[Hallicrafters] Shipping charges and other stuff..

[David L. Thompson]

AS someone who has looked into MBE here are the facts.

Each MBE is a small, private business.  UPS only bought the franchise
operation.

Each MBE pays a franchise fee for EVERY transaction so if they charged the
regular UPS rate
then they would not make money.  They are in business and cannot afford to
break even or lose money.  The Mail Boxes are designed to pay the basic
expenses each month and they make money on supplies, packing, and shipping.

In the past two years many MBE's have become Official USPS Resellers so this
means stamps are at regular prices and not marked up.   UPS is working a
deal (the individual MBE does not have to go along with it) where packages
will go at the standard UPS rate.  This takes advantage
of over 3,000 locations for UPS.   Many MBE's also work with FedEX, RPS, and
Airbourne Express (EXpress Airbourne) and may continue to do so.  They have
a MBE programmed mark up for packages based on a set price plus franchise
fee plus mark up.

The boxing and packing process is only as good as the MBE worker.  If you
don't think they will do the right job then you have the right to supervise.
They do package to UPS standards (double box electronics and no peanuts with
the heavy stuff). Many small businesses rely on MBE to be their shipping
department.

Most owners invest $100,000 plus and deserve to make a profit.  On the other
hand if the local MBE cannot package our gear correctly I would run not walk
away.

73 Dave K4JRB

> They've (MBE) been owned, or maybe it's "franchised," by UPS for a long
> time.  The only reason that they charge more than UPS does for the actual
> shipping is profit motive.  The UPS guy picks up at MBE every day, and
they
> probably actually get a "preferred" rate.
> 73,
> Al, W8UT
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Bell" <bell at blazenet.net>
> To: "Glen Zook" <gzook at yahoo.com>; <hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 6:19 AM
> Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] Shipping charges and other stuff..
>
>
> > As of last summer,  their shipping rates were higher than UPS.   They
> > told me that it will take some for their rates to come into line
> > with UPS, which should've happened by now.
> >
> > Mark K3ZX
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Glen Zook" <gzook at yahoo.com>
> > To: <hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 10:03 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] Shipping charges and other stuff..
> >
> >
> > > Something that I did not know until yesterday is that
> > > Mail Boxes Etc. has been owned by UPS (United Parcel
> > > Service) for over 2 years.  There was an article in
> > > yesterday's edition of the Dallas Morning News that
> > > referenced this.
> > >
> > > As such, they should know how to pack (but don't!)
> > > items.  Again, they "professionally pack", but
> > > "professionally" only means that you paid someone else
> > > to pack the item and not that any special care was
> > > given!
> > >
> > > Glen, K9STH
> > >
> > > =====
> > > Glen, K9STH
> > >
> > > Web sites
> > >
> > > http://home.attbi.com/~k9sth
> > > http://home.attbi.com/~zcomco
> > >
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> dfischer at usol.com
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