Why do vendors continue to ship vis USPS?
06-04-2018, 05:54 PM
#21
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2014
Location: Below the bottom of Berby Hollow, NYS
Posts: 21,631
Received 1,136 Likes
on
882 Posts
Actually saying that the postal service sucks is a typical comment from most people who, when pressed, cannot come up with examples of bad service. Considering how many articles of mail and number of packages they handle, the USPS does a superb job.
I owned a mail order business for 40 years and 99% of our parcels shipped through USPS. I had two "lost" packages in all that time out of hundreds of thousands. My carriers were conscientious & thoughtful and the service they provided was economical and proven.
I owned a mail order business for 40 years and 99% of our parcels shipped through USPS. I had two "lost" packages in all that time out of hundreds of thousands. My carriers were conscientious & thoughtful and the service they provided was economical and proven.
You also might want to learn how to use the "Preview" function, so your quotes aren't all screwed up.
06-04-2018, 06:14 PM
#22
Race Director
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2017
Location: Prosper TX/Austin TX
Posts: 10,869
Received 8,801 Likes
on
4,234 Posts
2020 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
Actually saying that the postal service sucks is a typical comment from most people who, when pressed, cannot come up with examples of bad service. Considering how many articles of mail and number of packages they handle, the USPS does a superb job.
I owned a mail order business for 40 years and 99% of our parcels shipped through USPS. I had two "lost" packages in all that time out of hundreds of thousands. My carriers were conscientious & thoughtful and the service they provided was economical and proven.
On a regular basis (once a week or so) either I or my wife receive documents that clearly state on the envelop DO NOT BEND, and sure enough, they are folded in half and shoved in my mailbox. The exact opposite occurs with FedEx (generally my wife gets 2-3 work-related packages per day) and UPS. Now I have had to talk to FedEx & UPS about their drivers speeding through my neighborhood, but the packages always arrive on time.
06-04-2018, 07:28 PM
#23
While my fav is FedEx, I find USPS superior to UPS. Amazon does a lot of shipping by UPS with the final delivery done by USPS. Those are all the mail trucks you see out on Sunday.
What I like about FedEx is when I have a package that requires a signature I can go online and redirect it to a FedEx Print & Ship shop 1/2 a mile from work and pick it up there. They are open early, late & on weekends. UPS will not do that and if I miss them 3 times they hold it in a location 20 miles away with very limited hours. USPS is close by the house but they open late, close early and are open on Saturday for 2, count them, 2 freaking hours.
What I like about FedEx is when I have a package that requires a signature I can go online and redirect it to a FedEx Print & Ship shop 1/2 a mile from work and pick it up there. They are open early, late & on weekends. UPS will not do that and if I miss them 3 times they hold it in a location 20 miles away with very limited hours. USPS is close by the house but they open late, close early and are open on Saturday for 2, count them, 2 freaking hours.
We do a lot of Amazon Prime and most all of it is delivered by USPS within the two day guarantee.
06-04-2018, 11:01 PM
#24
Race Director
Member Since: Sep 2007
Location: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
Posts: 16,555
Received 2,061 Likes
on
1,505 Posts
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
In the past 15 years, I've spent about $250K on shipping, mostly through UPS, but maybe 20% was FedEx, and recently USPS for smaller items.
I've experienced some major problems with each service, but for the most part all 3 have a 99% success rate for me. The common carriers where I shipped by the pallet load seemed to be the best, since my customers who ordered in higher quantity were never in panic mode.
Quick story: At an automotive swap meet, I agreed to trade some magazines with a guy from England. I gave him mine and trusted him to mail his when he got home. Ten years later, to the month, his shipment arrived in perfect condition and date stamped within a week of our agreed exchange. No idea where they sat undisturbed for 10 years.
BTW, to the original question. For most small items, USPS flat rate beats almost anything. A couple weeks ago I shipped a 38# package to the East coast for
$13.10 in 2 days. UPS wanted over $20 for 5 day service, even with my discount.
