Outrageous Shipping cost

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I have been finding that UPS is pricing themselves right out of my market. I cannot afford them anymore.

I now use USPS for half the cost or even less sometimes.

This is especially true for international shipments. UPS can't even begin to get close to ordinary mail priority blue.

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The UPS depot here is only open between 4:00 & 6:00 P.M. weekdays for customers. The woman behind the counter has the worst attitude I've ever seen. I sold two wing seats and all she did was complain about the boxes and how she couldn't guarantee they would make it to there destinations. I had to pay about $35.00 ea. for shipping and then after paying her she threw each box about 20 feet to a conveyor. I sold some more bike parts and took them to the post office. No "tude", a smile and even was told "have a nice day and come again."

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Yep, for 3 years I did shipping at a junkyard, I learned to cheat a little, 1 inch could

mean the difference between a $120 package or a $58 package :cooldevil:

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I recently sold a Hondaline fairing to a forum member for $125 total. I did the same thing. Hand built the box it was shipped in ($20 worth of cardboard), packed it full of foam peanuts ($40 worth of foam peanuts), then trucked it on to the UPS store, where they told me it would be approximately $165 to send it to Washington.

Took it to the post office, where I still paid $90 for the shipping (and yes, anyone doing the math will see that I lost money on the deal, but a deal is a deal).

I think it would have been cheaper (and alot more scenic) to stuff it in the trailer and drag it there behind the Wing.

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UPS rates started to skyrocket when the gas prices did. They are milking it now.



One thing is for sure though, as the price of energy is driven up, the end user will pay for it. That's us.

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Maybe we should start a business like the pony express. Called the Goldwing express. Ride so far to another member and so on until delivered.

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Sounds good to me. I was looking for a air cutoff valve, found it for $17 on fleabay, only costs you $15 to have it shipped........ I am still looking!

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SETHAN12 wrote:

Maybe we should start a business like the pony express. Called the Goldwing express. Ride so far to another member and so on until delivered.

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I like it! But the farther North y'go, the sooner yer packages will be sittin' in a snowdrift 'till spring. There is NO WAY I'm out there in crappy weather!!!:cheeky1: :action:

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MDKramer wrote:

I recently sold a Hondaline fairing to a forum member for $125 total. I did the same thing. Hand built the box it was shipped in ($20 worth of cardboard), packed it full of foam peanuts ($40 worth of foam peanuts), then trucked it on to the UPS store, where they told me it would be approximately $165 to send it to Washington.

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That's why I hoard free peanuts and free bubble wrap off of Craigslist, and customers sites I visit. Even then, $40 would buy me around 30 cu ft of peanuts at the box store. Large boxes are $2-4 typically.

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cntryboy1289 wrote:

Sounds good to me. I was looking for a air cutoff valve, found it for $17 on fleabay, only costs you $15 to have it shipped........ I am still looking!

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The problem with ebay is the let the seller/ebay store set there own price for shipping, most of em dont take the time to research shipping cost's and the buyer usually gets ripped off on shipping................

A lot of ebay stores make more profit in shipping than they do on sales, I use to have an ebay store, (until we had our little dis-agreement). I saw plenty of stores prices on lingerie that was lower than cost, but there shipping was outragous.... it doesnt cost jack to ship a teddy, :cheeky1:

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UPS is very expensive here also. We get there outrageous price and brokerage fees also if it has to cross the border. I use Canada Post or USPS only.:waving:

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USPS is the way to go

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I too, stopped using UPS after, like MDK sold an item, and I lost my butt when I shipped it. But a deal is a deal. The USPS is much more cost efficient, but can be costly, also.

I like the idea of trying to get items, member to member, if possible. But, it could be seasonal, as Fenderhead said.

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No, where you really get ripped off is getting a quote for shipping, lets say UPS, from ebay or elsewhere and then take it to a mail store, where they tack on an additional outrageous amount. The UPS store is by the airport 15 miles away, and the mail stores are all over. I am starting to use USPS more and more now.

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Ordered a part that weighed .40 of a pound.
It shipped fron NM Took 5 days and then they said they couldnt find my addy.
Had to drive 35 miles to pick it up from the UPS terminal.
IM DONE WITH UPS. Hope more people feel like we do with them they might start changing their rediculous rates.
Oh yea it was $10.83 to ship that .40# box approx 3x3x6"
box.

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I havnt read all the post so i dont know if you have gotten this solved but I am a truck driver thatw orks for the competitor to yellow roadway, newpenn, and usf trucking. All together called teh YRC group. They are carrying freight for pennies on the dollar. Whn i asked one of my daily shippers why i am not getting enought freight i was told I couldnt match thier prices. New york to florida. 4x4 pallet at 125 lbs was just under $40. I told him a that price they are losing a ton. Go ahead and ship with them to make thier demise quicker.
Give them a shot. also try looking fopr any industry factory near your home and tell them what you plan to ship and if they can ship it for you.
Enter the faciility through the back an speak to the shipping managers. they usually make just above minimum wage and a $20 goes a long way with them.

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also for large items try freightquote.com

i have truck everything from the rear half of a bmx to truck hoods , and even a motorcycle laying down over 2 skids.



We also have the boxes strapped to a pallet, more and more often.