Which shipping method do you guys prefer for your knives to come?

Polish Post says International Priority Mail package left Warsaw by air on 11/17/16 (Warsaw Post: "I think we would hear if the plane crashed in the ocean.")
TWO WEEKS GOES BY
USPS Tracking says package arrived at JFK 12/02/16
USPS Tracking says package still at Warsaw awaiting shipping label 12/02/16
USPS Tracking says package still at Warsaw awaiting shipping label 12/03/16
USPS Tracking says package still at Warsaw awaiting shipping label 12/04/16
USPS Tracking says package arrived at JFK 12/05/16 (Yes, the same package)
USPS Tracking says package arrives in Cleveland (nearest big city - only 30 miles away) 12/08/16
USPS Tracking says package on way to "destination" 12/09/16
USPS Tracking says package arrived in Chicago - CHICAGO - 12/10/16
USPS Tracking says package "in transit to destination" 12/12/16
USPS Tracking says package instead arrives at Chicago Metro Hub, Elk Grove, IL - 12/12/16
USPS Tracking says package departed CHICAGO METRO HUB at 10:53 AM 12/12/16 "in transit to destination"
USPS Tracking says package in transit to destination 12/13/16
USPS Tracking says package in transit to destination 12/14/16
USPS Tracking says package in transit to destination 12/15/16

What's the betting line on Miami? San Diego? Guam?
 
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For me USPS has a slight lead on UPS, but both are VERY good here. My local fedex sorting facility appears to involve a water park style lazy river full of stagnant swamp water and a group of teens with behavioral problems and sledge hammers, so it's a very, very distant third. They're also the only ones that will call me and tell me they're not coming out as far as my place due to weather (that didn't seem to bother the USPS or UPS at all that day) and they're dropping it somewhere off in town instead of trying tomorrow. Congrats, dude. You got it to less than 20 miles away from me. Job well done, you useless jackwagon.

Plus one of the fedex drivers is one of the very few people my dog growls at...
 
Even Fed Ex is handing off pkgs to USPS.

Fed ex and UPS are good if you never want your pkg on Saturday or if you want it to end up where it does not belong.
 
I am fortunate that UPS, USPS, and FedEx all provide great service in my area. USPS tracking often leaves a lot to be desired, but I have never had an issue with package on-time delivery.
It is amazing how carrier service varies so much from region to region.
 
USPS in my area is beyond abysmal. Inaccurate tracking, mangled boxes and damaged goods, items marked delivered which weren’t, items marked delivery attempted but no slip, packages left sticking out the end of the mailbox on rainy days, items which drop off the grid after showing arrived in NC and out for delivery, then days later show up in places like Nashville or Minneapolis. My regular carrier refuses to leave the truck to deliver an oversize parcel or obtain a signature, so then it’s a ten mile trek through heavy traffic to attempt picking it up at a post office that serves about fifty thousand addresses, yet has only fifteen parking spaces. USPS customer service has no integrity at all, and consistently insults my intelligence with their lies.

Fedex service can be sketchy here. Overnight service seems good. I’ve seen several different drivers for ground (home delivery), but one scatterbrained individual in particular has delivered to the wrong address, or even wrong street, or has left only one package when two were on the truck, or sometimes misses delivery altogether so I have to wait another day. I once flagged him down as he attempted to roar past my house without stopping to deliver my package. Fedex customer service has been mostly useless in my experience.

UPS is the undisputed winner in my area. Extremely consistent and reliable delivery with very helpful customer service. My carrier is very friendly and professional, and takes good care of my shipments. I love how UPS will often accelerate one package so it can be delivered together with another package bound for the same address. They even do this with SurePost shipments when possible, so UPS brings it instead of the Po-O. Can’t beat that!

As Tigerfan mentioned, there are many different stories depending on where one lives, but any online retailer is more likely to get my business if they offer a clear choice of carrier.
 
If offered the choice, I will always select USPS shipping. Beyond that, it depends on value. If we're talking a knife that cost under $50, First Class is fine, otherwise Priority.
 
