Fedex vs. UPS (w/ Poll)

damn, really? Those 2 12-bottle shippers I sent myself that caused this whole mess with Fedex cost me $90+! for 2 boxes!

 

Those were 12bottle shippers, the ones I'm talking about are half the size. I'm going to run estimates on each website and see if there's a pattern.

 

I can't figure out how to see what my UPS charges are on their stupid website, which is admittedly terrible. But based on my obvious underweighing guesstimate, the 12-bottle shipper I just sent to you was $28

 

I think I may have found the main culprit for the discrepancy. Apparently, registering online does not equate to opening an account; thus, my shipment was ineligible for any sort of account holder discount.

 

sorry to put you through this lol

I owe you a hug

 

No problem. I just opened an account which I'm sure will come in handy.

 

FedEx they are on the correct side of the street on my way to work. I send most my trades AM and early week to ensure it gets there for the weekend. Plus FedEx makes Sat deliveries. I also feel like they are a little cheaper. UPS damaged a box once I sent, so I just stay with FedEx

 

In my experience, FedEx is cheaper but UPS is more reliable.

But I think a lot of it has to do with how far from the place the person you're shipping to lives. If they live right beside a UPS but pretty far from the nearest FedEx, the difference won't be as great.

 

The speed of FedEx's deliveries absolutely blows my mind. I've sent out two packages via FedEx Ground to Texas from Pittsburgh on Tuesday, and they both arrived Thursday morning.

Anyways, this is a generic question, but do FedEx drivers work the same routes? For example, I got three packages this week, all on different days. Is it the same FedEx driver coming to my house three different days or are there different employees doing this? I don't know if I should leave this guy a courtesy card or something. On one hand, I know he's just doing his job, but on the other hand, he comes to my house a lot. Then again, if I left him a small gift he might get suspicious. Am I over thinking this?

 

I have accounts with both. With a volume, business discount, pricing seem similar (total honesty about size & weight). UPS online billing has been a bear to deal with if an issue arises.

UPS delivery has been slightly faster and their email notification is stellar.

FEDEX Home (not regular FEDEX) here in Williston is my only real complaint as they have a reputation for openning and returning packages.

Full disclosure, I am using FEDEX because of the UPS online billing incompetence.

 

Just had my first hand experience with the Williston location. The box was on vehicle for delivery, so it's that "hero" driver who opened the box. From now on it will be UPS only for VT trades; otherwise, FedEx has been great in price and service for me for the most part.

 

have never had a problem with Fedex, partly b/c my home office is pretty easy to work with.

that said, of the 150 or so packages I've sent via fedex, I am now getting one returned to me, apparently. something about "incorrect packaging" which I suspect might be "someone opened the package and found beer". which sucks, but as long as it gets returned to me intact, not the end of the world. sucks that it made it all the way from Boston to the recipients town in California on delivery day for this happen , and now needs to come all the way back which will take another week.

either way, looks like I'll need to try again with UPS

 

Maybe it has to do with the way I package each individual beer (heavy bubble wrap, then wrapped in newspaper, THEN tied up inside of a dark plastic bag), not to mention all the packing peanuts and the newspaper layers on top at the end, but it would be impossible to just open one of my boxes and say its "obviously" beer without going through the trouble of un-tying and unwrapping everything.

I've only ever sent UPS and *knock on wood* have never had any issues. Its pricey but relative to FedEx? Couldn't tell ya. I chose UPS based on their store being super close to my home so its pretty convenient and I've only ever used that one spot. I've dropped more change there than Michael J Fox at a parking meter, so the guy who runs it never asks any questions.

 

I just had 4 boxes this Saturday get to my Fed Ex location and then not delivered to me. Instead Fed Ex sent all four boxes back to the sender without notifying me and giving me the option to come pick them up. I have a feeling they opened my boxes and saw beer. I just hope they weren't assholes and packaged the beer back nicely when they sent it back so it doesn't break. I am now having to contact all my trading partners and let them know the situation and have them reship UPS and then refund them for the shipping. I used Fed Ex prior to that for over 50 successful trades, but it looks like UPS will be my new shipping company be default. Unfortunately, it looks like I will only be able to trade with people willing to ship UPS as well. Fed Ex blows.

 

Yes, and no. It's likelu the same driver delivering to you, but packages get split up by ground, and home delivery all the time. There's a small sticker with the route number and stop number. If the route numbers match, then it's the same driver. And everyone appreciates something extra to know that their work is appreciated in any occupation. So yeah, you're overthinking.

 

Someone correct me if I am wrong about this, but I have always traded with the idea that it is on sender for problems until the box is on the porch of recipient (with rare exception)

 

Knock on wood, I have only had an issue with 1 single box in all my trades thus far. And I will have to say that FedEx handled the situation admirably. Had one can in a big box open and make a box leak. It got all the way to Texas and then was returned to me for damage. FedEx re-packaged everything and sent it all pack to me minus the one can that had leaked.

Now, I have heard that UPS will not do this and that they will just discard the beer in this type of scenario. However, I've never had a package sent through them get to the point where it was damaged enough for this to occur in the first place. It was great that FedEx sent all my beer back to me that time, but I have a feeling that it was their rough treatment of the package which caused the issue in the first place. All the bottles were fine, but a few of the other cans had huge dents in them when I got them back. And of course, I still had to pay to ship it a 2nd time.

 

Generally, I would say you are definitely correct. However, in my case, the issue was obviously with Fed Ex in my hometown and now I won't be able to have those packages sent back to me through Fed Ex or they will just get sent back again. I don't feel like anyone is at fault between the traders, but because all of the packages got to my town safely I would feel too bad making my partners pay for shipping twice when they did nothing wrong.

 

And I would agree with this if you have had problems before and failed to tell your partners not to send FedEx.

That said I gotta give you props for standing up big like this and you are definitely now on my "Trade with this guy he rocks" list

 

Ok, who's the wise-ass who voted "other"? And if you say "DHL rules!" you're full of shit.