I've experienced some major problems with each service, but for the most part all 3 have a 99% success rate for me. The common carriers where I shipped by the pallet load seemed to be the best, since my customers who ordered in higher quantity were never in panic mode.
Quick story: At an automotive swap meet, I agreed to trade some magazines with a guy from England. I gave him mine and trusted him to mail his when he got home. Ten years later, to the month, his shipment arrived in perfect condition and date stamped within a week of our agreed exchange. No idea where they sat undisturbed for 10 years.
BTW, to the original question. For most small items, USPS flat rate beats almost anything. A couple weeks ago I shipped a 38# package to the East coast for
$13.10 in 2 days. UPS wanted over $20 for 5 day service, even with my discount.
Last edited by HOXXOH; 06-04-2018 at 11:16 PM. Reason: added comment
06-05-2018, 02:07 AM
#26
Melting Slicks
Usps always delivers early, UPS has straight up fucked me several times, once in which they refused to honor their Pack and Ship guarantee. They were extra smarmy about it, when I said I'll see you in court the rep said "sure you will, you and everyone else." Long story short they settled for $2800
06-05-2018, 09:43 AM
#27
Melting Slicks
Those flat rate boxes can be a great deal if you are shipping something heavy or a long ways. Not so great if it's light and short distance.
06-05-2018, 10:55 AM
#28
It's just semantics, windy.
From Wiki:
Article I, Section 8, Clause 7 of the United States Constitution, known as the Postal Clause or the Postal Power, empowers Congress "To establish Post Offices and post Roads".
[Interpreted to mean:] "The Clause has been construed to give Congress the enumerated power to designate mail routes and construct or designate post offices, with the implied authority to carry, deliver, and regulate the mails of the United States as a whole."
From Wiki:
Article I, Section 8, Clause 7 of the United States Constitution, known as the Postal Clause or the Postal Power, empowers Congress "To establish Post Offices and post Roads".
[Interpreted to mean:] "The Clause has been construed to give Congress the enumerated power to designate mail routes and construct or designate post offices, with the implied authority to carry, deliver, and regulate the mails of the United States as a whole."
06-05-2018, 11:03 AM
#29
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: Left Coast, San Diego
Posts: 6,654
Received 2,093 Likes
on
1,207 Posts
Never though I would see a thread on the Corvette Forum centered around the quality of service of the USPS! Let the good times roll. 
06-05-2018, 12:25 PM
#30
Race Director
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2017
Location: Prosper TX/Austin TX
Posts: 10,869
Received 8,801 Likes
on
4,234 Posts
2020 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
06-05-2018, 09:10 PM
#31
Ask the shippers.
06-05-2018, 10:05 PM
#32
Le Mans Master
Amazon Prime has issues that are not always the fault of USPS.
UPS is, in most cases involving small items, the most expensive shipper of all, and they don't have many options on the cost of ground shipping. That's why a lot of people won't use them.
UPS is, in most cases involving small items, the most expensive shipper of all, and they don't have many options on the cost of ground shipping. That's why a lot of people won't use them.
06-05-2018, 11:42 PM
#33
Race Director
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2017
Location: Prosper TX/Austin TX
Posts: 10,869
Received 8,801 Likes
on
4,234 Posts
2020 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
The other issue with USPS is I have to wait 7 business days to ask them to attempt to locate the package even though it was supposed to be delivered yesterday & is not showing up on their tracking system.
06-05-2018, 11:56 PM
#34
Le Mans Master
The mail service many of the various vendors use today is a combo UPS / USPS.
Can't remember the name of the service, but the package goes across country via UPS ... Then UPS transfers the package to your local post office (USPS), and then that USPS facility actually delivers it to your door.
Can't remember the name of the service, but the package goes across country via UPS ... Then UPS transfers the package to your local post office (USPS), and then that USPS facility actually delivers it to your door.
