I cannot figure out how some companies determine how deliveries are
managed. I just received a switch for our Nordictrac treadmill about
20 minutes ago. Low-end switch with a $3 price tag plus $7 shipping.
It came UPS! I checked the tracking about the time he pulled in the
driveway and when he handed it to me it was its 11th transaction. The
package was a small padded envelope about the 2/3 size of a deck of
cards. Even the UPS guy said he didn't understand why they didn't put
a stamp on it.

RonB

"RonB" wrote ...
I cannot figure out how some companies determine how deliveries are
managed. I just received a switch for our Nordictrac treadmill about
20 minutes ago. Low-end switch with a $3 price tag plus $7 shipping.
It came UPS! I checked the tracking about the time he pulled in the
driveway and when he handed it to me it was its 11th transaction. The
package was a small padded envelope about the 2/3 size of a deck of
cards. Even the UPS guy said he didn't understand why they didn't put
a stamp on it.

I hear ya.

I had to track down and buy some small electronic components recently.
These things will fit into the palm of your hand or in an envelope. They
are hard to find, can not be purchased locally and are only carried by a
couple companies. Some of these guys want $8 - $15 for shipping and
handling. At least some one else is paying for it. Three of the items cost
less than the shipping.

On Apr 5, 9:54*am, "Lee Michaels" leemichaels*nadaspam* at comcast
dot net wrote:
"RonB" *wrote ... I cannot figure out how some companies determine how deliveries are
managed. *I just received a switch for our Nordictrac treadmill about
20 minutes ago. Low-end switch with a $3 price tag plus $7 shipping.
It came UPS! * I checked the tracking about the time he pulled in the
driveway and when he handed it to me it was its 11th transaction. The
package was a small padded envelope about the 2/3 size of a deck of
cards. *Even the UPS guy said he didn't understand why they didn't put
a stamp on it.

I hear ya.

I had to track down and buy some small electronic components recently.
These things will fit into the palm of your hand or in an envelope. *They
are hard to find, can not be purchased locally and are only carried by a
couple companies. *Some of these guys want $8 - $15 for shipping and
handling. At least some one else is paying for it. *Three of the items cost
less than the shipping.

I switched from several suppliers to those who will send me stuff via
post.
Example: A box of insert blades for one of my routerbits, a box
smaller than a match-box, can vary in shipping (and in my case duty
and custom clearing fees)
UPS $ 44.00
USPS $ 9.00
Both include shipping and border fees.
Here's the catch, some will not ship USPS because you can't track the
shipment. I will take a chance on an $ 80.00 item and keep $ 35 in my
pocket.

On 4/05/11 1:07 PM, Robatoy wrote:
On Apr 5, 9:54 am, "Lee Michaels"leemichaels*nadaspam* at comcast
dot net wrote:
"RonB" wrote ... I cannot figure out how some companies determine how deliveries are
managed. I just received a switch for our Nordictrac treadmill about
20 minutes ago. Low-end switch with a $3 price tag plus $7 shipping.
It came UPS! I checked the tracking about the time he pulled in the
driveway and when he handed it to me it was its 11th transaction. The
package was a small padded envelope about the 2/3 size of a deck of
cards. Even the UPS guy said he didn't understand why they didn't put
a stamp on it.

I hear ya.

I had to track down and buy some small electronic components recently.
These things will fit into the palm of your hand or in an envelope. They
are hard to find, can not be purchased locally and are only carried by a
couple companies. Some of these guys want $8 - $15 for shipping and
handling. At least some one else is paying for it. Three of the items cost
less than the shipping.

I switched from several suppliers to those who will send me stuff via
post.
Example: A box of insert blades for one of my routerbits, a box
smaller than a match-box, can vary in shipping (and in my case duty
and custom clearing fees)
UPS $ 44.00
USPS $ 9.00
Both include shipping and border fees.
Here's the catch, some will not ship USPS because you can't track the
shipment. I will take a chance on an $ 80.00 item and keep $ 35 in my
pocket.

I ordered something last week, it was only coming from Scarborough, they
charged $12 shipping via Canada Post, if I drove there myself it might
have been $6 in gas, plus an hour of my time.....package arrived with
$3.50 in postage on it. Ummm, hello.

--
Froz...


The system will be down for 10 days for preventive maintenance.

