Author Topic: Looking for best rates from fedex/ups (Read 12652 times)

Shmelly · « **Reply #20 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:23:02 PM »

Quote from: Dan on January 28, 2013, 03:19:03 PM

Hope you're getting a heckuva good discount!

I sure do. I don't even need to do anything, not 6 weeks will go by that UPS and Fedex aren't climbing over themselves to beat each other's rates for me. They're in a race to the bottom, its quite comical actually. I thought I had phenomenal rates already a year ago, and they've both since decreased nearly 50% from what was already steeply discounted. UPS is currently in the lead for most shipments, so they get 60% of my business right now, with Fedex accounting for 15% and USPS the other 25%.

Dan · « **Reply #21 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:27:14 PM »

Best was when DHL still did domestic and offered insane discounts.
Used to be able to ship anywhere for just a couple bucks, it was crazy.

Shmelly · « **Reply #22 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:29:11 PM »

My packages are very heavy. Average (of my non-freight shipments) is 60 lbs. There's no such thing as a couple bucks for me.

Name Changed · « **Reply #23 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:33:53 PM »

Quote from: Shmelly on January 28, 2013, 03:29:11 PM

My packages are very heavy. Average (of my non-freight shipments) is 60 lbs. There's no such thing as a couple bucks for me.

With heavier shipments there is room for greater discounts.

Are you able to insure your shipments and make claims?

As from what I know - on greatly discounted shipping contracts - part of the deal could be no insurance and claims

Shmelly · « **Reply #24 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:36:32 PM »

I don't insure but I do make (many) claims.

Name Changed · « **Reply #25 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:38:03 PM »

Quote from: Shmelly on January 28, 2013, 03:36:32 PM

I don't insure but I do make (many) claims.

Ummm... What Claims are you making?

Shmelly · « **Reply #26 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:38:36 PM »

Damage claims.

Name Changed · « **Reply #27 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:39:42 PM »

Quote from: Shmelly on January 28, 2013, 03:38:36 PM

Damage claims.

If its not insured, how are they paying out?

Shmelly · « **Reply #28 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:40:17 PM »

Based on invoice pricing. Our systems are integrated, they have a tech down here once a month.

Shmelly · « **Reply #29 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:40:42 PM »

Don't get me wrong, I do lose most claims. But file a lot.

Name Changed · « **Reply #30 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:41:28 PM »

Quote from: Shmelly on January 28, 2013, 03:40:17 PM

Based on invoice pricing. Our systems are integrated, they have a tech down here once a month.

So you have negotiated pricing with them, that they are responsible for the value of the contents?

Shmelly · « **Reply #31 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:42:45 PM »

Not just the value - the retail value. Aint it grand?

Shmelly · « **Reply #32 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:46:03 PM »

You did notice the amounts I'm doing with UPS? I'm not a small customer, they treat me very well. My rep sends me gifts all the time, calls me just to shmooze, anything to keep me in bed with him and not Fedex.

Name Changed · « **Reply #33 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:48:02 PM »

Quote from: Shmelly on January 28, 2013, 03:46:03 PM

You did notice the amounts I'm doing with UPS? I'm not a small customer, they treat me very well. My rep sends me gifts all the time, calls me just to shmooze, anything to keep me in bed with him and not Fedex.

Yea, I did notice! It should only grow

Shmelly · « **Reply #34 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:54:12 PM »

Amen. It already did by $1K, thanks to you.

FYI, you know all these companies that claim to recover monies lost on your UPS bill? I always ignored their constant cold calls and booths at shows, but recently I caved and decided to try it out, and I could not have been happier so far. They found 47 shipments on my most recent statement that they got fully refunded, some for the stupidest reasons (one next day air shipment was delivered at 10:32AM instead of 10:30 = full refund). They take 50% of monies recovered (industry standard it seems, but I do plan on negotiating now that I see how much money it is). There's tons of these companies, PM me if you want contact info.

Dan · « **Reply #35 on:** January 28, 2013, 03:56:23 PM »

Not cheaper to hire someone yourself to do that at $10/hour?

Name Changed · « **Reply #36 on:** January 28, 2013, 04:00:07 PM »

Quote from: Dan on January 28, 2013, 03:56:23 PM

Not cheaper to hire someone yourself to do that at $10/hour?

A $10 hour salary is close to $20k a year

AsherO · « **Reply #37 on:** January 28, 2013, 04:01:44 PM »

Quote from: Dan on January 28, 2013, 03:56:23 PM

Not cheaper to hire someone yourself to do that at $10/hour?

Might be good for some of them, but these people (ostensibly) know everything they should be looking out for, I imagine it's more than 2-3 things to check per order.

Name Changed · « **Reply #38 on:** January 28, 2013, 04:04:07 PM »

Quote from: AsherO on January 28, 2013, 04:01:44 PM

Might be good for some of them, but these people (ostensibly) know everything they should be looking out for, I imagine it's more than 2-3 things to check per order.

+1

And they know how to fight it to.

I have heard of these companies, but I mostly ship ground, which there is no service grantee, and with Express I go thru a 3rd party reseller...

Shmelly · « **Reply #39 on:** January 28, 2013, 04:05:10 PM »

Quote from: AsherO on January 28, 2013, 04:01:44 PM

Might be good for some of them, but these people (ostensibly) know everything they should be looking out for, I imagine it's more than 2-3 things to check per order.

Exactly. I'm a big believer in trying to keep as much in-house as possible, but only once I've learned it well enough myself to teach someone else how to do it. I've only done this for one bill so far, but ultimately I will bring it inside.