Mail Boxes Etc. now to be called the UPS Store

I don't know about UPS Store labeled outlets, but at my local MBE which is owned by UPS I got a tracking number which worked with online tracking. This doesn't mean I wasn't uneasy until the buyer reported everything was in order at his end.

A friend who ships breakable items told me that she had to prove her packaging would survive a 20 foot drop to satisfy UPS insurance requirements. I think a company which plans to drop my goods from 20 ft. doesn't deserve my business.

Hey Y'all,

All of this is why I use the good old U.S. Postal Service. Always have and always will.......John

Yea, but John try dropping off 300+lbs. of speakers at the post office and see how far you get ;) they are good for smaller items but when you need to ship heavy stuff you have to go else where.

Jrwr7 and Tim raise good points. For small items like cables and CDs, its just about impossible to beat USPS. $4.00 plus insurance for 2-3 day service cross-country. Have to go the extra for registered mail or Express if its really high value, tho, since the so-called delivery confirmation is essentially worthless.

I just encountered the new UPS business model today. I went to ship a DAC I just sold at my local UPS depot counter. I haven't been there since the purchase of Mailboxes Etc.

What I found was one clerk serving a room full of customers, where formerly there were two or three. She made a big producion out of checking packages for correct packing. In fact, this seemed to be her major role, aside from collecting money.

In the past, UPS would help beef up the packaging if they could. Now the clerk simply advised people to take their non-compliant packages to the nearest Mailboxes Etc for packing assistance. Of course they didn't mention that it might cost a bit...

Fortunately for me my shipment was packed in original factory boxing, so she couldn't really complain about it.

Watch out next time you bring in a self packed item.