On 4/2/2014 9:45 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 21:37:01 -0400, Poquito Loco
wrote:

Insurance is available at USPS. Today I dropped off a package and asked the lady at the counter if
she knew why the US Mint was using UPS instead of USPS. She didn't know either.

===

Yes, you can insure and request a tracking number. Rates seem to be
cheaper than UPS in my experience although I think UPS might be a tad
faster.


The USPS has a "if it fits" flat rate shipping program. They have
priority mail shipping boxes in several sizes. If your item fits in one
of the boxes it ships for a flat rate regardless of weight or
destination. (I think there's an upper limit on the weight though).

The shipping boxes are free at the post office or you can order some
on-line and they will deliver them to your house or place of business.

The flat-rate shipping includes free tracking and $50 free insurance.
You can up that if desired. Delivery is priority mail, so it usually
takes only three days. Not a bad deal. I just shipped a digital
recorder with a bunch of accessories to a guy in Texas. I shipped it on
Saturday, he received it on Wednesday. Cost to ship: $15.00.

On 4/2/2014 10:06 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 20:47:03 -0400, Earl wrote:

wrote:

It might have something to do with the insurance
The government is self-insured. We're talking about less than $2000 -
not an original Picasso!

It's just sad that the US government finds UPS to be a better option
than the USPS.

The government might be "self insured" but there is a limit to what
USPS will pay and do you really want to go through the red tape to get
it.

By the time you pay for a service that has several thousands of
dollars worth of insurance (assuming you are buying a few coins) you
are spending a lot more than UPS.



There's a fly in the ointment when shipping with UPS. I've shipped well
over one hundred guitars over the years using them and learned my lesson.

If you "self pack" an item, ship by UPS with the item insured for it's
value and the item is damaged during shipment, good luck collecting on
the claim. By default UPS will claim "improper packing" and deny the
insurance claim. I've seen people who photographed their entire packing
of the item, packing it better than UPS would, and UPS still denies the
insurance claim.

The only way around it is to take the item to a UPS store and have
*them* pack it. Then, if damage occurs, they can't deny the claim.
Problem is, it's expensive as hell shipping that way.

On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 22:06:14 -0400, wrote:

On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 20:47:03 -0400, Earl wrote:

wrote:

It might have something to do with the insurance
The government is self-insured. We're talking about less than $2000 -
not an original Picasso!

It's just sad that the US government finds UPS to be a better option
than the USPS.

The government might be "self insured" but there is a limit to what
USPS will pay and do you really want to go through the red tape to get
it.

By the time you pay for a service that has several thousands of
dollars worth of insurance (assuming you are buying a few coins) you
are spending a lot more than UPS.

I went through it for a lost ring. A real pain in the butt.

On Thu, 03 Apr 2014 03:52:56 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:

On 4/2/2014 9:45 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 21:37:01 -0400, Poquito Loco
wrote:

Insurance is available at USPS. Today I dropped off a package and asked the lady at the counter if
she knew why the US Mint was using UPS instead of USPS. She didn't know either.

===

Yes, you can insure and request a tracking number. Rates seem to be
cheaper than UPS in my experience although I think UPS might be a tad
faster.


The USPS has a "if it fits" flat rate shipping program. They have
priority mail shipping boxes in several sizes. If your item fits in one
of the boxes it ships for a flat rate regardless of weight or
destination. (I think there's an upper limit on the weight though).

The shipping boxes are free at the post office or you can order some
on-line and they will deliver them to your house or place of business.

The flat-rate shipping includes free tracking and $50 free insurance.
You can up that if desired. Delivery is priority mail, so it usually
takes only three days. Not a bad deal. I just shipped a digital
recorder with a bunch of accessories to a guy in Texas. I shipped it on
Saturday, he received it on Wednesday. Cost to ship: $15.00.



Those flat rate boxes are convenient, but unless they're filled to the brim they're expensive. But,
I'm a cheapskate at heart anyway.

On 4/3/14, 8:14 AM, Poquito Loco wrote:
On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 22:06:14 -0400, wrote:

On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 20:47:03 -0400, Earl wrote:

wrote:

It might have something to do with the insurance
The government is self-insured. We're talking about less than $2000 -
not an original Picasso!

It's just sad that the US government finds UPS to be a better option
than the USPS.

The government might be "self insured" but there is a limit to what
USPS will pay and do you really want to go through the red tape to get
it.

By the time you pay for a service that has several thousands of
dollars worth of insurance (assuming you are buying a few coins) you
are spending a lot more than UPS.

