USPS vs UPS vs FedEx

Lazerrus

Lazerrus

I LUV CURLY MAPLE!!!!!
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While USPS seems to be cheaper and faster with their priority mail I have to say their tracking sucks. I shipped a box back on the 26th to a cue maker and it still has not updated on the USPS tracking web site. UPS has excellent tracking info and updates which almost update every morning and evening but is a little more costly and ground is 6 days. I have not used FedEx so I can't really say how their turn around time is. What are your thoughts as buyers and sellers?
 
Totally agree that USPS tracking sucks, but they also seem to be the fastest most cost effective shipper. I tend to use the UPS ground most often, though you are correct, the service is a bit spendier and slower. I like to have the accurate, updated tracking that UPS offers, even more so on high dollar cues. I am interested in opinions on Fedex as well.
 
Lazerrus said:
While USPS seems to be cheaper and faster with their priority mail I have to say their tracking sucks. I shipped a box back on the 26th to a cue maker and it still has not updated on the USPS tracking web site. UPS has excellent tracking info and updates which almost update every morning and evening but is a little more costly and ground is 6 days. I have not used FedEx so I can't really say how their turn around time is. What are your thoughts as buyers and sellers?
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Overnight or 2nd business day FED-EX is the only way I ship high end cues. Lower end cues or cases. I use UPS 2nd day for cues, and UPS ground for cases. Best tracking sites and more updates with FED-EX & UPS. Insurance problems handled also handled easier and faster settlement.
Dave
 
I have shipped with all three. Had problems with both UPS & Fed X.
USPS has never let me down.
 
USPS does not offer tracking on Priority Mail packages. If you want tracking, you must ship via USPS Express Mail. The updates for Express Mail packages is as good, or better than any other delivery service.

Confusing Delivery Confirmation with tracking is a common occurrence, the two are totally different.
 
FED-X hands down!!!!!!,,

UPS a distant second.

and the post office if your mad at your cue.


If your doing real big $$$$ cue's use Brinks.


When I was in the watch flipping thing for a few years we awalys used Fed-X and never ship on a Friday, you dont want the cue sitting around in a freezing or baking in a holding bin waiting for Monday delivery.

Between myself and mostly my friends(I was a part time watch guy-the smallest of the group of guys) The 4 of us shipped well over $10,000,000 in watches over a 4 year period, perhaps $15M with Fed-X and never had a loss one time.

There was one watch stolen out of the security cage in Louisville at UPS that was retail $75,000, Wholesale it was $45,000-I had it bought for $41,000 the guy was in bad legal trouble and needed the cash, He shipped it UPS and insured it for $25,000. I spoke the the FBI 3 days after it was missing-they couldnt inderstand how a watch could cost so much, It was gone never to be seen again, I had it sold before I told Eric I was going to buy it. We both lost.


We used Brinks on anything over $100,000. They are brutally expensive however they never make a mistake. The real big watch guys who flip $500,000 to $2,000,000 watches use them exclusivly.


dont use the PO(USPS) or UPS,

Fed-X is the best way to go, Brinks is out of reach for the cue biz unless your shipping a collection of monster cues.


I went into detail so you and others would understand why I stick with Fed-X and Just wanted you to see there is one better option-Brinks. I have had cues come late with USPS. I refuse to use UPS and ask anyone shipping me something to not use UPS.


hope I helped,

eric
 
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I just shipped a cue with usps and everything was fine...tracking was fine....I don't think it matters how much your cue is worth as long as you insure it (you do insure it right?)...just my 2 cents.
 
Let me tell you about tracking.... I know for a fact ups updates its tracking regularly but do you really think they scan every package at each point it stops. LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!! When its sorted and loaded onto a container along with the rest of the packages for a destination a scan sheet is created for every package in that container and when it changes trucks or arrives at a sort facility they scan the sheet not the package. This is great and very cost efficient for them but if its mis-sorted to begin with then you think your package is on the way but its in some other container on its way to china.... I had a ups manager confess to me this method of scanning and all the scans you see are just where the package is suppose to be!. I had a cue out for delivery to me and waited all day and it didnt show,called ups and they went in and changed the scan to say it was rescheduled. After pressuring them when it didnt show up for 3 days they told me they found it 2000 miles away in spokane washington and it had never been on its way to va. Manager told me there scans are from sheets once they get grouped into containers and most of there scans are computer generated. So what do ya want,your package delivered when it should be or do you want to just know where it is so you can sleep at night:smile:
 
BHQ said:
this thread today>
what a coincidence

i just posted this about an hour ago
i left the post office slightly agitated
EDIT: wrong word, lets say, not too confident

http://www.jimboarmy.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2504
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Maybe you should just step up and pay alittle extra to ship it fedex? If you have no faith in them then there are other options and usps has no control over a package once it cross's the border but ups and fedex do, so shipping with them to canada makes sense. I know if I were sending a product I would use the service I trusted no matter what price they charge. Maybe next time go to another post office....they could have had some of there managers helping out at the window,that would explain there confusion:smile:
 
yep!