RonB wrote the following:
I cannot figure out how some companies determine how deliveries are
managed. I just received a switch for our Nordictrac treadmill about
20 minutes ago. Low-end switch with a $3 price tag plus $7 shipping.
It came UPS! I checked the tracking about the time he pulled in the
driveway and when he handed it to me it was its 11th transaction. The
package was a small padded envelope about the 2/3 size of a deck of
cards. Even the UPS guy said he didn't understand why they didn't put
a stamp on it.

RonB


On-line sellers advertise very low prices, then make up the difference
in shipping and handling.
I do much of my ordering from Amazon. I have a Prime account, so many of
the stuff is shipped 2 day free.
If you want overnight, then add a few dollars extra for the shipping.


--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

On Apr 5, 10:07*am, Robatoy wrote:
On Apr 5, 9:54*am, "Lee Michaels" leemichaels*nadaspam* at comcast





dot net wrote:
"RonB" *wrote ... I cannot figure out how some companies determine how deliveries are
managed. *I just received a switch for our Nordictrac treadmill about
20 minutes ago. Low-end switch with a $3 price tag plus $7 shipping.
It came UPS! * I checked the tracking about the time he pulled in the
driveway and when he handed it to me it was its 11th transaction. The
package was a small padded envelope about the 2/3 size of a deck of
cards. *Even the UPS guy said he didn't understand why they didn't put
a stamp on it.

I hear ya.

I had to track down and buy some small electronic components recently.
These things will fit into the palm of your hand or in an envelope. *They
are hard to find, can not be purchased locally and are only carried by a
couple companies. *Some of these guys want $8 - $15 for shipping and
handling. At least some one else is paying for it. *Three of the items cost
less than the shipping.

I switched from several suppliers to those who will send me stuff via
post.
Example: A box of insert blades for one of my routerbits, a box
smaller than a match-box, can vary in shipping (and in my case duty
and custom clearing fees)
UPS $ 44.00
USPS $ 9.00
Both include shipping and border fees.
Here's the catch, some will not ship USPS because you can't track the
shipment. I will take a chance on an $ 80.00 item and keep $ 35 in my
pocket.

In my experience, shipping via the much maligned USPS and Canada Post
(and even Correos de México) is faster, cheaper and more reliable than
private sector couriers. This experience has proven true when I lived
in Newfoundland, New Brunswick and now the Yukon. Maybe it's because I
live in small relatively remote places. I don't know what it's like in
the big centres, but Canada Post has yet to screw up on me, while Fed
Ex and UPS have on a number of occasions. Actually DHL hasn't yet, but
I have hardly used them at all. Greyhound is good as was Canadian
Airlines/CP Air air cargo, but Air Canada does not do cargo to the
Yukon.

Luigi

Luigi

On 4/5/2011 12:07 PM, Robatoy wrote:
....

Here's the catch, some will not ship USPS because you can't track the
shipment....

That's not so at least in the US...just got a small gizmo from Tool Barn
via USPS and it had tracking number that showed when it arrived at local PO.

And, I'm in agreement that for stuff that they can handle, they're at
least as trustworthy as far as handling and as reliable as UPS.

I think it's all that the big-volume guys only want to deal w/ one
shipper, period, simply to minimize their logistics. Everything fitting
one size is good for their efficiency whether it's best possible is
secondary.

--

On Apr 5, 2:03*pm, dpb wrote:
On 4/5/2011 12:07 PM, Robatoy wrote:
...

Here's the catch, some will not ship USPS because you can't track the
shipment....

That's not so at least in the US...just got a small gizmo from Tool Barn
via USPS and it had tracking number that showed when it arrived at local PO.

Maybe they lose tracking at the border with Canada? I'm not sure.

And, I'm in agreement that for stuff that they can handle, they're at
least as trustworthy as far as handling and as reliable as UPS.

I think it's all that the big-volume guys only want to deal w/ one
shipper, period, simply to minimize their logistics. *

The couriers make volume deals with the big shippers like Amazon.

That whole S & H scam is just that, in many cases a scam.
"Free toothbrush, S&H $ 16.00.

"willshak" wrote in message
m...
RonB wrote the following:
I cannot figure out how some companies determine how deliveries are
managed. I just received a switch for our Nordictrac treadmill about
20 minutes ago. Low-end switch with a $3 price tag plus $7 shipping.
It came UPS! I checked the tracking about the time he pulled in the
driveway and when he handed it to me it was its 11th transaction. The
package was a small padded envelope about the 2/3 size of a deck of
cards. Even the UPS guy said he didn't understand why they didn't put
a stamp on it.

