Your favorite shipping method?

Planterz

Planterz

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This might be more appropriate in GB&U, but since this is non-specific (and this forum gets more exposure), I decided to ask this here.

Which of the major shipping methods do you all prefer?

I ask becase recently I placed 2 orders from 2 different sites. I got emails from both vendors that my order was shipped on Tuesday. One was shipped USPS Priority and I received it on Thursday. The other was shipped via UPS, and the tracking scheduels delivery on Monday. The shipping costs were basically identical ($5.95 for USPS, $6.00 for UPS).

My question is: WTF?

Even if we leave off Sunday, UPS is taking 3 days longer (Friday, Saturday, and Monday) than USPS Priority. And the place that shipped UPS is closer to me than the one that shipped USPS.

Most of my other knife (and other stuff) orders, from several different vendors get shipped UPS, and delivery time is very consistant...and long. At least, long in comparison to USPS Priority.

So which do you all prefer? Do you like being able to track your package instead of a speedier delivery? I can understand that--you know where it is and you don't get nervous. Or did I just get lucky with a 2 day delivery from the USPS?

Don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining that one order is taking too long. The vendor is getting me a discontinued product at a very nice price. I received timely emails confirming my order, and giving me my UPS tracking number. Delivery is pretty much what I expected. I'm very happy.

But given the choice (which most of the time, I don't have), I think I'll take USPS Priority for the same price anytime.

And BTW, how is Fed-Ex? I don't know that I've ever had anything shipped me through them.
 
I ship USPS but it depends on weight and location.
Usually anything below two pound goes USPS Priority.
First Class USPS and Priority will get there at the same time on the East Coast. That's cause I'm on the EC :)
Businesses don't often have the luxury of USPS and use UPS cause it's easy and reliable. Sometimes takes a while to get depends on the origin/destination. West Coast to East Coast.
UPS East Coast orig/dest takes about the same time as USPS.
Tom
 
It's fairly complicated, Planerz. I won't get into it here. But I'll provide some actual figures. Remember you're comparing ground to air services. We're located in the Midwest. The average of packages that I ship UPS ground is 2.4 days. Surrounding states like Illinois, Michigan, Ohio take one working day. Arizona, where you are, takes 4 working days. California takes 5. The average, though, is 2.4. Priority mail takes 2.6 days which is well within the three day promise but still a little longer than UPS ground from our location to our customers. UPS second day air is 1.8 days because some of them go by ground to the neighboring states which is only one day. Shipping points on the coasts have longer delivery times than we do for ground so, in those areas, UPS ground will be longer than priority mail, since priority mail is an air service. It has little to do with distance. It has more to do with the volume of business at each end of the shipment.

My preference? UPS hands down. I can insure, track it, the UPS driver visits twice per day, I can ship as many packages as I want at one time, the process is mechanized etc. etc. In other words for larger shippers, UPS is a tailor made service. For smaller shippers priority mail is a tailor made service. Generally, you will find most companies that ship more than, say, 10 or 20 packages a day will nearly always use UPS and consumers will nearly always use priority mail. It is the way these services are designed.

As a recipient, I also prefer UPS because I get 2 UPS visits per day and all the other benefits like tracking. If I were not a UPS shipper I'd probably not care a whit what the shipper used.

I have no experience with Fedex or DHL but, the shipping times will be the same since it is the nature of package handling. Finally, relax. A couple of days one way or the other won't make a meaningful difference in your life. Take care.
 
I always ship USPS Priority Mail when I ship, and usually take that option also when I have a choice to receive a package.

The main reason I ship that way is convenience. I can get to my local Post Office wing in 5 minutes. To make it to the nearest UPS/FedEx buildings will take me 20 minutes on a good day, and over 45 if I go in the evening. The same holds true for picking up a package. If I miss it, or they don't leave it, I have to run out to get it. The main post office downtown is a 10-15 minute drive at worst.

Mind you, I"m just a normal consumer, not a business. As Fred shows above me here, his reasons are quite a bit different from mine.
 
Knife Outlet said:
UPS ground will be longer than priority mail, since priority mail is an air service. It has little to do with distance. It has more to do with the volume of business at each end of the shipment.
Click to expand...
Ah, I wasn't aware USPS Priority was airmail. That explains a lot. And thank you for your view from the other side--that of a vendor. I can definitely see why a vendor would prefer UPS. Stuff like insurance, confirmation, and tracking costs more for Priority too.
 
