[Yaesu] Why does anyone ship UPS?

[na9d@speakeasy.net]

See my comments below:

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On 27 Jan 2003, John Geiger wrote:

> I was supposed to get cable internet service
> tomorrow, but will now have to call and
> postponse installation because the Jackasses
> at UPS could not deliver my cable modem on
> time.

UPS is quite reliable.  Why couldn't they deliver it?  Is it a "signature required" deal where you had to be home?  Is your address clear?  UPS is very good with their service being delivered within the days they specify.  The only time I ever had any delay was a few years ago when they were on strike.

You should also be able to go to your local UPS office and pick up your package there after hours.

>Of course I will now probably have to
> wait at least a week for installation. Of
> course UPS still might not find my house by
> then. I was also supposed to get an amplifier
> that the UPS website was scheduled for
> delivery today. Of course it also wasn't on my
> doorstep.
>
Again, standard "brown" is not a "guaranteed" service.  It's an estimated amount.  Things such as the weather can have a serious effect on packages and their arrival.

> This brings me to my main point. Why do most
> hams ship their gear by UPS, when their
> service is so pisspoor? I now use nothing but
> Fedex. They are usually 30-40% cheaper than
> UPS for the same packages, their counter
> hours are better, and their service is
> quicker. ALso, why does every ham dealer use
> UPS? Seems they could save a little on
> shipping with Fedex.
>
Fed-X 30 to 40% cheaper???  

OK, let's look at some examples.

To ship a 10 lb box from Chicago to say West Palm Beach, Florida via Fed-X ground will cost about $7.52.

That same package via UPS will cost $10.07.  Yes, it's more money, that's for sure and yes, it's in the 30% to 40% range.  But, here's the kicker, if you have a UPS account with a daily pickup service (like most ham dealers do), then the cost is $7.52 or exactly the same!

So, there's basically no cost difference between the services.  It appears that UPS charges more to the casual shipper.  I have a feeling that my Fed-X rates may not include everything I'd get charged anyhow.  These guys are all competitors and their rates are all quite similar.

> here is another story. Last summer I traded a
> FT847 with a ham in Las Vegas for a FT100D
> (The FT100 is a much better radio.) We both
> shipped on the same day-me using Fedex and he
> was using UPS. He got the radio 1 day before I
> did. 

So?  Perhaps that's the case.  

>The fedex website showed that the radio
> went from Oklahoma city to Phoenix to Las
> Vegas. The UPS website had the radio going to
> Las Vegas to a few places, including Kentucky.
> I fail to see how Kentucky is anywhere on a
> remotely direct route from Las Vegas to
> Oklahoma. Obviously UPS learned their
> geography in our public schools.
>
It could easily be that one of the major UPS hubs for the Oklahoma area is in Kentucky.  It's more efficient if packages go from hub to hub.  For a long time Fed-X's only hub was in Nashville.  If you shipped an overnight package from San Francisco to Sacarmento it would have gone via Nashville.  So that doesn't mean a lot.  It doesn't make a lot of sense that it went to Kentucky, but who knows, it could have gotten put on the wrong truck too for that matter.  It happens sometimes, particularly if a zip code isn't properly read or entered.

> So why do most hams use UPS? Is it habit? Is
> it that they don't know about Fedex? Are my
> experiences unique and everyone else gets
> great service from UPS? I have a couple of
> other stories about UPS that I won't get into
> at this time.

UPS has been shipping packages a LONG time.  Fed-X is generally seen as an expensive overnight carrier.  With the advent of their ground service they are competing head to head now with UPS.  Good business plan, IMHO.  But I don't think most people know about it.  UPS is reliable and good and people know them.  Fed-X, to my knowledge, doesn't advertise their ground or home services.  I'll look into them the next time I ship something as they seem to be slightly cheaper than UPS.  Of course, my office here has a UPS account and daily pickup service so it probably wouldn't save me much.  I just pay my company back in cash...

>
> 73s John NE0P
>
Now, may I ask a question?  Why do YOU cross post to 5 different e-mail reflectors?  Makes it a pain for those of us who reply to you and we aren't in those other lists.

73,

Jon
NA9D