[Elecraft] OT: Package shippers

[Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT]

This is a UPS "service" that has a lower service commitment and a lower 
price than "UPS Brown."

It takes advantage of "consolidator" rates, with UPS delivering 
pre-sorted packages to a hub Post Office for final delivery.

FedEx has a similar service.

E-Commerce and mail order companies love these services because they're 
cheap, but the typical customer service agent doesn't know the 
difference between "UPS Brown" (delivery by UPS) and the cheaper UPS to 
USPS service.

Since the agent (or the website) thinks they're shipping standard 
Ground, they insist on a "real" address.  The company then uses the 
cheaper service, the package hits the post office and goes back to the 
shipper.

I've had good luck with the work-arounds in your post.  I usually put 
things like m/s 9999 in the "company" field because some shippers 
"standardize" addresses, and the company name is usually unedited.

If you specify "UPS Brown" and the shipper follows instructions, you'll 
get the package from UPS, not through the Post Office.

This cheaper service is only available to larger shippers.  It's not 
available to consumers.

73 -- Lynn

On 4/26/2017 11:13 AM, Rick Tavan wrote:
> The radio world seems to be converging on your opinion, Ken. Almost all
> packages I've received in the past few years have come via UPS and I use it
> myself for my occasional outbound shipments. That being said, there is a
> disturbing relationship between UPS and USPS: In some rural areas, and
> maybe elsewhere, UPS can hand off a package for ultimate delivery by USPS.