Post Office prices.GRRR

[Voyager Al]

so, I sold the Phat chopper, and priced to ship to Washington. Online price with a guesstimate of 30 pounds was 20 dollars. Wow. Cheap. So I get paid, and boxit up, took to the post office. First problem is the snotty gal tells me im oversize,"go to UPS" she says. I said"measure it again". She did, and it was STILL oversize. Now this is the SAME box that it came in, from florida, for 23 dollars. I grab the tapefrom this girl, and measure 43 1/2 " x 24x8. She says that the box is longer at the bottom. So I measure the bottom, and get exctly 44. She grabs the tape, and remeasures, and then says"OK, Ill let it go". She tallys it up, and comes up with 35.25!!. And THAT didnt include delivery Confirmation. GRRRR. Meanwhile, most postmasters try to sell ya all the extra's, she never even mentioned DC. So I made her redo the sale ,and I paid for the delivery Conf..So my question is...WHY is there a differece between the online and in PO prices.Oh,it weighed just under 30 pounds. Ill never do that again. Ill get the money for the bike first, and get actual shipping cost after its mailed. Can ya tell i am a bit miffed?

 

[Voyager Al]

Its not my local PO. Mine closes at 4. I work til 4. So I went to the main one in the city. Every time I go there, this amazon witch is there, and I have a problem. I may be better off going into work late, and dealing with my local gal.Oh well, lesson learned...Its on its way.

 

[Wildcat]

There a few clerks at the town post office, and if I wind up with the one like yours, I'm going to get the same treatment. The others are fine, so I'll actually say I forgot something and get out of line to avoid that one.

I sent one heavy bike that came to about 15 dollars more than the usual frame and forks, so weight does add a lot to price.
I also have the privilege of using the post office on the base, and they are all normal folks there.

 

[CCR]

the post office around here uses FedEx for it's faster/bigger mail, it seems like they know they've been doing a terrible job :mrgreen:

 

[Chips_Mahoy]

I am trying to ship a child's bike to another member in Washington state. I've been told to break the bike down in multiple smaller boxes to get a cheaper rate. No did that and got a quote of $93 !!! What am I doing wrong?

 

[Henry morgan]

did the on line quote thin once, and got to post office ..and same deal .. they charged lots more than quote..
sent anyway .. best bet for me so far is to make my own box small as I can .. and ship tires and wheels in another box
that has been cheapest for me.. but I will tell ya .. have sold off most of my collection .. ON CL .. cause I did not want to
pack and ship them.

 

[Jpromo]

I've actually had much better luck with USPS in the past 6 months. I was told that they changed their shipping method up a bit to calculate more towards dimensional weight like Fedex/UPS. Shipping whole bikes I still go Fedex but lately I've gotten mostly 20-25$ rates on shipping frames anywhere.

The trick is measuring the length+girth and verifying that it's under 130inches. What they do is there's a base price for the weight to the zip code, then there's a charge for balloon size packages after 108inches, which is usually unavoidable for something big, but the price usually doubles once it hits oversize at 130. That being said.. I can't count how many times I've brought a box home and cut it down an inch or less and got it to go.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Yeah I recently got a quote to ship a set of 20" rims from here to Texas, $54 :shock: is this insane or what?

 

[wheelhorseman]

I know what you mean about their high prices. Been selling parts here but am not going to sell and ship any more "big stuff". USPS ends up with most of my profits.

My postal worker guy here is a real pl;easure to deal with. Never smiles or makes any small talk. Acts like he is on suicide watch. He rejected 2 small packages because they were in boxes marked STP oil treatment and another box from the liquor store because it said vodka. He said they would ship if i marked thru certain words. I asked if he had a marker and was told no. Had to take hem back home redo them then went to a different PO.

I have enjoyed dealing with all of you guys but from here on if it wont fit in a small priority box i wont sell it.

 

[jerrykr]

Check out Fedex Residential Delivery.
That has worked out well for me a couple of times.

For USPS, as already said, make the box as small as possible.
You can take the box in to the PO counter and get them to tell you exactly what the cost will be and then tell your buyer.
Sux to have to go to the PO twice, tho.

 

[Rat Rod]

FedEx :mrgreen:

 

[Wildcat]

I use the USPS website and use the calculator. A 20" bike just barely will fit, but all others need another box for the wheels. Here's a thread I made up awhile back:

http://ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewtopic. ... ilit=+soup

 

[Voyager Al]

Wildcat, I learned from you. And shipped out the same bike you sent me,in the same box, with your stuffing!.You paid 23.00. I was gonna be happy at 25. I think that rat broad hit the "i dont like u" button.... The buyer sent me more money, which was not necessary, but surely appreciated. Cudos to Mrfritz......thanks,sir!