Beware: Midway USA and "UPS Basic"

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11-12-2010, 13:52
Tim K

Beware: Midway USA and "UPS Basic"

UPS Basic is a code phrase used by the ding dongs at Midway to describe the worlds slowest shipping system since the Pony Express. Essentially, UPS takes your package, drives it all over the country, then drops it off at the local post office. Naturally, you can't actually go to the post office to pick up your package, you have to wait for them to sort it out of all the other packages UPS delivered and then they will deliver it to you.

As near as I can tell, it added three days to the shipping time.
11-12-2010, 14:06
TS12000

I ordered a set of grips from some store in Illinois and UPS managed to send it to NC before turning it around and bringing it back. I was like WTF? when watching the tracking
11-12-2010, 14:14
hollohas

I noticed the same thing recently from BassPro...although they used a FedEx version of that called FedEx Smartpost. FedEx dropped it off at the Post Office down the street and 2-3 days later it was delivered to my box. It is not cheaper than say Priority Post or FedEx ground so I can't imagine why they use it. So dumb.

Seems a little fishy that private shipping giants would want to team up with the notoriously terrible USPS. Me thinks the USPS somehow got their hands into UPS and FedEx...maybe they got a little pressure from the feds..."Hey UPS and FedEx, taxes and fees might increase soon so why don't you join up with the USPS and maybe we can keep that from happening." After all, the USPS needed to do something to not lose so much money.
11-12-2010, 14:24
Tim K

If I ran my business the way the Post Office does theirs, I'd be gone in 6 months. They have my package, but absolutely refuse to give it to me. They insist they have to deliver it. I can almost guarantee that it won't fit in the box and they'll have to hand it to me over the counter anyway. Typical government employees.

The frustrating part is that I specifically chose UPS when I placed my order thinking I was avoiding those idiots. Gotta, gotta, gotta read the fine print.
11-12-2010, 14:32
hollohas

I wonder how much money the USPS gets from the deal for each package. UPS and FedEx incur the vast majority of the cost as they are the ones actually shipping it across the country. The USPS is just delivering it.

Given the choice, I pick FedEx every time over UPS. Packages shipped from UPS always look like they have been to hell and back. Most of the FedEx packages that I get, and I get a lot from my employer, look like they just left. Not to mention, my UPS delivery guy sucks. I work from home and my office is 10 feet from the front door. Whenever he delivers something, I hear a bang (him throwing it), SOMETIMES he rings the doorbell and I immediately get up to answer the door. By the time I walk 10 feet he is already 40 feet down my driveway, back in his truck and starting to drive away. Not exactly the most friendly delivery. My FedEx guy always waits for me to answer and hands me the package rather than throwing it on my porch.
11-12-2010, 14:44
Byte Stryke

essentially the shipping giants, in an attempt to save fuel costs, deliver it to a centralized location, your post office and then pay them a local contract delivery cost.

If you think our USPS is Bullshit you REALLY Should try the postal systems in other countries.
11-12-2010, 14:49
hollohas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byte Stryke

essentially the shipping giants, in an attempt to save fuel costs, deliver it to a centralized location, your post office and then pay them a local contract delivery cost.

If you think our USPS is Bullshit you REALLY Should try the postal systems in other countries.

Why would I want to experience something worse than the USPS? The USPS loses a shit ton of money every single year. They suck and if they were private they would be out of business. Another country's mail services being worse than them doesn't change that.

The only thing I use the USPS for anymore is mailing my water bill and getting my magazines.
11-12-2010, 15:01
opie011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byte Stryke

essentially the shipping giants, in an attempt to save fuel costs, deliver it to a centralized location, your post office and then pay them a local contract delivery cost.

If you think our USPS is Bullshit you REALLY Should try the postal systems in other countries.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollohas

Why would I want to experience something worse than the USPS? The USPS loses a shit ton of money every single year. They suck and if they were private they would be out of business. Another country's mail services being worse than them doesn't change that.

The only thing I use the USPS for anymore is mailing my water bill and getting my magazines.

I think what byte was trying to say is...it could be worse! You really hate the USPS don't you[Coffee]
11-12-2010, 15:05
Irving

Go ahead and disagree with Byte Stryke. That's just asking him to make a magnesium finger trap out of you.
11-12-2010, 15:06
soco11

I had just the opposite experience with Midway only a week or two ago. I ordered a boxful of .357 and .38 special +P ammo, on Monday and told 'em to ship it whichever was was cheapest. I got it on Thursday. I was totally shocked.
11-12-2010, 15:27
hollohas

Quote:

Originally Posted by opie011

I think what byte was trying to say is...it could be worse! You really hate the USPS don't you[Coffee]

I think I came off more worked up then I really am.

