posted on May 28, 2003 06:51:50 AM new
Hello all,
I typically ship UPS from my house. I am among those who are delighted with their service, love the convenience day to day as well as the ease of the occasional insurance claim.
In the past week or so I have had numerous requests for folks wanting me to ship their items via the USPS Postal System, which I don't really want to do, but I always try to please my customers.
SO, I am considering.... a service charge for the service... Like maybe $5.00. In all honesty, by the time I get the item in the car, get to the PO, wait in line and get back home it will eat up AT LEAST 1/2 hr of my day, maybe more. AND, I hate doing it. Do you think I'm out of line? Do you have any other suggestions?
My auctions always say if someone has special requests, to let me know, and I'm thinking of taking that part out. I also also do fixed shipping auctions and many folks think I'm charging too much till I give them the detailed information/break down, which is also starting to get on my nerves. OK, maybe that's the real problem... my nerves! BUT, I did want a little input from you wonderful folks out there!
Let me have it... but please go easy... I could snap like a rubber band! (Kidding...)
posted on May 28, 2003 07:44:11 AM new
Ya know, Have I lost my mind???? You are right.
I sell primarily china and dishes, some antiques, and bric a brac... Mostly the heavier items that I know UPS is cheaper for.
So, next question - should I delete my nicey nice statement about special requests and just say, UPS ONLY? I hate to be so rigid... But want to improve things. OR, just delete the statement and tell folks no, nicely, when they write asking for it.
Obviously, I go to the PO when I have a Hawaii, Alaska or out of the US package to be shipped. I also do Media Mail if I am sending books, but I list my books together so I can make the PO runs in batches, efficiently. So here and there, I do go...
I know better... I have been selling long enough... Some folks can never be made happy and to some extent do I need to just do what works for me? I mean, you don't order from a catalog and then tell the company HOW you want it shipped right?
posted on May 28, 2003 07:59:44 AM new
I think some new book or website with Ebay info must be out there.
I have never had as many whiney customers as I have had in the last month. Well, I should say potential customers, because I always decline their requests.
I have had people write asking if I would accept $xx less than my start, if I would ship for free because my stated price is too high, if I would decrease my shipping by 50 cents...etc. Come on, $1.50 is too high. Ok, it is for a postcard but I do use a hard plastic top loader and a special size envelope that fits them perfect. I refuse to just stick it in an envelope and mail as has been suggested.
Anyway, I would take out the nice little statement and see if it declines if I were you. I don't think the $5.00 surcharge will go over very well but you never know.
posted on May 28, 2003 08:06:35 AM new
If you want to go UPS only or add a big fee for USPS, that's a valid option. Just please plaster the information in BIG letters somewhere in your auction.
It will cost you bidders, but if you're generally satisfied with the way your auctions have been going, that may be acceptable to you. It's always your call.
The reason I say "It will cost you bidders" is this: Many bidders cannot accept UPS shipments. Either they're not home during the day and there's no safe place to leave packages, or the damage rate in their area is unacceptably high. (I have long suspected that the quality of UPS service varies by area far more than other services do.)
I definitely feel your pain, however. I have had a few bidders (very few) request shipment by UPS or FedEx and it is a hassle to deal with a shipping service you're not set up for.
That's why I don't mind paying extra fees to businesses when I request a shipment via USPS, though it was never as high as $5. I also sometimes email eBay sellers who list UPS as their shipping method, to see if they will ship via postal, and I always say I understand it might cost more. But lately I've become so eBay jaded that I often just pass UPS only auctions by.
My ideal solution would be to have FedEx Ground (the best service I've used) deliver to PO boxes. That deal has been hinted about for years now, but it never seems to materialize.
posted on May 28, 2003 08:15:58 AM new
USPS will come and pick up your shipments if you ship mostly priority items,but they dont mind if you slip in a few non usps priority items as well.
i dont recall how much they charge,it was 3.00 at one time now i think it is more,per pickup.
if you are shipping heavy breakable items like dishes,they are better off using UPS,the trouble of sending them forms and standing in line with a box of broken dishes is rather time consuming for your buyers.
posted on May 28, 2003 08:27:18 AM new
A lot of people don't like UPS because you have to sign for the packages. Most of us work and aren't home to receive them. Almost every glass item I have ever bought that was shipped UPS has arrived broken. I make trips to the local PO for my customers. Geesh, it's part of doing business and it gets me away from my computer. I've been able to promote my business at the PO, too. $5 extra is a bit much for wanting USPS. It's like going to the convenient store and paying .45 for a .37 stamp.
Cheryl
My religion is simple, my religion is kindness.
--Dalai Llama
posted on May 28, 2003 08:41:00 AM new
I guess the fee for Priority Mail pickup went up a few times from that $3 to a whopping $12.50 and you have to have the packages all ready to be processed. ( you'll need a scale and a supply of stamps and have look up the rates online )
Please have correct postage affixed to each piece prior to pickup.
posted on May 28, 2003 08:42:53 AM new
Yeah, the USPS fee is an outrage considering the fact that a mailman IS here daily and I ship out daily, around 10-20+ packages each day. I did the PO thing and HATED IT!
So far, while I hear terrible things about UPS, I have been lucky with what I consider to be MUCH LESS breakage than the PO and an easier insurance system. Frankly, it's just easier all the way around.
I appreciate the info and input, and yes, $5.00 is probably outrageous too, but IMO so is expecting me to make a PO run for one package/one person.
Yes, I'm eliminating my nice statement. I want to please my customers of course, but this PO thing has just gotten out of hand.
So there are some of you out there who totally bypass UPS auctions? This is yet another arena I hadn't considered....
posted on May 28, 2003 08:50:04 AM new
If your items are small enough to fit in a mailbox, you can ship priority with free delivery confirmation, print the postage with Endicia and just put it in the mailbox. For packages of 1-2 lbs, USPS priority is cheaper than UPS, gets there faster and they deliver on Saturday. For packages of under 13 ounces, nothing beats first class and you can get delivery confirmation for 13 cents.
If you do need to go to the PO, you don't have to stand in line. I just hand my prepared packages with postage and confirmation affixed right over the counter and the clerk has nothing to do but put them in the outgoing pile. My mailman has also said that if I leave my packages for him, he will take them.
The 9.95 a month I pay for Endicia is well worth it in time savings, postage savings and delivery confirmation savings.
posted on May 28, 2003 08:52:46 AM new
i live in a rural area and my postman will take my packages to the post office with no fee,if it requires insurance,they will return the stamped insurance slips to me the next day.
but you have to have either endicia or plenty of stamps on hand and lots of blank forms around the house.
when i lived in the city,my postman said it is not the job of the postman to accept outgoing packages,so it could be rural versus big city!!
posted on May 28, 2003 09:28:22 AM new
Use Endicia to print your own postage. Place those items out for the postal carrier to pickup with your normal mail delivery/pickup. They cannot refuse to pickup those items. (Postal carriers will pickup items to a max weight of 75#)
posted on May 28, 2003 05:38:38 PM new
Just tell your customers that you figured shipping via UPS and give them the updated shipping cost if they wish to have it sent via USPS. Make sure you charge them for every additional service you can too. This usually gets them to say, OK send it UPS.
Works for me everytime.
