What Shipper Do You Use To Send Out Film?

[wgerrard]

A question for other Americans who send film out for processing: What shipper do you use? USPS? FedEx? UPS? Someone else?

I've been using USPS Priority Mail but learned today that, contrary to their use of "Track & Confirm" when you buy a mailing label online, USPS does not actually provide tracking, only delivery confirmation. In fact, they don't even provide confirmation that a package has actually left your local post office.

It's also been my experience that USPS can fail to provide delivery confirmation.

 

[Chuck Albertson]

I use Priority Mail. It's only five bucks, and it gets there in a day or two.

 

[felix5616]

shipping

shipping

I had a fedex account until last week when i closed it because of fedex's incompetence. I paid for direct signature to assure delivery for several sales. They NEVER even took a signature, and never refunded the cost of the service. UPS is just as bad. If you want something delivered use the US post office, with delivery confirmation, your package will never get lost.
I sent a $400 item via fedex, paid for COD and direct signature, fedex not only failed to get a signature, they never collected my payment. I was lucky, the buyer notified me and sent payment(using the US post office)
If you want to be absolutely certain of delivery use the US Post office and pay for delivery confirmation.
I have done close to 40 transactions in the last year and fedex dropped the ball at least 60% of the time. I called the corporate office, spoke with a senior manager that promised to look into their failures and refund me, guess what, never heard form the man.
I will never use Fedex again, UPS is slightly better, but also do not care about their service.

 

[wgerrard]

Chuck, Felix: Do you actually get real tracking data from USPS, or just delivery confirmation?

I'm not questioning the speed or reliability of Priority Mail, just the reliability of the tracking. I've had a couple of recent instances in which I received no tracking info, including delivery confirmation.

 

[skibeerr]

Hi,
I buy a lot of stuf in the US and USPS has never let me down, I found out the hard way FEDEX couldn't care less.

 

[felix5616]

I am primarily interested in being able to prove delivery, not necessarily know a packages movement. If the US post office fails to deliver a package i had insured and I have a delivery confirmation receipt i know I will get reimbursed from the post office.
I would not ship with fedex under any conditions give their recent abysmal delivery service and poor customer service. Apparently fedex contracts out delivery to non fedex drivers. UPS is marginally better. The US post office actually has investigative power and actually looks into lost or stolen packages. For international shipping you need to check whether or not the US post office will insure shipment to certain destinations.

 

[David Murphy]

I've used them all and USPS is the best, hands-down. By the way I read a post from a UPS employee somewhere once who claimed that UPS tracking was based on computer statistical models rather than actual package scans. Also, USPS Delivery Confirmation will tell you approximately where the package is and most importantly if it's taken back to the station for non-delivery. USPS Signature confirmation is even better, but sometimes annoying to the recipient and it costs more.

 

[wgerrard]

USPS Delivery Confirmation will tell you approximately where the package is...

That's not been my experience. I buy and print my Priority Mail label online and then deliver the package to the local post office. I receive an email confirmation that I've purchased the label. I've never received any confirmation that a package has actually left the local post office, or any other tracking data. I've recently sent two packages for which I never received delivery confirmation.

I made four calls to USPS today. I was told different things, but here is what was consistent in all those conversations:

1. You have to buy Express Mail if you want tracking comparable to UPS or FedEx. Priority Mail only verifies delivery. It doesn't provide tracking.

2. If you buy a label online, the local post office will not scan it.

I dropped a Priority Mail package at my local post office 36 hours ago and the only email I've received is a confirmation that I bought the label.

3. Packages are often not scanned as they move through the USPS system.

I dropped a Priority Mail package at my local post office more than 36 hours ago and the only email I've received confirms I bought the label online.

 

[David Murphy]

That's not been my experience. I buy and print my Priority Mail label online and then deliver the package to the local post office. I receive an email confirmation that I've purchased the label. I've never received any confirmation that a package has actually left the local post office, or any other tracking data. I've recently sent two packages for which I never received delivery confirmation.

I made four calls to USPS today. I was told different things, but here is what was consistent in all those conversations:

1. You have to buy Express Mail if you want tracking comparable to UPS or FedEx. Priority Mail only verifies delivery. It doesn't provide tracking.

2. If you buy a label online, the local post office will not scan it.

I dropped a Priority Mail package at my local post office 36 hours ago and the only email I've received is a confirmation that I bought the label.

3. Packages are often not scanned as they move through the USPS system.

I dropped a Priority Mail package at my local post office more than 36 hours ago and the only email I've received confirms I bought the label online.

So what's the urgency to know where the hell some package is all the time - it's sort of obsessive behavior

 

[wgerrard]

So what's the urgency to know where the hell some package is all the time - it's sort of obsessive behavior

For something I've sent, to know it was actually delivered, and when.

For something sent to me via UPS or FedEx, to know when they will be delivered so I can be here to accept them, rather than have them sit out on the doorstep. Or, as sometimes happens, the driver takes the package back to the warehouse.

USPS Priority Mail tracking is essentially just delivery confirmation. That's important to me for items I send out. It's also useful to me for incoming items. More than once, I've had delivery confirmed yet the package was nowhere to be seen. Mis-delivered, taken back to the local post office, left with neighbor, etc. I've had to phone USPS and chase them down.

