USPS vs. UPS

BugOnTheRug

UPS seems to be making a competitive drive with USPS concerning ebay purchases. While USPS is the most common form of shipping, especially of smaller packages like us card collectors routinely ship, they are quite expensive compared to UPS in sending larger packages, say around 15-20 lbs. and heavier.

Just curious who you use when dealing with larger, heavier packages and why.

Thanks, Bill

Stone193

Bill
Can't argue with that. When I sent my son a bunch of stuff in large heavy boxes, it was much cheaper to ship UPS or FedEx compared to the USPS. Having said that, if I am going to send something expensive, there is nothing safer than registered mail IMO. The post office seems to take "lock box" mail very seriously as opposed to just plain insured mail. We have heard of both UPS and FedEx dropping insured items at your door step for anyone to "acquire" - I like the idea of a procedure, if not followed, that could actually get a guy fired for not doing is right.
your friend
Mike

wolfbear

I don't like the way UPS just leaves stuff on your porch either.

Vargha

nearmint

I use USPS for big items as well as small, mainly because it's convenient for me. If I mailed more big items, I would consider alternatives, but the PO has treated me well, and I won't worry about a few dollars here and there. USPS is usually fast for me, too: I often mail cards on Saturday and have them arrive on Monday, even in far-away places.

Mike

EagleEyeKid

The only time I use UPS is to ship cases. It's usually cheaper on the heavier stuff
for 5 business day delivery. It would cost me about the same if not $10 more to ship
the same case by USPS, but would have to go parcel post service which up to 21 days for it
to get to its destination. UPS will just leave it on their door step if you don't pay
for the "signature required".

tripoli

UPS, Fedex or any other courier service gets really expensive if you are shipping to CDA from the US.....USPS for me, please!

Knuckles

I live in Canada and when a seller send's me something by UPS I find it very inconvenient. If I'm not home (I live in an apartment style condo) They just leave a sticky on the front front door of the condo saying they'll try again tomorrow. They do this a few times and then give up and send it back to the seller. Luckily I have a home business so odds are I'll be around to receive it.

With USPS once the package arives in Canada, Canada Post deals with it and if I'm not home the mail man will leave a parcel card in with my mail and I'll drive 5min away to the closest Post office to pick it up.

I also find that whenever I get something that has been shipped by UPS I have to pay through the nose for Customs fee's but with USPS I rarely have to and if I do it's hardly worth complaining about.

BigKidAtHeart

For small packages, I use USPS

but for packages of Any size at all,
I now use FEDEX Ground
because it is BETTER and CHEAPER than UPS
(and includes Free Tracking and free Insurance
up to 100 bucks - you have to Buy these at USPS!)
PLUS
Now that Fedex bought KINKO's
you can go to Any Kinko's location and
drop off you Fedex and Fedex Ground packages
24 hours a day! Now THAT is service!

There is a reason that PSA does not even accept
packages from UPS! They are terrible!
Use Fedex Ground!

BugOnTheRug

Just send 3 packages ups from northern Ca.:

2 were about 13 lbs each and one was sent to PA, the other to southern CA. Both were about $10-15 cheaper each going by ups. The other, about 4 lbs went to another n. ca address and was $8. Just a tad high I thought it would be.

Then just to see, I checked on a bubble mailer with 3 psa cards (about 1/3 lb) to ship to NY. WOW! $8 ........ when to usps and sent the mailer for $2.

Smaller seems more expensive (even the ups guy said usps beats them on the smaller stuff).

Both usps and ups are close to my house. Haven't looked in fed-ex ground yet, and not sure how close any drop off is to my home. Anyway, I'll research it BKAH to see wassup.

Bug

BigKidAtHeart

<< <i>Haven't looked in fed-ex ground yet, and not sure how close any drop off is to my home. >>

Fedex/Kinko's store locator

BugOnTheRug

thanks BKAH........

it says there's 129 locations near me.............all I have to do now is define 'near' . (looks like nearest is 1.6m - I'll check it out for the next large package due to ship next week.)

Bug