I agree. I shipped a 25 pound package to Rome Italy via USPS and the cost
was only $42.00. I was told that it would go air and be delivered within 5
days. Had confirmation from recipient in Rome in 4 days!

--
Richard D. Reese
http://www.wa8dbw.ifip.com
"Simon" wrote in message
...
Hi

Can any US readers of this thread explain why Fedex or UPS is so
popular compared with the much cheaper US Mail?

Here in Australia Fedex and UPS offer a service, but few private
individuals would consider using them due to high costs and the
inconvenience when delivery is a problem if people are away at work.
With normal post, we have post offices in all suburbs where
undelivered mail can conveniently be picked up or items posted.

I have never had loss or damage problems with ordinary mail to and
from the US.

Simon

Scott Dorsey wrote:


Let me also say that, from my experience, UPS and FedEx Ground break
things at about the same rate. But when FedEx damages something,
they promptly inspect it and pay out without a fuss, while UPS will
do almost anything to avoid paying insurance claims. Admittedly I
have had only three UPS issues, but all were nightmares.
--scott


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Also... never ship anything when UPS's union is in negotiations. Things
get mysteriously "damaged" in transit. Some of their drivers are
incredibly stupid if they think that helps things.

73, Bill W6WRT

Beg to differ. When I received an SP600 and cabinet from the US,
FedEx had dropped it hard enough to break the mounting screws
for the radio. It popped out of the cabinet and did the shake,
rattle roll bit. They refused to pay. Initially saying inadequate
packaging even though the person saying this had only seen the
inspection report which was not accurately filled out. The
story goes on and on. Finally I filed with small claims court and
in about a week I got a call from their lawyer wanting to settle.

When FedEx works, it works well.

Pay attention to the "small print" which you have to go find
somewhere in their website. They do NOT offer insurance on Ground.
They do offer the opportunity to increase their liability coverage for
a fee, i.e. how much you can hold them accountable for. This is
the "extra" you are paying for and is required by US law. Otherwise
they are limited to $100 liability.

Note that when you do find the relevant document (which doesn't
show up at all when you fill out the online paper work), they
exclude "antiques". Never, ever tell them you shipped a vintage radio.

bk
Agreed.

Let me also say that, from my experience, UPS and FedEx Ground break things
at about the same rate. But when FedEx damages something, they promptly
inspect it and pay out without a fuss, while UPS will do almost anything to
avoid paying insurance claims. Admittedly I have had only three UPS issues,
but all were nightmares.
--scott

Other weasel words I have seen on many company names these days.
Are LLC instead of INC or CO .... I found it to be the acronym for
Limited Liability Company. Anyone know what this means for them
to weasel out of being liable? Seems like most companies are going
to similar labels. I don't want to be liable for nothing either, but
Sheezzzz!!! Do we all expect to get shafted from every place we
do business now? Any enlightenment appreciated.
Any lawyers out there? Can they really do business and not be
responsible for the services and products they sell?

Maybe not exactly on target for boatanchors, but applicable to
all of us these days me thinks.





"Bill Kirkland" wrote in message
.. .
Beg to differ. When I received an SP600 and cabinet from the US,
FedEx had dropped it hard enough to break the mounting screws
for the radio. It popped out of the cabinet and did the shake,
rattle roll bit. They refused to pay. Initially saying inadequate
packaging even though the person saying this had only seen the
inspection report which was not accurately filled out. The
story goes on and on. Finally I filed with small claims court and
in about a week I got a call from their lawyer wanting to settle.

When FedEx works, it works well.

Pay attention to the "small print" which you have to go find
somewhere in their website. They do NOT offer insurance on Ground.
They do offer the opportunity to increase their liability coverage for
a fee, i.e. how much you can hold them accountable for. This is
the "extra" you are paying for and is required by US law. Otherwise
they are limited to $100 liability.

Note that when you do find the relevant document (which doesn't
show up at all when you fill out the online paper work), they
exclude "antiques". Never, ever tell them you shipped a vintage radio.

bk
Agreed.

Let me also say that, from my experience, UPS and FedEx Ground break
things
at about the same rate. But when FedEx damages something, they promptly
inspect it and pay out without a fuss, while UPS will do almost anything
to
avoid paying insurance claims. Admittedly I have had only three UPS
issues,
but all were nightmares.
--scott

Mr Fed UP wrote:
Other weasel words I have seen on many company names these days.
Are LLC instead of INC or CO .... I found it to be the acronym for
Limited Liability Company. Anyone know what this means for them
to weasel out of being liable? Seems like most companies are going
to similar labels. I don't want to be liable for nothing either, but
Sheezzzz!!! Do we all expect to get shafted from every place we
do business now? Any enlightenment appreciated.
Any lawyers out there? Can they really do business and not be
responsible for the services and products they sell?

You're confusing liability for damages with liability between partners
of a corporation. Same word, different context.

Here's a brief explanation taken from the web.


Liability Issues of a Limited Liability Company

In a limited liability company, a member's legal liability is limited to
his or her investment in the business. Generally, a member's personal
assets are not at risk, but a member's personal assets may be at risk if
any of the following occurs:

*
A member personally guarantees a business debt.
*
The form of business is found to be a sham (not properly formed
or maintained).
*
A member becomes personally liable as a result of his or her own
acts or conduct.


