The Steel Guitar Forum

I have a small manufacturing business that ships a ton of stuff UPS. We are in their top 10% users nationally. They recently moved the map out quite a ways on delivery times. In other words, much of what used to be projected as a 4 working day delivery has been shortened to 3 day delivery.

UPS works well if you know the rules. 1. They beat the crude out of boxes. Pack them correctly. 2. Their ground delivery does not move on weekends. Four day projected delivery is 4 WEEK DAYS.

Their technology for tracking and confirming is superb. Their integrating software with customer accounts and our shipping area is getting better all the time.

I, for one, like what they do, but I know the limits and expectations of UPS. We have been using them as the primary over the road small package shipper for 25 plus years, and they are the leader for good reasons.

A little additional input and update on UPS. The company has just recently acquired "Overnite" transportation,an LTL carrier(Less Than a Truckload). It is now called "UPS Freight" still having the old blue and grey trucks. More importantly, with this being the case, UPS may be shipping the bigger, bulkier, and heavier items via their new "LTL" fleet as opposed to the more familiar "Buster Brown" fleet.Could result in different freight rates/delivery schedules.The new "LTL" fleet probably deals mainly with larger, commercial customers. Just an educated (from a steel player!) guess.Regards, RK

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ME: Bad Luck with UPS, When they Smash em,
The insurance is a big run around and no pay for me.
I shipped 2 Fender twins both smashed.
One was Totaled and I ate it.

Fuel cost is really killing them according to a friend that is a freight manager. Also they are hauling the heavier freight and it does slow them down. As for DHL, FED-Ex they are all having problems. There business plan had them paying about 1.75 a gallon and it 3.00 in most parts of the country they just got to keep the trucks as full as possible to keep in business. I have has much success with shipping by greyhound bus lines. When I shipped computer monitors all over the country FED-ex lost 4 and damaged 5. UPS lost 1 damaged 7. Greyhound one box was ripped and was a day late. I shipped about 80 to 100 with each of these carriers. One problem was some customers did not like going to the bus station to get the packages. P.S. Greyhound cost less also.

It's not just in California it's in Ar also. Seems to me they are charging more to ship and taking longer to ship it.

Terry

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Mullen RP D10 /8x5 / Nashville 112 x 2 / American Tele
Thank God for music.