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Post by snaffle on Feb 4, 2009 8:01:55 GMT -5
Wow!! I am in shock ...  Just when did the postage on packages and large envelopes go up? twopony's sent me her books... and I will be shipping her a furminator. I could not understand why her postage was so dog gone high.. $8.75 with delivery confirmation her package weighed 1 pound 3 ounces. The postal clerk did not give her any options.. only priority.. with the new flat rate envelope it would have been $4.95 plus delivery confirmation when something is shipped in an envelope now.. there is no option for parcel post?? weird. Media mail would have been $2.58 plus delivery confirmation there is a new SMALL FLAT RATE BOX, but the post offices can not get them.. and I can not even order them on line!! they are not in supply yet.. but they came out in January !!! The flat rate on that box is $4.95 Be careful when you are shipping anything!! The rates have become ridiculous. I have to ship the furminator to her.. and now I have to do my homework to find the most economical way.. or I could end up spending an extra $5 over a normal fee |
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Post by Kit on Feb 4, 2009 8:22:20 GMT -5
Yup, the rates keep going up and up. The PO is talking about wanting to stop mail delivery on Saturday to help cut cost. The PO lost something like $3 million last year.
Whenever possible I use the automated postage machine at the PO and you control your options instead of relying on them to remember to give you all your options.
There are two of the machines fairly local, unfortunally the closest PO doesn't have one yet, so I mail everything from the PO near work.
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Post by Jenni on Feb 4, 2009 8:59:32 GMT -5
Our postmaster never gives options ... he always goes priority. A few months ago I shipped a saddle and he said it was $80. I told him no I wanted parcel post and he hit a button and voila it was $30. Even that was high compared to a couple years ago when it cost less than $20 to ship a saddle.
I know they've lost a ton of business to people doing all their payments and correspondance online but raising the price of stamps over and over is not going to bring anyone back.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2009 9:04:48 GMT -5
YIPES! Thanks for the heads up. I'll be doing some selling of things soon so it's good to be able to keeo this in mind.
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Post by snaffle on Feb 4, 2009 9:14:57 GMT -5
When I first started shipping at our post office,
the clerks never gave me a choice.. I was so stupid I didnt know any better,
until one day when I just could NOT ship the item at that cost..
so I asked if there was a less expensive way..
and voila!! I was shown the computer screen
(they now have them on the counter where customers can see them)
ALL the shipping options are shown on it.
dpt is a postal employee..
maybe later tooday she can shed some light on this problem
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Post by Trailpal on Feb 4, 2009 9:43:56 GMT -5
I had to send a small package to my sis over the weekend. I packed it in a small box my eyeglasses came in - the total pkg weighed more than 5.5 oz but less than 6. UPS had to charge $9. I took it to the PO - they were closed, but people were in the back sorting mail and one was kind enough to help me. I had first class stamps in my purse and she figured out it took 5 of those to mail it first class. (I can't remember what first class costs anymore, I get those Forever stamps.)
What the UPS lady told me was that anything under 4 pounds will still be cheaper to mail. I have shipped (English) saddles UPS and it usually runs about $30-$35.
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Post by greymoya on Feb 4, 2009 9:54:14 GMT -5
My dip supplier ships everything to me by UPS, he says heavy packages are cheaper. But any time there's some left over that's not enough to put in a UPS shipping box, he takes oit to the post office. I guess heavy things are cheaper by UPS and light things are cheaper by PO.