-Bill

main reason We stopped using ups is their insurence is a total scam,
they put more effort into not paying than handeling it ligit.

-=H=- wrote:
Hi all,

I shipped two boxes of amateur radio equipment yesterday from
Lewisville, Texas to Cooper City, Florida. As always, I used
FedEx Ground. Here's why:

Two packages:
(1) weight 33.60 lbs, size 24 x 21 x 16 inches, insured $900
(2) weight 13.95 lbs, size 22 x 22 x 14 inches, insured $100

FedEx Ground, delivery in 3 business days, cost $38.77
UPS Ground, delivery in 4-5 business days, cost $56.07

UPS would have charged $17.30 more than FedEx (that's almost
45 percent) and would have taken 1-2 days longer to arrive.
To me, $17.30 is not a trivial amount of money.

Something to think about next time you're shipping packages!

On the otherhand, in the last 2 weeks, I have had 4 packages
delivered to me by FedEX Ground, and each arrived from 1 to 4 days
later than the tracking system said they would. When the appointed
day came, they just bumped up the delivery date to the next
business day.

In one case, they lied about no one being home. At the time
they said no one was home, I was sitting on my porch talking
with a friend (and for 1/2 hour before and 1/2 hour after the
appointed time.)

I have in the past had a number of crated packages delivered by
FedEX Freight, and most cases, they completely and totally
destroyed the crates. I was lucky to only have to replace one
item from this damage. Once they delivered a 4'x8'x1' crate that
weighed 600# in a small econoline van. They couldn't even get
the crate out of the van without my help. One guy bloodied his
mouth when the crate went over balance, and smashed his head
between the crate and the roof of the van... All the while, the
drivers young daughter sat on the front seat.

I have never had UPS miss the delivery time they said they would
meet. I have never had UPS lie about delivery misses. And no
matter how heavy the package, they always bring it to my door
(and use safe methods for moving heavy packages.)

To me, it seems that your luck with delivery is just luck of the draw.
I have a great UPS delivery guy. The FedEx guys are different
every time.

-Chuck

"Chuck Harris" wrote in message
...

I have never had UPS miss the delivery time they said they would
meet. I have never had UPS lie about delivery misses. And no
matter how heavy the package, they always bring it to my door
(and use safe methods for moving heavy packages.)


You must just be lucky in your location. As with most everyone here, I've
had the opposite experience. The one that really sticks out in my mind was
when I was watching the tracking data on the UPS website. The package was
two (2) days beyond scheduled delivery, so I checked the site. Package was
on time up until it reached the distribution center in, I believe it's Ohio,
where, instead of shipping it to me, it was shipped three states over in the
wrong direction, then shipped back to Ohio where it finally started it's
journey back to me. Ended up being 4 days late!

There are many more horror stories I could tell, and not just my own.
Friend of mine shipped a $1800.00 Home Theater Receiver (weighed between 50
and 70 pounds) from Michigan to California. Exceptionally well packaged, in
original packaging, then double boxed besides that. When it arrived, the
outer-most box was gone (it arrived only single boxed, beside the original),
with the original label and remnants of outer box taped to the inner box.
That box was mutilated, and the receiver? Well, lets say it had a nice
"leaning tower" look to it, along with all but one of the circuit boards
being literally shattered...

And then he had to fight for almost 4 months before he actually got his
insurance claim. They were only going to give him a portion of the insured
value, because they claimed that the contents weren't worth more that that.
Well, it was, BEFORE UPS got their hands on it...

PowerHouse Communications wrote:
"Chuck Harris" wrote in message
...

I have never had UPS miss the delivery time they said they would
meet. I have never had UPS lie about delivery misses. And no
matter how heavy the package, they always bring it to my door
(and use safe methods for moving heavy packages.)



You must just be lucky in your location.

Could be, then I have been lucky in three different locations,
and for hundreds of packages, over more than 20 years.

-Chuck

-=H=- wrote:
Hi all,

I shipped two boxes of amateur radio equipment yesterday from
Lewisville, Texas to Cooper City, Florida. As always, I used
FedEx Ground. Here's why:

Two packages:
(1) weight 33.60 lbs, size 24 x 21 x 16 inches, insured $900
(2) weight 13.95 lbs, size 22 x 22 x 14 inches, insured $100

FedEx Ground, delivery in 3 business days, cost $38.77
UPS Ground, delivery in 4-5 business days, cost $56.07

UPS would have charged $17.30 more than FedEx (that's almost
45 percent) and would have taken 1-2 days longer to arrive.
To me, $17.30 is not a trivial amount of money.

Something to think about next time you're shipping packages!

73,
Dean K5DH

I would have to agree that my luck with UPS has been less than
satisfactory. but with fedex my stuff gets there a lot quicker and
costs less money. i have even sent msr 2000 repeaters across country
with fedex for only about 48 bucks, but if i sent them with ups, they
would be destroyed in no time. i have a friend that works at the local
ups and he tells me that the sure fire way to have something destroyed
is to mark it as fragile or handle with care. seems the guys in the
warehouse love to kick the hell out of boxes like that.