Shock: UPS shipping charges UPDATE: PAGE 3

[TxDsnyGrl74]

I am still in shock over the increase in shipping charges this year versus last year to ship my gifts. I know that fuel costs are high, but come on. I sent today from FL to TX via UPS ground and paid a whopping $210.78 in shipping!!!

Here is what I was charged: $163.17 UPS shipping ground + $40 for a box (30x30x30) + and $4.40 for filler + tax $3.12 = $210.78.

Plus, to add insult to injury, they can not even guarantee that the box will make it to TX by Christmas due to the high demand!! I’m really not too worried about that happening, as I have had good luck with UPS’s number of days in transit.

One other note, I have another group of presents to send to a different address consisting of about the same amount of packages. If I have to pay another $200+ dollars for shipping…. I don’t even want to think about it.

Let’s just say that my shopping will be done a whole lot differently next year. Can we say gift cards?!?

 

[ddiva]

Did you go to a UPS Store?

 

[Suz D]

$40.00 for a box?!?! That's highway robbery! I would e-mail UPS and let them know those prices are ridiculous.

Suz

 

[babytrees]

We specifically asked for gc's because of the price increases!!

Of course what am I sending to these people?? The heaviest things I can find

Well not really but it feels like it.

 

[TxDsnyGrl74]

Did you go to a UPS Store?

Yes.

 

[TxDsnyGrl74]

We specifically asked for gc's because of the price increases!!

Of course what am I sending to these people?? The heaviest things I can find

Well not really but it feels like it.

I honestly wasn't thinking about how much the stupid shipping charges were going to be while I was shopping. I was just thinking... oh, they would like this. Nevermind the box is the size of a small refriderator!! Man, I am so stupid!!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Shipping prices definitely made a difference in what I bought for gifts this year, my family isn't a fan of gift cards, but I still bought much smaller and lighter gifts. I also took advantage of online shopping and had some gifts giftwrapped and sent from the stores to where I needed them to go, such as Disneyshopping. I think it came out cheaper in the end doing it that way, even after paying for gift wrap.

 

[maggiew]

I bought my nephews computer games and Leapster games in stead of big, heavy trucks or something this year because of shipping.

I just bought my 2 goddaughters cross necklaces instead of big, heavy bath products.

Maggie

 

[MyGoofy26]

It's crazy.

I brought a box of gifts into work last week to have the girl downstairs ship using our office UPS account (and I'd pay my portion when the bill comes) but it was nearly $150 for a 5 1/2 pound box using their "budget" shipping method! Granted it's going to Australia but sheesh! I checked USPS and can send the same box for anywhere between $37 and $44, depending on if I want it to get there in 3 days or up to 10.

 

[penguincrazie]

That's crazy! UPS stores are allowed to mark up the price so its more expensive than regular UPS. Next time ship good 'ole United States Post Office, I use only them for Ebay selling and its always worked out plus its much cheaper!

 

[Adi12982]

This is why I stick to the USPS. . . and priority mail. . . .

That price is INSANE!!

 

[mom2jacob]

I went to a UPS store last year and they wanted to charge me like $25 for a very small box. I left and went to the a actual UPS center and they charged me $6.50 for the same box. So I know the UPS Store marks up alot!!

 

[mom2jacob]

Double post sorry

 

[SHAYMARAYSMOM]

Wow is that alot of money. I sent my stuff out UPS from work. The most I paid was 30.00 for shippment. We have a large acct. with UPS due to the fact we ship out about a million dollars a mouth so I guess we get a good discount with them. Lucky for me our company lets us use it as long as we pay for our own shipments

 

[TheRatPack]

Or go to a packing/storage place and buy a box. I did this once and the box was maybe 5.00 and I shipped it out with no problem. Hunt one down at an appliance store and then wrap it in brown paper before shipping....again, cheap and easy and saves a TON of money.

 

[Esmerelda]

I agree that shipping UPS is out the door. Always remember, UPS Store's are a franchise and they can charge whatever. Also, if you have to use UPS, go to their shipping hubs. Its not cheap but its better than the stores.

I do a great deal of Ebay and always use USPS. In over 5 years, I have always had great service and far better prices.


Esmerelda

 

[sameyeyam]

Remember UPS Stores are the old Mailboxes, Etc. stores and can charge whatever they want. They have to make their money somehow. Here are a few helpful hints when shipping UPS:

1. Ship to a business address if you can instead of residence address. UPS charges significantly less to ship to business addresses. The reason is businesses are open all day to accept packages and on a normal route, residences are not. So ship to your relatives work address if you can.

2. If you work at an office or business, ask if they have a UPS account. No markup. Plus if you work for a big company they might get a discount. For instance I work for a company that own's a couple of franchised hotels. We get a 40% discount on UPS regular busines sprices just for being part of the franchise.

3. See if your town has a UPS warehouse. It's where they store and sort all of the packages and park their trucks at night. They usually have a small door marked on the side where you can ship packages, with no markup!

4. If you do go to the UPS store or similar, bring your own boxes. They charge a fortune for boxes and to pack items.

5. Next year if all else fails, shop online and have shipped directly to the relatives. Many online stores have free or discount shipping near the holidays.

We recently wanted to ship golf clubs to Calif. from Washington state. We went to a UPS store, it was almost $200 to package and ship them UPS Ground!! We had them make a box for $13, brought them back to the office and shipped them UPS 2nd Day Air for $54! Does that tell you how much their markup was. Plus we shipped it for 2 day arrival. They wanted to charge us 3 times that for ground shipping.

 

[branv]

I can't believe they charged you that much for a box! YIKES! That really is highway robbery. We just bought a moving box at Home Depot (about 18") and it was $2.50.

I can see wanting to use UPS because the tracking is way better, but we used USPS to ship out an 8 lb. box to Arizona a few days ago. We could have sent it priority for $23, but sent it parcel for $14 with insurance. It's for DH's mom, and we all have an understanding that it's no big deal if her/our gifts don't arrive until a few days after xmas. We've gotten gifts from her on the 28th, and it was actually kind of nice to have more gifts to look forward to after christmas

Good thing I shipped on Tuesday. I had almost turned around because the line was 10 deep when I went in. But I just read that they are predicting that Monday is supposed to be SLAMMED, and wonder what it will look like then.

 

[BCV2003]

I shipped a box yesterday using UPS. The box was 13lb and was 27x16x17" and it was only $8.79 to mail. I thought that was pretty reasonable. I printed the postage online myself and dropped it off at Office Depot to be mailed.

 

[Green Tea]

I go to a local college mail room and ship UPS from there. They have a lower contracted rate, don't up the charges like Pack and Mail, and pay just a small, $2.00 public upcharge. I sent something including the fee this week for $7 something. Same package at Pack and Mail was close to $18.