UPS rates
Sep 23, 2020 17:47:47 #
In the "I'll Never Understand Shipping Rates" department, my latest experience tops them all. Last week I shipped an item from my home in Southside Virginia to an address in Northern Virginia, about 220 miles straight up US 29. Two days ago I shipped an identical article, same weight and everything, to Las Cruces, NM. The shipping costs via UPS to Northern Virginia was $11 and change. The shipping costs to Las Cruces was also $11 and change yet the distance was 1200 miles or more to Las Cruces. Both items were shipped Ground with no added insurance. Talk about a Byzantine rate schedule!
Sep 23, 2020 17:57:16 #
They have vehicles going everywhere, whether one has a package on it or not, the vehicle is still going.
Should it matter which vehicle it gets on? Short-haul or long-haul?
Should it matter which vehicle it gets on? Short-haul or long-haul?
Sep 23, 2020 17:58:31 #
Look for UPS zone map for your location, it should help clarity cost.
Sep 23, 2020 19:08:30 #
UPS, FEDEX, DHL, all have similar rate structures, and they all use varying modes of transit to get packages from Point A, to Point B. Even if you specify (or don't) "Ground", the package will sometimes get "best available method" attention. Going from Virginia to Las Cruces may very well entail an air hop. Between you and Las Cruces, is one of UPS' prime hubs, Louisville, KY. If your package went I-64, it may have been dropped at the hub, air from there. Not stating that it was done this way, but carriers are in the business to get the freight to the destination by the most efficient method.
FEDEX's original model had everything going through Memphis
I just bought some aluminum channel from a seller in Indiana on Monday. It was scheduled for delivery no earlier than Friday. FEDEX delivered today. Routing was from Lafayette, IN, to Indianapolis, to Champaign, IL, to Oak Park, MI, to Dearborn, MI. Elapsed time, two days. Go figure.
FEDEX's original model had everything going through Memphis
I just bought some aluminum channel from a seller in Indiana on Monday. It was scheduled for delivery no earlier than Friday. FEDEX delivered today. Routing was from Lafayette, IN, to Indianapolis, to Champaign, IL, to Oak Park, MI, to Dearborn, MI. Elapsed time, two days. Go figure.
Sep 24, 2020 08:15:02 #
I get my some of my prescriptions mail order from a lab just outside Indianapolis, about sixty miles from me. They are shipped by DHL to a city south of Cincinnati and then back to the local post office to be delivered to me. That takes about four days, when they could have been mailed to begin with and I would have them delivered the next day.
Sep 24, 2020 11:07:59 #
Longshadow wrote:
They have vehicles going everywhere, whether one has a package on it or not, the vehicle is still going.
Should it matter which vehicle it gets on? Short-haul or long-haul?
Should it matter which vehicle it gets on? Short-haul or long-haul?
Same goes for Airlines and people... by your (lack of) reasoning it should cost the same to go to
Timbuktu as the next state?
Sep 24, 2020 11:29:43 #
trapper1 wrote:
In the "I'll Never Understand Shipping Rates&... (show quote)
They give discounts on shipments traveling shipping lanes the have fewer shipments to entice shippers to ship with them to that area of the country. The new Mexico lane is probably not as profitable for them from your area. Hence the discount.
Sep 24, 2020 11:36:32 #
trapper1 wrote:
In the "I'll Never Understand Shipping Rates&... (show quote)
For only $11, you should be grateful for both!
Sep 24, 2020 12:13:49 #
I do not see in my post where I said I was ungrateful, I merely indicated that I was puzzled.
Sep 24, 2020 15:54:02 #
kerry12 wrote:
They give discounts on shipments traveling shipping lanes the have fewer shipments to entice shippers to ship with them to that area of the country. The new Mexico lane is probably not as profitable for them from your area. Hence the discount.
In the old, regulated, ICC days, it was nearly impossible. "Common carriers" were just that, whomever, whatever needed to be shipped, cost everyone the same tariff. There were some discounts available, and our purchasing and transportation folks took advantage of guaranteed CL, TL, and TL pool car and truck rates, when they contracted with a lot of the carriers. Of course when you're guaranteeing carloads of vehicle engines, transmissions, truckloads of A/C and trim parts, etc., you do get "respect".
Sep 24, 2020 16:15:38 #
pendennis wrote:
In the old, regulated, ICC days, it was nearly imp... (show quote)
Indeed. Deregulation changed a lot of things.
Sep 24, 2020 19:13:42 #
Abo wrote:
Same goes for Airlines and people... by your (lack of) reasoning it should cost the same to go to
Timbuktu as the next state?
Timbuktu as the next state?
No, by your reasoning. I just stated an observation, never said it was correct.
Sep 24, 2020 19:57:51 #
Shipping is an enigma. I ordered an insulated jump suit from a company in Nevada to wear for snow removal. It went from the origin into Utah and lingered there for a couple days, then went through Michigan, Ohio, to New Jersey, into eastern Pennsylvania then zigzagged across PA to me in NW PA.
On the other hand I ordered a new laptop a couple years ago and it was built and shipped from somewhere in China's interior. I do not recall the estimated date of arrival but it took several days to get to the Chinese coast with around three or four more days to get to me. The day after it was reported by tracking to be on the east coast of China, it arrived at my doorstep.
Likewise if I mail a card or letter to go across town here in NW PA, it goes to Rochester NY for postmarking then comes back to my town for delivery.
There is no logic or reasonable explanation for the rapidity or lack thereof in shipping by any company.
On the other hand I ordered a new laptop a couple years ago and it was built and shipped from somewhere in China's interior. I do not recall the estimated date of arrival but it took several days to get to the Chinese coast with around three or four more days to get to me. The day after it was reported by tracking to be on the east coast of China, it arrived at my doorstep.
Likewise if I mail a card or letter to go across town here in NW PA, it goes to Rochester NY for postmarking then comes back to my town for delivery.
There is no logic or reasonable explanation for the rapidity or lack thereof in shipping by any company.
Sep 24, 2020 21:52:29 #
trapper1 wrote:
In the "I'll Never Understand Shipping Rates&... (show quote)
My sister sent a flashdrive to me from Ohio and it cost her $1. After I downloaded the files to my computer, I sent the flashdrive back to her in the same padded envelope that she used to send it to me. It cost me $4.20 in postage. Go figure.
Sep 25, 2020 09:08:34 #
rcarol wrote:
My sister sent a flashdrive to me from Ohio and it cost her $1. After I downloaded the files to my computer, I sent the flashdrive back to her in the same padded envelope that she used to send it to me. It cost me $4.20 in postage. Go figure.
The $1.00 rate was an error. That rate is for items that are less than 1/4" thick. $4.30 is the 1st class parcel rate.
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