UPS vs. USPS

[Big Frank]

  Those base plates really do look nice.

If I have a choice to get a package in 2 weeks by mail, or 2 days by UPS for the same price, you know which one I prefer and why. UPS has something I just found out about yesterday. If your package is scheduled to go by UPS SurePost to the postal service to deliver, you have the option of paying UPS extra to bring it to you instead. You have to sign up for UPS My Choice to do it, which I did a long time ago. Under Home > Profile > Preferences > UPS My Choice Preferences > Delivery Options > Package Upgrades, your choices are:

1. Automatically upgrade all packages (free for Premium members; { 3.50 USD }for all others)
2. I am not interested in upgrading my packages at this time.
3. Notify me when a package is eligible for upgrade.

It's actually very easy to find it when you fill out your preferences. I don't know how much it costs to be a premium member but I've never paid anything in the time I've had my account.

[billt]

Oh heck yeah Bill.  I've got a polished CZ75...man I'm gonna get some of those base plates.

Bill you got some of the prettiest gun doo dads I know of.  I'm impressed...anything else.

DANG YOU BILL.  I BOUGHT 3 OF THEM AND 1 MATTE.  YOU ARE COSTING ME  MONEY.

NOW.  WHERE IN THE HECK DO YOU GET THE GRIPS FROM ? 

Here is where I get all my CZ grips from. They have them for both the Compact, as well as the Full Size Frame. In both full, and half checkered. If they show "Out Of Stock", they usually restock pretty quickly. If you go with the Cocobolo Grips, don't forget the Stainless Steel Hex Grip Screws. They look so much nicer than those Phillips Heads they ship the gun with. These grips ALL fit properly. And they are all finished on the inside as well, so they won't absorb oils and solvents.

And just a reminder. When you get your polished baseplates, he shines them up pretty well. But I took some Flitz Metal Polish and went over mine with a soft Terrycloth rag before I installed it, and it REALLY got super shiny. (If you don't have any Flitz, Mothers Aluminum Polish works well). If you get any polish in the engraving, it washes right off in soapy warm water. It REALLY makes the gun! You'll be happy.

https://czcustom.com/cz-parts-all/grips.html/

[billt]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R35KUsEL3ds

[billt]

There are also these. But I can't speak for their quality or fit, as I have never bought from them. But they do have some nice looking stuff.

http://www.ksdgripsusa.com/category/cz-75b-85b

[billt]

....UPS has something I just found out about yesterday. If your package is scheduled to go by UPS SurePost to the postal service to deliver, you have the option of paying UPS extra to bring it to you instead....

I try to avoid "dual deliveries" like "Sure Post". (I can't remember what it was called before that). Because it involves 2 carriers instead of one. To me that doubles the chance of a screw up. As I mentioned before, I used to always get my USPS Priority Mail delivery's in 2 days. 3 max. Plus, they will deliver on Saturday's without any additional charge.

But after this, if I have the choice I'll go UPS or Fed Ex. They are a little bit more expensive, and take longer. But I think there is less of a chance of a screw up, or major delay. And if there is a major issue with a lost or damaged package, I think you have a better chance of getting it resolved with the commercial carriers, than you do the Postal Service.

[Sponsor]

[Big Frank]

I try to avoid "dual deliveries" like "Sure Post". (I can't remember what it was called before that). Because it involves 2 carriers instead of one. To me that doubles the chance of a screw up. As I mentioned before, I used to always get my USPS Priority Mail delivery's in 2 days. 3 max. Plus, they will deliver on Saturday's without any additional charge.

But after this, if I have the choice I'll go UPS or Fed Ex. They are a little bit more expensive, and take longer. But I think there is less of a chance of a screw up, or major delay. And if there is a major issue with a lost or damaged package, I think you have a better chance of getting it resolved with the commercial carriers, than you do the Postal Service.

No one ever gave me a choice of whether I wanted dual delivery services. I agree it's 2 times as many chances for a screw up. Or maybe 100 times as many since it involves the post office. I just pay the shipping and they send it however they want to. I was actually surprised to get books by UPS instead of by mail. But they agreed with me when I told them the mail was way too slow the time it took 2 weeks to get my package. And I've gotten packages by UPS on Saturdays without paying extra shipping, but they weren't guaranteed to come on any certain day.

UPS screwed up one time with one of my packages 30+ years ago. No one was home, so instead of leaving my package by the door or behind the house, they decided to leave it with a neighbor. My next door neighbors on both sides and my neighbors across the street were all gone too. So they left my package with someone I never met 2 houses down on the other side of the street. When I didn't get my package I think I called the business (Sportsman's Guide) first and they told me to call UPS. UPS told me when and where my package was dropped off, but the people in that house already moved out and took my stuff with them. I ended up getting another identical package and UPS had to pay for it.

[billt]

........ No one was home, so instead of leaving my package by the door or behind the house, they decided to leave it with a neighbor. My next door neighbors on both sides and my neighbors across the street were all gone too. So they left my package with someone I never met 2 houses down on the other side of the street. When I didn't get my package I think I called the business (Sportsman's Guide) first and they told me to call UPS. UPS told me when and where my package was dropped off, but the people in that house already moved out and took my stuff with them. I ended up getting another identical package and UPS had to pay for it.

That's REALLY bad luck! How long did it take to sort it all out?

[Big Frank]

It didn't take long to get it all sorted out. I told UPS I didn't get my package and soon after they shipped me the replacement. I can't remember how long it took, but it seems like it was only a matter of days before my new box was there. It was only a sleeping bag and a cheap POS butterfly knife so it was no big deal to them. That was the only package for me they ever misplaced. My mail has been lost more times than I can count, but I don't remember if they lost packages too.

It looks like there are 49 UPS shipping places in the city altogether. 40 UPS drop boxes plus 9 other places, including the UPS Customer Center an 8 minute drive away, and The UPS Store that's even closer than that. The nearest drop box is only a mile away. If I need to sign for a package but I'm not home, instead of them trying again the next day, I usually drive out to the UPS customer center to get it. That's where I ship my packages from. Even though the UPS store is only 2.4 miles away it takes 7 minutes to get there. It only takes 1 more minute than that to go 5.1 miles to the customer center.

[alfsauve]

All the common carriers and trucking companies have their good days and bad.  Their good drivers and bad.   

That said, here's my latest via UPS.  A high chair for our lighting director (me).  Needless to say it was missing parts.  Office Deport sent a pickup for it, I didn't even have to print a label.  I did put several layers of tape around it to hold the top closed.  New one arrived today with all the pieces.

[Big Frank]

Geez. I've I don't recall ever having a package from UPS torn up like that. Probably not from the post office either. Sometimes I've had boxes with a hole torn in them, with no damage to the contents. Like someone kicked the box but the hole wasn't actually open, and nothing came out. Sometimes a little worse or with the tape on top torn open, but nothing like that one. BTW, I like getting emails from the post office now with pictures of what's coming each day, but I get things they don't show, or letters come a different day. It seems to work most of the time, and by now I've set my expectations pretty low for the post office, so I'm okay with it.