I understand the point he was trying to make although my point is the "could be worse" argument is weak because the "worse" situation doesn't apply. My tax dollars and time don't go to those other countries' postal services.

That's like saying don't bitch about gun control because it could be worse and you know we all like to bitch about that.

There are some things I don't like about the USPS, yes. For example, like the OP, I had a package a few weeks ago sitting at the post office down the street for 3 days that they wouldn't let me pick up. Pretty lame. But I do hate the fact that they are losing tons of federal (aka "our") money. I also don't like standing in line for an hour to ship a package. That's the nice thing about the USA, we have choices. So, I choose to use FedEx mostly.

I think of myself as a pretty fair guy so now, I must admit, the USPS flat rate boxes are pretty sweet when you buy things like, I don't know, 50 lbs of lead shot by mail. Also, while their customer service is on par with the DMV, the their actual shipping and delivery is pretty reliable.
11-12-2010, 15:29
BuffCyclist

I just ordered a few things through MidwayUSA and they shipped them UPS Basic. It saved me $8 and since I don't get USPS delivery to my door, I got the package FASTER than if I ordered it USPS or through UPS. They just dropped a key in my PO Box with my regular mail and I got it that day.

I'll probably keep using it, since it's cheaper, faster than USPS, and I still can pick it up whenever!
11-12-2010, 15:35
hollohas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

Go ahead and disagree with Byte Stryke. That's just asking him to make a magnesium finger trap out of you.

Don't know what that is but it sounds scary.

First I admit I had to live in California for 18 months and now I dis the USPS. Stuart is going to throw things at my house, Byte is going to string me up and do something involving flammable metal and fingers. Bad hollohas [Spank] Guess I need to lay low for a while...
11-12-2010, 15:47
palepainter

Everything appears to take longer when you are waiting for it. :)
11-12-2010, 15:59
Irving

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollohas

Don't know what that is but it sounds scary.

Look what he told me in another thread after I told him that he had a nice rifle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byte Stryke

Sorry, you have me confused with someone else.
When and if I Catch a child predator, I am a "Punch-you-in-the-fucking-neck-and-while-you-are-choking-for-air-Shove-Aluminum-and-Magnesium-flakes-down-your-throat-and-magnesium-flare-up-your-ass-and-wait-for-the-two-to-connect-aphile"

There might not be a hell for you to burn in... it could very well be a myth.
But I will make sure that you beg for it.
11-12-2010, 16:47
hollohas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

Look what he told me in another thread after I told him that he had a nice rifle.

Yikes. That'd be some fireworks.

Ok, I can't help myself, here I go again...

The USPS was $8.5 billion in the red last fiscal year. Now if that's not a BS organization I don't know what is.
11-12-2010, 17:25
RARGUNS

Quote:

Originally Posted by soco11

I had just the opposite experience with Midway only a week or two ago. I ordered a boxful of .357 and .38 special +P ammo, on Monday and told 'em to ship it whichever was was cheapest. I got it on Thursday. I was totally shocked.

Thats because they can't ship ammo through USPS.
11-12-2010, 18:49
Byte Stryke

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollohas

I think I came off more worked up then I really am.

I understand the point he was trying to make although my point is the "could be worse" argument is weak because the "worse" situation doesn't apply. My tax dollars and time don't go to those other countries' postal services.

The only thing worse that the USPS System as it is now... since everyone is screaming TAXES!

"Here is your water bill sir, That'll be $19.95 for the delivery."
think I'm Shitting you? UPS Something from Thornton to Denver.

While we are on topic there is a proposal out that will cut billions from the USPS Budget
request only pickup
And guess what the proposed pickup fee cost is.
:D

It don't matter if its a postcard or a package
$20
11-12-2010, 18:51
Anton

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byte Stryke

The only thing worse that the USPS System as it is now... since everyone is screaming TAXES!

"Here is your water bill sir, That'll be $19.95 for the dlivery."
think I'm Shitting you? UPS Something from Thornton to Denver.

While we are on topic there is a proposal out that will cut billions from the USPS Budget
request only pickup
And guess what the proposed pickup fee cost is.
:D

It don't matter if its a postcard or a package
$20

The world's moving towards digitized billing/billpay anyway. All I ever get in the mail is junk.
11-12-2010, 19:02
Byte Stryke

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anton

The world's moving towards digitized billing/billpay anyway. All I ever get in the mail is junk.

