Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

Crashoran · **the UPS store -** 05-19-2009, 01:27 PM

Is it just me or is everything in the UPS Store ridiculously overpriced? I've been three times in the last month and feel like I'm getting robbed. They even charged me for a couple of styrofoam peanuts, and I wasn't told it would cost additional until I saw it on my receipt.

gardener · 05-19-2009, 01:49 PM

Are they overpriced? Maybe yes and maybe no... It's the price you pay for the convenience of having them pack and ship it for you. If you want to save some coins then keep enough packing material on hand for your own shipments and pay them only the 'goes from here to there' transport fees.

texkam · 05-19-2009, 01:55 PM

Absolutely, but they sell convenience. Convenience ain't cheap. However, they should be more up front about the extra charges. Consider yourself older and wiser now.

PrinceOfEgypt · 05-19-2009, 02:11 PM

I once went into a UPS store with a package already closed and a UPS online label printed out and taped to it. They tried to tell me that it is their policy to charge an extra $7.50 fee if a customer brings in a package already wrapped in their own packaging!!

Truckman · 05-19-2009, 02:59 PM

Unsuspecting people think the UPS Store is owned and operated by UPS...It is not, they are independently owned...Ben

SeanS · 05-19-2009, 05:24 PM

The one near me is generally pretty good. Yes, they charge for all the little things, but like mentioned before, it's the convenience. Like some other franchises though, I'd imagine the quality of service can vary.

ldelacruz · 05-19-2009, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truckman

Unsuspecting people think the UPS Store is owned and operated by UPS...It is not, they are independently owned...Ben

Exactly!

DEMDeepEllumMusic · 05-19-2009, 07:29 PM

And when UPS took over from the Mailbox whatever name and changed it to the UPS store they changed the franchise agreements on them and tightened up on their fee schedule so these guys have to squeeze a penny wherever they can and they will. UPS is a tough taskmaster, want things run to their book but then don't want to give an inch to the little guy.

Next time try FedEx/Kinko (they are dropping the kinko name) or the old reliable USPS.

What is interesting is that UPS just started backing out the "fuel surcharge" from their customers that was based on $4+ a gal fuel.

Just remember that once you have it taped up their are several options on how or by who you send it by but if you want it packaged up then YOU PAY FOR IT!

BTW UPS will send a truck out to pick a shipment up also if you have it all boxed up and ready to go and say if it is a large metal part (talking size of a car tire or so not 6x6x6 ft) and it can't easily be damaged it doesn't have to be boxed up. (Just don't send a camera with a tag on it out but you could send a closed and locked pelican case with labels on it)

dsd_dallas · 05-19-2009, 07:56 PM

I even go to a Staples store or Office Depot. You pay actual cost for the supplies and they don't bend you over on the shipping. AND they're much more helpful that the USPS.

icetraxx · 05-20-2009, 08:25 AM

I had a similar experience. I work by 2 ups stores. I went online to get an idea of what the cost would be before I went to the actual place. they wanted to charge me an extra $15 over the price I got online and could not give me an explanation. I went to the other one and the price was within a $1 of the price I got online. I asked the guy about it and he said the same thing about being independently owned and prices can vary between locations. These 2 locations were 5miles apart!!

Truckman · 05-20-2009, 10:22 AM

You can also get actual UPS rates at Office Depot...When I need to ship something, I print my own shipping label from the UPS site (it's easy to open an account with a credit card) and either schedule a pickup or just hand it to any UPS driver...Ben

kenw · 05-20-2009, 10:54 AM

but if you've ever bought $tarbuck$ $4 coffee, your opinion of overcharges by anyone is somewhat moot.....

toverman · 05-20-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenw

but if you've ever bought $tarbuck$ $4 coffee, your opinion of overcharges by anyone is somewhat moot.....

I agree! Especially if you try to ship a cup of Starbucks coffee to someone!

janikphoto · 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truckman

Unsuspecting people think the UPS Store is owned and operated by UPS...It is not, they are independently owned...Ben

Yup. The worst part is they don't have access to a lot of the info that a real UPS store (found at the place where all the trucks go at night). If I want to ship something to a client and bill their account number, the franchised stores wouldn't do it for me. I had to go to a real UPS shipping hub.

I prefer fedex. Any Kinkos will be able to handle any/all problems.

janikphoto added 4 Minutes and 50 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEMDeepEllumMusic

...you could send a closed and locked pelican case with labels on it)

Yeah, I have a pelican case that has been fedexed a million times. A label gets slapped on it and it's ready to go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by icetraxx

I had a similar experience. I work by 2 ups stores. I went online to get an idea of what the cost would be before I went to the actual place. they wanted to charge me an extra $15 over the price I got online and could not give me an explanation. I went to the other one and the price was within a $1 of the price I got online. I asked the guy about it and he said the same thing about being independently owned and prices can vary between locations. These 2 locations were 5miles apart!!

Maybe the five miles difference was up a steep hill, so it burned $14 worth of extra gas?!?

texkam · 05-21-2009, 01:07 AM

Quote:

but if you've ever bought $tarbuck$ $4 coffee, your opinion of overcharges by anyone is somewhat moot.....

Yeah, but at least Starbucks provides healthcare coverage to even their store level employees and pays their growers a better wage.