Owner Article: Wow You're Expensive!

Wow! You’re Expensive!

PACKAGING

I understand. Our packaging prices are based on our estimates of the protection required for the contents of each box and the time and materials involved in achieving that protection. We may also vary our recommended packaging according to the shipping service we recommend. For instance, we may recommend a higher level of protection for a ground package than we would for an air or express package. Or we may recommend a higher level of protection for a package that is expected to take longer to arrive at its destination.

Still, we can decrease our recommended level of packaging. Though you will probably pay less, overall, this decrease is at least partially offset by an increase in the cost of shipping, usually due to a larger box. The trade off is an increased risk of damage to your items. If you find the increased risk acceptable, we would be pleased to examine other packaging techniques for you.

If you wish, we can pack your items for you, then email the dimensions and weights of each box to you. You may then generate shipping labels for the carriers of your choice and email them to us to print and place on your packages.

SHIPPING

Our shipping prices will vary a great deal from those you are used to because each carrier gives us discounts. Those discounts are based on the size or weight of the boxes shipped, the distances they need to travel, and the speed with which they need to move. We actually have matrices that show those discounts, on a pound by pound basis, for every service offered to every destination served, including international destinations, by every one of our carriers.

While FedEx Ground and UPS Ground are usually very close in price, FedEx is, typically, slightly less expensive through us, and a day or two faster from our store. The USPS is usually the most expensive. As an example, we can frequently ship 30 pounds through UPS or FedEx for less than we can ship 15 pounds through the USPS.

I hope this explains some of the differences you are seeing. We know we are perceived as expensive, but we have been doing this for over 25 years and we are one of the best in this business in the country. Our claims record, less than one a year, is far superior to most others. This is due to the care and protection we provide each shipment. Even so, we are always willing to work with our clients to meet budget constraints.