RonB


On-line sellers advertise very low prices, then make up the difference in
shipping and handling.
I do much of my ordering from Amazon. I have a Prime account, so many of
the stuff is shipped 2 day free.
If you want overnight, then add a few dollars extra for the shipping.


--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

I also used Amazon quite a bit with the prime membership, until they
starting adding in sales tax, now, a couple of minutes with google, and I
can get a better price, no tax and flat rate shipping (usually 1.00-5.99 for
entire order) for whatever I might be looking for

SteveA

On 4/5/2011 1:57 PM, Robatoy wrote:
On Apr 5, 2:03 pm, wrote:
On 4/5/2011 12:07 PM, Robatoy wrote:
...

Here's the catch, some will not ship USPS because you can't track the
shipment....

That's not so at least in the US...just got a small gizmo from Tool Barn
via USPS and it had tracking number that showed when it arrived at local PO.

Maybe they lose tracking at the border with Canada? I'm not sure.

Quite likely, after all don't maps still show it as the great uncharted?

....
That whole S& H scam is just that, in many cases a scam.
"Free toothbrush, S&H $ 16.00.

For that sort of thing, sure. But, it is a real cost to legitimate
business that either has to be added into the price of the item or
collected somehow. Since particularly online folks look at the lowest
possible price first, it's a loss of competitive edge in the search
engine/comparative shopper 'bot to have it included.

We shall reap what we sow is so often true in all areas.

--

"Robatoy" wrote

That whole S & H scam is just that, in many cases a scam.
"Free toothbrush, S&H $ 16.00.

I saw an item on ebay that was $1 with shipping of $60!! It was from out of
the country, but still...

"RonB" wrote in message
...
I cannot figure out how some companies determine how deliveries are
managed. I just received a switch for our Nordictrac treadmill about
20 minutes ago. Low-end switch with a $3 price tag plus $7 shipping.
It came UPS! I checked the tracking about the time he pulled in the
driveway and when he handed it to me it was its 11th transaction. The
package was a small padded envelope about the 2/3 size of a deck of
cards. Even the UPS guy said he didn't understand why they didn't put
a stamp on it.

RonB3

Logistics. Less trouble and less expensive to use a single company that
will pick up on a daily basis than to hand deliver to the shippers location,
if the size of the package you got is the exception.

On Tue, 5 Apr 2011 15:19:39 -0400, "SteveA" wrote:


"willshak" wrote in message
om...
RonB wrote the following:
I cannot figure out how some companies determine how deliveries are
managed. I just received a switch for our Nordictrac treadmill about
20 minutes ago. Low-end switch with a $3 price tag plus $7 shipping.
It came UPS! I checked the tracking about the time he pulled in the
driveway and when he handed it to me it was its 11th transaction. The
package was a small padded envelope about the 2/3 size of a deck of
cards. Even the UPS guy said he didn't understand why they didn't put
a stamp on it.

RonB


On-line sellers advertise very low prices, then make up the difference in
shipping and handling.
I do much of my ordering from Amazon. I have a Prime account, so many of
the stuff is shipped 2 day free.
If you want overnight, then add a few dollars extra for the shipping.


--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

I also used Amazon quite a bit with the prime membership, until they
starting adding in sales tax, now, a couple of minutes with google, and I
can get a better price, no tax and flat rate shipping (usually 1.00-5.99 for
entire order) for whatever I might be looking for

Are you in Illinois? Amazon still doesn't charge tax to Alabama residents.
Since Woodcraft had the Delta 18- drill press on sale a few weeks back, I got
financial review board approval (still don't know what that's going to cost me
;-). Turned out that it was cheaper to order from Amazon at the "regular"
price. Woodcraft wanted blood to ship it (100mi round trip isn't free
either).

"Lee Michaels" leemichaels*nadaspam* at comcast dot net wrote in message
eb.com...


"Robatoy" wrote

That whole S & H scam is just that, in many cases a scam.
"Free toothbrush, S&H $ 16.00.

I saw an item on ebay that was $1 with shipping of $60!! It was from out
of the country, but still...




But what was the item worth? The $1 deal is to get around paying a
commission to eBay and make it up on shipping costs.

"RonB" wrote in message
...
I cannot figure out how some companies determine how deliveries are
managed. I just received a switch for our Nordictrac treadmill about
20 minutes ago. Low-end switch with a $3 price tag plus $7 shipping.
It came UPS! I checked the tracking about the time he pulled in the
driveway and when he handed it to me it was its 11th transaction. The
package was a small padded envelope about the 2/3 size of a deck of
cards. Even the UPS guy said he didn't understand why they didn't put
a stamp on it.

