Fed Ex or UPS? 4/20/11
Custom beach scene handmade by Sea Sand Designs
I am a small business however I have to use some big businesses to get my shipping to my clients. Just yesterday I was trying to ship an oversized custom Oval water scene piece to a client in Chicago and went to Fed Ex to take care of this. Now, I had been in before to already check the price, see about a box size and have them pack it for me so as to give the client an accuate quote for the shipping. No big deal. However, when I went back to take care of actually shipping it yesterday, no only was this Fed Ex place out of the large bubble wrap but the box I needed. The clerk explained to me that someone had placed the order but she didn't know when they would be getting it in.
I looked over and saw that the sized box I needed was part of a "box display" and suggested that we just use that box and when the new boxes came in, she could just make a new display box. Her response was that she could not use the display boxes. She told this to me twice! I then asked where the closed other Fed Ex place was and it was across town and down the freeway from me so I then asked where the closest UPS store was. Just my luck, there was one right down the street.
The customer service at this "one man show" UPS store was fabulous. I was a little concerned when I first walked in and saw how the carpet needed a good vacuum from the left over peanuts, scraps of paper and shipping material that was all over the floor but he must have seen my face and commented that his son was going to be coming in soon to take care of the floors. lol.
Not only was I happy with my service but the manager also offered me a small business discount, told me about their account set up program for frequent shippers like myself and then gave me 10% off on top of that. I of course, passed along the shipping discount to my customer in Chicago saving her almost $6! Hey, that is a gallon of gas and a starbucks.
Sorry Fed Ex, UPS is now my preferred shipper! Thanks Brown.