USPS Shipping prices... Did they change something??

hogan234 · April 4, 2014

[quote name='bruinsPATSirish' timestamp='1396627150' post='9019523']
[quote name='vtnerf' timestamp='1396621117' post='9018559']
I went to ship a 3wood one day. Counter clerk told me there was a surcharge because it was "oversized". Now I know the 70" total rule, and the box was a standard club box which in no way exceeds that limit. She kept telling me there was an $18 surcharge. I could see on the screen that priority was under $15 total, but she was reading the priority express price, refusing to send it priority. I left, came back later, and paid under $15 for it. Sometimes it's better to just walk away if it doesn't seem right....
[/quote]

Yes for sure. If I had had some time to blow I would've absolutely fought a little harder to figure out why it was so much more expensive all of a sudden. I had waited in like for 10 minutes or more already and by this time I just wanted to get the clubs in the mail and headed to their destinations (we know those threads that appear when someone doesn't get tracking in 3 hours... lol)

I am fairly confident that I was mischarged but after talking on the phone with the PO the process to make it right would just be way too much of a hassle to deal with. I actually messaged the buyer of the driver and asked him what the box said for a weight on it but he hasn't gotten back to me yet.

Lesson learned I guess. Up until this I was a big supporter of USPS shipping but I will be taking business elsewhere
[/quote]

I've still had the best success with USPS. I just weigh and label it myself and have no problems.

scjr · April 4, 2014

I actually had this happen to me once. I was able to contact the local PO before the package went out. Supervisor weighed the package and mailed me a money order for the difference.

I weigh and measure everything at home now, then print a USPS label through eBay or PayPal.

mr_divots · April 4, 2014

[quote name='bruinsPATSirish' timestamp='1396551408' post='9013109']
It is what it is I guess. Looks like I'll be going Fedex next time
[/quote]
Print label. Schedule pickup. No trip to post office needed.

vtnerf · April 4, 2014

[quote name='bruinsPATSirish' timestamp='1396627150' post='9019523']
[quote name='vtnerf' timestamp='1396621117' post='9018559']
I went to ship a 3wood one day. Counter clerk told me there was a surcharge because it was "oversized". Now I know the 70" total rule, and the box was a standard club box which in no way exceeds that limit. She kept telling me there was an $18 surcharge. I could see on the screen that priority was under $15 total, but she was reading the priority express price, refusing to send it priority. I left, came back later, and paid under $15 for it. Sometimes it's better to just walk away if it doesn't seem right....
[/quote]

Yes for sure. If I had had some time to blow I would've absolutely fought a little harder to figure out why it was so much more expensive all of a sudden. I had waited in like for 10 minutes or more already and by this time I just wanted to get the clubs in the mail and headed to their destinations (we know those threads that appear when someone doesn't get tracking in 3 hours... lol)

I am fairly confident that I was mischarged but after talking on the phone with the PO the process to make it right would just be way too much of a hassle to deal with. I actually messaged the buyer of the driver and asked him what the box said for a weight on it but he hasn't gotten back to me yet.

Lesson learned I guess. Up until this I was a big supporter of USPS shipping but I will be taking business elsewhere
[/quote]

I have a scale. It's so easy to print labels and tape yourself, and if it's an ebay transaction, there's even a 10% discount. (The only reason I didn't do that on the shipping referenced above is because we had just moved and the wife had the scale hidden...

I would say hit wally world, grab a small scale and just take care of it yourself. One bad experience is enough to sour you for a short period of time, but there are options. As much as all of them goof from time to time and can just get under your skin, USPS still is the best rate, includes the insurance up to $50 and you can print your own labels easily. Heck, they even bring me Priority mail shipping boxes for free!!!! (Which if you search for the NON flat rate ones can be significantly cheaper than flat rate!) Think of the post office as one of the big box stores. If you can regrip/pull shafts yourself, giddy up!

bruinsPATSirish · April 4, 2014

I will be doing FedEx right from work from now on. I live in an apartment complex so there is way too many people for me to feel comfortable leaving it outside.

If FedEx proves to be too expensive to justify the switch I will give USPS another shot. You are right though, after a ton of good dealings with one bad deal shouldn't turn me completely off. I will give them another shot if FedEx gives me any issues.

vtnerf · April 4, 2014

I actually bring my stuff to work and the mail man picks it up here after I've boxed it up at home...but piece of mind is very big when dealing with internet exchanges.
FedEx isn't bad. Just make sure that they deliver to where you are sending it. There are some dark spots for FedEx and UPS out there. Not often, and almost everyone in these areas know it, so they are up front about it.

