#CEO #Perspective #Thoughts #Shipping #Services #WorthPoint
I am sure that all of you have your recent horror stories about shipping your packages. All services seem to have their share of fatal issues. Here are my thoughts on each service:
1. FedEx—This used to be the best company. When it absolutely, positively had to be there overnight, you “FedExed” it. Prices for this service were reasonable. My experience is they are no longer reasonable. Using them through eBay is a “no go,” and collecting insurance on an antique or collectible is also a “no go” (they advise you to use a homeowners policy for insurance).
The last two packages I sent through FedEx had horrendous changes to their shipping rates from the initial eBay calculator that FedEx is supposed to honor if your shipping input is accurate. I had a seven-ounce item changed to seven pounds, and FedEx changed the postage via eBay. The other item I sent through eBay had $35 of surcharges added to the base shipping from eBay’s quote and again charged to my credit card through eBay.
eBay will tell you to call FedEx, and FedEx will tell you the eBay calculator is only an estimate. Hmm. In both cases, the surcharges caused me to lose money on the sales, and there was no recourse.
2. UPS—They seem to be trying hard but never get there. I have had theft and breakage issues with them, and they do not have a fantastic record of collecting on insurance. I had a $500 item scanned into a UPS store but never scanned out, and I was never reimbursed. Additionally, items I paid them to pack broke, and then there was a debate over the fact they broke in shipping.
3. USPS—I would rank the US Postal Service as number one. I know they are not what they used to be, but that is just about true for everything. Their prices have gone up dramatically and faster than inflation. Here are their increases, as noted on Refund Retriever.
I would argue, from my experience, that USPS service is more than the above overall. I will say it is obvious their service is down. However, automation is significantly improving, and people are trying hard. You can get a person when you have a major issue, and they care enough to try to solve a problem. Their insurance program is generally easier to deal with, although I have had my share of issues, including only delivering labels to boxes but not the boxes or the contents (insurance was not paid, but the local postmaster personally covered it). Georgia had issues with a new distribution center that delayed mail by up to 90 days, but that seems to be behind us.
In conclusion, yes, I would rank the postal service as #1, but that is not saying a lot. This is my experience in Atlanta, and I ship about 500 packages a month. It is clear that prices are going up faster than inflation, and the service you get is coming down. I hope it is not the end of selling collectibles through the mail. Clearly, insurance is also a major issue. What is your experience? Tell me at [email protected].
Will Seippel is the founder, president, and CEO of WorthPoint. Will has been an avid collector since 1974 and dealer of just about all things antique—with an emphasis on ephemera— since 1984. He is also the creator and founder of HIP, a website devoted to recording the best of the world’s history that has been saved on film.
WorthPoint—Discover. Value. Preserve.
