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UPS vs PO

B

Burnt Tongue

No Tastebuds...
Joined
Sep 24, 2006
Messages
1,190
I was just reading an old thread about a destroyed bomb. Big dent in box, sticks broken. It made me wonder about the use of the PO. I know that they do not want us mailing cigars so when a package is destroyed there is no recourse. My question, does the same hold true for UPS? Is there a reason we as a group are not using UPS? Has there been any experience in the community using this service? I know their tracking is as good as the PO. Anyone got an opinion?
 
I can only reasonably deduct that it is now for some reason illegal to send Cigars by any other shipper other than the USPS. I know that there are some companies, Thompson's for example that won't ship to Indiana because they only use UPS or FedEx. There is some new law that says they have to use USPS when buying here and being shipped in. I don't know how that holds true for individual sales, person to person, or trades, gifts. But I know that I used to enjoy the tracking info much more with UPS than I do this awful DC# tracking. I think I'm rambling. :cool:
 
Burnt Tongue said:
I was just reading an old thread about a destroyed bomb. Big dent in box, sticks broken. It made me wonder about the use of the PO. I know that they do not want us mailing cigars so when a package is destroyed there is no recourse. My question, does the same hold true for UPS? Is there a reason we as a group are not using UPS? Has there been any experience in the community using this service? I know their tracking is as good as the PO. Anyone got an opinion?
Click to expand...

They don't??

My guy knows exactly what's in the boxes I've sent to Iraq. He didn't bat an eye other than at the declared value of a couple of the packages.

I use USPS because it is inexpensive and it has been very reliable for me.

Obviously, UPS has an actual tracking service, but you do pay for it.

I don't know about recourse for damaged packages, I've never had one...
 
Expense and easy of use would be the most logical reasons I could see! I hate them both for equal reasons. Also, the boys in brown don't run regular traffic on Saturdays! Extra day for them to jack with your package(No pun intended)! There are laws governing the USPS but only company guidelines for UPS! Post offices are also a lot more common than UPS stores in most areas.
 
Great question. Personally, I prefer UPS over the U.S. Post Office. The tracking feature actually works, packages get to their destination when they are scheduled to, and I have not had any significant damage to any boxes. I haven't really had any damaged boxes with the USPO, but I feel the service is somewhat unreliable, a crap shoot really. The reason I don't use UPS now is that the USPO is much more convenient and closer to where I live and work. Since I've moved, I'm not even sure where the closest UPS depot is.
 
I prefer UPS because they actually have an updated tracking system and so does Fed Ex. Unfortunately I am not gonna drive around 50 miles one way to get to a UPS or Fed Ex store. The people at the PO in town know I send cigars and dont care. Long as it isnt explosives or hazardous material they are happy. I've put the cigars in the packages right in front of them as well. Also they deliver Mon-Sat and the UPS doesnt. I've never had a problem with the PO when it comes to broken sticks nor have I with any other mailing service. Unlike some others that have.
 
I try to always use USPS whether I am shipping or recieving. I hate UPS with a passion. I collect more than just cigars and have recieved MANY broken items from UPS. I also know people that work at both places. Even the UPS guys I know say not to use them. I have heard many stories of the UPS employees playing kick ball with boxes marked fragile. Let me tell you, you would not believe the shit I hear. USPS has almost always been great except for that time that a package of H.Upmann Mag 50s never showed up. But I do have a suspicion that it was never actually sent.
 
UPS is better in my opinion. Much friendlier group. Everytime I go to the post office I'm afraid they're going to bite my head off. Such grouchy postal employees in my area...

I have yet to lose a package with UPS. Plus, everything you send via UPS is automatically insured up to $100.00. Sure, UPS is a bit more expensive (for smaller packages), but you'll have a better chance of your package arriving safely over USPS.
 
Well this has turned out to be an interesting thread. It looks like regionally we have very different opinions based on experiences. I like UPS for tracking. Here in my area they are equally accessable. I think, but I never actually checked that the PO might be a little cheaper.

The one experiece I was looking for, was the ability to put a claim in for destroyed cigars with either the PO or UPS. Has anyone here ever tried to do that?

Thanks for your answers guys!
 
