Amythyst02

I cannot comment on Fed Ex, but I sure can on UPS. When I was shipping books out last time, I thought I would save some time, and hit the UPS office since its just around the corner. Wow was I in for a surprise. They were almost triple what the PO was charging. But since I was already there and in a hurry I sent them out anyway. But never again. I also had sold a carosel on ebay, and I boxed it myself. Went to the UPS store they wanted $25 to ship!! I had sold it for $25, so I would make no money on it. I loaded it all back up in the car, and went to the PO who charged me $5 or so, and even gave me some bubble wrap things to throw in there free of charge (UPS wanted to charge me for these). So I do very little business with the UPS store now. I do realize they are independently owned and they have to make a profit too, but geez I think they were a bit over board.

quiltgal

It is Broke because Congress keeping interfering and telling them how they have to run it. If they could make business decisions like anyone running a business - would be entirely different!

quiltgal

I ship UPS, but not at the UPS Store where they charge for everything including boxes and bubble wrap. We have a UPS office (where all the trucks load up and they sort the boxes) and I get much better rate there. So, box up my shipments and take them there.

AZ Jane

i SAY, IF POSSIBLE, GO TO ANOTHER POST OFFICE. i REALIZE IF YOU AREN'T IN A FAIRLY LARGE TOWN OR CITY, THAT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE. RATS that stupid cap lock, sorry. And it is true, depends on who is waiting on customers at the window. No all clerks are customer orientated.

AZ Jane

Exactly. Now I'm not saying they are perfect by any means but Congress does dictate how it is run.

DonnaC

Agree that it depends upon who is at the counter. I have one guy at my PO who really "works to rule"! He once charged me extra on some manila envelopes with those metal closures, saying there is an up-charge for those ...from then on, I always pull the metal closures off and just tape the envelopes shut!

It's a shame that postage is going up again. I have pretty much stopped all e-baying because people will make a fuss about shipping cost, but it's truly not the seller's fault. The power-sellers can give shipping discounts and still make some money...we average sellers cannot. It's just a fact.

Cagey

I was at the post office yesterday intending to ship 2 casserole covers to Maryland. The boxes were either too big or too small so I asked to have the covers weighed in the plastic bag just to see how much it would cost regular mail. It was much much less than using the flat rate boxes. So I went home, wrapped them a small box I had, and mailed it that way.

Chasing Hawk

Maybe it's because someone was using that flat rate envelope to mail a king size quilt in............LOL
And had to use a roll of tape to close it up.

carolynjo

The PO is broke because the Congress, in all its wisdom, declared that the PO had to fund retirement benefits retroactive to a certain date. That's what driving the PO crisis.

ptquilts

Did you know you can ship UPS from the UPS website, as a guest? Charge it to your credit card and then take it to the UPS depot, or hand it to a driver. You will need a scale however.

I use UPS for heavier items or ones where I need insurance.