I went through it for a lost ring. A real pain in the butt.



If you had swallowed the contents of a tube of K-Y, it probably would
have come out with less pain in the butt.

On 4/3/2014 8:15 AM, Poquito Loco wrote:
On Thu, 03 Apr 2014 03:52:56 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:

On 4/2/2014 9:45 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 21:37:01 -0400, Poquito Loco
wrote:

Insurance is available at USPS. Today I dropped off a package and asked the lady at the counter if
she knew why the US Mint was using UPS instead of USPS. She didn't know either.

===

Yes, you can insure and request a tracking number. Rates seem to be
cheaper than UPS in my experience although I think UPS might be a tad
faster.


The USPS has a "if it fits" flat rate shipping program. They have
priority mail shipping boxes in several sizes. If your item fits in one
of the boxes it ships for a flat rate regardless of weight or
destination. (I think there's an upper limit on the weight though).

The shipping boxes are free at the post office or you can order some
on-line and they will deliver them to your house or place of business.

The flat-rate shipping includes free tracking and $50 free insurance.
You can up that if desired. Delivery is priority mail, so it usually
takes only three days. Not a bad deal. I just shipped a digital
recorder with a bunch of accessories to a guy in Texas. I shipped it on
Saturday, he received it on Wednesday. Cost to ship: $15.00.



Those flat rate boxes are convenient, but unless they're filled to the brim they're expensive. But,
I'm a cheapskate at heart anyway.



They are not expensive. They are *free*. You pay for parcel post
boxes and ship via weight and size but the priority mail boxes are free
and shipping is a flat rate.

On 4/3/14, 8:34 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 4/3/2014 8:15 AM, Poquito Loco wrote:
On Thu, 03 Apr 2014 03:52:56 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 4/2/2014 9:45 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 21:37:01 -0400, Poquito Loco
wrote:

Insurance is available at USPS. Today I dropped off a package and
asked the lady at the counter if
she knew why the US Mint was using UPS instead of USPS. She didn't
know either.

===

Yes, you can insure and request a tracking number. Rates seem to be
cheaper than UPS in my experience although I think UPS might be a tad
faster.


The USPS has a "if it fits" flat rate shipping program. They have
priority mail shipping boxes in several sizes. If your item fits in one
of the boxes it ships for a flat rate regardless of weight or
destination. (I think there's an upper limit on the weight though).

The shipping boxes are free at the post office or you can order some
on-line and they will deliver them to your house or place of business.

The flat-rate shipping includes free tracking and $50 free insurance.
You can up that if desired. Delivery is priority mail, so it usually
takes only three days. Not a bad deal. I just shipped a digital
recorder with a bunch of accessories to a guy in Texas. I shipped it on
Saturday, he received it on Wednesday. Cost to ship: $15.00.



Those flat rate boxes are convenient, but unless they're filled to the
brim they're expensive. But,
I'm a cheapskate at heart anyway.



They are not expensive. They are *free*. You pay for parcel post
boxes and ship via weight and size but the priority mail boxes are free
and shipping is a flat rate.




The USPS usually is *substantially* less expensive than UPS, especially
if you have to ship UPS via one of the small-business owned UPS package
stores, which add a big premium to the already high UPS rates. The
nearest owned and operated UPS facility here is about 30 miles away, so
these days, if I have to ship something, I use the U.S. Postal Service,
which is nearby.

On 4/3/2014 8:38 AM, F*O*A*D wrote:
On 4/3/14, 8:34 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 4/3/2014 8:15 AM, Poquito Loco wrote:
On Thu, 03 Apr 2014 03:52:56 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 4/2/2014 9:45 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 21:37:01 -0400, Poquito Loco
wrote:

Insurance is available at USPS. Today I dropped off a package and
asked the lady at the counter if
she knew why the US Mint was using UPS instead of USPS. She didn't
know either.

===

Yes, you can insure and request a tracking number. Rates seem to be
cheaper than UPS in my experience although I think UPS might be a tad
faster.


The USPS has a "if it fits" flat rate shipping program. They have
priority mail shipping boxes in several sizes. If your item fits in
one
of the boxes it ships for a flat rate regardless of weight or
destination. (I think there's an upper limit on the weight though).

The shipping boxes are free at the post office or you can order some
on-line and they will deliver them to your house or place of business.

The flat-rate shipping includes free tracking and $50 free insurance.
You can up that if desired. Delivery is priority mail, so it usually
takes only three days. Not a bad deal. I just shipped a digital
recorder with a bunch of accessories to a guy in Texas. I shipped
it on
Saturday, he received it on Wednesday. Cost to ship: $15.00.