I ship 5000+ packages every year with UPS but for personal use only use the USPS. The tracking feature is nice, but like Atuck said, I hear shit from the UPS drivers that you wouldn't believe (and see it when our driver goes on vacation). They are also more expensive and totally unreliable. I perfect example: I ordered a new DOVO and then went back and orderd a second for a Christmas gift. I had one shipped UPS because it was the default, the second I had shipped USPS. 8 days for UPS and 2 for USPS and for three dollars less. As far as the insuring of packages I insure everything that goes out of here. We don't even try to make claims on lost or damaged articles even though we paid the money to insure. And it pisses me off more when I see just how much money ($15 minimum per package) we spend with them. It is like getting Rod to give birth to twins...it isn't happening. My vote is for USPS!

edited to add that if you have an account(free) with USPS, you can order free boxes which are the perfect size for most sticks.
 
USPS delivery time: 3:30-4:30
-Girlfriend still at work
UPS delivery time: 5:15-6:30
-Girlfriend at home and nosy about what's in the box- AGAIN

USPS-1 UPS-0

Game, set, match
 
Personally, and from a Canadian point of view, I love USPS. Those of you who complain about USPS should check out Canada Post (Rod, you ain't seen grouchy yet dude 'till you go to the P/O here in my town).

USPS - $4.55 with DC # to anywhere in the States with-in 3 days, and the box big enough to 10-12 sticks is free.

Canada Post - 5 sticks in a box smaller than the one USPS gives you for free, $12.49 and between 2-4 weeks to reach destination. Plus, the box costs $1.59, and it's a dollar extra for DC #.

As Drew said on another board yesterday,

CANADA POST CAN GO TO HELL!!

Sorry for the slight threadjack, we will now return you to your regular programmomg.
 
USPS Priority is the way to go, I've never had a single problem with them and if you don't care about DC#s, which really don't do anything except assure your purchaser, trader or fellow passer that you actually sent your end out, you can just but a bunch of those $4.05 stamps, grab a bunch of boxes and have a ready to go home mail out kit.

The B&M here says that he's used USPS for over 20yrs to mail out pipe tobacco and other things and only had one package undeliverable and it came right back too him.

The only downside to the Postal Service is the lines at the PO are ridiculous, 3 people can take 15min because the employees just kind of play with their thumbs and they do seem a little cranky (and have a tendency to bring guns to works...). This seems to be self-correcting though, those automated machines are popping up everywhere - soon, the biatchy postal employee will be easily avoided.
 
USPS Priority is the way to go, I've never had a single problem with them and if you don't care about DC#s, which really don't do anything except assure your purchaser, trader or fellow passer that you actually sent your end out, you can just but a bunch of those $4.05 stamps, grab a bunch of boxes and have a ready to go home mail out kit.




You dont have to leave your house to use usps. If you go their website, you can order boxes for free and print your postage. usps for me.
 
I send a lot of packages from here and I vote USPS. Although the occasional cigar might get damaged (like my CAO Soprano, bastards) it is faster, less expensive and generally more reliable. My advice is bubble wrap people. It is reusable and does a good job of keeping the cigars whole.

Fish
 
my business uses ups exclusively. never had issues, and pacakages are insured and traceable. plus my ups guys are the friendliest around. my local p.o the people are ok (actually depends who you speak with and how far into their shift) i recently ordered a cell phone from NYC and the vendor sent it USPS priority,(should have taken a max of 3 days) well, 2 1/2 weeks later the product arrived. i agree usps is cheap, and ups doesn;t need to know what is in the pacakages, as long as it isn't something illegal.
 
I had a problem with USPS only 1 time when I purchased CD from... Honolulu.
It took 2,5 month to arrive Poland :D
 
I handle all the logistics at my company and I've seen it all as far as delivery services go., and they all suck in one way or another...

It seems to me a lesser-of-two-evils type of situation that differs from area to area.

I for one have a lot of issues receiving packages from USPS @ my office (two separate packages have shown as delivered when they were not and took a bit of work from me to get to the bottom of it. Though both times they ended up being delivered after some delay.) UPS seems to me a little more reliable, but the are HARD on packages, and I've had a lot of ugly-looking shipments come in to the office.

If I ship UPS from the office it can actually be less-expensive that Priority (and yes, I pay my company for my outgoing shipments...)
 
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