"Why can't the US organise a half decent postal service?" Topic

I agree, quit the disenters need to develop some respect for the (US) Postal Service, still one of the best in the world. For the smaller items, which most of our hobby related shipping is, it is absolutley world beating.

I'll admit, the last round of rate changes were a stealth rate increases on exactly that class of (ebay type) merchandise, no more flat rate ($4.20) Priority Mail boxes, now they are ALL zoned by weight, except the (Larger, more expensive) ones…. So much for stuffing a bunch of 25mm lead in a box….

But a dozen packs of 15mm or similar, are going to stay under that limit. For a lot of small, hobby/ebay shipments, you are going to come out ahead (cost wise), assuming your labor is free, with zoned by weight (even Prioiity), than jumping up to the Prioity Mail flat rate boxes, anything larger than a DVD, now $9.95.

BTW, I just (This afternoon) shipped a book to ITALY (an Amazon sale), Priority Flat Rate envelope, $12.95; That kind of thing STARTS at $30 USD with UPS/Fedex.

It's the cheap folks who want a discount on combined shipping that kill folks like Rudy.

Also, much of the time Ebay sellers jack up the shipping so they don't have to pay Ebay the percentage. That's why you will find items listed for 1.00 and 10 dollars shipping.

Delivery to Canada or the UK is my bane.

Even filling out the custom forms, I've had them sit at the border for 2-3 weeks before being delivered.

Bitching about delivery time, unless something exceptional happens, is pretty silly also. So it takes you a week or two to get something. Go paint some figures (smile).

Customers have every right to bitch about delivery time. it is their product, they spent money on it, they have every right to bitch about anything regarding their product. If you don't like the bitching (as per you condasending attitude of "go paint some figures") then don't sell at all.

But they don't have the right to be taken seriously.

In regards to orders , shipping and receiving items,I do not have a problem with the USPS. I have more problems with FedEx.

At work as a government agency my office has good relations with one in the town next door but less positive transactions with another.

I find the service super in small post offcies and I enjoy the freindship of postal clerks and flirting with some as well.

Yes I do give my postal contact presetns at Christmas.

Reading the posts it seems to me it depends on which side of the pond you're on. I'd love to buy more minis from England except for the 60% shipping charge and it's probably the same for them ordering from here. It's been my experience that postage from England takes longer and is much more expensive than postage from China…go figure.

I find USPS very good and getting better. I use the website all the time to buy and create postage for shipping, I never have to go to the post office because they pick up at my house. The only time I did have a problem, it was cleared up immediately over the phone with the "Click and Ship" customer service on a Christmas Eve afternoon (last week)!

FedEx and UPS are extremely expensive and the price can vary day to day depending on fuel charges etc. But I do
love them for one thing…I repair model airplanes and they keep me in business (along with cleaning staff, pets and children). They have a far higher rate of breakage especially FedEX bless'em.

Happy New Year!