IrishGolfer14 · April 4, 2014

Just out of curiosity, where in Wisconsin did you ship it? I'm pretty sure that there can be an extra charge for remote locations, even though I doubt that would account for all of the huge upcharge

bruinsPATSirish · April 4, 2014

[quote name='IrishGolfer14' timestamp='1396632319' post='9020319']
Just out of curiosity, where in Wisconsin did you ship it? I'm pretty sure that there can be an extra charge for remote locations, even though I doubt that would account for all of the huge upcharge
[/quote]

Darlington - 53530

The putter was going to San Diego which is not a remote location in Cali...

bruinsPATSirish · April 5, 2014

Maybe I SHOULDNT use FedEx now..... I died laughing, glad no one got hurt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i_GFrlaStQ

mr_divots · April 5, 2014

Just as a funny coincidence, FedEx dropped off a small package for me yesterday. The driveway was plowed, but the sidewalk 10 feet to the front door wasn't.
It was a small manilla envelope and they decided throwing it into a wet snow bank behind a bush was good enough so it could get soaked.
Fortunately, it was just a couple swingweights for a driver, so nothing got soaked/damaged. Thought it was pretty lazy of them, however.
If they walked 5 feet closer, there was a covered porch that was dry to set it on.

Arizonalefty59 · April 5, 2014

[quote name='bruinsPATSirish' timestamp='1396702448' post='9025433']
Maybe I SHOULDNT use FedEx now..... I died laughing, glad no one got hurt

[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i_GFrlaStQ[/media]
[/quote]
When I first saw that video on WSHH I thought it was just gonna be a worker that was throwing packages over the fence, once I saw the truck rolling down the hill I started pi$$ing myself. How that van didn't nail that house is just beyond luck for FedEx hahaha.

Go Sox.

Lobber · April 5, 2014

Agree on error made at office regarding weight. However, they have jacked up their prices on what they consider oversize boxes. I recently sold a BIO Cell + driver to someone in Boston area. Wanted to ship Priority Mail. $ 44 dollars from San Diego. Sent it regular mail for a lot less.

bellview17 · April 5, 2014

[quote name='pgagreg1' timestamp='1396519976' post='9009407']
[quote name='bruinsPATSirish' timestamp='1396492385' post='9008073']
So I have bought and sold many golf clubs and other things both through the BST and eBay and have always relied on USPS Priority. In my experience it has always been good experiences (save for one postman delivering to the wrong address) and has always been very cost effective with the tracking and $50 insurance included. I have shipped clubs all over the U.S. and have a pretty good idea what it will roughly cost to ship.

Yesterday I took two clubs to the PO, one a driver heading to Wisconsin and a putter heading to Cali. I used a driver box for the driver and a putter box for the putter. At the counter I tell him Priority and he proceeds to weigh and measure and tells me the putter will be $39 and the driver will be $27. WOAH! I know that is way higher than normal and after asking him if they raised the prices for Priority he says no but there is an extra charge for the size of the box on the putter but not the driver. I didn't understand this and told him I have never had anything going to Cali even in bigger boxes get an extra charge placed on it.

Anyone have some input on whether or not they changed policies or prices on USPS Priority, because the worker was ZERO help and I am really turned off to using USPS going forward.

EDIT: After reviewing the receipt the weight for the driver shows 10+ pounds which obviously isn't right... wtf
[/quote]

Why didn't you use the Ebay/Paypal shipping feature to purchase the shipping label? All you need is a scale and a printer. There is even a small discount on postage. The real benefit is you don't have to talk to the counter person. Just take your box with the shipping label on it to the counter and drop it off. I think you can even request your mailman to come to your house and pick them up.
[/quote]

plus one on that, use the paypal and use my scale I use in the shop.... No problems, just print and drop off at the counter, I don't even talk to the
"people" behind the counter.

pgdean · April 6, 2014

[quote name='bellview17' timestamp='1396749067' post='9029249']
[quote name='pgagreg1' timestamp='1396519976' post='9009407']
[quote name='bruinsPATSirish' timestamp='1396492385' post='9008073']
So I have bought and sold many golf clubs and other things both through the BST and eBay and have always relied on USPS Priority. In my experience it has always been good experiences (save for one postman delivering to the wrong address) and has always been very cost effective with the tracking and $50 insurance included. I have shipped clubs all over the U.S. and have a pretty good idea what it will roughly cost to ship.

Yesterday I took two clubs to the PO, one a driver heading to Wisconsin and a putter heading to Cali. I used a driver box for the driver and a putter box for the putter. At the counter I tell him Priority and he proceeds to weigh and measure and tells me the putter will be $39 and the driver will be $27. WOAH! I know that is way higher than normal and after asking him if they raised the prices for Priority he says no but there is an extra charge for the size of the box on the putter but not the driver. I didn't understand this and told him I have never had anything going to Cali even in bigger boxes get an extra charge placed on it.

Anyone have some input on whether or not they changed policies or prices on USPS Priority, because the worker was ZERO help and I am really turned off to using USPS going forward.

EDIT: After reviewing the receipt the weight for the driver shows 10+ pounds which obviously isn't right... wtf
[/quote]

Why didn't you use the Ebay/Paypal shipping feature to purchase the shipping label? All you need is a scale and a printer. There is even a small discount on postage. The real benefit is you don't have to talk to the counter person. Just take your box with the shipping label on it to the counter and drop it off. I think you can even request your mailman to come to your house and pick them up.
[/quote]

plus one on that, use the paypal and use my scale I use in the shop.... No problems, just print and drop off at the counter, I don't even talk to the
"people" behind the counter.
[/quote]

USPS will come pick it up from your front porch/mailbox, etc. Easiest way to ship for sure.