RonB

A couple of reasons. They probably have a deal with UPS and get better rates
than you would since they ship in bulk. The shipper may be getting paid
minimum wage and does not have the ability and/or authority to make such a
decision so everything goes UPS.

"RonB" wrote in message
...
I cannot figure out how some companies determine how deliveries are
managed. I just received a switch for our Nordictrac treadmill about
20 minutes ago. Low-end switch with a $3 price tag plus $7 shipping.
It came UPS! I checked the tracking about the time he pulled in the
driveway and when he handed it to me it was its 11th transaction. The
package was a small padded envelope about the 2/3 size of a deck of
cards. Even the UPS guy said he didn't understand why they didn't put
a stamp on it.

RonB


Spring from Delta $0.90. Shipping $4.95. Several years back.

"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...

"Lee Michaels" leemichaels*nadaspam* at comcast dot net wrote in message
eb.com...


"Robatoy" wrote

That whole S & H scam is just that, in many cases a scam.
"Free toothbrush, S&H $ 16.00.

I saw an item on ebay that was $1 with shipping of $60!! It was from out
of the country, but still...




But what was the item worth? The $1 deal is to get around paying a
commission to eBay and make it up on shipping costs.

Exactly! And there are thousands doing that. Report it to eBay and they do
nothing.

"Leon" wrote in message
...

"RonB" wrote in message
...
I cannot figure out how some companies determine how deliveries are
managed. I just received a switch for our Nordictrac treadmill about
20 minutes ago. Low-end switch with a $3 price tag plus $7 shipping.
It came UPS! I checked the tracking about the time he pulled in the
driveway and when he handed it to me it was its 11th transaction. The
package was a small padded envelope about the 2/3 size of a deck of
cards. Even the UPS guy said he didn't understand why they didn't put
a stamp on it.

RonB3

Logistics. Less trouble and less expensive to use a single company that
will pick up on a daily basis than to hand deliver to the shippers
location, if the size of the package you got is the exception.


USPS will pick up - even at residences.

Shipping is more than product is often the case. UPS and FedEx makes out.

At least you bought the item low - many companies have a minimum price
and often stuff under $10USD a value is added. When in Marketing
I created kits of parts - so a customer would not pay this large
markup on each nut, bolt, screw, resistor..... They soon learned
to buy a kit once in a while and save money.

Martin

On 4/5/2011 8:10 AM, RonB wrote:
I cannot figure out how some companies determine how deliveries are
managed. I just received a switch for our Nordictrac treadmill about
20 minutes ago. Low-end switch with a $3 price tag plus $7 shipping.
It came UPS! I checked the tracking about the time he pulled in the
driveway and when he handed it to me it was its 11th transaction. The
package was a small padded envelope about the 2/3 size of a deck of
cards. Even the UPS guy said he didn't understand why they didn't put
a stamp on it.

RonB

"Robatoy" wrote in message
Here's the catch, some will not ship USPS because you can't track the
shipment....
Maybe they lose tracking at the border with Canada? I'm not sure.

I think much of it has to do with insurance and liability. Initially, when I
was put on Bridge City Tools' waiting list for a Jointmaker, I was told that
USPS would not insure it for delivery, whereas UPS and FedEx would. So, I
was prepared to swallow the cost and go the insured route when the order was
filled. Two months later when I got lucky and they came up with a Jointmaker
for me, I was told that USPS would insure it. So, I had it shipped USPS
happy to avoid UPS and FedEx handling and brokerage charges which would have
been substantial on an order of that high value.

I got the order problem free with no duty or handling charges, but I think
now that I was given the wrong information when I was told that USPS would
insure an order like that. In any event, it all turned out well, so I'm
complacent.

The couriers make volume deals with the big shippers like Amazon.

I'm guessing that order costs and details are more quantifiable with the
bigger shippers.

"Lobby Dosser" wrote in message
...
"Leon" wrote in message
...

"RonB" wrote in message
...
I cannot figure out how some companies determine how deliveries are
managed. I just received a switch for our Nordictrac treadmill about
20 minutes ago. Low-end switch with a $3 price tag plus $7 shipping.
It came UPS! I checked the tracking about the time he pulled in the
driveway and when he handed it to me it was its 11th transaction. The
package was a small padded envelope about the 2/3 size of a deck of
cards. Even the UPS guy said he didn't understand why they didn't put
a stamp on it.

