ANY UPS'ERS OUT THERE?

[katiusciav]

canada post just broke one too many things the other day, and i knew the day would come where i got fed up enough to contact someone else. i looked briefly into fedex, and then ups, and noticed that ups is alot cheaper than fedex. so i gave them my information, and am waiting for a reply. i don't know what their 'minumum' standards are, but am hoping i can qualify for something.
for anyone who uses ups, what's their overall service like? can you print via paypal postage slips the same way you can with canada post? breakage rate? timely delivery? also, do they include free packing supplies?

and finally, if i don't qualify for a discount, is there any discount at all even for just becoming a member/shipping at SOME level/free packing supplies??

i would love to hear any thoughts of ups users...

[snoopwiz]

and noticed that ups is alot cheaper than fedex.

When we researched courier rates a year or so ago, we did not find that the case at all. Can you document this please?

[katiusciav]

well, short of cutting and pasting rates, all i did was a side by side comparison online, took one package of a certain weight and dimensions, got one rate from fedex (pretty high mind you), took the same parcel and checked ups online, and much cheaper and just a little more expensive than canada post. i did this to about 3-4 different packages of different dimensions/weights and destinations. i can't remember exactly the details of them, but i sure know the results i got..

[snoopwiz]

Hi Kat. Perhaps it has more to do with the dimensions/weight of what it is you normally ship and to where and which service you require. I just did a random sampling, of a typical box size/wieght from my place to zip 31035 and on my very first try, Fed-Ex actually came up a bit cheaper. Do keep in mind that these are "book rates" and if you negotiate with the courier company, you can expect a discount.

UPS Standard
Guaranteed by:
By End of Day
Wednesday
4 April 2007
Billable Weight: 32.0 lb
5:30 P.M.
Friday
30 March 2007 6:30 P.M.
Friday
30 March 2007 47.66 CAD*

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Ship From / To East york, m4j4h5, Canada > Harrison, 31035, U.S.A. on March 30, 2007. Edit
Package information
1 package 30.0 lbs Your Packaging 24 in x 18 in x 12 in, 97.00 CAD
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Delivery Date/Time Service Rate (CAD)

End of day (4 Business Days) FedEx International Ground® 44.04
In the shortest time possible. Call 1·800·Go·FedEx for availability and rate. FedEx International Next Flight®

[katiusciav]

my dimensions were roughly the same, but the weight was way below 32llbs, in any case, i will definitely look into both, ups is more attractive to me since i'm able to pay/print slips through paypal the same way with canada post, and you can't with fedex..
thanks for your input!

[snoopwiz]

Hi Kat,

I have heard from others that Fed-Ex does have slightly better rates for the type of heavier packages that I ship. Perhaps that explains the discrepancies between your and my findings. When you contact UPS/Fed-Ex, let them both know that you are contacting the other as well and push for their best possible rates. Fed-Ex offered me a 5% better discount that UPS had and since then, has also given be an additional 5%. I get daily pick up here but I am charged $6/week for that privilege. Worth every penny. Good luck with your negotiations.

[katiusciav]

When you contact UPS/Fed-Ex, let them both know that you are contacting the other as well and push for their best possible rates

OH YOU BET!! and i agree, 6$ a week for daily pickup is a steel!!

[orbitdrop.ont_01]

I am not sure about now, but back when I started selling I used UPS. I had nothing but headaches. When you ship across the border they charge their brokerage fees on almost everything. Basically a box going to the States ends up with brokerage fees payable BEFORE they drop the package off at the buyer's house. If the buyer doesn't have the exact change/credit card the package is returned to the UPS depot where the buyer has to go out and pick it up in person at their local depot. I thought it might be random however the first (and only) 10 packages I shipped to the USA had brokerage fees payable. Of those 10 packages, 3 were returned to sender at which point I had to pay the shipping again. I LOATHE UPS for this reason... it was almost enough to make me stop selling.

Now I find FedEx pretty decent for heavier items (cheaper than any other rate I could get) but primarily use Purolator for the speed and cost (however their online shipping system isn't very automated).

Light Packet shipping aside, Purolator beats Canada Post prices to almost all destinations in North America besides Alaska and the Territories. Because I never truly know what I'll be selling from one week to the next I find overall Purolator to be the best for my needs.

PS. In Sudbury, Ontario, UPS quoted me my first discounted shipping rate once I hit $85 shipping costs per day.

