UPS or FedEx account?

[Shane]

I need a shipping account with one of these outfits so I can ship and track artwork occasionally. Which should I go with and why?

[Captrix]

I prefer UPS. I think their prices are better and I like being able to load their World Ship onto my computer. Makes it easy. I use UPS every day at work.

[DT50]

UPS. I use the thm both daily with much more volume on UPS. Tracking is very simple online and the "ground" services seem to be much faster. But...if you are having to take your packages to a local center and not having a truck pick them up it is much easier to drop off at fed ex than UPS.

[jfk47]

I would go with UPS also. Mainly because my oldest son works there.........

[MountainMan]

If I had to pick between those two? FedEx. I like their customer service and support.

However, have you checked out just using the good old USPS? You can get stuff overnighted, tracked, etc. for WAY cheaper. I just closed both our UPS and FedEx accounts to use the USPS and Stamps.com because of the cost savings.

[Snakelover]

Depending on the size of it, how fast you need it to arrive and the value/importance of the contents, you might also check into the Priority Mail flat rate boxes by the USPS. You can do click-n-ship online and print the labels/postage on your printer. Tracking and delivery confirmation is automatic; insurance and signature confirmations are extra. The medium box is $10.20 with an account and it's there in two days. Kind of pricey until you weigh it against the value of the contents and factor in the convenience to the shipper. I like the fact that anything I can fit in the box is the same price and that the mail carrier can pick it up with the rest of the outgoing mail rather than making a trip or calling for a special pick up.

[Captrix]

I know with UPS anything shipped ground in Texas to a Texas address arrives the next day.

[Shane]

I'm not going to be able to use standard USPS boxes. I'll be shipping prints mostly, so I'll have either large flat boxes or tubes. Does USPS have actual tracking that shows where the package is in transit, or just delivery confirmation?

[Captrix]

I'm not going to be able to use standard USPS boxes. I'll be shipping prints mostly, so I'll have either large flat boxes or tubes. Does USPS have actual tracking that shows where the package is in transit, or just delivery confirmation?

yes and with an account you can get free boxes and labels.

[SaltwaterSlick]

I've been dealing with both for over 30 years and I hate 'em both! I hate UPS less though. Until you have a claim, UPS is easier to deal with. With a claim, both are a royal pain. I'd reluctantly give UPS the nod.

[Cathie]

Between the two UPS. I've had a lot of problems off and on with Fed-ex in the past delivering items to the local post office for final delivery. **If I wanted to ship through the postal service I wouldn't have spent the money to go Fed-ex. Then they send you a confirmation that your package has been delivered when in honesty only the post office has it and there is no way to track it from that point forward.
If I'm shipping something in Texas I only use Lone Star Overnight. They are awesome and almost everything is next day.

[SAC]

I've been dealing with both for over 30 years and I hate 'em both! I hate UPS less though. Until you have a claim, UPS is easier to deal with. With a claim, both are a royal pain. I'd reluctantly give UPS the nod.

Not quite 30 years. But UPS is spot on until you have a problem. Deal with them everyday and there are very few problems but 1 problem will make you want to drop them quick. We still use them only cause their rates and service are tough to beat.

[Snakelover]

Does USPS have actual tracking that shows where the package is in transit, or just delivery confirmation?

Technically, they have tracking. But from a practical standpoint, the Priority Mail might just as well be delivery confirmation only. The reason I say that is that there is a delay between the time it initially gets scanned into their system and the time the tracking record shows up online. So you usually can't see anything online until the next day, by which time it's either already been delivered or is at least out for delivery. The tracking may be more helpful to a slower method where it's not practically already there by the time it enters the system.

[ckuehl]

Shane I use UPS when we ship flags. I have never had a problem with them.

[Johnny Dangerr]

We use Fedex every day. Only had 1 claim and they handled it well. I do everything from my desk and save a lot of money.