USPS Shipping warning Update and fix

[Cherokee Scout]

We ship many many items by US Priority mail.
I have nothing but praise for the service we receive. Only one item lost in seven years and thousands of shipments. That item was delivered to an apartment and I think a neighbor stole it.
I shipped a long round tube this week. Under 84" no extra charge.

[Jedimaster]

I recently shipped a tube and it went fine. Don't remember the cost but it wasn't anything unusual.  Shipped one several months ago and had a devil of a time with the clerk.  Finally just took it 10 miles down the road to the next PO where somebody could interpret the regulations without it being to my disadvantage.  Anybody can read the rules, it takes intelligence to interpret them and the correct attitude to apply them.  A nucklehead who just wants to go to lunch and get payed can cause you a mountain of grief.

[HATCHCHASER]

Thanks for the heads up David.    

[portugeejn]

Thanks for the heads up on a potential postage issue.  

As for the arguing, there are other archery sites on the web that seem to specialize in that, but I am thinking this isn't one of them-that is why I hang out here.

RonP

[vermonster13]

For grins and giggles I used the online Postal Calculator using the dimensions on my receipt. Large package nonrectangular like at the PO. One time it came up balloon payment and one time it came up no balloon payment. This is within 5 minutes of each other. Strange.

[John3]

My post office "lady" takes great care of me. She always kids me about shipping bow "stuff".. I've used the Priority (triangle) boxes for years. Extra padding and tape the boxes together staying under the max inches.. Never cost me more than about $20.00 to ship a bow anywhere in the USA with insurance.

USPS is the best choice for me.

[UrsusNil]

Just shipped a bow in a tube and had no problems. Use the shipping cost calculator on the USPS site to find out what it will cost to ship.

[jacobsladder]

my post office lady wont drive the 1/2 mile back to my house anymore to deliver .....so now i have to pick it up in town..... i always get the same questions...more bow stuff? or how many bows can you shoot at once? I then get home and my wife asks the same questions...        

I just tell them im like a woman in a shoe store... ive got to try them all out!!

[Two Arrows]

I just shipped a 58" one piece recurve in a normal sized box. In the past, normally I would have been charged around $18.00 to ship, insured for $500, and delivery confirmation. Not this time, about $35.00 to send this one. I'm done sending bows for a while. Maybe this is my bow trading cure (gotta look on the bright side of things).

[myshootinstinks]

Dunno what happened there. USPS started the "shape based" pricing due to the fact that the private airlines charge them, (USPS), the same way. Most priority parcels are shipped on private airliners or on Fed-ex planes.
The additional charge comes into affect when the parcel is very light compared to it's dimensional size.
  I've shipped many bows, guns, etc since the change in pricing structure and have not seen a great increase in cost.
   As far as USPS being a Gov't agency, that it is, but it does not receive tax money and is self supporting.  Which, nowadays, is much more than many private companies can claim.

[Eric Krewson]

I got the same charge as David on one of my recent bow shipping transactions. I thought it was a new change as well until I shipped another bow to the same area of Texas a week or so later and the cost went back to the $12 to $15 I normally pay. Sometimes the guys at the post office get bad info or just make a mistake.

[vermonster13]

I am starting to think the POs computer system is having some issues. After my experience with the online calculator last night.

[SpikeMaster]

I just shipped a longbow yesterday in a 68" X 4" PVC pipe from WV to IN and it only cost about $15 through USPS. I always use USPS. UPS is much more expensive and less reliable.

[George D. Stout]

I've had no trouble either.  I always print the shipping label on my printer.  The post office only scans it in and sends it out.  I have not had the same issues vermonster13 has had.  I sent one last week for about $17.00.

[aromakr]

vermonster:
I ship everything in my business by mail, we have a great Post office, never had a problem. You might try going on line and paying with a credit card, this allows you to print out a paid label then just give it too your postal carrier.

Sorry about the above post, I did it before reading page two and three.
Bob

[vermonster13]

Just got back from my PO and a talk with the floor supervisor. We did the online thing using the dimensions from the receipt. The system for some reason had kicked into dimensional pricing which can happen with lighter weight non-rectangular packages. It shouldn't do that so long as girth and length combined are under 84" combined and the length width are 5" or under(the up charge for 6" and over is minimal) it is a system glitch and can happen online also. They refunded me the error and the supervisor asked that the next time I bring in a tube to have her paged to the front desk to see if they can catch what causes it. They couldn't get it to do it today.

So everything was fixed but if I hadn't followed up I would be out $14.80 that shouldn't have been charged.

[Jon Stewart]

mailed a bow to Iraq a month ago and last week it was standing tall at my door.  It had three red stamps  on it with boxes to check for the reason for the return.  None of the boxes were checked so back to the post office with the bow.  The woman didn't charge me enough postage the first time so I paid the difference and sent it back to Iraq.  This has really been the only problem I have had with them over the past 2 years. UPS is a nightmare to  deal with when shipping overseas.

[buckracks7]

I didn't like the price to ship one day. Took it to 2 other Post Offices, and got 2 different prices. I know you want it in the smallest container possible. USPS is still the only way to go for me.

[George D. Stout]

All's well that ends well 8^).

[WildmanSC]

I buy only 3-PC T/D bows.  I don't have to worry about long packages, tubes or otherwise.  Plus, I prefer the extra weight/mass of the riser in a 3-PC T/D.

Bill