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Free Shipping - Be Careful!

I want to let our community know that we need to be careful when making purchases and accepting “free shipping”.  Here is the story, I recently ordered a set of KT150s from TubeDepot. I was offered free shipping. I accepted it and wrongly assumed (mistake: never assume) that they would use a reliable shipping carrier to ship their expensive, fragile glass vacuum tubes. A reliable carrier to me, IMO and personal experience means either FedEx (my preference) OR UPS. Did TubeDepot do that? No! They shipped with USPS. The problem is that the tracking number isn’t working. Their is no documentation that USPS took possession of the package. While TubeDepot has a nicely written page describing USPS’ problems they still use them and this information is not readily available on their website. If I had this information at checkout I would have chosen FedEx and paid for it. I suggested to them that they should put a link to this information right on the checkout page where buyers are going to choose their shipping. I think this transparency would empower buyers to make an informed decision, take ownership of that decision, and save the vendor a lot of time with back and forth emails about where the product is and why the tracking isn’t working. Bottom line: free shipping may be bad shipping. Don’t blindly assume that the free shipping method is good. Ask the vendor who they use for free shipping before making your purchase and act accordingly. 
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Showing 4 responses by sns

sns
3,003 posts
 
Just assume free shipping is always USPS. USPS has been a disaster for me over the past year, lost well over $400 on various packages. Also, free USPS has minimum insurance, if items have any value, never use free shipping. Regardless of shipper make sure items insured for full value. I learned the hard way!
sns
3,003 posts
 
An undelivered package won't be covered by credit card company if seller can prove they shipped. Doesn't cover delivery services.
sns
3,003 posts
 
Never had a single issue with DHL over many shipments over many years. I used them for all my domestic shipments when they experimented with that service in US. I have account with them, recently received email in regard to domestic shipping within US. Wonder if they're going to reenter that market? DHL best IME.
sns
3,003 posts
 
Yes, USPS major problems at Allen Park Michigan facility last winter, many news stories of trucks filled with mail sitting for 24 hours and more waiting to be unloaded. Sorting machines being removed from various USPS facilities have been responsible for slow downs.
I have clam shell mailbox for my neighborhood, forget about resolution of lost package if your package misplaced in someone else's box!
And then USPS and customs, forget about it! I purchased Technics SP10 MKII few years ago, from Australia, shipped via Australian Post, transferred to USPS upon arrival here. Received the turntable pronto, power supply package lost in Chicago USPS customs for well over two months. Had to purchase another power supply here in US, suddenly Australian power supply shows up, no notification, no tracking! I purchase items from Canada periodically, USPS shipping time all over the place, sometimes may get package shipped from same vendor in few day, other times up to two weeks.

USPS sucks for me, I always pay for upgrade service if item value more than $100. If I had one positive, never received damage package from them, only no package.
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