We briefly touched this subject on a previous thread, but an recent incident has prompted me to revisit it.
Last week I get a call from one of my AMA guys.
Dan: You have my leathers, right?
Me: I do?
Dan: Yes, they were shipped to you last Friday.
Me: You've got the (insert discription) Vansons, right?
Dan: Yup.
Me:I remember you calling and saying you were shipping, but no, I don't have them.
Moral of the story: they were shipped via US postal service. They took over one week to get to my address, from 2 states over. That would have been a 2 day ground ship via UPS or FedEx.
Please, please, if you are shipping, even though it might be convenient to just take stuff to the post office to have it shipped, use a commercial shipper. It will be rreally inconvenient if you don't get your stuff when you want it.
Fortunately he had back-up leathers and his Vansons were insured. None the less, it was pretty frustrating wondering where that package was. Just thought you'd like to know.
What service was used? Parcel post, it sounds like.
USPS has always been fine for me IF you ship packages Priority Mail, and NOT parcel post.
I ship most of my sliders through FedEx Ground, though.
As we speak, I'm waiting on a set of heads that were shipped UPS ground. I sent them to him fedex and he got them done in 3 days. But UPS has had them on the return trip 1 week so far. >:( a few extra dollars to shipping may mean alot.
US Postal Service is frustrating to say the least...
QuoteUS Postal Service is frustrating to say the least...
Really, it depends... I'd say on a whole, they're far more reliable than any other carrier in the world. However, depending on what you're transporting, you may want to choose UPS/FedEx...
Small items priority shipped are unbeatable through USPS. However, anything of size (leathers, helmet, etc) should go via a private carrier (UPS/FedEx) UNLESS it's going across a border... If you're going to/coming from Canada/Mexico or really ANYWHERE outside of the US, USPS can't be beat...
I will admit, that when I order something small and the vendor send it USPS priorty, it does come within a reasonable amount of time, but commercial services, like UPS and FedEx have some accountabliltiy. I prefer them for shipping larger packages, and I know some of the people at my local UPS hub, so I think that helps as well.
No matter what, insure what you ship for full value, just in case. (I hate the extra charges too, but why take the risk?)