Prefered Shipping Method Currently?

I've had no problem with USPS Priority Mail, and it's typically cheaper than even UPS ground.  I have no love of FedEx ground, IMO they're the least reliable solution.

Thanks John. I have never used Fed Ex and the UPS Store locally that I used several years ago has become what many of my friends describe as "unfriendly" as regards customer service. I'm off to the Post office.

Yes, I agree. I have used USPS Priority Mail for shipping trains and other items for years. Most items make it to the destination in 2 days. Seems to be the best bang for the buck.

I don't even go to the PO to ship stuff, I just print the postage on-line and stick it to the side of the box.  The PO comes and picks it up the next day for free.  To add to the sweetness of the deal, you get a shipping discount for printing the postage on-lne and not going to the PO.  What's not to like?

You can even go to the post office and get the flat rate boxes for free or order them online in 5 packs and have them delivered for free. It take a few day to get them though.

Ron

Post Office is just really convenient.  Also, as of about a week or two ago, all Priority and Parcel Post now have tracking numbers, you do not have to buy extra delivery confirmation any more, it's included.

I use the USPS only.  It is simple to use.  I like the fact that they will pick it up.

Just looked at my Post Office receipt, it has a label number but no tracking number as such. It has a note to call 1-800.etc or click on USPS.com to ask for tracking. 

Anothe plus for usps is you deal locally with claims and if they screw up they pay insurance, something I never got from ups who you not deal with face to face and they don t pay anyway.

What is the number on the label.  Did you insure it?  Have you gone to www.usps.com and entered the label number in the tracking tool?

No I emailed it all to the o-gauger receiving the package.That way we both can check on it. The foul weather in his area does not look too promising.

I actually have had good luck with UPS.  I've shipped a half dozen items in the past month or so and only one would have fit into a flat rate box.  I took it over to UPS and it still shipped for 30 cents cheaper (granted I provided my own box).  If it doesn't fit into a flat rate box it usually cost more to ship via the post office in my recent experience.

John Z.

I prefer usps. But if a customer demands UPS, I will ship via Staples. Staples pricing is as cheap as paypal. Going to the UPS store is a rip off unless you have something REALLY delicate like a neon sign to ship.

Staples charges standard UPS counter prices, so they're the best deal for UPS shipments with the exception of going directly to UPS, which is the same price.

My experience has been that UPS is almost universally more expensive than USPS for anything other than really heavy items, 20 pounds or more. 

After a couple of really bad experiences with FedEx ground, I avoid them at all costs, so their prices don't enter into my thinking.

I screwed  up, I meant  ups does not pay, never collected from them, it was always the fault of the packing, even an engine that came in a factory outer and inner box, they denied.  all done with fed ex and ups just usps.

I've had good experiences with USPS recently.

I only depend on insurance for items that disappear, I try to pack them well enough that shipping damage is very unlikely.

For the record, I've used USPS Standard Post (formerly Parcel Post) for a few shipments from my recent OGR Forum for-sale "extravaganza" and have been quite pleased with the shipping time vs. reasonable cost. 

Parcel Post was once known for very LOOOONG shipping times... but I just sent a package to Colorado last Saturday via "Standard Post", and it arrived Thursday 2/28 -- one day earlier than the ETA of Friday, 3/1.

David

Lately I've ship plenty via USPS Priority Mail printing the postage from my computer. For none train sized packages I can drop them at our local PO in the drop box. (trains are just too big)

I don't think the Standard Post Rocky mentioned is available as an online option, but worth looking into.

The key to using any option is good packaging. Expect it to be dropped, thrown and kicked...

I don't see Standard Post offered in either the USPS on-line application or the PayPal Ship Now screen.

John, that is correct... although I was told we might see that down the road.  

You should see the price for Standard Post as an option on the USPS a online app -- so you can compare against priority or express service.   You just can't print the postage label online yet.  For now, Standard Post requires a trip to the post office... but tracking is now included in the price.  As always, YMMV.  

David

I hope that USPS or PayPal include the option soon.  I know when the change was announced that PayPal said it would appear "in a few months", which doesn't sound promising.

I have been using USPS during my clear out the basement and sell it online project this winter.  Used up a lot of boxes that were stacked up but also had to buy mailers for the smaller items.  Everything I have shipped included a tracking number and so far all items have reached their target destinations.  No issues with USPS but some of their rates have been eye opening.

I just shipped a board game in a box to Colorado and priority mail was going to be over $30.  Yikes.  That costs more than the game itself. The parcel post option was $12.  With the exception of these larger sized boxes, we have been pleased with USPS.

I used to ship UPS for everything. That stopped about 8 years ago when I went into my local UPS center and saw a sign on the wall that said they no longer will ship glass items. Obviously that tells you something about their careful handling of your packages. I now use the USPS 99% of the time.

Packed well I would think a TPC unit is a "low risk" item. If it were a brass steamer I'd be more wary.