We use UPS on most medium sized packages. I have known our driver for over 15 years, so there are no local problems in or outbound. But as others have said, UPS is getting ridiculous with other charges for oversize boxes and a few other unusual and creative things they have invented. I had a running battle with them for two years about the oversize status of a 90 cm Paraclipse antenna, which at the time was 129 inches in their 130 inch length and girth formula, causing no end of attempts by their auditors in the processing line to attempt to charge me penalties for shipping an oversize box. Two things happened to change the situation; one was that my last shipment of Paraclipse boxes was an inch or two larger according to that formula, bumping me up to the over 130 status, and this coincided with the introduction of the new Oversize 3 rating. No more 50.00 penalties to fight----they just automatically charged you at least 40-50 dollars more, making the cost to Milwaukee (110 miles away) over 75.00, and over 90.00 to anywhere west of the Rockies from the Upper Midwest. My solution on oversize packages such as the 90 cm antenna was to switch to BAX GLOBAL Air Freight, which has a "BaxSaver" discount/space available air service, as well as a new Economy Air Service. The former gets things to anywhere in the country in 3 business days or less, and I can usually ship TWO of these antennas for less money than UPS charges for one Oversize 3 box. There are residential delivery surcharges, and if you are really distant from one of their offices, additional remote delivery charges. But if you are near an airport with a BAX office nearby, and/or can deliver to a business address or are willing to pick up at BAX yourself, prices are much more competitive than UPS for multiple as well as large package shipments. Smaller satellite receivers such as the Traxis DBS-3500 easily fit into the Post Office flat rate box, which has the same price anywhere in all 50 states
and Puerto Rico, if it can fit into the box. Priority Mail is generally quicker and cheaper than the alternatives for small items, and even though they do offer a tracking method, it leaves a lot to be desired. If you have the unfortunate experience of actually losing something in the Postal system before it reaches its destination, it can take 60 days to process a claim. The tracking system is very vague, and often impossible to determine where the package is---just that it was entered into their system at one point, and more confirming data is not available until it reaches the final destination. Express Mail is easier to track, but still has its failings.
Don't get me started on FedEx. They purchased RPS, and use their former fleet in relabeled trucks that say FedEx Ground. Problem in many rural areas is that you never know who is going to handle the box for the last mile or two; it often gets left at the Post Office and you have to go retrieve it. I guess that is better than one attempt FedEx made in my icy driveway one winter day. They threw a box in a plastic bag and tied it to a telephone pole off the side of the middle of the driveway, and I did not notice it until my fuel delivery person mentioned a bag tied to a telephone pole. A pickup notice could have been put in our rural mailbox on the highway, rather than doing a game of hide and seek with a high value item.
Yes, we do use companies other than FedEX here at Global Communications!
