Shipping costs on the rise?

[95124hacker]

Ok, I went through the first 5 pages of the DoND forum and could not find this topic, although I'm sure it was discussed before.

 

Maybe it's just me, but are shipping costs on the rise?

 

Just a few years ago, I don't think it cost anything over $25 to ship USPS Priority across country.

 

Nowadays, even the USPS online calculator under-estimates. So when I go to the post office, I'm prepared to be quoted anything from $18 to $55 for a full sized club in a box that's 48" long. They tell me weight isn't the issue, it's size (takes up room in the delivery truck).

 

UPS is usually cheaper if going by ground, esp. if it's within your state or or a neighboring state, but what I was told is that insurance varies because each state contracts with a different insurer.

 

In this day & age of Amazon Prime (next day delivery), I don't even bother shipping by ground anymore because I want to have repeat buyers of my stuff and most people expect 2- or 3-day delivery anyway.

 

I guess I could ask the buyer to split the shipping costs, but I'd rather just eat it and chalk it up to the cost of selling.

 

That being said, I'm still amazed it costs less than 50 cents to mail a first class letter.

[straightshot7]

I recently shipped a driver 2/3 of the way across the country for around $13, USPS priority.

 

On the online postage calculater, I just got quoted $19 for shipping a driver box dimensions from San Diego to New York City.

 

So if you're paying more than $25 to ship a driver USPS Priority then I would guess you are doing something wrong.

 

What kind of box are you using? A driver box from a major manufacturer? Because in my experience it should be triangular on the sides. And the height and width should be 5-7 inches max.

 

Also if you want the lowest prices I think you need to print postage directly off of PayPal or get an account somewhere like Shipstation. The price you pay in person at USPS will be slightly higher than the online, commercial pricing.

[Krt22]

Its size and weight, UPS/Fedex is more size, USPS is more weight

 

But yes, prices have gone up

[SoCalTitleist]

Ironset is about 30$

[thevaporz]

Use FedEx Ground for irons. Typically ~$25 or less coast to coast using 46x6x6 box arrives within 10 days max. You gotta trim your boxes down and play around with the calculators. I always cut down the length as short as possible.

 

USPS Priority is at least $35+ coast to coast.

[squishyy]

Just as an FYI, a single 1 oz. first class postage stamp is $0.55 retail, not less than $0.50 cents. I think you have not checked the prices online or done your research by going to each courier's website and calculating shipping before actually shipping your item.

[95124hacker]

48” x 7” x 7” Priority triangular box from CA to OH (Zone 8) cost me $52 today. Less than 5 lbs.

[blink3665]

I assume the price of shipping has increased since the price of the flat rate boxes has increased from a few years ago. That being said I plugged a few measurements into the USPS shipping calculator. If I used the box I got my Srixon z785 in it would be $42. That's too expensive. It's also a clownishly long box. I dont need a 50" box to ship a driver. 48" box is $19. (shipping to Florida which is as far as i can get away from me in the CONUS.)

[Therealpatgiles]

I shipped a vapor fly pro 2 iron from Michigan to Seattle and it was about 50 dollars with ups. Crazy.

[deadsolid...shank]

Anything over 48” gets you in trouble. If youyshipping a modern driver, pull the head and package it separately inside the box. Keep that length under that magical 48”. Like someone else said, I use FedEx ground for irons, USPS is crazy on iron sets.

[95124hacker]

I learned a new term yesterday: dimensional weight.

Even though my package only weighed 5 lbs, due to its size, they charged me for 13 lbs because of some other “density “ calculation. I also saw this on the UPS site. Sounds like double dipping to me.

[ChadR7371]

If you go to the counter at USPS or UPS Store, you get absolutely gouged for rates vs printing the label at home.

 

I think USPS has a 10 or 20% fee for using the counter at the Post Office and UPS Stores are privately owned so I think it's more like 30% extra.

[Krt22]

Anything over 48” gets you in trouble. If youyshipping a modern driver, pull the head and package it separately inside the box. Keep that length under that magical 48”. Like someone else said, I use FedEx ground for irons, USPS is crazy on iron sets.

 

Yeah those clowns at UPS tried to claim I had a 50" length box, almost a full foot longer than it really was and tried to charge me another $16 post shipment. I told them I'm a die hard club ho and purposely never use over length boxes. They dug in saying they scan everything, I asked for photographic evidence, they balked and finally reversed the charge

[BB28403]

Why not just print your own labels at home and drop them off at a UPS store?

Also just on a side note, to avoid porch thieves and establish a repoire with real people, open a UPS store box for $20 a month.

[SwingBlues]

I just shipped a 3 wood, 2lbs, 48" x 5" x 5", used to be a Callaway driver box but I cut off off about 3" and re-taped the end to bring it under 48" per the guys here. Still a solid box.

 

Cost was a shade under $17 with ebay discount deal, signature and insurance. Just playing it safe. Base price was like $11 and shipping from west coast to east coast (carolinas). Not too bad, imho...

 

Going to counter and PO seems to be more money as I recall. YMWV