FedEx, UPS, or USPS. Which one do you prefer?

[cheerfulgreek]

I searched for this but I didn't find anything. Yesterday, I think the USPS was closed, so I decided to go to one of those FedEx Office places to send my mom a package. While I was there, I asked for insurance, but they said they do some kind of "declared value", not insurance. So, I decided to wait until this morning to use the USPS. I've never used UPS, and the "declared value" thing with FedEx bothered me. Plus, FedEx is much more expensive than the USPS. I don't get the the difference. FedEx says they guarantee overnight deliveries, but the USPS does too. I don't understand why FedEx is so expensive. Oh, and they won't deliver to PO boxes either. I mean, I understand that, it's just that I would rather use a service that delivers everywhere.

Just curious to see what everyone else prefers for shipping packages.

[DrPhil]

Whichever is cheaper.

FedEx and UPS are only based on necessity. If USPS can handle it, I give them the task.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I searched for this but I didn't find anything. Yesterday, I think the USPS was closed, so I decided to go to one of those FedEx Office places to send my mom a package. While I was there, I asked for insurance, but they said they do some kind of "declared value", not insurance. So, I decided to wait until this morning to use the USPS. I've never used UPS, and the "declared value" thing with FedEx bothered me. Plus, FedEx is much more expensive than the USPS. I don't get the the difference. FedEx says they guarantee overnight deliveries, but the USPS does too. I don't understand why FedEx is so expensive. Oh, and they won't deliver to PO boxes either. I mean, I understand that, it's just that I would rather use a service that delivers everywhere.

Just curious to see what everyone else prefers for shipping packages.

*blink*

Declared value is probably more accurate/better than "insurance." You tell them how much it's worth, that's what they cover. You pay based on that. There are actually more limitations to what insurance will cover.

They don't deliver to PO boxes because they're not affiliated with the Post Office. (And they usually request someone there to pick up the box. But they will deliver to the person's address even if they have a PO box. They also will sometimes deliver to those storefront PO box places where there is a staff member present, but you have to address it to the physical location in c/o. They probably deliver to about the same number of places as the USPS

They cost more because they do. In theory you're paying for reliability and speed. And for them to be open on July 5th.

I use the USPS but only because of convenience. I can walk to the post office.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

*blink*

Declared value is probably more accurate/better than "insurance." You tell them how much it's worth, that's what they cover. You pay based on that. There are actually more limitations to what insurance will cover.

They don't deliver to PO boxes because they're not affiliated with the Post Office. (And they usually request someone there to pick up the box. But they will deliver to the person's address even if they have a PO box. They also will sometimes deliver to those storefront PO box places where there is a staff member present, but you have to address it to the physical location in c/o. They probably deliver to about the same number of places as the USPS

They cost more because they do. In theory you're paying for reliability and speed. And for them to be open on July 5th.

I use the USPS but only because of convenience. I can walk to the post office.

There is also the fact that they are privately owned. They have to make a profit while USPS just needs to cover expenses.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

There is also the fact that they are privately owned. They have to make a profit while USPS just needs to cover expenses.

Yeah I was kind of covering the "because they do." part.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

There is also the fact that they are privately owned. They have to make a profit while USPS just needs to cover expenses.

IIRC, USPS is actually a private government-affiliated entity - so, kindof like a contractor. They get some governmental benefits but are not fully government, they get grants, etc, but also function as a private entity in a lot of ways.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I remember learning along the line that Postal Inspectors are the only private security force with federal police powers.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by agzg

IIRC, USPS is actually a private government-affiliated entity - so, kindof like a contractor. They get some governmental benefits but are not fully government, they get grants, etc, but also function as a private entity in a lot of ways.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I remember learning along the line that Postal Inspectors are the only private security force with federal police powers.

Yeah they're weird, and they don't get money from the government anymore except maybe for mailing the the military overseas addresses. But it owes money to the Treasury Dept because they're not always breaking even.

I don't know if any other private security/inspection force are considered federal agents, but I can confirm that these guys are and are the largest. Something to google I suppose.

[agzg]

I'm seeing that it's an independent agency, so, more governmental than not, but I do remember reading a few months ago that they weren't not getting a lot of money from the government anymore.

I do prefer the USPS though, for what it's worth. I've never ever had any problems with them, and post offices are easier to find than a UPS or FedEx location in my opinion.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by agzg

I'm seeing that it's an independent agency, so, more governmental than not, but I do remember reading a few months ago that they weren't not getting a lot of money from the government anymore.

I think they've been independent since the 80's, but they're pretty much just borrowing from the gov. these days. Wiki lists almost a 4bil loss in their last budget.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Actually IIRC they are none of the above. IIRC the USPS IS a private entity. However it is whole owned by the Federal government of the United States.

[Munchkin03]

It's funny, UPS is the most convenient for me. I have no clue where the closest post office is to my home OR office, and the dropboxes have weird times. Most of the time, I'll print out a UPS label, slap it on, and drop it off downstairs with the UPS truck that's always waiting outside the office.

[cheerfulgreek]

While I was there, she explained the declared value thing to me. Declared value is not necessarily what the customer says she/he paid for it. It's the value of the item itself, regardless of what was spent on it. She also said that if something happens to it, you have to show proof of what you paid for it, but it's still not guaranteed you'll get that back. Depending on the value of the item, you could get more or less. If it went up in value, you have to show proof that it did. The declared value sounded iffy, to me. I like USPS better.

eta: Oh, and she said though they are open on the 5th, packages were not being picked up until the 6th. They were only taking drop offs.

[SWTXBelle]

USPS Priority Mail is my go-to for shipping.

[Kevin]

USPS flat rate boxes and envelopes are your friend.

Huge savings over the other guys when mailing stuff.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by Kevin

USPS flat rate boxes and envelopes are your friend.

Huge savings over the other guys when mailing stuff.

This. Totally agree.