cuedoctor said:
Let me tell you about tracking.... I know for a fact ups updates its tracking regularly but do you really think they scan every package at each point it stops. LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!! When its sorted and loaded onto a container along with the rest of the packages for a destination a scan sheet is created for every package in that container and when it changes trucks or arrives at a sort facility they scan the sheet not the package. This is great and very cost efficient for them but if its mis-sorted to begin with then you think your package is on the way but its in some other container on its way to china.... I had a ups manager confess to me this method of scanning and all the scans you see are just where the package is suppose to be!. I had a cue out for delivery to me and waited all day and it didnt show,called ups and they went in and changed the scan to say it was rescheduled. After pressuring them when it didnt show up for 3 days they told me they found it 2000 miles away in spokane washington and it had never been on its way to va. Manager told me there scans are from sheets once they get grouped into containers and most of there scans are computer generated. So what do ya want,your package delivered when it should be or do you want to just know where it is so you can sleep at night:smile:
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UPS's imaginary tracking has nailed me before. Some tracking isn't even of the sheet, they simply update the computer according to where they think the package ought to be! Their tracking is largely a meaningless placebo. The last I knew all three major shipping companies, Fed Ex, UPS, and USPS used the same insurance company so all claims hassles were equally bad.

In terms of package handling, I get the least damage with USPS, Fed Ex is next, and UPS damages the most packages, and cheerfully delivers them if they can get away with it. Dual wheel tire tracks over a computer box, no problem, deliver it. Matching holes on each side of a high dollar monitor box from a fork lift fork and lots of rattling, no problem, deliver it! One jerk delivering to me was quick to turn any damage to the boxes down or to the wall too.

Any time you ship something all you can do is buy insurance and cross your fingers.

Hu
 
It depends on how far the package is going across the country. If it is within 6 hours driving distance then I will send it usps. The reason is there ground is just 1 day. Now if it is going farther than that I will use ups because if it falls off the scan radar I will know the last place it was scanned. Another point is insurance if the government (usps) damages or misplaces your shipment good luck trying to get your money. They are the government and you would stand a better chance of getting the mafia to pay before they give you anything. Now ups on the other hand is like a beached whale and any and everybody with a complaint just comes by and takes a slices out of them. They have an OS&D (Overage, Shortages and Damages) department that truly is there to satify there customer base. If you think they are moving to slow getting your money just start moving your beef up the chain of command and you will be taken care of, trust me.
 
Fatboy said:
FED-X hands down!!!!!!,,

eric
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I've tried Fedex, UPS, USPS etc. and Fedex is the only carrier that has never lost or damaged one of my shipments. If I were to ship a $5K cue today i'd be heading to the Fedex office without question and that's based on USPS and UPS damaging cues that i've shipped or had shipped to me.

James
 
Well, we do ship quite a few packages, and we use UPS.

I have talked to Fedex on several occasions and have not been able to make anything work. I once asked them for a sales rep to come by and visit with me, and I bet I spoke to 20 people on the phone who all wanted to sign me up, but not one of them could get a commercial sales rep to come visit me. I did finally get one, about 6 months later, and they could not come close to the service I was already receiving from UPS.

The main differences between the Post office, and the private carriers (UPS and Fedex) is the tracking and the size of the packages they will ship.

The Post office doesn't carry any heavy packages so your cue is less likely to have a big heavy box fall on it during sorting. But, unless you upgrade to the more expensive services, you don't get tracking, just delivery confirmation. Also, UPS comes to my door every day. The Post office says they can do that, but not with any consistency that I can count on.

UPS and Fedex both carry large boxes, and I have had boxes smashed and bent over double with each of them. Well, I have had it happen with USPS too. The biggest difference is that with UPS, I can talk to someone with a brain when I have a claim. With the Post office you have no hope! I have several claims with USPS that never got paid. I have never not been paid by UPS. Never!

Shipping out of the county is a whole new issue. The US and Canada have a little agreement called NAFTA, which means for the Post office there basically is no border. Both UPS and Fedex have to act as a broker to go to Canada. I have heard of $5.00 items costing $50.00 in brokerage fees! So, to Canada, I use USPS.

Over Seas, UPS and Fedex are very expensive, and unless it is an expensive package, over $3000.00, I usually use USPS. But, their insurance stops far short of many packages and we have to go to UPS. There are aftermarket "Third Party" shipping companies that use USPS and offer more insurance and better claims service. We are looking at them now.

Well, I am sure that is more than what you were looking for, but I thought I would throw it in anyway.

Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com
 
In my business I ship everywhere from the US to Ghana....I use USPS mostly in the US and UPS for overseas and important stuff.

Customs issues can be problematic OCCASIONALLY but not usually...


R
 
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