Rising postage costs. - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hatterasguy · #16 01-14-2013, 08:54 PM

Mail whats that?

pawoSD · #17 01-14-2013, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Mail whats that?

The paper stuff you get at your place of residence several times a week.

You can't avoid mail.

Air&Road · #18 01-14-2013, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Wilson

Your USPS service will only get worse as they consolidate rural PO's.
Due to funding cuts they are cutting and closing where they can. And putting more work on remaining PO's.
All because congress will not allow a proper rate increase.

The only thing I can figure is that congress is doing what they VERY rarely do, controlling spending increases.

The Clk Man · #19 01-14-2013, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

No, there is no increase in postage costs.

No increase in food costs.

No increase in energy costs.

Inflation is non-existent as told to me by the government.

I like "GubMent Cheese.

Eskimo · #20 01-14-2013, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

my usps counter clerk told me flat out one day.unless you are shipping something that weighs 50 lbs or so the flat rate boxes are a waste of money.

Your USPS counter clerk was exaggerating a bit there with the 50 lb stuff.

If you want to compare the cost of different USPS services, go the their Postage Price Calculator and punch in some numbers for weight and dimensions for a package traveling between two particular zip codes.

For a 6-pound package going from Des Moines, Iowa to Lafayette, Indiana:

Priority Mail: $11.85 (price at post office)
Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box: $11.35 (price at post office)

For a 9-pound package going from Des Moines to Lafayette:

Priority Mail: $15.45 (price at post office)
Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box: $15.45 (price at post office)

I have personally never had a situation in which either the Medium or Large FRB would be useful to me; never shipped anything that was heavy enough and could still fit in the box once appropriate packaging was included.

The best use I've personally seen of a Flat Rate Box was when I bought a "box of rocks" from someone in Indiana.

Brian Carlton · #21 01-14-2013, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eskimo

The best use I've personally seen of a Flat Rate Box was when I bought a "box of rocks" from someone in Indiana.

Try and ship the timing chain crimper for $5.00 using anything other than the small flat rate box................it'll be double the price.

Eskimo · #22 01-14-2013, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Try and ship the timing chain crimper for $5.00 using anything other than the small flat rate box................it'll be double the price.

I've used Small Flat Rate Boxes many times, and expect to use them many times in the future.

The box of rocks is still the best use I've personally seen of a Flat Rate Box. It was a Medium FRB, and the seller took pride in packing as many rocks into the box as possible.

rs899 · #23 01-15-2013, 06:49 AM

Flat rate box .... good for shipping starters.....

Eskimo · #24 01-15-2013, 07:56 AM

One of the cute things about the Small Flat Rate Box is the 70-pound weight limit.

1. Calculate the volume.

2. Consider the density of various materials.

3. Laugh.

SwampYankee · #25 01-15-2013, 08:11 AM

The Small Flat Rate Box is a good value at $5.15 for 2-3 day service, even for in-state smaller orders. Especially when you factor in the "residential" charges (which is open to interpretation by the driver, has to do with the facility rather than whether or not a business is run out of that address) that UPS and FedEx add on. We started using it for any order that would fit in it and have had pretty good luck with it. It's semi-trackable, you can at least see where the package was left, although we haven't had any issues with missing or late deliveries. < KNOCK ON WOOD! >

The value over UPS disappears once you get to the Flat Rate Medium and Large boxes, which are more expensive than UPS Ground (it's sort of a McIntosh apple to Red Delicious apple comparison-USPS is closer to UPS 3 Day Select service. OTOH UPS Ground has rarely exceeded 3 days for us, even with nationwide shipments).

None of the shipping options are infallible. We've had issues with all of them.

elchivito · #26 01-15-2013, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air&Road

I'm happy for you that you are getting MUCH better service from the Post Office than myself. I'm sure there is a local element involved. I am in a remote area. The Brown Truck has NEVER failed to pick up or drop off my packages. Like you, I can simply let them know and they drive out in the boonies to pick up my packages. As a customer I've never been happier with any organization I've ever dealt with.

The Post Office on the other hand, drives by my mail box EVERY single day. I get the wrong mail in the box from time to time and have to take it to a neighbor. With the nearest neighbor living over a half mile away, this is a hassle, but my neighbors do the same for me. My neighbors and myself probably deserve a paycheck from the Post Office.

