USPS rate calculator/****

[droptine59]

Anyone use this tool? Anyone use the local pick up on USPS.com?

Here is one for ya...
My wife mailed a bow for me last week.
The box was 62"L x 7"H x 4"W, and weighed 6lbs. To california. The post office tried to charge $36 priority mail. It was insured for $450.

Now I have been shipping many bows for the last several years ranging from $12-25 dollars USPS priority.

What gives. That bow usually would cost about $18-$22. I think the guy at the PO was trying to either take advantage of my wife, or does not understand his own system of shipping.

I checked that same bow on USPS.com and it came in at about $18.

[vermonster13]

Sounds like he entered it twice and wasn't paying attention.

[TexMex]

I agree, stuttered on the enter key.

[Lefty]

If in fact the package exceeded 84" in the length plus girth, there is a balloon rate.  By your measurements 62+7+4+4+7=84".  If an actual measurement was made and it exceeded the 84" by any amount, then you would be paying the 15 pound rate from your zip to the destination zip.

[Dan Worden]

Lefty is half right. The ballon rate applies to Parcel Post but some clerks try to collect it on Priority mail. Priority the balloon is 104".

I recently had a clerk try to get me with the ballon and I stuck to my guns and they figured out their mistake. I also often ship a double rifle case full of bows that adds up to 102" and they measure and remeasure that thing everytime I send it. Luckily all of the older Priority Mail stickers on it (with postage) calms them down.

[droptine59]

I am confused. on the website it says USPS priority mail large package limit is 108" .
What about using UPS?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

UPS is 108" also. I had a bow shipped to me priority and it only cost the sender 13.00. When I shipped him a bow back, in the same box he shipped in, at a lower weight, it cost me 20.20. I asked why it was more than what he paid and all I got was, "I guess he didnt pay the balloon rate."

[John Scifres]

Some clerks will cut you a break.  Some won't.  Some clerks don't know a lot about shipping anything outside of envelopes.  Some do.  Learn the rules.  They are right there on the USPS website.  If they give you any grief ask to see the supervisor.

[Lefty]

Dan,  I believe you are mixing up non-machineable surcharge and balloon rate.  The balloon rate does apply on priority mail.  Here is the wording from the USPS website:
"Priority Mail Rates
Parcels that weigh less than 15 pounds but measure more than 84 inches in combined length and girth are charged the applicable rate for a 15-pound parcel."
  P.S.  You can mail a parcel larger than 108" length plus girth, there is just an oversize surcharge that applies.  In fact, you can mail up to 130" length plus girth.  Anything larger than that is not mailable, as well as anything that exceeds 70 pounds regardless of size.

[Lost Arra]

Have you ever printed your own postage from USPS website? I just mailed something Priority Mail and printed the postage/mailing label at home and then handed the package to the clerk. I've also just handed it to the mail man.

Works for me and it takes the human mistake element out of the cost as long as you measure and weigh accurately.

[bentpole]

Just mailed a bow out  last Saturday. Mailbox Packaging Plus. I've been using this guy quite a bit Packaged bow insured 600.00 sent out UPS ground.The bill was 46.00 to Wisconsin on the way home I said to myself Self that's not right pulled over added up the bill and of course it didn't add up turned around showed the man and found out he overcharged me 11.00 People are human everyone makes mistakes .You gotta be sharp out there.

[bowfiend]

I seem to always get slammed with the "baloon" charge. It was an additional $18 on my last bow shipped. That clerk told me 84"  To buy a box and ship with insurance I was over $50 to ship last time.

Any guys working with corrugated cardboard that want to make some money? Start selling boxes that will fit a bow without needing modifications.

[Dan Worden]

Lefty I have shipped a LOT of bows over the past 15 years and only one time did they even try to hit me with the balloon charge. And like I said, she saw somehting that said it did not apply to Priority and backed it out.

I said 104" from memory it may well be 108 all I know is my big case is barely two inches under max and I've never had a balloon charge or any other oversize fees. It's always around 35 lbs and with $400 insurance ran in the $34-37 range for the last six shipments.

[snapper1d]

Lefty has it right.His wording is exactly what USPS says.I ship monday thru fridays and some on saturday thru USPS.If it gets a 1/4" over they will surely hammer you.They wont give you any break.

[droptine59]

I shipped a bow this morning that weighed 7 lbs. and length + curcumference came to 78" It went for abot $15 close to what the site calculator came up with. No problem there.

However, the  other bow was length + circum. 92" weighed 9 lbs and I got hammered with 15 lb baloon rate. what gives?

the USPS website states 108" total length and circum. and the post office is telling me 84" Is there a conflict of opinion?

[Chad Sivertsen]

Rich,
I think the 108" is for 1st class/parcel post. Prioriy Mail is an expedited service and is subject to different rules. For Priority it is length+girth = 84"Max.

I ship USPS Priority Mail daily and it is a great method, fast and reasonable price....as long as the package is not too big.

Chad

[PhilFloyd]

Ahhh......another reason I like take down bows.  

[droptine59]

Thanks to all. I hear ya. I told my customers to buy take downs from now on. LOL