped out with UPS. Three days later I got an email that it was delivered at 11:23 and signed for by Ron Trig. 3 years later, when I'm feeling fiesty I call the USPS and ask where my package went. $300 down the drain.
 
Pangolin said:
We rarely asked the customers if they had a preference how things were shipped, and since they were paying the shipping, we didn't concern ourselves with the cost....

Keep in mind too, that the people printing the shipping tags and sending the boxes out aren't concerned with the cost that either you or the company they work for is paying.
Click to expand...

This is simply a management problem that can be overcome if the owner(s) care about it. It would be ludicrous for them not to care, if you ask me. We (the supplier) work for you (the customer). If we want to to come back we have to take care of you. It doesn't matter on what issue.
 
Baer Charlton said:
I'm with Rick.... right up to the moment I need to track a shipment.

Had a "tracked" USPS Priority that was guarenteed 2-3 days. 7 days out I tried to track the package that had not only "Track" but signed receipt. 12 days and I re-shipped out with UPS. Three days later I got an email that it was delivered at 11:23 and signed for by Ron Trig. 3 years later, when I'm feeling fiesty I call the USPS and ask where my package went. $300 down the drain.
Click to expand...
Well there is THAT...If I want it tracked,and tracked correctly....IT UPS ONLY!!!! even my shipper admits that the post office "tracking" is carp!!! L.
 
I have heard the horror stories about USPS. I have to say that I have shipped 100s of packages using USPS and have never had a problem. I use their delivery confirmation stickers and have been able to see when a package is delivered by checking on the web. I don't have problems with USPS but have had many problems with UPS, smashed packages, no weekend delivery, disrespectful delivery people both to me and at the other end. I will not us UPS unless I absolutely have to. I have much better luck with DSL. Just my 2cents...
 
Funny how experiences differ.

I have had nothing but great luck with UPS, and I ship alot of artwork. USPS on the other hand, three times, lost packages that were NEVER located, and fighting for the insurance. I also had 2 day air stuff take a week, and in one case two weeks to get some where. No guarantee on the priority mail, I find to be a problem.

I will NEVER use USPS for my shipping again. :mad:
 
We've had both good and bad with the USPS in the past, but in the last year we've had some nightmare experiences. Earlier this year, we shipped a wedding album to Ohio. We had tracking and insurance on it but it still took more than a month to arrive. Meantime, the couple and the groom's mother are convinced we are holding out on them and didn't really ship it. They were threatening to sue. Luckily, when it finally arrived, they were thrilled with it and placed a good size reorder.

Then there were the graduation announcements we made for our neice. We were told by the local post office they would arrive the next day, Friday, at their house in Sheboygan, WI. Friday comes, no announcements. So we gave the tracking number to her dad and he took it to the local post office. The guaranteed overnight delivery was stuck in Milwaukee!
 
Yes, it is really weird how in different areas the USPS can be so different. One of my friends that owns a business about 5 miles from me is totally opposed to USPS because of his bad service, but unfortunately he has no choice but to use them because he only uses padded mail sized envelopes. He mails out of a different post office than the one I use and I haven't been able to convince him to use my post office because he feels they are all alike. It is really hard to believe that just 5 miles can make such a difference in service.
 
Thank the Unions for that Joe. Go ahead and find the Post Master of your post office and ask if you can file a complaint about a certain mail carrier. They just laugh because they know that anything you write (even to your congressperson) just goes in the round file. The union doesn't care and because of their iron grip on the quasi-governmental department, they don't have to care. Which would explain why so many people pay their bills on-line, correspond on line, do "mail-order" on-line.. etc.

As the new congress looks at "fixing" the "infrastructure", I hope they reclaim back into full Nationalization the Post. The postage jump from $.32 to .37 was directly due to the new Post Master General replacing 3/4 of the fleet of the little 1/2ton van trucks with Ford Mini Vans @ $26,000 per. There was nothing wrong with the old truck vans, it was just that he had just left Ford, still had some huge stock options available to him and therefore ordered the purchase..... and we have been paying for that cronyism and CEO protectionism ever since.
 
I've heard their Union is really strong and it is next to impossible to get fired from a job there. Yup, the price to mail is always going up but from what I hear from other people the quality control keeps going down. I guess I am just lucky to have the P.O. I have, I hope they don't change.
 
My take:
USPS: Cheapest, however, the hardest to recover loss, even if it was insured
UPS: The most damage, drivers are nice people, flexible with special needs
Fedex: Most expensive, less likely to get a damage, drivers are weird
DHL: my prefered shipper International
 
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