I have shipped many parcels lately and I have prepaid shipping for all these items.I usually end up having to pay more than the original shipping costs when the item arrives at my door. I've even been charged taxes and brokerage on Christmas gifts. The last time the one shipment came in two boxes. They tried to nail me for $54 taxes and brokerage times two. Yes thats right. The original prepaid shipping was $50, it gets to my door and I owe another $108 on $250 worth of stuff. They knocked it down to $68 once I had something to say about it but this is just a rip off. PLEASE guys don't send UPS when shipping out of the States. I had a clutch shipped here, the clutch was $225 and shipping was $50, my son tells me the UPS guy was here and I have to pay them another $89 to get my stuff. Is that extortion?This is ...I dont know what you would call it but they are gouging us hard and it's got to stop somewhere.

 

I learned this the hard way too. I made a huge order from a vendor, I had it shipped UPS. It got to my door and guess how much I had to pay to get my parts...$200! Then again, the order was a little over a grand, but still, its retarded how much they charge. Never again will I ship stuff via UPS. I only ship USPS now. They only charge taxes...never brokerage. It takes a little longer for me to get my parts, but I am willing to wait. Ship USPS.

 

i stopped using UPS 2 yrs ago, they're prices have gone thru the roof F them!

 

Yes their charges are high. it seems they are even nickel and diming you. I payed a rural charge because one friend lived to far from the city.

 

I will not buy from a US vendor if they will only ship by UPS, I always ask before I buy. Most vendors understand and are willing to ship USPS. I refuse to be ripped off by UPS anymore.
To all the US vendors that do work with us, Thanks

 

Amen

 

NO MORE UPS
NO MORE UPS
NO MORE UPS
NO MORE UPS

 

I have always shipped my stuff either UPS or USPS through PayPal.
Most always I will round up the sizes and weight just to make sure.
Recently I shipped a spare tire carrier. Carefully weighed and measured the package, then upped everything a bit. A week later I get an e-mail saying I owe another 9 bucks and change.
Called UPS told them just what I typed here....the reply? ... O.K. never mind we'll credit your account.

 

UPS is not alone. FedEx, Purolator DHL all do the same thing. Use the good old post office.

 

I never ship UPS anymore way to expensive.
USPS is a lot cheaper and plenty reliable. And I ship a lot of expensive hardware around, some overseas.

I think big vendors get a better rate. It's us little guys that get stuck.

Also don't bother with 'insurance' from UPS or FedEx.
My Boss is the timing coordinator for the Porsche club of America and ships two huge bullet proof cases of timing equipment all over the states.

FedEx destroyed one of the cases and basically refused to pay anything. ( it's more complicated of course )

Insurance isn't insurance...

Keith

 

When UPS started out their rates were rediculously low and you got good service compared to USPS but not true anymore. Their rates have gone through the roof . The USPS has fought back and now the good old postal service is the way to go. I recently sent a very small box which was very light and they said it would cost $11.60 Took a box more than twice it's size and weighed twice the weight next day to the post office to send to a forum member . He got it in a couple days and it only cost around 6 bucks with insurance.

 

Shipping a fiberglass bumper cover or front spoiler is almost impossible for a private seller.

Unfortunately, Fed-Ex ground is not an option for me. I've fought them too many times just trying to convince them my address really exists. Too many times I've had to meet them somewhere to accept a package.

However Fed-Ex Freight terminal to terminal works great and is comparatively inexpensive, and USPS gets high marks also.
John

 

The days of going to a vendor or service provider and telling them what you want to do...then trusting them to do it RIGHT...ARE OVER !!! YOU have to dig in to find out the details, tell them exactly what you are doing and what you expect the charges to be, etc. etc.

That won't stop them from doing their "thing" after the fact...coming back to you and telling you that you owe MORE. When they do, show them your records detailing the transaction, tell them to have a nice day and CLOSE THE DOOR! [They aren't "nice" anymore...why should I be?]

 

My company ships most everything UPS. We ship about 10,000 packages a year. Shipping is so expensive because of gas prices. For us, UPS has a 98.7% on time delivery rate, and a claim rate of .2% (lost or damaged shipments). We actually tried USPS, but they delivered 78% of the packages on time and had a 6% claim rate. Plus their tracking system is archaic. This was simply not acceptable.

 

This has been my phylosophy for the last 3 years,,, and more and more vendors are willing to ship USPS. Vendors who don't, allways give lame excuses of to many lost parcels, or slow service,, , Its because they have a contract with the carrier who picks up and delivers at there office, in other words they are to lazy to help you out. as if fedex and all the others have never lost a parcel !! USPS has fast servic also but you have to pay extra (ok 0k not as fast but better than regular and you can have a tracking number also ) And the bonus,, some times the parcels go through customs unchecked,, no taxes !!! lol that felt good You must do your homework before ordering.

 

You can't avoid the PST and GST. And UPS cannot be blamed for that.

 

You are correct. Its the additional charges that get me going. They seem to have a care free charge what ever they want attitude. I'm suggesting to just not use them. They have rules and I don't agree with the exorbitant fee's.

 

It's been my experience that UPS always charges a brokerage fee (this is the usually outrageous amount) plus the GST and PST. USPS never charges a brokerage fee and as was mentioned on occasion doesn't charge GST or PST either. I always ask to have items shipped USPS. I can wait a couple of extra days if need be.

 

I like USPS, except my post office is almost always crowded, and the parking sucks. I use the postal buddy computer as much as possible, avoiding the line for a teller.

I've had mostly good luck with UPS. What I don't do, is use a UPS Store. They are franchised, and will rape you, unless you're just dropping off something that's already paid for (I print the shipping labels at home). That system works good for me, when I'm shipping stuff out.

Fedex Ground sucks big-time. They're the old RPS company. Their closest warehouse is 35 miles away, so when they have to deliver to my house, they'll sometimes wait days to deliver when they have more packages in my area. I've bitched 2x in 1 yr. about them hanging on to my package too long. Doesn't do any good, so I quit using them.

The cream O' crap for me, squarely belongs to DHL. They were horrible to me recently:

I bought an item. Seller shipped DHL when I told him to use UPS. Well, a package that was 3 day delivery, turned into 8 days. I finally called them after tracking it and seeing they had it at the nearby facility for a whole day, and hadn't delivered it. I told them I'd be right down to pick it up. When I got there, there were 10 people ahead of me in line. Most had been waiting 30+ minutes for them to locate their packages in the big warehouse. One guy ended up waiting 2+20, and finally left without his goods. I had to wait 1+15. They are the most dis-organized shipping company. One problem was it was right after Christmas and DELL had sold so many computers, that DHL was apparently contracted out to help with the deliveries (UPS or FEDEX normally handles DELL). Needless to say, they came up short. There were Dell boxes stacked up all over the place there. And, they only had 3 or 4 people working there.

It's only going to get worse with higher fuel charges, etc...

 

I got a shipment from Canada post via USPS labelled Christmas gift and they still hit me for taxes. I wonder who's pocketing that.