Cue and case Shipping Cost - Shocked!

TATE

TATE

AzB Gold Mensch
Silver Member
I haven't done much selling for awhile, but I've been selling some cues and cases lately. I can't believe the jump in shipping costs. I shipped a Justis case to Jack for some work and it was $47 USPS Priority mail, 36"x 7" box, 7 pounds, insured for $500. Single 2 piece cues have been averaging about $25 - $30. UPS ground is similar.

A few years back the cues were $10 - $15 and cases were about $20. Just griping I guess.
 
I buy and sell a fair amount (not just here) and the priority mail prices have really gone up A LOT in the past few weeks for some reason. Where they used to be a lot cheaper than UPS or fed ex, now they are almost the same. Also, they seem to be adding additional cost depending on how far the package is traveling (which makes sense logically, but I don’t think they were doing this before.) as well as the weight increasing the cost.
 
Flat rate priority mail triangular boxes for cues are still around $12- $15 without extra insurance USPS. In 20 years of shipping that way- maybe 100 or more times for cue sales and repairs- I never bought the extra insurance- maybe I was just lucky- but I view the insurance as a big flag to potential PO thieves- they would now KNOW something valuable is in the package- and also figure ( if they even care), well the guy will get his money back anyhow if I steal it.

I would be willing to bet , I am sure there are PO stats- that MOST major PO thefts of packages are insured items sent first class or priority mail. You do NOT get any extra care from the PO for insurance, just your package saying "here I am- money in the bank for the criminal"- and I understand from others- a royal hassle to collect from the PO if it is stolen or damaged.

One time, I did receive a UPS- not USPS item - cue case that was damaged - box crushed- UPS would not pay! I had to directly contact UPS Corporate office - Atlanta- EVP Customer Service- to get satisfaction.
 
TATE said:
I haven't done much selling for awhile, but I've been selling some cues and cases lately. I can't believe the jump in shipping costs. I shipped a Justis case to Jack for some work and it was $47 USPS Priority mail, 36"x 7" box, 7 pounds, insured for $500. Single 2 piece cues have been averaging about $25 - $30. UPS ground is similar.

A few years back the cues were $10 - $15 and cases were about $20. Just griping I guess.
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Like the other guy said, Triangle boxes.

Yesterday I sent out two cues, one to CA and one to MN. Total cost of the two combined was $28.45 and mine weigh a little extra because I always use a PVC pipe inside to protect the cues.

Weight is a big issue as well, 7 pounds is much more than a typical cue shipment.

In nearly ten years at this, USPS has yet to lose one shipment of mine and that is why I keep using them.

(Edit, had no idea my Gold had expired, I would not have made this comment had I known this, I will renew before commenting again.)
 
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I shipped a case, insured for $600, from Central FL to Miami a couple of months ago. $60.

Good grief.
 
TATE said:
I haven't done much selling for awhile, but I've been selling some cues and cases lately. I can't believe the jump in shipping costs. I shipped a Justis case to Jack for some work and it was $47 USPS Priority mail, 36"x 7" box, 7 pounds, insured for $500. Single 2 piece cues have been averaging about $25 - $30. UPS ground is similar.

A few years back the cues were $10 - $15 and cases were about $20. Just griping I guess.
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Tate said he was shipping a CASE. A case can be quite large and would not fit in a triangle box.
Paul
 
Bob Jewett said:
Was that some kind of flat rate tube box?
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I no longer use the tubular Shipping containers as they can be susceptible to rolling off their conveyor belts, causing a surcharge to appear on your fedex or UPS account - i’m not kidding!
 
Is there some kind on indication on the label that additional insurance was purchased?

mikemosconi said:
Flat rate priority mail triangular boxes for cues are still around $12- $15 without extra insurance USPS. In 20 years of shipping that way- maybe 100 or more times for cue sales and repairs- I never bought the extra insurance- maybe I was just lucky- but I view the insurance as a big flag to potential PO thieves- they would now KNOW something valuable is in the package- and also figure ( if they even care), well the guy will get his money back anyhow if I steal it.

I would be willing to bet , I am sure there are PO stats- that MOST major PO thefts of packages are insured items sent first class or priority mail. You do NOT get any extra care from the PO for insurance, just your package saying "here I am- money in the bank for the criminal"- and I understand from others- a royal hassle to collect from the PO if it is stolen or damaged.

One time, I did receive a UPS- not USPS item - cue case that was damaged - box crushed- UPS would not pay! I had to directly contact UPS Corporate office - Atlanta- EVP Customer Service- to get satisfaction.
Click to expand...
 
Black-Balled said:
Is there some kind on indication on the label that additional insurance was purchased?
Click to expand...

When I print pre-paid labels at home, it's sometimes possible to not print the cost of the postage on the label but I think the default is to print the cost. I think the cost is the only indicator.
 
atlas333 said:
Tate said he was shipping a CASE. A case can be quite large and would not fit in a triangle box.
Paul
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Yes, most cases larger than 1X2 are difficult to fit in a USPS triangle Priority box; especially if you are going to bubble wrap it- which I would highly recommend.

Also, I would not ship a higher end cue case in anything but heavy duty cardboard shipping box- standard cardboard - rectangular with flat surfaces, is a recipe for disaster with higher end cue case
 
Black-Balled said:
Is there some kind on indication on the label that additional insurance was purchased?
Click to expand...

when I add insurance to a package, it just appears as "INSURED" on the label
I do wonder what info. is available to po employees when they scan a package
but I imagine anything too heady would most likely be found on a big computer
 
Another factor

Has anyone run into very delayed delivery? I understand why and not in any way griping at the Postal workers but the delivery times are crazy. When I am a billionaire I am going to deal with this😄😄
 
whiteoak said:
Has anyone run into very delayed delivery? I understand why and not in any way griping at the Postal workers but the delivery times are crazy. When I am a billionaire I am going to deal with this����
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Some routes have faster services than others. For me UPS and USPS have been pretty reliable based on their estimates. I recommend registering an account with UPS and FedEx you will get tracking emails/texts if somebody sends you something. My wife is registered with the post office, so we also see incoming mail. Tracking has helped a lot compared to the old days.
 
TATE said:
I haven't done much selling for awhile, but I've been selling some cues and cases lately. I can't believe the jump in shipping costs. I shipped a Justis case to Jack for some work and it was $47 USPS Priority mail, 36"x 7" box, 7 pounds, insured for $500. Single 2 piece cues have been averaging about $25 - $30. UPS ground is similar.

A few years back the cues were $10 - $15 and cases were about $20. Just griping I guess.
Click to expand...

I just bought a sugar tree shaft and a John Barton 3 x 5 case from a buddy and it cost $40 to ship from Florida to Mississippi through UPS
 
Cuewood98 said:
I just bought a sugar tree shaft and a John Barton 3 x 5 case from a buddy and it cost $40 to ship from Florida to Mississippi through UPS
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Probably with all the money Amazon beats them up on, they have to make it up on the little guys. :wink:
 
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