RonB3

Logistics. Less trouble and less expensive to use a single company that
will pick up on a daily basis than to hand deliver to the shippers
location, if the size of the package you got is the exception.


USPS will pick up - even at residences.

Which proves my point, you would have to send some one to the post office,
and iroically the post office does not deliver to every home.

On 4/6/2011 9:06 AM, Leon wrote:
"Lobby wrote in message
...
wrote in message
...
....

Logistics. Less trouble and less expensive to use a single company that
will pick up on a daily basis than to hand deliver to the shippers
location, if the size of the package you got is the exception.


USPS will pick up - even at residences.

Which proves my point, you would have to send some one to the post office,

No, it says exactly the opposite -- U_S_PS _also_ has onsite pickup
either on call or scheduled.

and iroically the post office does not deliver to every home.
....

Agreed, they don't deliver to the house here, because we choose to use a
PO Box rather than have a rural box...

However, I don't know that there's any residence in the US which doesn't
get USPS service that would choose to do so altho there are very rural
areas out here that have rural delivery routes that run 3 days/wk, for
example, rather than daily since they may be a 200-mile round route w/ a
half-dozen ranches total. If they want/need it quicker, there are
self-access boxes at the PO that are 24/7 accessible.

--

In article , says...

On 4/6/2011 9:06 AM, Leon wrote:
"Lobby wrote in message
...
wrote in message
...
...

Logistics. Less trouble and less expensive to use a single company that
will pick up on a daily basis than to hand deliver to the shippers
location, if the size of the package you got is the exception.


USPS will pick up - even at residences.

Which proves my point, you would have to send some one to the post office,

No, it says exactly the opposite -- U_S_PS _also_ has onsite pickup
either on call or scheduled.

and iroically the post office does not deliver to every home.
...

Agreed, they don't deliver to the house here, because we choose to use a
PO Box rather than have a rural box...

However, I don't know that there's any residence in the US which doesn't
get USPS service that would choose to do so altho there are very rural
areas out here that have rural delivery routes that run 3 days/wk, for
example, rather than daily since they may be a 200-mile round route w/ a
half-dozen ranches total. If they want/need it quicker, there are
self-access boxes at the PO that are 24/7 accessible.

A friend of mine gets US mail but it comes to a box that's about a half
a mile down the hill from his house. The house is on a paved road, and
there are other houses on the same road that have the same arrangement.

There was a similar deal at my parents' house in Florida.

This is fine for paying the electric bill but it's not so good if you're
trying to run a business that involves shipping product.

UPS always delivers to the door and picks up at the door.

"dpb" wrote in message ...
On 4/6/2011 9:06 AM, Leon wrote:
"Lobby wrote in message
...
wrote in message
...
...

Logistics. Less trouble and less expensive to use a single company
that
will pick up on a daily basis than to hand deliver to the shippers
location, if the size of the package you got is the exception.


USPS will pick up - even at residences.

Which proves my point, you would have to send some one to the post
office,

No, it says exactly the opposite -- U_S_PS _also_ has onsite pickup either
on call or scheduled.

and iroically the post office does not deliver to every home.
...

Agreed, they don't deliver to the house here, because we choose to use a
PO Box rather than have a rural box...


However, I don't know that there's any residence in the US which doesn't
get USPS service that would choose to do so altho there are very rural
areas out here that have rural delivery routes that run 3 days/wk, for
example, rather than daily since they may be a 200-mile round route w/ a
half-dozen ranches total. If they want/need it quicker, there are
self-access boxes at the PO that are 24/7 accessible.


They don't deliver to new neighborhood homes in the Houston area at all.
You have to go to the "block" mail box to get your mail. Like living in an
appartment complex. USP will deliver to your door.

On Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:55:21 -0500, dpb wrote:

On 4/6/2011 9:06 AM, Leon wrote:
"Lobby wrote in message
...
wrote in message
...
...

Logistics. Less trouble and less expensive to use a single company that
will pick up on a daily basis than to hand deliver to the shippers
location, if the size of the package you got is the exception.


USPS will pick up - even at residences.

Which proves my point, you would have to send some one to the post office,

No, it says exactly the opposite -- U_S_PS _also_ has onsite pickup
either on call or scheduled.

For priority mail, which is minimum about $5. They will pick up 1st
class packages from the mailbox, if they fit.

-Kevin