Does anyone have any tips on how to get better rates with UPS, DHL, FEDEX or Airborne?

Do they have different tiers? Are their rates negotiable?

Do most FedEx users ship by FedEx Ground?


We ship 95% of our packages via USPS, but we're looking for other options.

Thanks.

DHL and Airborne are the same company now. The discount you get is directly correlated to your volume: the more you ship, the cheaper your rates. UPS will most likely put you on a grid while it's easier to negotiate flat rates with FedEx. Get a rep from each company to visit you so you can discuss options. If you get about 5-10% off on ground, then know that you're doing well.

DJ

Hi,

UPS is pretty sttubborn unless you meet with a rep and can prove what you can do.


Airborne is great. I was with them before switching back to FedEx. Only because FedEx gave us a big discount on shipping and you can usually neg. with them. You just have to talk to your account rep. We get great rates with Fedex

UPS can be a pretty nasty butt when it comes to negotiating better rates, they make you jump through some hoops and make sure its worth it to them, but we have done that and the discounts we got are pretty good and we get free pickup, so were happy.
I haven't negotiated with FedEx yet, but it sounds like they are pretty easy to negotiate with.
I would just contact the national centers and ask them if there are local reps that you can discuss rates with, but you need to be doing business with them first, they won't give you discounts just to get you started.

With UPS... its all about volume. They can setup some incentives, that if you hit certain $ / per week on various shipment types, that you will receive discounts.

They won't really do anything unless they know that you might move some (or all) of the volume to another carrier (or to UPS). I have lost count of the number of reps that we had. Some are good, and some are not.

Personally, I would rather have a good ups driver, than a good rep.

BIG AGREE with NotJeffCarson!
A good driver is much more important than almost anything. We hate the days when our driver is on vacation, in fact we usually go in ourselves to get our boxes before they leave for their deliveries so that we have our stuff early in the morning and not in the afternoon!
The reps don't seem to care too much, all UPS discounts are based on how much business you do with them ($ amount).
I am not sure how FedEx rates for discounts (what they look at), does anyone have experience with this? And does FedEx have free or cheap pickup? And is it every day or do you have to call for a pickup?
thanks

We ship with FedEx and receive the following

5-10% on ground /home delivery
30-40% on Express
41% on international

For pickup they usually have a weekly charge of $12.00, but this can be worked out with the account rep if you can discuss a few things with them

Also, their rates are based on :

1. affiliation with a group (USAA, etc)
2. Volume (packages a month)