06-12-2018, 12:12 PM
#35
Race Director
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2017
Location: Prosper TX/Austin TX
Posts: 10,869
Received 8,801 Likes
on
4,234 Posts
2020 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
After filing a tracking/locating claim with USPS, the package magically appeared at the distribution center 20 miles from my house on Sunday (a week after it was supposed to be delivered). Unfortunately, after leaving said distribution center at 12:58 am on Monday they have lost track of it again 
Maybe it'll show up this week?
Maybe it'll show up this week?
06-12-2018, 12:20 PM
#36
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Mar 2018
Location: The GREAT STATE of IOWA!
Posts: 7,075
Received 1,038 Likes
on
400 Posts
The one benefit that shipping USPS has that no other service can offer is if someone steals a package, it is an immediate federal offense and the Postal Inspectors become involved. I know two of these inspectors and these hombres are not somebody you want to **** with.
06-13-2018, 09:20 AM
#37
Race Director
Never had a problem with USPS when purchasing items online and with USPS Informed Delivery program I can track packages even when I don't have a tracking number.
06-13-2018, 11:06 AM
#38
Exception ID 10T
I order a lot of stuff on line and have it shipped by all the typical carriers, USPS, UPS, FedEX, DHL, etc. I can't say one is any better than the others. They are all consistently good and on time usually. I live out in the boonies, too. Most of them now have GPS trackers that will show the location where a package gets delivered. Last year I ordered a pair of snake boots and UPS delivered them to a residence on the other side of Jacksonville. I worked with my vendor and UPS, and my boots were retrieved from the misdelivery location and on my doorstep, albeit two days late. Recently I had a package that USPS tracking said was delivered and it wasn't. I called, the lady checked the delivery carriers GPS device, said it was delivered to another address on my street, and they sent out a car to retrieve the package and hand delivered to my front door about an hour later. I call that good service, although delivering my stuff to the wrong address wasn't. I had FedEx tracking say they attempted delivery when I was home all day and my security cam showed no FedEx activity at my door. The package came the next day. So they all have screw ups, but considering how rarely it happens, I don't think any of them have an edge on the other. Now I do admit that USPS has the worst tracking of any of them.
06-13-2018, 01:40 PM
#39
^^ Yes!
The other side of the coin...however!
Well....
One vendor in particular, when ask why so expensive to ship a few gaskets and small items that can fit in an USPS Flate Rate box....vendor said they don't use USPS FLATE RATE box ...so I said OK!
Low and behold....my order arrived in an USPS FLATE RATE small box...
Immediately called vendor, their Boss came yelling and say - "I said OK!"
Haven't deal with Cultrag ever since!!!!
The other side of the coin...however!
Well....
One vendor in particular, when ask why so expensive to ship a few gaskets and small items that can fit in an USPS Flate Rate box....vendor said they don't use USPS FLATE RATE box ...so I said OK!
Low and behold....my order arrived in an USPS FLATE RATE small box...
Immediately called vendor, their Boss came yelling and say - "I said OK!"
Haven't deal with Cultrag ever since!!!!
Last edited by victorf; 06-14-2018 at 01:33 PM.
06-13-2018, 02:37 PM
#40
^^ yes!
The other side of the coin...however!
Well....
One vendor in particular, when ask why so expensive to ship a few gaskets and small items that can fit in an usps flate rate box....vendor said they don't use usps...so i said ok!
Low and behold....my order arrived in an usps flate rate small box...
Immediately called vendor, their boss came yelling and say - "i said ok!"
haven't deal with cultag ever since!!!!
The other side of the coin...however!
Well....
One vendor in particular, when ask why so expensive to ship a few gaskets and small items that can fit in an usps flate rate box....vendor said they don't use usps...so i said ok!
Low and behold....my order arrived in an usps flate rate small box...
Immediately called vendor, their boss came yelling and say - "i said ok!"
haven't deal with cultag ever since!!!!