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Post by twoponys on Feb 4, 2009 12:27:38 GMT -5
Live and learn. I won't be making that mistake again! I am glad you got the books. Rambo and I anxiously await the arrival of the Furminator!  |
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Post by dpt13 on Feb 4, 2009 23:18:16 GMT -5
Snaffle-the USPS went to shape based pricing in May 2007, different prices for letters, large envelopes, parcels because each shape has different processing costs. What were you mailing in the large envelope that you couldn't use parcel post for? If it was merchandise you can use parcel post, but remember the rates for parcel post start at a minimum of one pound. I have the small flat rate boxes at my post office, do you need one? I seriously don't think Congress will let USPS go to a 5 day delivery week. Their constituents will cry fowl, just as they do when we try to close a small post office that is not paying for itself with the revenue it brings in. Clerks are taught to start with our premium service of Express mail, if the customer doesn't need the time guarantee of Express they are offered Priority mail. We are not supposed to offer parcel post unless the customer asks about cheaper rates. It's all part of running a business - you don't try to sell your product that makes you the least profit margin or you would be out of business very quickly. Besides in my opinion, you are usually better off sending Priority, parcel post service is not that great. It goes through huge bulk mail centers and is trucked from place to place, not handled well and has no time value. Remember the Postal Service is no longer subsidized by taxes, so we are supposed to support ourselves with our products and services while providing universal service to everyone in the US six days a week. UPS and FEDEX add surcharges for making "remote deliveries","residential deliveries", and "Saturday deliveries" and also add fuel surcharges while the Post Office does not charge for these. Most items weighing 5 lbs or less are cheaper to mail with USPS anywhere in the states. Heavier things need to be compared - just remember to watch for the surcharges from UPS or FEDEX. If you can fit heavier items into our priority flat rate boxes you can really save $$$ especially if you are shipping further away. You can also get a small discount and free delivery confirmation if you print a computer generated postage label such as ClicknShip at the www.usps.com site. I hope this helps explain some things. And, yes, the rotten economy has really hit the Postal Service hard. We are having to make some cutbacks and adjustments just as most other businesses have. We have a hiring freeze on, city carriers are having their routes adjusted, and rural routes are being evaluated starting on Feb. 14 to adjust their evaluated salaries. Headquarter and district jobs are being eliminated and more work shoved onto those further down the totem pole. Same as everywhere else. |
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Post by linda on Feb 4, 2009 23:30:34 GMT -5
Don't forget those delivery confirmations and receipts when you mail things---especially things like your taxes.......
Perhaps dpt13 would like to take a few minutes and explain to all of us how you can protect yourself when something goes astray.
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Post by dpt13 on Feb 4, 2009 23:47:32 GMT -5
All I can say about taxes is the only thing recognized in a court of law is certified mail not delivery confirmation.
I insure all merchandise that I personally mail. Same as I pay car insurance, for those times like I have when I have two separate accidents with my car on two separate nights within 48 hours of each other! Still waiting for the adjuster to come out and give me an appraisal.
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Post by twoponys on Feb 4, 2009 23:58:44 GMT -5
I asked for parcel post and the lady said it would take 7-10 days.
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Post by Sheryl on Feb 5, 2009 0:52:02 GMT -5
I always mail books media mail. Alot cheaper and not THAT much slower. Worth the savings, in my opinion. As far as packages, wow, I figured that out this christmas. Secret santa gifts need to fit in smaller boxes.  |
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Post by greymoya on Feb 5, 2009 6:32:43 GMT -5
That makes sense about them selling you the higer shipping to begin with, it IS a business. I sell my dips 3 ways....$4 for one pack, $10 for 3, $18 for 6. I go into it assuming everyone will buy three, and mostly they do. I sell one to a customer maybe 5 times in a weekend. And when they do just choose one, I always ask if they want 3 for $10, it IS a better deal! If and only if they show interest in more than 3 flavors, I gently remind them I sell them 6 for $18 also but I never push it. Upselling is important but you should NEVER get pushy.
I guess when I think of how I do business, and I'm not a bad person or trying to sell people something they dont' want, it makes more sense. Seems like more people WOULD want the better shipping option.
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Post by tomasell92 on Mar 19, 2018 2:30:37 GMT -5
The private courier delivery companies have eliminated a lot of troubles for the companies that they used to have in sending their goods to customers. Even you can hire specialized services for particular goods at very reasonable rates. For example, you can hire the medical courier Dallas company especially for delivering the products that have glass packaging so that they can be dispatched without any damage. |
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