Shipping/Delivery time USPS Ground Advantage vs USPS Ground Saver vs FedEx Ground Economy
Just wondering if many of you who have shipped with USPS are now opting for FedEx or USPS and how long they took to arrive. Ground Saver and Ground Economy would often save money, but have they delivered in a comparable window to that that of USPS Ground Advantage. Also any issues with the shipping. Previously had some troubles with FedEx overcharging me (Ebay would send email that there had been a price adjustment).
15 comments
albertabrightalberta
·5 months agoI wouldn't use Fedex or UPS if they gave it at 1/2 price.
For the price, convenience, accuracy and speed, I use USPS exclusively and in about 20 years, have had 2 problems, both of which were handled by USPS appropriately.
pf9000
·5 months agoFedEx is usually half price on most packages, but then there are these “Surprise Charges” that appear later. “Oversize Box”, but it wasn’t. Perhaps the box bowed outwards slightly? When you buy a box of a particular size, it usually refers to the inside measurement. The outside measurement is usually a 1/4 inch larger. If the box is too large and too light, they fine you for that. UPS got me with a “Rural Surcharge” UPS Delivery Area Surcharges (DAS) and Extended Delivery Area Surcharges (EDAS). As well as a “Fuel Surcharge” for certain deliveries. I don’t like these “Sneaky Charges” and I also find it really annoying when the customer pays one price and the “Shipping Calculator” shows a higher price afterwards. Now as a Seller, I need to pay that extra cost, or try to get the customer to pay for it. Now the other problem with FedEx is the “Box Size Price Jump”. You go one inch bigger and most of the time the price is the same, however on some occasions the price jumps dramatically.
shire123
·5 months ago@pf9000
If I understand one of your points correctly, one way to get around the difference between the customer price and calculator price is to go with a flat rate shipping charge and don't use calculated shipping. I've shipped enough things via UPS/FedEx to have a pretty accurate feel for what the shipping will be. In 3 plus years of shipping 3-5 packages per week with UPS/FedEx, I've only received one "sneaky" charge of $1.48.
Also ALWAYS round up dimensions and weights. And if you weight is X pounds and 15 ounces consider rounding up the next pound. You can see what the difference is when you use the shipping calculator.
greenlakesales
·5 months agoFedEx and UPS are very exact on the size, if the box size is 7.00001" I put the box size as 8", I have not had an adjustment in a long time. Always round up, and you will not get an adjustment.
stainlessenginecovers
·5 months agoAs far as speed; I only use USPS and have noticed the following:
Shipping GA; items from West Coast to Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Tenn, Illinois, Michigan (basically Middle of the Country) take from 5 to 14 days, basically because they dance around the country for days and days, back and forth etc.
Items from WC to NY, Florida- get there in 3 days.
I've also shipping items USPS Priority to Texas, Tenn, Missouri, Georgia and they've taken 3 to 12 days.
Yet again, NY or FL?- 3 days, period.
Moral of THAT story is: items going ALL THE WAY to the East Coast fly non-stop and get there quick.
Middle of the country they take a bus, truck or train and the workers seem to all be trainees or don't come in due to hangovers?
onefootflipper
·5 months agoI have most of my listings set as Ground Advantage but I switch freely between all 3 services and there have honestly been no issues doing so, been doing that since before they even changed the name to ground advantage.
Every once in a blue moon I will get a price adjustment (and I have even had them from USPS), but ultimately they add of to nothing in the long run. Particularly since some of those adjustments are refunds. I save at least $1000 a year on shipping by freely switching between carriers and I have never had more than $50 worth of adjustments in any given year.
lisa5768
·5 months ago@goldrushfinds
USPS only for me.
I tried each UPS and FedEx and had nothing but damaged delayed packages. When purchasing either through eBay you are using their account so they are the shipper of record and when there is an issue you have to contact customer service to file claims, dispute adjustments, etc. The cost you see when purchasing the labels are only ESTIMATES, not the actual final cost. You only get that AFTER it is shipped. Both carriers have hundreds of surcharges that are usually not included in the estimated charge.
Using any product that combines 2 carriers (package given to USPS for final delivery) is impossible to win an insurance claim if the item is damaged or lost. Both carriers will blame the other.
The small savings is not worth the hassles.
shire123
·5 months ago@lisa5768
Not sure where you get that ebay labels for UPS/FedEx are just estimates but I have never run into that. I ship larger/heavier items with them every week (2-5 times a week) and have always paid just what the ebay label stated. In the past 2 years I have had 1 adjustment for $1.48.
I know from time to time sellers do get adjustments and sometimes those adjustments are ridiculous.
I won't contest that claims or customer service with those carriers can be a nightmare.
I and/or my buyers have literally saved thousands of dollars by using UPS/FedEx. Many of my larger heavier items have a charge of around $100 from USPS GA but when I use UPS/FedEx the charge is less than $50.
That level of savings is well worth the very, very low risk of an "adjustment".
As to handling. I get more packages from UPS/FedEx delivered to my home than from USPS and have never had an issue with damage from any of them.
"Stuff" happens with everything. But to take that "stuff" and make it the norm is not correct.
goldrushfinds
OP5 months agoWow, thanks for your replies. So far quite unanimous. Other opinions still appreciated.
tsme35
·5 months agoUSPS is a nightmare when filing a claim unless it gets lost and for broken items they only cover the item, not shipping. Ground Saver and Ground Economy are a problem because they delivered the last mile with the PO, so you play the game of who broke it and hard to file a insurance claim, if you even can.
biggymoe
·5 months agoI don't, and won't, use FedEx or UPS. Strictly USPS.
Are you starting to see a pattern here?
dhbookds
·5 months agoShipping GA........no problems........
luckythewinner
·5 months agoI have never had an issue with USPS Ground Advantage.
I use it and Media Mail almost exclusively.
jonathanbrightlight
·5 months agoNope. We exclusively ship USPS (it helps that most of our items ship Media Mail), and have no plans to change. We have very few issues, and we’re shipping hundreds of packages each week.
tobaccocardyahoo
·5 months agoI loath and detest shipments I receive via FEDEX Ground. The are dirtier and show more signs of rough treatment. The drivers rarely ring a bell, and are totally inconsistent about leaving packages or not leaving packages. They scan delivered days before the deliver when they are overworked. I do not buy from any retailer I know to ship via FEDEX Ground. My only incoming shipments are from Ebay supplies, and the boxes are still dirty and mishandled but the product is not damaged.
There is no reason to used FEDEX Ground other than price, and the price/quality of service tradeoff says stay away.
UPS Ground Saver in our area is usually delivered by UPS because they are always delivering here. It works great, in other areas you have to deal with the fact that many USPS employees hate the hybrid services and the other carriers. It might relate to the Teamsters at UPS making more than they do, or might be similar reasons.