Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone could give me some good advise on shipping costs. I have an account with UPS and have had pretty good luck with all my shipments. Although I will ship a small box that weighs about a pound and recieve a bill for $90. This has happened more then once. What is the best way to ship to keep smaller shipments under $30. There does not seem to be any consistancy with the amount I am being charged, and after the deed is done I have to pay it.
Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks Tom Weaver

Hi Tom,

I'm a UPS driver, been one for 12 years, but unfortunately since the rate structure is now completely computerized, drivers have as hard a time figuring the shipping cost as anyone else does. A few points to remember:

-Packages going Next Day Air will be billed as the greater of the actual weight or the Dimensional Weight (l x w x h, round each measurment up to the nearest inch), if result is more than 1 cubic foot/1728 cubic inches, dimensional weight is applicable. This is standard for FedEx, Airborne as well, and I think USPS too.

-Remember that UPS Stores are not run by UPS, they are owned by franchisee owners. This means that they may all set their rates differently, although subject to what UPS guidelines I don't know. Typically a higher volume store will get a lower rate from UPS, so more likely to set a lower rate to customers. Office Depot/Staples as far as I know have a single rate structure nationwide.

-I would recommend shipping with flat as opposed to cube-shaped boxes whenever possible. Less likely to go dimensional weight, and less likely to tumble around as much during handling.

-Keep track of what size your package was after shipping. UPS practice is to have auditor clerks check package dimensions of questionable-looking packages as they go through the system. I've watched some of these clerks, and some of them really don't know what they're doing. Thus you may frequently be billed for a package as Dimensional Weight when in reality it should not have been applied as such. Contest all charges that you know to be incorrect, and keep bugging them until they rescind the charges.

Hope this info helps. See my next post for copy of the official UPS Operating Tariff with respect to shipment of animals.

Chris

Thank YOU, Chris!

It's wonderful to get some practical aspects of the confusing, frequently changing world of shipping!

PAKO