12/06/16 USPS Tracking says package arrives in Cleveland 44101 - 39 miles west of me

12/07/16 USPS Tracking says package on way to "destination"
12/10/16 USPS Tracking says package arrived in Chicago, as in Illinois
12/11/16 USPS Tracking says package "in transit to destination"
12/12/16 USPS Tracking says package arrives at Chicago Metro Hub, Elk Grove, IL
12/12/16 USPS Tracking says package departed CHICAGO METRO HUB at 11:23 PM on 12/12/16 "in transit to destination"
12/13/16 USPS Tracking says package in transit to destination
12/14/16 USPS Tracking says package in transit to destination
12/15/16 USPS Tracking says package in transit to destination
12/16/16 USPS Tracking says package departed CHICAGO METRO HUB December 16, 2016 10:35 AM
12/16/16 called Postal Regulatory Commission. "No representative available"
12/17/16 USPS Tracking says package departed CHICAGO METRO HUB December 17, 2016 5:57 AM
12/17/16 USPS Tracking says package departed CHICAGO METRO HUB December 17, 2016 6:17 AM
12/19/16 - 32 days after departure by air from Warsaw, USPS Tracking says "in route to destination" (NOT "out for delivery")
Next stop Seattle?
 
I have a brand new example of Fedex being absolute garbage where I live. I ordered a new pair of Carhartt insulated bibs online and on friday Fedex "delivered" them. Tracking reads "left in or near garage". I went to grab the box and try them on within 20 minutes of getting the delivery notification. After 2 hours of searching everywhere even conceivable within 75 yards of my garage, it aint there. I'm out in the boonies, so someone stealing it is so unlikely that it can pretty much be discounted as a possibility. Fedex sucks.
 
hexenjager said:
For me USPS has a slight lead on UPS, but both are VERY good here. My local fedex sorting facility appears to involve a water park style lazy river full of stagnant swamp water and a group of teens with behavioral problems and sledge hammers, so it's a very, very distant third. They're also the only ones that will call me and tell me they're not coming out as far as my place due to weather (that didn't seem to bother the USPS or UPS at all that day) and they're dropping it somewhere off in town instead of trying tomorrow. Congrats, dude. You got it to less than 20 miles away from me. Job well done, you useless jackwagon.

Plus one of the fedex drivers is one of the very few people my dog growls at...
Click to expand...


This had me rolling pretty good!
 
FedEx is bad- they just leave packages sitting in plain site on the porch! I prefer usps by far, followed by ups
 
Usps is a complete and absolute gamble in NYC if it cannot fit in your mailbox. If you want any shot of your package being delivered, go with ups or FedEx. If you want it delivered AND on time, go FedEx every time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Honestly - in a box.

How many knives have I received in a mailing envelope? Too many to enumerate.

How many knives have I received with the point sticking out of the packaging? Not as many as arrived in an envelope, but still way too many.

How many sharp and pointies have not arrived with the box it was shipped in? 1 - a very rare Yellow 1# 1920s Official BSA Bridgeport HW hatchet that was shipped in a rice paper hair curler box taped shut with 2 pieces of Scotch tape.

How many knives have not arrived due to the USPS damaging the box sufficiently that the Barlow knife shipped loose in the box fell out? 1


After that, if it gets here without the point sticking through the packaging and with the blade still associated with the package, I call it a win

USPS w/ tracking number is my preferred method, although since shifting to having ALL deliveries, whether USPS, UPS or FedEx delivered to my PO box (using the general street address of the PO and UNIT # instead of PO Box #), my lost/undelivered package count has dropped to near zero for over 3000 packages over the last 6 years.

Prior to that move (delivery to the PO), I had a 30% probability of things not arriving - primarily due to "mailbox shoppers" and "Porch shoppers". I live in a very rural area and thieves would follow the various delivery carriers around and help themselves.

Since the change, I have not received 4 blades - 1 from damaged packaging, 1 due to poor packaging (both described above) and 2 by "I think the seller never shipped the package" scams off fleabay.
 
I have a PO Box, so USPS is preferred.

The true preference is in someone, whether a business or collector/maker, sending me my knives/gear etc in a BOX. Not a padded mailer, envelope etc.

With padding/peanuts etc in the box. Newspaper is fine, but at least something in the box. Especially the knife, but padding is nice.

Those are for sales/trades. When I do a GAW or a gift, I send stuff in padded mailers the cheapest way possible.
 
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