Most of the time I'm pleased when I order something from Jantz supply for my knife making as they use UPS and I most always get it the next day. Well, if I really need something of course Murphy's law prevents it getting to me that quick. Then it takes two days. But for most of the stuff I buy like over the net or on ebay Priority mail does fine. For some reason though if we get packages out of Memphis where my wife's folks live it takes a week or more to get to us. When we sent there though they get the stuff in a couple of days using priority. So, I guess it depends on the congestion of the areas and how rural of a route they are as to how fast it is going to be.

In answer to your question though. Overall, I guess I like Priority mail the best because when they drop it off it is covered in my mail box. UPS just lays the stuff out on the porch even when we aren't home. I have never lost anything from theft because of this but I have had packages soaked from rain when I got home.
 
Oh yeah. I'm waiting on 2 packages now from UPS. One will take about 7 days total to get here, the other 5. USPS Priority mail for the same cost usually takes 1-3 depending on location. I have received packages the next day if it were shipped from the same coast from USPS. The quickest I have *ever* received a UPS package was 3 days I think.
 
I like USPS. Often for about the same price as UPS you can get something delivered in 2-3 days. They will also deliver on Saturday, or if they missed you they are open for pick up on Saturday as well....very convenient for me. For very valuable items I think UPS might have lower rates for insurance, but otherwise I like USPS.
 
I much prefer USPS Priority shipping. UPS seems to take forever and they don't deliver on Saturdays and they don't deliver to PO Box's, (and once UPS broke one of my packages, and lost the other one)..... and if I'm not at home, the post office will hold it for me at my local branch, which is just down the street, as opposed to UPS which is across town. Never had a problem so far with USPS.



Which of the major shipping methods do you all prefer?
 
Moving to TGB&U ...
orig.jpg
 
First off, I have stuff shipped to my wife's office. USPS Priority is what Dennis likes to use on expensive stuff. I've paid as high as 10.00 for that with all the trimmings on 700.00 worth of knives. On minor items,sheaths etc reg priority works good. If I need it now my wife does an overnite UPS and emails it to Dennis.
I dont ship to our PO box or to the house.
 
I have always used the postal system and have never had anything but great results. Packages have always arrived in good time and their contents have never been damaged or lost.
 
I ALWAYS use USPS Priority Mail with Delivery Comfimation...Nothing else even comes close to the low cost and quick service...Not to mention Saturday delivery.
 
I prefer USPS for both sending & receiving. Only had one minor problem with them once, and the package did arrive.

On the other hand, I had a package delivered once by a UPS driver who couldn't tell the front door from the garage door. That's only the beginning of my dislike for them.
 
Well if I'm ordering from Stateside, without question USPS International Priority. Quick, cheap and reliable.

FedEx is a close second, however, it's usually more expensive (but faster).

UPS IS A DEFINATE NO ! ! ! The customs and brokerage charges are really outta line. They charged me 35$ on a 60$ package, first and last time I'll deal with that. Funny, never have to worry about either with USPS or FedEx !

Purolator is a 50/50 mix for me, sometimes good other times bad so I won't pick them if other better options are available.

And finally, DHL in my neck of the woods is another definate NO! While the company stateside is top notch, the local branch is a bunch of screw-ups. Packages lost, mis-shipments and the WORST customer service ever.

So to sum up for the Canuks:

USPS and FedEx= the good guys :D

Purolator = :)

UPS and DHL = not a fricken chance :mad:

My 0.02
 
Obviously you mileage will vary depending on you carriers and how you local post office runs things.

Last year, I had a key in my mailbox for a package in one of the package lockers. (They are cluster mailboxes)
Well, there was already a key in the locker and my dvd was gone.
I reported it to my carrier, I filed a police report, and I filed a reprt at the post office.
The carrier told me sometimes they don't get there keys back. Obviously they don't bother to change the locks when that happens.
I never heard anything back regarding my package, I never got reimbursed for it by the post office, despite their negligence.
And last week, I got 2 separate delivers of knives that were insured, and they were left in the aforementioned package lockers.
Sheesh, those are supposed to be signed for!

On the flip side of the coin, a while back I got a package from UPS.
The address was missing a number, so it was undeliverable. But they called me, and I was able to go and pick the package up. I was impressed that they took they effort to make their delivery.

Apparently the post office that covers my area doesn't care WHAT happens to their packages.
 
Hi guys
have recieved plenty of parcels ex the US over the last few years, USPS Global Priority has it all over the rest for items that will fit in their prepaid bags, cheap, quick and safe.5-10 days to New Zealand, whoever Amazon use for their international shipping is pretty good too.
Phil
 
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