UPS vs. FedEx

The price. If you ship direct FedEx seems to be much cheaper, if you use a 3rd party (mailboxes etc, staples) UPS seems to win.

 

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/fedex-vs-ups-w-poll.89350/

The one caution with FedEx is shipping to the Burlington, VT area and some areas of NJ. There seem to be a lot of "hero" drivers in these areas, leading to boxes being opened and inspected and returned for improper alcohol shipment.

I do FedEx everywhere except for VT shipments. I haven't shipped to NJ as most trades with NJers I do can be done IP.

 

I've only completed a handful of trades, but have always shipped out UPS with no problems whatsoever. I believe all of my incoming boxes were sent via FedEx, also with no problems. I suppose there could be some marginal variance in price and quality/speed of service depending on the specific regions involved, but I think as long as you do your due diligence with packaging, you shouldn't have an issue with either.

 

I like FedEx as it seems to be preferred by all my trade partners, and it does have that handy feature where you can intercept the package before the first delivery attempt and have it held at the nearest fedex store.

Particularly handy, since I live on a busy street and the UPS guy always just leaves my stuff sitting on the doorstep for anyone to take (had a lot of packages stolen recently).

 

That's strange since FedEx leaves packages by default and UPS requires signature by default. Basically your trade partners had to specifically specify to FedEx to require signature (online or otherwise) and UPS to "leave box if not home".

 

I have used both. FedEx seems to get places one day quicker and is cheaper. Also, UPS always asks whats in the box, FedEx has never asked. However UPS just sent me a box that was damaged, they repackaged everything put in a new box and called the shipper to offer to pay for damages as the box damage was on their end. That is great as they could easily have destroyed or returned the box.

 

It isn't the trade partner - it is UPS - the guy who works my area just leaves all packages by default. Can't tell you the number of times I have had a signature required package stuffed behind a bush at my front door from UPS. It sucks, I even complained once when a signature package was left out in the rain... Got nothing, UPS seemed to be run by Honey Badgers...

 

Man, that's sucks! Not acceptable at all. I wanted to say confront the guy, but then he could black list you. Ughhh...

I have this, along with other things, written in my profile which I ask every new trade partner to review. It happened to me once that the box I sent was marked delivered, but my partner did not receive it. Turned out they left it at some wrong address, but it could've easily been stolen.

 

Yeah, it is the UPS in my area - they do it to everyone, it isn't just my driver, it seems to be a regional thing where the 'signature required' is less adhered to

 

That seems so odd to me. For us at FedEx, if a signature is required, we physically can't process the delivery in our Powerpads (that's "little handheld computer thingies" to you) unless we obtain a signature. I wonder if the UPS guy is forging a signature and just leaving the box or if they have some kind of weird loophole where they can get around it.

Either way, I'd say this is worth an inquiry. If someone is paying extra to obtain a signature and the driver is disregarding that, that's a breech of the shipping contract.

Edit: just realized you once complained and got blown off. That sucks. We wouldn't do that to you at FedEx

 

Haha, yeah, I complained because they left a package in the rain. They are at least now putting them at the back door by the garage that is under cover if it is raining, but they are pretty half arsed about it.

Other thing UPS does is their stupid 'access point' things - had a few packages from them that they tried to deliver once, then they drop them off at a local store they contract with and you have to go pick it up. Problem is that the one nearest to me where they leave packages doesn't have any parking and is in a really annoying location (also a sketchy shitty part of town).

Dropping off packages FedEx and UPS are about the same, but at least for my house, delivery is better for FedEx.

 

Honestly it's up to the receiver to let you know to send it sig required. I let my partners know to send all my packages that way when we finalize a deal and exchange info.

 

I've shipped once with each. UPS package made it safe and sound. FedEx broke something (not sure what yet). I'm sure that's a statistically significant sample size.

 

My UPS driver used to be a partner in a now closed local hobby shop that sold me my homebrew supplies in the late 80's. Now he makes mead, and we actually have traded. I like when folks send me UPS. Outgoing I always use UPS, it does cost more, but zero problems with them over many many boxes. Had 3 problems with FedEx incoming though, including one I am "sure" was theft.

 

I'd say I've sent 50 boxes over the last year via Fedex. One completely disappeared and another (very heavy one) had one bottle broke...they repackaged and sent it on!

So not bad I'd say. The breakage was probably just as much my fault for it being so heavy.

I would like to hear any cost saving tips guys have though. So damn expensive!

 

Must be some kind of regional thing. My UPS drivers here in Tinley Park always buzz to be let in to the building and ring my door. I have actually missed a delivery and had to go to their hub. My FedEx drivers always leave the packages outside. I guess, even though both have rules, it sometimes depends on the individual driver.