Power Sellers Unite

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17240 Location: Texas

Starting Oct. 3, consumers who receive online orders via UPS delivery and sign up for the new UPS My Choice program will be able to receive electronic alerts about when their packages will arrive. And for a fee, consumers will be able to request a delivery window of two hours.

UPS has already signed up some retailers for the program, including Liberty Media Corp.’s QVC, the online and TV-based merchant.

“QVC is pleased to be among the first multichannel retailers to bring UPS My Choice to our customers, so they can be notified of incoming packages,” says John Hunter, QVC’s executive vice president, customer fulfillment services. “We know our customers will appreciate and embrace the flexibility to make alternate delivery arrangements and assure their QVC purchases arrive at a time that works within their busy schedules.”

http://www.internetretailer.com/2011/09/19/ups-tries-reduce-delivery-headaches-online-shoppers

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17240 Location: Texas

Update:

"UPS hikes ground service rates 4.9% for 2012"

While the day after Thanksgiving has long served as the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, only a fifth of the top 100 U.S. e-retailers are explicitly promoting Black Friday deals on their e-commerce sites this week. But some large multichannel retailers are offering online shoppers a jump on holiday sales.

Offering consumers the free shipping offers they love promises to become more expensive for online retailers next year. That’s one consequence of the rate increases announced today by United Parcel Service, shipping experts say.

Effective Jan. 2, rates for UPS Ground Service will increase by 4.9%; UPS says that rates overall will increase by 5.9%, but will be offset by a percentage point reduction in the fuel surcharge. The ground service rate increase is the one that will affect most online retailers, says Jeff Ehrlich, president of Fulfillment Plus Inc., a fulfillment services provider.

“For online retailing in general, obviously any cost increase is challenging, and it makes offering free shipping tougher and tougher,” he says. Such increases will likely lead retailers to explore alternative shipping arrangements. That might include working with both a private carrier and the U.S. Post Office; the private carrier might sort and deliver packages to the local post office, which then would deliver the package to the local consumer.

http://www.internetretailer.com/2011/11/18/countdown-black-friday

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17240 Location: Texas

Update:

"UPS Sees Biggest Shipping Week after Last Week's Biggest Shopping Week"

While ComScore said last week was the busiest shopping week of the holidays, UPS said this week would be its biggest shipping week, calling it "Peak Week."

UPS said it was ready to handle the big holiday rush this week and expects to make over 120 million deliveries worldwide over the next six days. It expects this Thursday, December 22, to be its busiest day of the year, when almost 26 million packages will be delivered, or almost 300 every second. UPS also expects several other days to reach 25 million deliveries this week.

http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y11/m12/i20/s03

elpereles · Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 1478 Location: Puerto Rico

Yeah, also they will ready to get more package is the USPS disappear one of these days.

luckyalive · Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 589

"Yeah, also they will ready to get more package is the USPS disappear one of these days."

I don't think so.

If you think first class mail is expensive now - try paying a minimum of $5-6 for a letter or small package that weighs a couple of onces should UPS take this over. Of course they can't legally take it over since USPS by law has a monopoly on 1st class mail. Of course $5-6 would be the minimum as they would have to price it according to shipping zone.

Also say goodbye to media mail - nope you will have to pay much higher zone based fees.

If you want a discout from UPs you'll need to have a daily pickup account with a minimum dollar amount - you fail to meet this minimum you pay full retail later.

A few years ago UPs generally was cheaper above a certain shipping weight, but now when I look at rates UPS Ground is often twice as much as Parcel Post. I've frankly dropped UPS - I've shipped 2 packages in last couple years.

While the post office offers thousands of centers to do business at, UPS typically operates local centers that are often only open a few hours each day. So the only alternative is to take your package to Staples and drop it off and obtain a receipt - more of my time down the drain. At my local post office I drive up to the back door and upload a whole car load at once onto a cart.

USPS needs reform yes, but going away would mean seriously financial damage to the nation. That's why anthrax was sent via USPS - economic terrorism.

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17240 Location: Texas

Update:

"That shipping rate hike may be higher than it appears"

Shipping rate hikes announced annually by United Parcel Service of America Inc. and FedEx Corp. average about 4.9%, according to the companies. But a recent review of those delivery services’ many rate categories by shipping consultants LJM Freight Auditing and Consulting finds that many shippers, including online retailers, face rate hikes this year of between 6.5% and 8.8%.

The average 4.9% rate increase, which UPS and FedEx typically announce in the fall and start in January, is an overall average based on shipping one pound through 150 pounds to every possible shipping area within eight general zones, says Ken Wood, president of LJM. “There is not a shipper in the U.S. who fits that shipping profile,” he says.

Following are average ground service rate increases from UPS and FedEx as compiled by LJM by parcel weight range:

● 1-5 pounds, 7.9%

● 6-10 pounds, 7.5%

● 11-20 pounds, 7.1%

● 21-30 pounds, 6.4%

● 31-70 pounds, 4.6%

● 71-150 pounds, 2.7%

Following are average air services rate increases from UPS and FedEx as compiled by LJM for level of service:

● Next day air, early morning, 6.5%

● Next day air, 7.6%

● Next day air saver, 7.6%

● Second day air, morning, 6.4%

● Second day air, 7.3%

● 3 day select, 7.9%

Following are some of the percentage increases in UPS and FedEx accessorial fees as compiled by LJM:

● Residential air, 9.1%

● Residential ground, 4.1%

● Residential 100 pounds, 8.3%

● Delivery area by air, residential, 9.1%

● Delivery area, commercial, 8.1%

● Delivery area, extended residential, 8.3%

● Delivery are, extended commercial, 8.1%

● Additional handling, 6.25%

● Large package, 10%

● Collect on delivery, 4.85

● Delivery confirmation, signature required, 7.7%

● Delivery confirmation, adult signature required, 5.9%

http://www.internetretailer.com/2012/02/07/shipping-rate-hike-may-be-higher-it-appears

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17240 Location: Texas

UPS Seizes on New Package-Delivery Trend for Online Retailers

UPS is getting in on a new trend in ecommerce logistics with its acquisition of Belgian firm Kiala, a firm that provides convenient delivery options to busy consumers purchasing goods over the Internet.

Kiala launched in 2001 as a private firm and currently operates in five countries: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Spain. It has developed a platform that enables ecommerce retailers to offer their shoppers the option of having goods delivered to a convenient retail location.

http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y12/m02/i16/s03