FedEx Shipping Tube, policy change.

[cuedoctor]

Bill:

Ever since the USPS new rates went into effect (5/14/07 or so), it has been far cheaper to ship overnight by USPS Express Mail than by FedEx Express overnight. That's because although the postal rate went up by a couple of bucks on Express Mail shipments, the Postal Service cut the insurance rate by about two-thirds. So, if I ship a $3,400.00 cue to LA by Express Mail, it will cost be about $34.70. If I ship the same valued cue to LA by FedEx standard overnight (assuming that they will cover a loss of $3,400.00 on the cue), it will cost at least $60.00. So, never use FedEx to ship overnight. They rip people off on overnight shipping. Besides, the Postal Service will refund the cost to ship, minus the insurance charge, if they fail to deliver on time. Now that's a deal. It's almost as good as a Quality Cues guaranty on satisfaction.

Trying to stay neutral on his because I have worked for usps for 22 years and I have shipped fedex overnight when requested but....... I asked about there ins and they said you can ins a package for what ever you want,but its up to them to decide what limit they will pay and when I told here what I was shipping she said dont quote her but she believed 500 bucks would be the limit.I ins. for what ever it is worth and havent had any problems when using fedex but I cross my finger's until its delivered because I would hate to try and tell some suit in some office somewhere that a piece of wood with some inlays is worth 3000 bucks and have him laugh. If you ins for 3000 bucks and usps loses your package,thats what they pay!
Charley

 

[guycrunch]

Trying to stay neutral on his because I have worked for usps for 22 years and I have shipped fedex overnight when requested but....... I asked about there ins and they said you can ins a package for what ever you want,but its up to them to decide what limit they will pay and when I told here what I was shipping she said dont quote her but she believed 500 bucks would be the limit.I ins. for what ever it is worth and havent had any problems when using fedex but I cross my finger's until its delivered because I would hate to try and tell some suit in some office somewhere that a piece of wood with some inlays is worth 3000 bucks and have him laugh. If you ins for 3000 bucks and usps loses your package,thats what they pay!
Charley

i use usps in every case unless someone wants to pay on their own to have it shipped otherwise. and now with the new usps rates they have made it more attractive to ship with insurance by express instead of priority. and if you need a saturday delivery usps does not charge any extra! and usps is the only way to ship overseas, especially with filling the forms online. the only problem i have with usps is that you cannot pay online for insurance above $500 value. over $500 you need to go and pay at the post office.

guy

 

[nthamix]

Post office does not ask for receipts of the item when you mail your package and they will add any amount that you tell them at the time of mailing. 99% of the time everything will go as planed and everyone is happy, BUT when your 20 year old collectible peice of art is LOST and you have no receipt or paper work on it and you tell them it's worth $7,000 good luck...

 

[kvinbrwr]

Post office does not ask for receipts of the item when you mail your package and they will add any amount that you tell them at the time of mailing. 99% of the time everything will go as planed and everyone is happy, BUT when your 20 year old collectible peice of art is LOST and you have no receipt or paper work on it and you tell them it's worth $7,000 good luck...

USPS asks for proof of value only if a claim is made and in my experience they are very easy about what they will accept, ie, twice they have processed claims in excess of 2K for me using only my invoice to the buyer as proof of value (both were older collectibles). In regards to loss, we ship some 800 items a year, all usps, either priority mail or registered priority mail and in 8 years they have yet to loose a package that was sent domestically. Both claims I had with them were international and in both cases the package was out of usps hands in the other country.

 

[wawacue]

Trying to stay neutral on his because I have worked for usps for 22 years and I have shipped fedex overnight when requested but....... I asked about there ins and they said you can ins a package for what ever you want,but its up to them to decide what limit they will pay and when I told here what I was shipping she said dont quote her but she believed 500 bucks would be the limit.I ins. for what ever it is worth and havent had any problems when using fedex but I cross my finger's until its delivered because I would hate to try and tell some suit in some office somewhere that a piece of wood with some inlays is worth 3000 bucks and have him laugh. If you ins for 3000 bucks and usps loses your package,thats what they pay!
Charley

to be honest, i never ship any cue before with usps, fedex, ups or dhl. most the cue i rec'd from cue maker or dealer are always ship fedex or ups. but i do ship & rec'd high value watch & diamond with USPS using register mail. one of my dealer send some loose diamond to me from L.A. 2 yrs ago & the dealer insure the package at $90,000.00 & the package got lost in the system we made a claim with USPS & it only take about 90 days before they send me the check with the full amount insured.

wawacue

 

[nthamix]

USPS asks for proof of value only if a claim is made and in my experience they are very easy about what they will accept, ie, twice they have processed claims in excess of 2K for me using only my invoice to the buyer as proof of value (both were older collectibles). In regards to loss, we ship some 800 items a year, all usps, either priority mail or registered priority mail and in 8 years they have yet to loose a package that was sent domestically. Both claims I had with them were international and in both cases the package was out of usps hands in the other country.

