ours4you
|
posted on January 23, 2001 05:21:46 PM
I had a package that weighed 7.5 pounds. I went to iship to compare prices. I measured the package and entered in the appropiate zipcodes and when I would be shipping. UPS was 8.45 ground and USPS was 10.45.
I took the package to Mail Boxes etc. and was given a total of $14.50 for shipping via UPS. I thought my scales were off or something, but he confirmed the package weighed 7.5 pounds. I asked the guy what was up with the price difference and he said the difference was their service charge.
I asked if there was a different was to ship and was told if I ship with the MBE shipper it is $18.00.
Well, bend me over and call me Susan!
Back to USPS.
|
thepriest
|
posted on January 23, 2001 05:25:45 PM
Mail Box etc...is primarily a service charge...they get stamps at the usps; they carry boxes to the usps - have ups delivery stop.
I never found them to be beneficial for my eBay endeavors...
|
ours4you
|
posted on January 23, 2001 05:32:48 PM
Problem is the closest real UPS office is on the other side of town right next door to the airport. The extra $2.00 I will pay with USPS is more than worth not having to go to the airport.
|
igolf
|
posted on January 23, 2001 05:39:13 PM
Check the price of "one time Pick-up" with UPS. I found that it was cheaper and easier than going to the UPS office (about 20 miles away, only open 2 hours - 2-4 PM - per day)
The local contract station PO that I use charges an additional $2.00 per package for UPS. When I calculated rates for one time pick-up with UPS, I found that they were between .80 and $1.40 max. The larger/heavier the package, the less the pick up charge was.
|
Riz23
|
posted on January 23, 2001 05:47:21 PM
eBay endorses them though. You mean that eBay would **gasp** not have only our best interest at heart? My vision of them
is now shattered! hehe 
"eBay, always available to the highest bidder" quite ambiguous, don't ya' think?
Mail Boxes Etc. around here is way higher on every single item I have ever priced. Tape, peanuts, boxes, bubble wrap (same price, less feet, clever but not cheaper) and oh yeah, shipping! They have Fed-Ex come to them daily and UPS. Do you realize that anyone can have UPS come to their door for a "one time pickup" for no extra charge? I think of Mail Boxes Etc. as an unnecessary middle man, endorsed by eBay and rejected by the masses. They are not rejecting them because of a boycott. eBay sellers for the most part are very aware of shipping fees. And if the seller is not, chances are the bidder is. How many of you who are reading this right now have UPS, Fed-Ex and USPS (both international and domestic) rate calculators book marked? How many of you know at least 3 post office pickup schedules?
Because of my learning experience on eBay, I now have 6 post office schedules in my office so I always know where I can go to make the next pickup. I also have located my P.O. Box at a postal distribution center to eliminate one or two stops for my mail. I've located a 4:30am pickup at that same distribution center just to get my overnight stuff on the way a few hours faster and so on and so
on... eBay sellers are some of the smartest shippers in the business. It's downright offensive when you walk into a Mail Boxes
Etc. and you realize just how much profit they intend on making for the honor of using their eBay endorsed service. Even if it
doesn't offend you, it still becomes excluded as an option for most sellers because it goes against what most people think eBay is about. Low prices, personal service and even a feedback file that lets you know what kind of a person you're dealing with. Some sellers have no other choice as they have no closer option. That is a rare exception that I could think of off the top of my head.
IMHO - Riz
|
sg52
|
posted on January 23, 2001 05:50:47 PM
I find MBE to be grossly overpriced, but I find bars who charge $4 for a $0.90 beer to be even more grossly overpriced.
MBE offers a service for a high fee; such an offer is not comparable to any violent crime.
sg52
|
marlenedz
|
posted on January 23, 2001 06:09:49 PM
If there are any Office Depots nearby, check them out for shipping UPS. They have an agreement with them and no service charge is supposed to be charged. The service started rolling out last year and some areas don't have it yet but it is supposed to be national sometime this year.
|
ours4you
|
posted on January 23, 2001 06:31:10 PM
I just called UPS to see if there was any closer place to mail than the airport and was told they will come to my house tomorrow and pick up my package and the whole thing is going to cost me under $9.00.
Only sucky thing is they will be here sometime between 10:00am and 7:00pm (ala the cable guys and power company).
Okay, I can almost, not quite though, see MBE charging a decent size fee if they are wrapping and packaging up my item using their boxes, bubble wrap and tape, BUT, I am bringing them a ready-to-ship box and all they have to do is stick a damn label on it.