Don't get me started on mail carriers bending things that should not be bent to fit them into my narrow little mail box.

 

[Mephiloco]

I use USPS for most things. The only bad thing about USPS is almost non existant package tracking. Usually it goes from Electronic Billing Information received to DELIVERED! with nothing in between. So, if you require actual 'tracking', usps is terrible. Delivery confirmation is fine though.

I've had fedex completely lose a package once. They claimed it was left at my front door and it was nowhere to be found. I had no problem getting a full refund, though.


Edit: DHL was my favorite in terms of delivery/care and cost until they screwed me on a huge order of film. Maybe 5000 feet of 16mm that had been sent to California for processing and telecining, and had been paid for to be sent back overnight. DHL was more than happy to promise it back to me, but completely ignored all the scanning/postage that said PRIORITY OVERNIGHT. When I called them about it not having been delivered, they tracked it, told me it was in Arizona, being sent regular and that I'd have it a few days later. They also refused to pull the package and get it to me ASAP. They refunded me the difference in postage, which was of no help. They got it to me 3 days later than I paid, which was pretty much 4 days too late

 

[wgerrard]

I've had good results from the actual performance of Priority Mail, i.e., getting it from A to B. (Although ship times to/from here in the Southeast to the West Coast are often a day faster than up and down the East Coast.) Performance of the people delivering the package has been inconsistent.

 

[splitimageview]

USPS First Class with tracking is cheaper than priority if only shipping a roll or two or five, and has the same delivery confirmation that priority does. And often it arrives the same day a priority package would have arrived.

I print the airbills from within Paypal under 'merchant services/multiple package shipping.'

 

[Gumby]

By the way I read a post from a UPS employee somewhere once who claimed that UPS tracking was based on computer statistical models rather than actual package scans.

That may be so for the estimation of arrival date, especially since that is provided when the package is initially scanned. The three things I can confirm as accurate based on experience is 1. pick-up or initial scan, 2. scan upon arrival at near-by UPS facility(s), 3. scan upon loading onto delivery truck, and 4. scan upon delivery to my door. The on-line system reports delivery within about 15 minutes of the doorstep package scan. Other than that, I'll bet it is based on statistical modelling... but the transit time has always been accuratey (too long, in my estimation) guessed in my experience.

 

[rbiemer]

I ship all my film via USPS priority mail and, yes I agree, that tracking is minimal at best. But the delivery itself I don't worry about.
For the amounts I typically send--usually 10 or 15 rolls at a time--First Class with delivery conformation might be a bit cheaper and effectively the same delivery time except that by using Priority Mail, I can use their boxes. Saves me a bit on packaging costs.
I have bought a couple of things from Japan--high end headphones--and those I was able to track through the Japanese postal web site every step of the way from Yokohama to my door. The info is there somewhere, I guess.
Rob

 

[Gumby]

If "actual tracking" is required, private courier works the best. They can call every half-hour or so... whatever your requirements are. That's how I handle local (within 200 miles or so) deliveries.

 

[fbf]

I only ship film when I know it's time to get organized, which means minimum 5-10 rolls. USPS is the only way I would consider. The delivery confirmation is not much extra (65cent or a little more) if you ship priority. They don't show as much detail as UPS/fedex but it's more than enough for me.
I have had two bad experience with USPS (one package lost but my fault since I didn't purchase insurance; the other one was the worst, I lost 1500$ because USPS denied my insurance claim and the seller never got back to me). I still use USPS priority service most the time.

 

[retro]

I ship 2 or 3 dozen packages per week via USPS, all with
Delivery Confirmation service and the USPS does provide
tracking info on their web site. Maybe not as much as
other carriers but I've never had a problem with lack of
tracking info.

I don't do the "Click 'n Ship" thing. I attach the DC form to
each package and take it to the PO myself. If I want
tracking info I go the USPS website and enter the DC number
and there are usually several (or more) entries showing
the progress of the package including when it left the
originating PO.

As I understand it you only get full tracking service with
DC if you take the package to the PO yourself and use
the DC form which the clerk scans while processing it.

 

[wgerrard]

I

As I understand it you only get full tracking service with
DC if you take the package to the PO yourself and use
the DC form which the clerk scans while processing it.

Bob, my local PO has told me the same thing. I use Click 'n Ship. I get an email confirmation of the online transaction, and tracking subsequently shows only arrival at the servicing local PO at the destination and, then, the actual delivery confirmation. That's good enough for me.

 

[fbf]

I ship 2 or 3 dozen packages per week via USPS, all with
Delivery Confirmation service and the USPS does provide
tracking info on their web site. Maybe not as much as
other carriers but I've never had a problem with lack of
tracking info.

I don't do the "Click 'n Ship" thing. I attach the DC form to
each package and take it to the PO myself. If I want
tracking info I go the USPS website and enter the DC number
and there are usually several (or more) entries showing
the progress of the package including when it left the
originating PO.

As I understand it you only get full tracking service with
DC if you take the package to the PO yourself and use
the DC form which the clerk scans while processing it.

The automated postal service also provides one with tracking.
You will get the tracking number on your receipt and you don't need the DC form or anything. I use it when there is LONG line in front of me. Pretty convenient service.