Shipping Rant

[dvs762]

when it costs the SAME to ship via USPS flat rate which is sometimes 2 days...and the company ships FEDEX GROUND...which takes a week longer than USPS makes my brain hurt..same with KVAR who will ship 1 screw in a package that costs 50 times the cost of the screw...why in the frak do these companies do this...its not as if it saves them money..and it pisses off their customers...aggravating.....ok..I feel better..I'll go have a lie down and maybe a coffee now....

[Ant45]

20 mg of valium and a hooker usually soothes me when I have shipping issues.

[TKM]

Perhaps you are being unclear when you tell them what you want?

[Divernhunter]

They may have a contract and get reduced shipping prices
OR they may have package pick up with fed-ex

[CandG]

I just got charged $70 for a 5lb package (a car part) to be shipped fedex ground from Las vegas to sacramento. Why did I happily pay so much and not raise hell? Because even with the insanely marked up shipping cost, the part still cost significantly less than from any other source. Even if I knew the seller is pocketing 75% of the shipping price, the best price is still the best price...

[L84CABO]

They may have a contract and get reduced shipping prices
OR they may have package pick up with fed-ex

Pretty much this. Companies usually contract with a specific carrier because they get better rates. Bigger companies may use more than one carrier but small ones usually don't.

Things like tracking, package pickup and the software to facilitate shipments can be a factor too. USPS tracking is kinda crappy compared to FedEx and UPS.

[TKM]

They may have a contract but I have account numbers and I'm the customer dammit!

[Squidward]

USPS flat rate leaves a warehouse for San Jose at 3 PM and travels at the constant speed of 2 days. An hour later, it passes FEDEX GROUND, which is making the trip from another warehouse for San Jose at at a week longer . If FEDEX GROUND left at 3:50 PM and if the combined travel time of the two delivery trucks is one week and 2 days, what time did UPS arrive?

[Oldmandan]

It has to do with dishonest people... and/or lost packages

The USPS tracking sucks, people will claim they didn't get the package and force the company to ship another or do a chargeback.

These companies are ok with you paying more for shipping, so they don't get burned anymore

USPS will pick-up if you schedule it

[dvs762]

problem is they dont even give you the option of USPS..its fed ex or UPS and all their various rape rates...

[SB1964]

At my current residence Fed-ex is the worse generally speaking. The "main" guy I gave a gate key to was cool, but they rotate shifts a lot. UPS seems to be great here, that Xmas bonus helps a bit. 70 lbs of ammo the other day not a complaint, the guy just keeps smiling.

[bsg]

i sometimes wait to order stuff that has to be shipped until a special 'free shipping' offer is made by an online vendor that has items i need or want. for example, TGS (Top Gun Supply) has this kind of special several times a year and i get emails apprising me of their occurrence. of course if you need it now, you need it now.

[Fenr1r]

I ship daily orders for my company and I use UPS because they always have my back if something happens during shipment. I make a claim, send an invoice and usually am reimbursed. Good luck getting that support from USPS. Recently I shipped a package to Canada, less than a pound, and it went to Brazil where it sat for 3 weeks before coming back to me.

[T1R]

Fed Ex Ground is terrible for shippers. Takes forever to get to the customer.

It could have been a new employee who doesn't know ship times between the two carriers. UPS ground and Fed Ex Ground have two completely different delivery times if shipped on the same day.

Generally UPS ground anywhere in California is 1-2 business days max. Fed Ex ground is 5+ business days.

[Paperchasin]

Alot of factors go into shipping considerations. The only thing that really bugs me is when someone charges me for Priority Mail rates and ships First Class/Parcel Post.