For what they are charging to ship my package I expect my package to be hand delivered and a nice massage from the UPS guy WITHOUT his little brown shorts.
|
Zilvy
|
posted on January 23, 2001 06:40:05 PM
OURS4YOU (and a nice massage from the UPS guy WITHOUT his little brown shorts)Whooooeee!Now there's a sentence I'd like to see the Governor commute!
Zilvy....
|
georgeviscomi
|
posted on January 23, 2001 06:41:38 PM
Dont buy a stamp from them,they want 53ea. for them.
|
ours4you
|
posted on January 23, 2001 06:51:55 PM
For a 34 cent stamp?? WOW
|
Mikecol
|
posted on January 23, 2001 06:55:34 PM
Used them once the item got broken try and get collect on insurance ya right. Have shipped over 2000 packages {mostly fragile items} nobody else has broke anything. So in my book their breakage rate is 100%.
|
wildcatcomputer
|
posted on January 23, 2001 07:20:09 PM
I use them because the nearest UPS is 2 cities away, and there isn't anyone else in this area to use. I have the buyer pay S&H charges because I usually get little more for an item than what I get it for. But, the S&H charges have scared bidders from my auctions. I sent two heavy packages to Florida from Boston. The packages where heavy (100 pounds each), but I don't think it should have cost $180.00
|
ubiedaman
|
posted on January 23, 2001 08:53:09 PM
I have used MBE only ONCE, and that was to take advantage of their packing for a VERY precious item. I know that if the package arrives damaged from MBE, it is THEIR (MBE's) fault, not mine, and I don't have to do the USPS "did u pack it well" dance.
As far as using MBE as a regular source,(and one of my good friends OWNS an MBE franchise)....No FREEKIN way!!!!!
Keith
I assume full responsibility for my actions, except
the ones that are someone else's fault.
|
lovepotions
|
posted on January 23, 2001 09:20:23 PM
If you are a high volume seller you can have a UPS account. Or if you arent high volume but most of your pakcages are more than 2 pounds it might be in your best interest to check out the UPS site. I have a business account and for heavier items i'll call UPS and they'll come the next day to pick it all up. My account is set up for on call transactions so they dont show up every day. I call them for picks ups when I need to then they bill be at the end of the week.
I sent 7 large boxes for a grand total of 148 pounds combined. It did cost me $123 but every single package is automatically insured up to $100 each And I didnt have to carry them anywhere except to the front door.
http://www.lovepotions.net
|
BlondeSense
|
posted on January 24, 2001 12:05:32 AM
There might be other alternatives. Have you checked with local stores? Office supply stores? Pharmacies? Stationery stores? Sometimes you can find one that ships UPS. Even my little one horse town has a office supply that handles UPS.
|
mark090
|
posted on January 24, 2001 06:31:34 AM
Strange as it may seem, Slavery has been outlawed in the United States. Therefore, MBE has to charge a service charge if just to have someone sit there and listen to your complaints as to how expensive they are for doing something you do not want to do for any amount....
|
mballai
|
posted on January 24, 2001 07:32:03 AM
Many people work for busnesses that can ship things via UPS without adding a surcharge. For infrequent use, this might be the best thing. I don't like UPS, but they are a necessary evil.
|
Brooklynguy-07
|
posted on January 24, 2001 07:45:31 AM
Imagine that, a business charging for their services!! STOP 
|
daksstek
|
posted on January 24, 2001 01:27:33 PM
You can download stamps.com from the www.stamps.com. it not only lets yo ubecome a pastmaster and able to ship large packages you can also compare shipping rates from different services. i have used it for about a month. It saves on waiting in line at the post office. Just slip the package in the parcel slot or go to the counter eand hand it to somebody .
|
srsalas
|
posted on January 24, 2001 02:54:21 PM
If you don't have a UPS account - you could still ship in their "Internet Shipping" program. All you do is fill out the form online, pay with a credit card, print the receipt /label and hand to any UPS driver - anywhere / or drop-off location.
There are a few MBE locations that are designated as drop-off locations - so that may even work for you.
|
ours4you
|
posted on January 24, 2001 03:44:17 PM
Actually it is easier than that. I don't have a credit card and I did not have to fill anything thing out.
I called and gave UPS the package weight and measurements and my address, they gave me a total (and I am not 100% positive but I don't think they even charged me for the pick-up). They told me I would need a check or money order for the exact amount and if I was not home just leave it in an envelope with the package and that was it. It was picked up this morning at 10:00.
I cannot tell you how thrilled I am with this service!!
|