Here is your Junk mail sir, That'll be $189.98
11-12-2010, 19:05
sniper7

in regards to where ups and fedex send their stuff:

they send them to hubs because they have a system to get them from zone to zone. sometimes areas only have flights to hubs in the wrong direction. it is cost saving though to only run it one direction to a certain hub, then run a larger plane to a main hub (probably SDF) when in the central US, from there they have a centralized system and can take it to another hub close to the address.

if they are using the post office, it is probably because it is not economical for them to bring it themselves. the constitution requires postal service, but it doesn't stipulate anything for UPS or Fedex, so they have worked out deals. UPS and the post office work together quite a bit and UPS does a lot of long haul carrying mail for the USPS.

the thing that pisses me off the how inefficient the post office is and they keep raising the price of everything to try to cover their failing system.
11-12-2010, 19:19
Byte Stryke

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniper7

the thing that pisses me off the how inefficient the post office is and they keep raising the price of everything to try to cover their failing system.

actually I think all of the big "movers" posted record losses.
I know brown had to be bailed out... and fedex wont shut up about it.
11-12-2010, 20:07
Mtn.man

I'm Larry Potterfield for Midway USA,,, and that's the way it is.
11-12-2010, 21:20
Troublco

And along with those fees Byte mentioned....think about magazine subscriptions. Imagine having to get those delivered by UPS or FedEx.
11-12-2010, 21:45
jerrymrc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim K

Typical government employees.

Hope I can (as many of the mods here) return the complement. There are many of us that work hard trying to save your tax dollars. Every tom, dick and harry on the "civilian" side think we are nothing more than a piggy bank that needs to be ripped off. There are many workers in the system that do not make big $$$$ and have cushy jobs.

Hope ya have a nice day.
11-12-2010, 22:00
hurley842002

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerrymrc

Hope I can (as many of the mods here) return the complement. There are many of us that work hard trying to save your tax dollars. Every tom, dick and harry on the "civilian" side think we are nothing more than a piggy bank that needs to be ripped off. There are many workers in the system that do not make big $$$$ and have cushy jobs.

Hope ya have a nice day.

Wow, guess I missed his comment, that would have almost called for a flip of smiley, but i'll let it slide, and continue to happily serve my fellow citizens.
[Beer]
11-12-2010, 22:05
hollohas

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniper7

in regards to where ups and fedex send their stuff:

they send them to hubs because they have a system to get them from zone to zone. sometimes areas only have flights to hubs in the wrong direction. it is cost saving though to only run it one direction to a certain hub, then run a larger plane to a main hub (probably SDF) when in the central US, from there they have a centralized system and can take it to another hub close to the address.

if they are using the post office, it is probably because it is not economical for them to bring it themselves. the constitution requires postal service, but it doesn't stipulate anything for UPS or Fedex, so they have worked out deals. UPS and the post office work together quite a bit and UPS does a lot of long haul carrying mail for the USPS.

the thing that pisses me off the how inefficient the post office is and they keep raising the price of everything to try to cover their failing system.

Can't save them much money. My FedEx packages always get delivered to the distribution center in Englewood or where ever it is. From there it goes to my house if standard Ground or it goes to the USPS office down the street from my house if SmartPost. Even if it goes to the USPS office, the FedEx guy drives by my house every day AND a different FedEx guy drops the packages off at USPS. Then it sits at USPS and a few days later another guy brings it to me. So all along, the first FedEx guy that drives by my house every single day could have dropped it off but instead they are paying to send another truck to USPS. Just seems like a roundabout method of doing things to me. Too many middlemen.

In regards to UPS doing a lot of cross country carrying for USPS, that is true. I used to send thousands of Parcel Post boxes via UPS everyday when I worked at a place called Rocky Mountain Motorworks back in the day.
11-12-2010, 22:26
jerrymrc

Quote:

Originally Posted by hurley842002

Wow, guess I missed his comment, that would have almost called for a flip of smiley, but i'll let it slide, and continue to happily serve my fellow citizens.
[Beer]

I did a guesstament a couple of years ago. If I had not declined the purchase requests that I did because some salesman had hoodwinked the buyer just in my little world the taxpayer would have forked out 4-5M for garbage.

I did my time active and did the sandbox. I still feel that good, bad, right or wrong it is part of my job to get what ya pay for. I hear again and again that "why do you care? It is not your money"

In the end it is mine as well as everyone else that pays taxes. I will be damned if I just look the other way so some asswipe can get the money and run.

This from just another govt employee. I do have to apologize a little since I do know there are employees that are far from perfect but it chaps my ass when someone that has never been there in any shape or form lumps everyone together.
11-12-2010, 22:36
Irving

I think a lot of the problem is the way that everything is automated and computerized, and MOST of the employees just don't have the control. So often times, when someone tells you "I can't do anything about that," they aren't lying, they really can't do anything. In that case, the solution is to go up the chain until you get the person that can do something, and don't take it out on the person that can't. Many large corporations are becoming just like this. It is very sad.