Those flat rate boxes are convenient, but unless they're filled to the
brim they're expensive. But,
I'm a cheapskate at heart anyway.



They are not expensive. They are *free*. You pay for parcel post
boxes and ship via weight and size but the priority mail boxes are free
and shipping is a flat rate.




The USPS usually is *substantially* less expensive than UPS, especially
if you have to ship UPS via one of the small-business owned UPS package
stores, which add a big premium to the already high UPS rates. The
nearest owned and operated UPS facility here is about 30 miles away, so
these days, if I have to ship something, I use the U.S. Postal Service,
which is nearby.




As previously mentioned, I've shipped over a hundred guitars to
customers over the years. Guitars (especially acoustics) are fragile
instruments and need to be well packed. After experimenting with FedEx,
the USPS and UPS, I found that taking the guitar and case to the local
UPS store franchise and having them pack it was the best way.
Cost more but at least the insurance coverage is undeniable. If you
pack it yourself even UPS will deny a claim citing "improper packing".

We've been in the process of starting the clean out of "stuff" in our
house in hopeful anticipation of a future move. I can't believe the
stuff I have collected over the years. I've already sold and shipped
four receiver/amps, a high-end tuner/preamp, a BluRay player, speakers,
a power amp, a digital recording system and have barely scratched the
surface. Yesterday I counted at least five more receiver/amps I have
not being used. Unreal. And that's just *my* stuff. Mrs.E's
collection of "stuff" makes mine look puny.

On Thu, 03 Apr 2014 08:34:40 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:

On 4/3/2014 8:15 AM, Poquito Loco wrote:
On Thu, 03 Apr 2014 03:52:56 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:

On 4/2/2014 9:45 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 21:37:01 -0400, Poquito Loco
wrote:

Insurance is available at USPS. Today I dropped off a package and asked the lady at the counter if
she knew why the US Mint was using UPS instead of USPS. She didn't know either.

===

Yes, you can insure and request a tracking number. Rates seem to be
cheaper than UPS in my experience although I think UPS might be a tad
faster.


The USPS has a "if it fits" flat rate shipping program. They have
priority mail shipping boxes in several sizes. If your item fits in one
of the boxes it ships for a flat rate regardless of weight or
destination. (I think there's an upper limit on the weight though).

The shipping boxes are free at the post office or you can order some
on-line and they will deliver them to your house or place of business.

The flat-rate shipping includes free tracking and $50 free insurance.
You can up that if desired. Delivery is priority mail, so it usually
takes only three days. Not a bad deal. I just shipped a digital
recorder with a bunch of accessories to a guy in Texas. I shipped it on
Saturday, he received it on Wednesday. Cost to ship: $15.00.



Those flat rate boxes are convenient, but unless they're filled to the brim they're expensive. But,
I'm a cheapskate at heart anyway.



They are not expensive. They are *free*. You pay for parcel post
boxes and ship via weight and size but the priority mail boxes are free
and shipping is a flat rate.


I meant the 'if it fits, it ships' program - the postage. I know the boxes are free. And yes, I've
cheated and used a couple for other than the 'fits/ships' program.

On 4/3/14, 12:41 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 03 Apr 2014 08:38:36 -0400, F*O*A*D wrote:



The USPS usually is *substantially* less expensive than UPS, especially
if you have to ship UPS via one of the small-business owned UPS package
stores, which add a big premium to the already high UPS rates. The
nearest owned and operated UPS facility here is about 30 miles away, so
these days, if I have to ship something, I use the U.S. Postal Service,
which is nearby.

\

If you use priority mail you don't have to go anywhere. You print your
own label, use the free box, schedule a pickup and they take it away
on your next mail day.
You can either use flat rate or pay by the pound, whichever is best
for what you happen to be shipping. For me, by the pound always seems
to be the best choice.

If you use Ebay, (selling) they even make it easier. It is part of
your deal process.



Amazon has stepped up its use of a combo UPS-USPS shipping scheme for a
lot of its "two day delivery" Prime customers. I was surprised to see
this but it seems to work out properly in terms of deliveries within the
promised time period. The UPS shipments go to the UPS Waldorf facility,
and apparently USPS trucks pick the stuff up there and take them to the
local P.O. for carrier delivery. Our local USPS deliverers are a brother
and sister...one drives their vehicle and the other runs the parcels up
to the door. Nice people.