I have NOT received several items from the post office over the last several years plus the problem with the steering gear box I mentioned.

Additionally my Post Office is no longer open on Saturday's. They deliver the mail to the box on Saturdays and sometimes they even get MY mail in MY box when they do it. They close at 3:30PM weekdays, so if I need to go to the counter, being a person who works for a living I'm screwed.

Again, I'm glad the Post Office works for you, but they consistently come up short for me.

Bet you're on a highway contract route with USPS. I am too. Lots of variation between carriers. I have a good one right now. The person who had the contract last however screwed up all the time.

Eskimo · #27 01-15-2013, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

The Small Flat Rate Box is a good value at $5.15 for 2-3 day service, even for in-state smaller orders. Especially when you factor in the "residential" charges (which is open to interpretation by the driver, has to do with the facility rather than whether or not a business is run out of that address) that UPS and FedEx add on. We started using it for any order that would fit in it and have had pretty good luck with it. It's semi-trackable, you can at least see where the package was left, although we haven't had any issues with missing or late deliveries. < KNOCK ON WOOD! >

The value over UPS disappears once you get to the Flat Rate Medium and Large boxes, which are more expensive than UPS Ground (it's sort of a McIntosh apple to Red Delicious apple comparison-USPS is closer to UPS 3 Day Select service. OTOH UPS Ground has rarely exceeded 3 days for us, even with nationwide shipments).

None of the shipping options are infallible. We've had issues with all of them.

If you are really trying to keep shipping costs reasonable, then you might want to carefully consider the possibility of sometimes using USPS Priority Mail with something other than the Flat Rate Boxes.

Those other flavors would include regular Priority Mail (which doesn't require a special box, but allows the use of PM boxes obtained from them at no direct cost to you). It would also include Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes (which are special boxes, again, available from the USPS at no direct cost to you). I don't think that one can buy postage for Regional Rate Boxes at the post office, but I always buy my postage on-line at a discount anyway. It's easy, and I don't have to stand in line at the post office.

These are both Priority Mail, so they have the same "residential" advantages compared to UPS or FedEx, and the same "semi-trackability" that you are seeing with the Flat Rate Boxes. They are simply - in some cases - a lot less expensive then the Flat Rate Boxes.

As always, one has to consider whether the money one saves by getting the best price is worth the time one spent figuring it out! On occasion, I pay a bit more than absolutely necessary in postage because I want to get something out the door, and don't want to mess around trying to find or cobble together a "just right" box for it.

elchivito · #28 01-15-2013, 11:27 AM

I get brass and lead bullets shipped in flat rate boxes. My mail lady is not amused.

SwampYankee · #29 01-15-2013, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eskimo

If you are really trying to keep shipping costs reasonable, then you might want to carefully consider the possibility of sometimes using USPS Priority Mail with something other than the Flat Rate Boxes.

Those other flavors would include regular Priority Mail (which doesn't require a special box, but allows the use of PM boxes obtained from them at no direct cost to you). It would also include Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes (which are special boxes, again, available from the USPS at no direct cost to you). I don't think that one can buy postage for Regional Rate Boxes at the post office, but I always buy my postage on-line at a discount anyway. It's easy, and I don't have to stand in line at the post office.

These are both Priority Mail, so they have the same "residential" advantages compared to UPS or FedEx, and the same "semi-trackability" that you are seeing with the Flat Rate Boxes. They are simply - in some cases - a lot less expensive then the Flat Rate Boxes.

As always, one has to consider whether the money one saves by getting the best price is worth the time one spent figuring it out! On occasion, I pay a bit more than absolutely necessary in postage because I want to get something out the door, and don't want to mess around trying to find or cobble together a "just right" box for it.

Thanks, Eskimo. I'll certainly check into it. The number of our shipments that will fit in a Flat Rate Small box are fairly small and generally west of the Mississippi. Right now, we average only a few per day during peak shipping vs. 80-100 larger parcels a day peak that go UPS Ground. There is the potential for more business in the department that sends those small boxes so it's worth some looking into. The PITA avoidance surcharge is definitely something I'm willing to pay for when conditions warrant it.

SwampYankee · #30 01-15-2013, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

I get brass and lead bullets shipped in flat rate boxes. My mail lady is not amused.

That's probably quite the workout!