Should I switch to UPS? Voting time.

Shipping overseas with UPS (from the US) the amount of losses seems to have increased quite a bit (already before Sept., 11th). However, I've no idea wether USPS fares better...
 
I've actually always had good experiences with UPS and I've used them--as a buyer--on countless occasions [500+?]--never a problem. I hate Federal Express though--they're the slowest and most expensive courier [I can't imagine why anyone uses them]--so please don't use them!

One of the things I really like about UPS is that one can track packages online, and they're up to the minute. The USPS does online tracking too, but it lags about A DAY behind!

But, as others have pointed out, the USPS does work on Saturday too and waiting through the post-less Sunday can be bad enough :( . And, for the most part, I haven't had too many problems with packages and the USPS....a few, but not many.

So, in the end, as a buyer, it about evens out for me -- I'd say, do whatever is better/easier/cheaper/&c. for you. But others in this thread seem to have had problems with UPS, so....

cheers, B.
 
I would stick with USPS. Every shipment that you have shipped to me has been here in 2 days! I always have problems with UPS, and when I do, it is hard to get it cared for. Postal has been good for me so far and seems worth sticking with until they prove otherwise.
 
It looks like the usps is getting the nod.

14 years ago I started out using UPS but quickly changed to usps for the following reasons.

1) The first time I tried to ship COD the ups agent wanted me, the shipper, to pay for the parcel! This scared me. I had to call a ups supervisor to explain the procedure to the agent!

2) I don't ship anything anymore. That's the domain of my Nepali shipping staff but back when I did ups used to do their own shipping labels. I don't know if this is still the practice today. I was shipping two khukuris I remember, one going to CA and the other going to NE. You guessed it. They got the labels switched. The guy who ordered a kagas katne got a 38 inch Janawar Katne and vice versa. It took me a month to get this mess straighted out.

After these two incidents I started using usps, priority mail, and up until the anthrax problem they have done pretty well. If I abandon them now I'll feel sort of like a rat jumping off a sinking ship.

I guess I'll let it ride the way it is and see what the future brings. But, if anybody is hell bent on getting their khukuris via ups email me and I'll pass that info on to the Nepali shiping staff.
No guarantee that they will comply with any requests I make, however. They are like the kamis and do what they please, not necessarily what I ask them to do.

Thanks all for taking the time to help.
 
I vote that you stay with the Post Office. I've seen the service and attitude of UPS deteriorate over the years. USPS has handled the three or four back-and-forths HI and I have had in the last three years just fine.
UPS can't control pilferage, which is why they have all the added layers of security, and they still leave valuable packages... insured packages...on the porch or on top of a car in the driveway in the snow. Plus they charge Air rates to carry a handgun half a state away. They may have some advantages for a business, but they sure don't consider the civilian user.
Recently we got our first official street address after years of being a Rural Route. I received a package from my son in CA still addressed to "***Road, 7th House on Left" which is how UPS had TOLD us to address all packages. Dropping off the latest, the oaf of a driver informed me with some glee that since I now had a street number, UPS would have to bill the sender an additional $20 because the number wasn't on the package. I told him to take it back. He refused...said the Co. would 'bill the sender'. I told him 'Good luck collecting, or having any more business from us'
 
The USPS without doubt.

Most courier companies have limited offices in different countries, making collection of items from the likes of UPS, Fed Ex, DHL a royal pain in the arse. It may work for businesses, but not for domestic deliveries and make no mistake, most of them dont give a stuff about non-business deliveries. The money is with the big contracts from big businesses to other businesses.

DHL is a BIG no no. They have been bought out by the German post office and the shipping to europe now from the US is a bloody joke! EVERYTHING goes via the fatherland!!! ( How do I know this? Because Amazon.com use them, and now even the standard mailing items go via Germany and so take twice as long as standard mailing ).

Fed Ex? Bah! Invoiced a month AFTER something was delivered for customs charges-something you expect to be notified on upon receipt of the item! Customer service was very rude and lied outright to me when I demanded some explaination why I was not informed of any charge at the time, ( he thought I was an average joe, not knowing that I work for the UK postal service ).

All of the private companies 'dump' packages anywhere they can, ( doorsteps, neighbours, etc ), in order to maintain their delivery claims.

Do some research on your national postal service, take a look at what it offers to the public, and then decide if you would like to lose that.
 
One of my first jobs as a kid was as a part time substitute postal clerk -- used to help during the Christmas rush. 39 cents per hour and pretty good pay for a kid back in those days. So, I have a soft spot for the usps but it did seem better back then than today.
 
