UPS to General Delivery?

[Snowleopard]

Some of the things I order online get delivered by services that use the USPS for the last leg of the route. I'm pretty sure Fedex does this -- Fedex [SmartPost] uses their system to deliver the package to your local USPS main center then USPS takes it to your door. This doesn't help you with Amazon. I'm surprised that I can't find an option at amazon to choose who delivers your package (i.e., can't choose USPS).

[Spokes]

From the UPS website:

"You must make every effort to obtain a street address. If a shipper should use a P.O. Box address, the recipient´s telephone number must be included on the label. Your package that is addressed to a P.O. Box may be delayed, will not be covered by any UPS Service Guarantee, and will require an address correction charge. Army Post Office (APO) and Fleet Post Office (FPO) addresses are not accepted."

In short, the answer is no (what they call "an address correction")

[bamboo bob]

Is it any wonder the USPS is going out of business? The rules are different at each one. You never know how you'll be treated. The excellence of Damascus is weighed against the pettiness of Manchester Vt. Every thru-hiker has a PO story. My advice is only use them to send things home. They are simply not reliable to get a box when it really should be there. Mostly some, not all, of the employees wont bother to check thoroughly for your box. The bigger the town the less likely they are to be helpful. I've had great service and been jerked around. Use UPS and send to outfitters, hostels, etc. You get what you pay for describes the PO very well. No other organization has the screwy rules of the PO. Some of them will help tape your box others will require you to buy a roll of tape. Some will say no fuel without exception and others will tell you how to do it. I has one woman offer to "pray on my box" so it would get there in time. It did.
Others take two hour breaks mid day. What a business. Doomed and good riddance. I hope UPS hires the good ones.

[bamboo bob]

I worked for the PO two summers in a row. Many of the guys worked other jobs in the afternoon while on the PO clock. What a joke. I delivered the mail in the morning and read magazines all afternoon. Its like a library reading room in the back.

[Feral Bill]

The people at my local post office are invariably helpful, polite, and efficient. I doubt they are that exceptional.

[leaftye]

All I can tell you is that you do not want to use next day delivery with Amazon to a General Delivery address. You don't get to select the shipper, and in my case they used UPS, and I ended up having to take a day off of trail work and spending a couple hours driving to pick up my package.

[Danl]

This is my second post on this site. I was hoping to hike this year, but surgery on the feet had to come first. Good thing I saved all my Sick time to get this done. I have been doing the planning while setting in the recliner for twelve + weeks. I have read a lot of threads in this time also. Hopefully I will be ready for 2013. I have started this thread several times as I usually do when something is said about something dear to me. I usually start off in a rant and then delete and start over. Sometimes I get all finished and just turn the computer off without even posting. However I fell the need to enlighten some.


1. I have done a little research (not hard to do) on what it would cost to mail 10 lb package UPS vs FedEx vs USPS



Shipper From To 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day


Ups 92055 (CA) 2,330 mi 37658 ( Tn ) 124.20 79.82 58.28 25.26
49329 (MI) 709 mi same 99.51 39.54 31.44 19.67
37072 (TN) 318 mi same 62.44 18.21 18.21 18.21


FedEx 92055 (CA) 2,330 mi same 123.10 79.11 57.76 22.90
49329 (MI) 709 mi same 98.62 39.19 31.16 17.93
37072 (TN) 318 mi same 61.88 32.67 28.32 16.66


USPS 92055 (CA) 2,330 mi same 76.95 33.20 33.20 17.29 PP
49329 (MI) 709 mi same 61.25 16.85 16.85 11.80 PP
37072 (TN) 318 mi same 44.55 14.15 14.15 11.17 PP

These are prices with you providing packaging. UPS and FedEx must be sent to a residential address (no P.O. Box) where a nominal fee may be required. USPS can be sent to any Post Office addressed to yourself as the recipient C/O General Delivery (they will hold for up to 30 days) USPS also has what they say " if it fits it ships " this box is 12 x 12 x 5 1/2 ID which the price is 15.45, no weight limit, from anywhere in the U.S.. It is small for a large re-supply though may be useful for other things. The box is free.
I wouldn't recommend Parcel Post unless you plan on shipping well in advance especially long distances. Cannot ship butane fuel canisters unless you use Parcel Post. I believe UPS will only ship this as Ground also.

You do the math.

[Danl]

Try again since I cannot seem to delete it.

Shipper From To 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day
Ups 92055 (CA) 2,330 mi 37658 ( Tn ) 124.20 79.82 58.28 25.26
49329 (MI) 709 mi same 99.51 39.54 31.44 19.67
37072 (TN) 318 mi same 62.44 18.21 18.21 18.21


FedEx 92055 (CA) 2,330 mi same 123.10 79.11 57.76 22.90
49329 (MI) 709 mi same 98.62 39.19 31.16 17.93
37072 (TN) 318 mi same 61.88 32.67 28.32 16.66


USPS 92055 (CA) 2,330 mi same 76.95 33.20 33.20 17.29 PP
49329 (MI) 709 mi same 61.25 16.85 16.85 11.80 PP
37072 (TN) 318 mi same 44.55 14.15 14.15 11.17 PP

[leaftye]

USPS also has what they say " if it fits it ships " this box is 12 x 12 x 5 1/2 ID which the price is 15.45, no weight limit, from anywhere in the U.S.. It is small for a large re-supply though may be useful for other things. The box is free.

That box is plenty big for 10 pounds. They also have a similar plan for regional rate shipping that is also priority mail with a free box, except you have to figure out the rates and print the label at home, and it's cheaper for shorter distances. I found that I can ship from near the Mexican border to nearly the Canadian border for less than the flat rate priority option.

[Rain Man]

The people at my local post office are invariably helpful, polite, and efficient. I doubt they are that exceptional.

You are correct, Sir! I've had two sisters and two uncles work for the Post Office. Plus, I know my own mail carrier by name, as she does me, my wife, and all our daughters, and I know the regular Monday carrier by name.

All kind, hard-working folks, who go out of their way to help. Unlike some of the "I've got my rights and you're-just-a-government-employee" haters/customers who go into the PO for service with chips on their shoulders and give them undue grief.

But some go in with love for their fellow man in their hearts! My little sister was postmistress at a small "country" Post Office. A patron came in day after day to buy one or two stamps. She offered him the helpful advice that he could buy stamps by the roll or sheet or any quantity he wanted, and save all the trips.

He confessed he was coming in to see her! I now have two nephews as a result of their marriage! One of those nephews hiked the GSMNP with Uncle Raymond on his high school Spring Break back in '05!

The Post Office is a great national service, just as Ben Franklin envisioned, if you treat it as a great service. It has helped make America great. And if you ship anywhere in the world (as I have, having hosted TWELVE foreign exchange students), you'll quickly learn the US Post Office is exceptional in delivery time and honesty.

Rain Man

.

[Danl]

Thank You Rain Man, I could not have said it better.. It is good to hear that once in awhile.
As a child I used to follow my carrier down the street telling him that I was going join the P.O. like him, and when I was hired 18 to 20 years later I tried to find Buzz. I found that he had died of Cancer just 3 months before. I have now worked at the Post Office 32 years and am ready to retire and take up the trail. I hate those that bring a bad name to the P.O., but there is always going to be those few.