[whoscloset]

Fed Ex has better POSTED rates. Dependent upon volume UPS will give you bigger discounts. In the end, I've found that the bottom line rate that UPS charges me is much less than what Fed Ex is offering on the same items.
Monique

Himalayan Salt Lamps - A Guide to Purchasing

[katiusciav]

hmmmmmmm, almost seems like i'd have to try both to find out which serves me better. they seem to both have advantages and disadvantages. thing is, i never sell the same thing twice, they're all different sizes/weights etc...and i ship worldwide too. i guess i'll take one at a time and see where it goes...this is probably why i just always used canada post, to avoid this process, but they've burned one too many bridges with me...
thanks for everyone's input:-)

[alero0]

I use Fedex Ground and find them cheaper than UPS. My shipments range from 3 - 15 lbs. I've shipped about 1500 packages in the last 3 yrs. and they never lost one. I'm located in QC and the longest shipping time to the west coast US would be 8-10 days.(Ontario would be next day delivery). They will supply free shipping supplies but they're only for express shipping so what I do is cut and reverse the boxes. Any shipment outside of Canada or the US is very expensive so I'll use CP for those. The only problem is that any shipment valued over $200. to the US requires brokerage which they charge you up front. UPS will charge brokerage to the recipient.

[snoopwiz]

And sometimes, Fed-Ex's delivery time astounds me. 99.95% on time but most often earlier than anticipated. This, of course makes me a hero in my clients eyes. An example of a recent shipment to Colorado. 4 days from Toronto to Colorado Springs, regular ground shipment. Well done Fed-Ex.

Tracking number
609857510003152
Signed for by
MDAVIES
Ship date
Mar 26, 2007
Delivery date
Mar 30, 2007 9:27 AM


Destination
Colorado Springs, CO
Service type
Ground-Indirect Signature Required-International
Pieces
1
Weight
24.7 lbs.



Status
Delivered

Signature Proof of Delivery
Click Request copy of signature to view delivery information for this shipment.
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Date/Time

Activity

Location

Details

Mar 30, 2007 9:27 AM

Delivered

Colorado Springs, CO



3:20 AM

On FedEx vehicle for delivery

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO



Mar 29, 2007 9:32 PM

At local FedEx facility

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO



7:58 PM

Departed FedEx location

HENDERSON, CO



3:15 PM

Arrived at FedEx location

HENDERSON, CO



Mar 28, 2007 8:56 AM

Departed FedEx location

GROVE CITY, OH



5:04 AM

Arrived at FedEx location

GROVE CITY, OH



Mar 27, 2007 5:16 PM

Arrived at FedEx location

BUFFALO, NY



5:16 PM

Int'l shipment release

BUFFALO, NY



8:56 AM

Departed FedEx location

MISSISSAUGA, ON



1:09 AM

Arrived at FedEx location

MISSISSAUGA, ON



Mar 26, 2007 10:31 PM

Left origin

WHITBY, ON



8:15 PM

Arrived at FedEx location

WHITBY, ON



5:59 PM

Picked up

WHITBY, ON



10:28 AM

Package data transmitted to FedEx

Toronto, ON

[mcmdinc]

Kat,
I received last week from UPS, it had a clause that their shipping fees would not be extended to Powersellers. Then 24 hours later they sent me a Canadian eBay "Powerseller" proposal.

While I am certain it is a "cookie cutter" proposal, I suggest you call them as they do offer a discount with no minimum (similar to their small business program). However, higher discounts are tiered based on an avg weekly volume (rolling 52 week average).

My business is currently ramping up, so I am at a disadvantage by signing up for a rolling average at this time.

In the meantime, I am entertaining FedEx to see where they come in.

My experience in a previous life has been quite positive with FedEx.

Hope that helps a bit
Matt

[futuretech_liquidations]

Our experience with UPS is that their insurance claim process is faulty to say the least -- so you better read the fine and I mean very fine print. They have a clause that basically states that they will only compensate upto CAD$2/LB and NOT the insured value that you put on the item -- plus they will demand proof of you cost for the item and will not accept an eBaY or PAYPAL invoice showing what you sold the item for since they want to know what YOUR COST was for the item.

Example --: we shipped a laptop valued at $900 and the package was 10lbs - they smashed the box and admitted to doing it - their claims department promptly sent us a refund cheque (after 90days) for CAD$28.12 -- I have the cheque framed in my office and point to it everytime a UPS sales agent visits us.

Also, they nickel and dime you for every little thing like if you send a package outside of the commercial zone you will incur a surcharge of $2 and god forbid if you send a package to a RR address then its an extra $6.

Also their online system is a joke, since when you get your invoice you better go over it in detail as they are famous for rounding up weights to their advantage -- example 1.4KG = 2KG.

We found that in one year we were overcharged $2,000 at minimum based on this rounding up math of theirs and also the extra surcharges.

BEWARE and GET EVERYTHING in WRITING especially the surcharges and special MATH policies so that you DO NOT get burned - DO NOT BELIEVE what the salesrep tells you verbally have it PRINTED into your CONTRACT.