Uncle,

I would say go with whichever is the most reliable and gives you the most bang for the buck. I've received shipments from both UPS and USPS and have had no problem with either. When it came to shipping something, I did ship UPS, but partly because I had worked for them as a Computer Technician for almost 5 years and had found their service to be very good. When I shipped our personal stuff from New Jersey to Florida, None of my stuff came banged up. Also, initially, I had thought that one box was missing in the course of checking the tracking numbers and comparing to the boxes that I shipped. Upon calling their helpdesk, I found them to be very polite and they even sent one of their drivers to verify where the box might have been picked up from. Needless to say, I found later on that I had made a mistake in counting the boxes which is why the mixup happened. But, this proved to me that their customer service is very good.
It might have helped though that I had mentioned to the customer service rep that I had worked for UPS in Mahwah as a Computer Technician and later as a Network Admin that might have helped me, but I am not sure. But in any event, this is my .02 cents for what it may be worth.

Arvind
 
I hate UPS with a passion. On one package I received, the GST and PST was $15 CDN in total. The brokerage fee was $34, and there was a GST charge on the brokerage fee of $2. The total was $51. I guess I had to pay for the privilege of getting a bootprint right on the package itself, over the shipping label.

<img src = "http://members.home.net/kkmark/pics/UPS.jpg"><br>
What you see above happened to somebody on Sword Forum...his sword, which was in that box you see above, was just about broken in two when he received it.

On the other hand, I've never had a problem with USPS. The package arrives slower but I pay less fees and the service is way more reliable. Anything coming through the mail is directed to my local post office, where it is safely held until I come to collect it.
 
No UPS to Canada!

When we get international packages UPS charges us a brokerage fee. I don't recall how is calculated. Once a guy shipped a package to me with UPS and the brokerage fee was more than the item! I suppose UPS is better within a country. USPS/Canada post has not dinged me with a brokerage fee yet.

Further when UPS deliveries are difficult to intercept. The problem is that I work in the day. When I get the note I ask UPS to hold the package at their outlet. This normally takes a few days to process. Where as USPS leaves a note and tells me that I can pick up the package at the local postal outlet, either that day or the following one.

I will certainly give Uncle Bill special consideration but I normally do not buy stuff from anyone that ships only UPS.

The UPS guy must have had a bad day kmart.

Will
 
I see you've already decided, but just to remove any remaining doubts -- based on the frequent reports I see on TGB&U, UPS is good in some areas, very bad in others. USPS varies somewhat from place to place too but not as much. I definitely recommend USPS as the default, and almost as definitely recommend using UPS when a customer asks for it if you can -- he's asking for UPS because in his area it works better than USPS does in his area.
 
I have used both and have had good an bad experiences with both. As an example , Uncle Bill, both knives you sent me recently were left at my doors without a warning. Yet I was home in both cases. I live in an appartment building , the first appt at the front door. There are kids and teenagers living here and I am sure they would love to play with a 20" blade. No need to tell you that the mail carrier got an ear full!

On the other hand, I have had UPS delivering packages stating clearly on the label below the name " Leave at front desk" or " do not leave if signer not available" still the packages were left without even requesting the needed signature.

As someone stated above, go for the best bang for your buck. Personally I'd rather wait another 2-3 days, save money so that I can buy another knife. Rather than act like the typical brat and have it right here right now, I think there is something to be said about the virtue of patience.

I never stayed with a girl who gave it up the first five minutes we met, nor I have I ever cared well of a blade I got on the spur of the moment.

Fact is those blades are made in a manner that makes them different from anything I have seen. If a kami goes as far as blessing the blade and give it "life", what is 24-48 hours more to wait for a relationship that's going to last a lifetime....
 
My packages from HI always arrive here in central NC in two days! And if the package is to big to deliver I can go down to the local Post Office and pick it up after work. I hate those damn UPS notes, and the fact that you have to try to arrange to pick it up in advance. If you work during the day you are never going to recieve a package without headaches from UPS (my experience). Also, UPS has increased costs to gun owners/purchasers by only allowing shipping of firearms by next day air. I asked an UPS employee why they did this(informally) and he told me it was because too many firearms where being stolen by UPS employees! If a USPS employee steals a package containing a butter knife he/she has committed a federal crime; if a UPS employee steals anything it may only be a misdemeanor (probably they will get fired rather than prosecuted if it can be proven at all). Sorry for the rant; just don't like UPS.

Patrick Mc
 
Over in my country, UPS vans are a joy to behold. They tend to have a better reputation than the local postal van.

So Bill you may want to think of UPS for countries like Malaysia. We also have the FedEx and the DHl. The only problem is the charges are like a bomb!
 
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