FedEx and UPS shippers
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What are your thoughts and experience using FedEx or UPS for shipping your items out instead of using USPS?
Are FedEx and UPS as good as USPS. Or have you had issues?
6 comments
shire123
·4 months agoThere are many good answers being posted. I pretty much agree with most of them.
USPS for smaller/lighter packages
FedEx/UPS for larger items. The cost savings by using these two is very significant. I've been using them weekly for years now and have never had a cost adjustment. I think that might be due in part to always using boxes. Adding an inch or two to all dimensions. And round up the weight. If an item comes to x pound and 14-15 ounces I always go up to x +1 pounds.
Damage has been pretty similar for all 3 with minimal events occurring.
So far this year I've sold about 500 items. I would say 350 of them have gone via USPS and the rest via Fed/Ex due to the package size/weight.
fabrics24
·4 months agoI'm very new, so take what I say with a grain of salt, but the idea of using FedEx and UPS deeply intimidates me. Like kibble-net, I see threads every other week about some random surcharge that UPS adds onto packages seemingly at random. Some make sense; some detail absolute horror stories. If I don't have to ship FedEx or UPS --and I've never needed to-- I don't. Even my largest packages rarely go over 10lbs, and now they're almost never irregular, so there's no real reason to ship with the other services.
I'm also lucky enough that my shop is at a business location, so we get USPS mail pickup nearly every day, and it costs us nothing for this. Every time shipping has eaten into my funds with USPS, it's been 100% my error, and I don't recall random dimensional surcharges ever being a reason.
I am a USPS truther for certain XD
participatrophy
·4 months ago@accollectiblesnthings
USPS will pick up packages for free when your regular carrier delivers your mail. FedEx & UPS will not.
For small parcels USPS USED TO BE (yes I'm salty) hands down the least expensive. For large parcels FedEx and UPS are the least expensive.
More packaging protection is needed for FedEx & UPS shipments than for USPS. All 3 have automatic sorting equipment but USPS parcels tend to be smaller and lighter on average. All 3 place heavy time constraints on their carriers but USPS carriers' jobs aren't at risk if they're not particularly good at doing them. Your parcels can and oftentimes will receive relatively gentle handling with USPS. Meanwhile the young strong dude who is used to slinging 40lb boxes of dog food and whose performance continues to count beyond the initial 90 day probationary period will be in a hurry and doesn't exactly have a light touch. Pack accordingly.
As mentioned by others above, FedEx & UPS are much more strict about measurements than USPS, although that will be changing soon.
USPS' mailstream is federally protected. FedEx & UPS posted shipments are afforded the same status since they too make use of it, but the actual mailboxes are still off-limits to them.
bgt_masters_of_tiki_d
·4 months agoUSPS: Cheaper for smaller packages, at least for now. Far less chances of damaged items. It is not even comparable. I never have to make insurance claims and have had only had to do maybe a small handful in the last 20+ years so I don't have much knowledge on how they are anymore.
Fed Ex: Damages more packages then the other two, though UPS is pretty close lately. Making an insurance claim is much easier and they pay it out almost every time without much effort. You will get cost adjustments which are bull spit. You can try and fight them, though with AI taking over an ebay I am not sure how someone would do it anymore since you have to go through ebay to do so if you used an ebay label.
For me USPS is by far the superior service. But when you get up there in size/weight you have to go with one of the other two.
UPS: Used to be the cheapest option for rather large items but I've noticed this isn't always the case. They damage less packages then Fed Ex (though not sure this is true anymore) making an insurance claim through them the two times I had to do it was an absolute nightmare. So bad the third time I just ate the cost and refuse to use them unless absolutely necessary. They also do cost adjustments that are bull spit. Same applies. Had a few late last year for oversized package surcharges that weren't even close to their over sized limit. I was able to get those refunded.
kibble-net
·4 months agoI see several threads per week where people are charged extra "surprise" fees for their UPS or Fedex parcel.
I never see threads about this happening with USPS.
Take that as you will.
christworks
·4 months ago@accollectiblesnthings You are going to get 1000 different answers. There is no "bad" carrier. All carriers are subject to delays, lost packages, problems collecting insurance, back charges. There are great mail carriers who work for USPS. There are also some really bad ones. There are good FedEx drivers and bad ones. Same with UPS.
A lot of people here pile on to FedEx. I really don't understand why people have so many issues with them. I shop a lot of large packages, from vintage Coleman lanterns to VCR/DVD combo units, to a gigantic piece of exercise equipment a few weeks ago. That business goes to FedEx because they are almost always cheaper than anybody else when it comes to large dim. weight packages. One time I entered in the wrong measurement. They charged me for it. Big deal. It was my mistake. Just recently I got a $4 refund from them where I overpaid. You have to understand both FedEx and UPS round up weights and measurements. Always. There is no grace with them either. So if the side of a package buldges out during shipment, if their laser catches it in a sorting facility, you will be charged extra. I always tack on one extra inch to one side. I had a shipment that got damaged. Honestly I could have packed that item better. It was fine how I had it, I suppose, but it was heavy and I should have double boxed it. Still, I filed a claim with FedEx and exactly one week later I received my claim check. No issues whatsoever.
The other thing with FedEx and UPS is that their fuel surcharge rates change weekly. Don't buy a label from them and then hang on to the package for several days. You will be at risk of additional charges if their fuel rate goes up (or get a refund like I did when the rate came down). If you print the label, go put the package in the carrier's hands that day or the next morning at the latest. Otherwise just wait to print the label until you can take it.