We fought them in court and won because they never showed up -- but before that they had tons of collection agents calling us to collect - we only paid them the balance left after I deducted the cost for the laptop they tried to wiggle their way out off paying for.

FEDEX is no better -- crazy prices and even crazier brokerage costs and they expect you to do all the paperwork - even if you mark on their online system that brokerage costs are to be billed to the receiver they ignore and just invoice you for it.

Purolator I hear is much better than all of them.

Oh well thats my two cents, I am sure others have different experiences - so good luck to you.

TIM @ FTL

[whoscloset]

I use UPS and have for years now. Fed-Ex has not been able to touch the rates they give me.

No need to print labels off PayPal...waste of time and money. UPS will supply you with a free thermal printer and all the labels and sleeves you need. Why spend money on paper and ink for your own printer?

As far as their insurance...it is as lousy as every one else's. Insurance claims are handled by a third party company as with ALL the large carriers. Their mandate is to keep pay-outs to a certain percentage and they have ZERO invested in your account regardless of it's size. I've argued about this disconnect with UPS for years to no avail. Having said that, claims are cleared up and paid out within a few weeks which is much better than Canada Post.

I've learned that it's all in the packing. Pack your items appropriately and you won't have an issue. Don't pack them well and you might be denied your claim. They ALWAYS pay out on losses and I've only had one of those out of thousands of shipments.
Monique

Himalayan Salt Lamps - A Guide to Purchasing

[tea_past_times]

FEDEX is no better -- crazy prices and even crazier brokerage costs and they expect you to do all the paperwork

For sure! If you like filling out paperwork that is worse than a highschool trigonometry exam, go FEDEX. When I tried Fedex a couple of years ago, they sent me a small library to study before I could ship.

[tea_past_times]

And if I had that kind of nemerical education, I would not be Powerseller on Ebay, I'd be a lottery retailer!;-)

[katiusciav]

well, after reading all the comments, it seems fedex seems to outweigh ups a bit more overall...i'm still waiting for ups to get back to me...
No need to print labels off PayPal...waste of time and money. UPS will supply you with a free thermal printer and all the labels and sleeves you need. Why spend money on paper and ink for your own printer

is this not time consuming? having to write out everyone's name and address? i find printing so much quicker, and especially when the address is already pre typed in the computer for you (like paypal)..

[whoscloset]

is this not time consuming? having to write out everyone's name and address?

They supply you with software the print and upload the labels and customs papers. As such I guess it depends upon how fast a typer you are. 😉 I can usually process one shipment every 30 - 45 seconds.
Monique

Himalayan Salt Lamps - A Guide to Purchasing

[tip-top.deal]

After reading all the comments I find that most of the comparisons concern costs only. If you start comparing customer service at a UPS store with say CP, it's like day and night, at least by my latest experience. It started when mailing a large oil painting with frame. I checked the cost beforehand with the dimensions, weight. value, destination etc. in order to invoice my US buyer. They had no interest to see my print-out but proceeded with their, I guess, standard order procedures. First they wanted to charge me an oversize rate of $70.00, that didn't show-up on my online inquiry. Rate was later cancelled. Next was insurance cost. Online info. under additional charges reads: Declared Value Against Loss or Damage $0.95 per $100.00 or part thereof, over first $100.00. They charged me $3.00 per $100.00, or a full $30.00 for a insured value of $1000.00. When I asked why - they got mad and brushed off the question! I never got my answer. Delivery time was quoted 5-7 days versus 3 days on computer. Reality turned out to be 3 days Montreal-Indiana - quite impressive. Less impressive however was the condition of the content, that was after all in a solid wooden crate w/ picture frame well padded all around. The crate arrived damaged together with 3 damaged picture frame corners. That's when all the nightmares started. Claim was filed and customer was informed that a UPS inspector would assess the damage at recipient's location. Showing up however was a driver who had no qualifications, interest and time to inspect. He took the crate w/ frame, but w/out any of the padding without any specific info. to the buyer. 3 days later UPS store calles me to inform that the crate was back in Montreal and ready for pick-up at a cost, equal to the original shipping cost, of $76.71. Checking their shipment tracking showed info.: package was damaged in transit. UPS will contact the sender with the details. NO such info. ever received. Next transaction entry: UPS will contact the sender and/or receiver regarding the status or disposition of this package. Naturally NO such info. received. I refused to pick-up and pay for the return. After many rude discussions store manager finally agreed to scrap the crate, the costs and continue with the damage claim. A few days later customer informed me that he just received the brokerage fees for the return transport??!! He had to sort this one out again. Together we must have written 50 e-mails to UPS to sort things out! Right now I'm in limbo and don't know what to expect next from UPS claims dept.
Summary: my last ever business dealings with UPS! Don't know if my experience is unique or are all others (Fedex, Purolator) the same when it comes to a claim?