I'm not sure I understand, did you send 2 collectible cues worth over 2k into another country? If so, you are at a HUGE risk sending anything over seas... I am very surprised that the post office would flip that bill for a mail delivery that they no longer have control over. If I may ask what international countrys lost your cues? thank's...

 

[KOINNKID]

I ship only USPS unless asked by the buyer to ship another method. This is why:

1) USPS has 4-5 foot drops in their conveyor system max. UPS has up to 10foot drops in their conveyor system. FedEx has 5-7 foot drops in theirs. This is the main reason why I do not ship UPS a 10 foot drop is hard on any cue no matter how well it is packaged.

2) Very high dollar items go registered mail. Because they are hand delivered and handed off from person to person as it goes thru the USPS system does not go thru any conveyors and there is a person responsible for it at all times.

I have had the most problems with UPS. Whether it was a damaged package. Or just trying to get the insurance out of them. When ever I had a claim I always got the response from them that it was my packaging and that they were going to deny my claim. After numerous phone calls and different management levels I would finally get my money usually 3 months later. if you do not ship with them on a regular basis they do not care if they offend you or lose you as a customer over a insurance claim.

I have shipped over 600 cues in the last 2 years. I have had 1 get damaged with USPS and i had my insurance payment within 2 weeks and no hassle from USPS. I have had no problems with FedEx but I have maybe shipped 10 cues with them. I have shipped about 100 cues with UPS in the last 3 years and I have had 2 get lost and 3 get damaged with 5 insurance claims (1 no hassel low value and 4 teeth pulling claims 3 months later got my money).

Just my .02 cents.

 

[kvinbrwr]

I'm not sure I understand, did you send 2 collectible cues worth over 2k into another country? If so, you are at a HUGE risk sending anything over seas... I am very surprised that the post office would flip that bill for a mail delivery that they no longer have control over. If I may ask what international countrys lost your cues? thank's...

Neither were cues, bothe were over 2K in value. USPS never (that I know of) does the actual delivery overseas, they always work "partners" with a company that operates in the country you are delivering to. If it comes to a claim, you deal with USPS, they deal with their partner. I'm not sure I understand what risk you are referring to, as I ststed in the post, USPS paid off quickly and easily in both circumstances. One was England, the item arrived broken, the other was Canada and it was lost.

 

[kvinbrwr]

I ship only USPS unless asked by the buyer to ship another method. This is why:

1) USPS has 4-5 foot drops in their conveyor system max. UPS has up to 10foot drops in their conveyor system. FedEx has 5-7 foot drops in theirs. This is the main reason why I do not ship UPS a 10 foot drop is hard on any cue no matter how well it is packaged.

2) Very high dollar items go registered mail. Because they are hand delivered and handed off from person to person as it goes thru the USPS system does not go thru any conveyors and there is a person responsible for it at all times.

I have had the most problems with UPS. Whether it was a damaged package. Or just trying to get the insurance out of them. When ever I had a claim I always got the response from them that it was my packaging and that they were going to deny my claim. After numerous phone calls and different management levels I would finally get my money usually 3 months later. if you do not ship with them on a regular basis they do not care if they offend you or lose you as a customer over a insurance claim.

I have shipped over 600 cues in the last 2 years. I have had 1 get damaged with USPS and i had my insurance payment within 2 weeks and no hassle from USPS. I have had no problems with FedEx but I have maybe shipped 10 cues with them. I have shipped about 100 cues with UPS in the last 3 years and I have had 2 get lost and 3 get damaged with 5 insurance claims (1 no hassel low value and 4 teeth pulling claims 3 months later got my money).

Just my .02 cents.

Absolutely correct on all counts. I think USPS is also less automated (hence the less comprhensive tracking) but I think the more hands-on approach is safer. I've had all sorts of problems with FedEx and UPS that don't show up with USPS and, as you say, the Registered Mail is the nuts when it comes to security.

 

[nthamix]

Neither were cues, bothe were over 2K in value. USPS never (that I know of) does the actual delivery overseas, they always work "partners" with a company that operates in the country you are delivering to. If it comes to a claim, you deal with USPS, they deal with their partner. I'm not sure I understand what risk you are referring to, as I ststed in the post, USPS paid off quickly and easily in both circumstances. One was England, the item arrived broken, the other was Canada and it was lost.

Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were talking about 'collectible cues' that are one of a kind. It's nice to know that our Post Office deals with 'partners' a private company and not the post office of that country. I always thought our mail went through that countrys postal service. Thank's for the info...