I exclusively use Pirateship now. I have a UPS account, but since the UPS Restructure/Cutbacks they eliminated my “Guy” at depot. I can still drip off, but I cannot get any kind of assistance. You being pushed to UPS Stores, which is the same as going third party like Pirateship.
FedEx and go F themselves. I have had just too many problems over the years that I stopped using them.
USPS is just the most expensive route, and they used to be the reliable route. Now politics have just ruined or at least eroded the system.
I ship from “The Heart of IL” and going West Coast Sucks, East Coast Sucks for certain areas. If your shipping to a rural area, its gonna hurt more. It is what it is.
I am getting ready or what I hope is the last big purge and I’ll use pirate ship. Guitars, Amps. I have a partial garage stall of boxes ready to go.
You want to save money:
Pack it yourself
Get an account
Drop it off, instead of using pickup.
All the extras are extras.