Stude parts refresher course - Always get the shipping cost in writing.

[PackardV8]

Relearn some things the hard way. Recently, I bought a fairly large, fairly heavy part from a guy who knew a guy I knew. The price was fair and the condition was good.

The mistake was I assumed the seller would do what I do when I sell parts - pack it myself and use an on-line account with USPS/FedEx/UPS.

What he did was take the part to a local UPS franchise in a shopping center. He had them pack it, ship it and insure it. They charged $20 for the box, $20 for packing, marked up the UPS $35 charge 15% and insured it signature required for all that plus the cost of the part. Then, because I wasn't home to sign for it when they delivered, I had to go out to the UPS terminal to track it down.

I guess even old guys have gotten used to Amazon free shipping and having more expensive and more marketable parts just left in the mail box or on the front porch; it takes having a seller make it all your problem and your expense to remember to always ask "how much for shipping?"

jack vines

[studegary]

The last time that I had a UPS store pack something for me was for an NOS 1953 C/K door sill. I did this because I didn't have a box to fit it and the buyer was in a hurry. The UPS store packed it, not all that well in a box, and UPS destroyed it. I ended up losing money on that one.

[8E45E]

I never trust UPS (pronouned 'OOPS' by most who have had the misfortune of using them) with anything. Besides receiving shipments being destroyed, they charged a rediculous $33 brokerage fee (maybe more by now) for items shipped to Canada.

Craig

[DEEPNHOCK]

UPS won't insure your big ticket items if they do not pack it...

[junior]

I never trust UPS (pronouned 'OOPS' by most who have had the misfortune of using them) with anything. Besides receiving shipments being destroyed, they charged a rediculous $33 brokerage fee (maybe more by now) for items shipped to Canada.

Craig

not 'maybe' but do. stopped using them at least 5 years ago. my neighbour was using them for a lot of ebay purchases for small shipping items like collector coins and baseball cards and their brokerage fee even applied to small items that could easily be put in a mailbox and delivered usps or canada post.

[Pat Dilling]

I have found the Fedex ground is consistently less expensive than UPS. I always pack it myself and carry it to the Fedex office. Has worked well for me.

[DEEPNHOCK]

I have found the Fedex ground is consistently less expensive than UPS. I always pack it myself and carry it to the Fedex office. Has worked well for me.

Me too.....

[Roscomacaw]

FedEx is non-union. That's the difference.

UPS has done good and bad by me. I let them pack and ship some large oil paintings my late mom had done - pricey, but all got here fine. Newman & Altman used to use them and so did SASCO subsequently - and they ruined WAY TOO MANY NOS parts. Of course, good ol' N&A would put two circles of strapping tape on 30-year old, crumbling cardboard boxes and send it on it's way to California like that. The strapping tape was the only thing that wasn't damaged by the time it got to my doorstep.

[52 Ragtop]

I've been using the USPS Flat Rate boxes, I love it, not so sure they love me! <G> Especially when I take in 10 or 12 boxes! But, hey, they say it! If it fits, it ships!

Jim

[Bamajak]

My son filled a flat rate box with carbide inserts............ must have been 30 pounds in a small box.
Only charged the flat rate.

I've been using the USPS Flat Rate boxes, I love it, not so sure they love me! <G> Especially when I take in 10 or 12 boxes! But, hey, they say it! If it fits, it ships!

Jim

[TX Rebel]

The above posts reflect my experience exactly. I use FedEx for larger items, bus for larger items, and pack very carefully.
Lord only knows how many fragile items were smashed by those boxes of carbide!

[jlmccuan]

I've been using the USPS Flat Rate boxes, I love it, not so sure they love me! <G> Especially when I take in 10 or 12 boxes! But, hey, they say it! If it fits, it ships!

Jim

Jim, you're being too nice. I schedule carrier pickup.

[Don Jeffers]

Our experience with over 500 shipments:


FedEx Ground has always been very, very good to us on shipment large and small.

The USPS has damaged a few.

Another shipper has broken several things, a couple of which you wouldn't think could be broken.


Just our experience.

[Starlight]

Pat....Check you PM's, msg sent Thanks

[jackb]

if you let the buyer know up front what the packing, shipping and insurance (double the value)...what's the problem ?