For The Love Of Port

Do you prefer DHL, FedEx or UPS for shipping of your Port bottles? Please let us know why. Thanks!

Love Fedex overnight.
hate fedex ground

hate UPS overnight
love UPS ground

DHL isn't in the US anymore so a mute point

But who can beat Golden State Overnight (california only) as they ship everything overnight within California for $9 a case (12) of wine!! And the boxes have all arrived without a scratch on them. This is a company that knows how to do things right.

DHL sort of exists in the US still. I got a DHL delivery today. They partner with the USPS for that last mile.

FedEx overnight is fine. I originate some shipments with them each year, but rarely have wine delivered this way. I usually use FedEx Ground and have had all good experiences with this. I don't remember ever getting a wine shipped UPS overnight. UPS ground has generally been o.k., but I had one bad experience with a broken bottle. The delivery man just left the package on my doorstep without getting the required signature. I don't think he wanted to deal with the paperwork of the claim, or angry/disappointed me. For ground shipments I've found the FedEx tracking to be better than UPS.

I have only had good experience with all of these companies.

From reading the responses above it looks like you guys have more choice and control over shipments than we do in the UK. We order wine and pay whatever shipping charge the wine merchant asks for. Occassionally there are a range of charges for fast or slow delivery, but not often. A few days later a box arrives at the delivery address in whatever colour of van/truck the merchant chose to send it by. It is a simple and effective way of doing business.

Do you guys do something different?

Almost all of my incoming shipments are ground, and I've found that both FedEx and UPS do a fine job. I do prefer UPS for ground deliveries because I have two minor complaints about FedEx: their time of arrival can be wildly unpredictable - anywhere from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm - and the FedEx Ground depot is a good hour away from my house. When you're receiving alcohol which requires a signature, that means you're pretty much stuck at home until they show up unless you want to drive an hour each way to pick the package up at the depot that evening.

I prefer FedEx for express shipping only because the depot is less than 10 minutes from my house. If I miss a delivery for whatever reason, I can easily go pick it up that evening so that I don't have to wait for an unspecified delivery time again the next day. The UPS depot (which serves both ground and express) is 25-30 minutes away, so not horrible but not as good as 10 minutes.

I don't like UPS for anything. FedEX all the way for me. I just ship "apple cider".

Moses Botbol wrote:I don't like UPS for anything. FedEX all the way for me. I just ship "apple cider".

I ship yeast samples in a culture medium for analysis

Eric Menchen wrote:

Moses Botbol wrote:I don't like UPS for anything. FedEX all the way for me. I just ship "apple cider".

I ship yeast samples in a culture medium for analysis

Brilliant!

I've been satisfied with FedEx Express (although there have been a couple of nasty experiences with them), FedEx Ground is O.K. but always a gamble, UPS is horrible to deal with - BUT Golden State Overnight is GREAT!!! Nothing but positive things to say about them. If I order the wine on a Monday it arrives on Tuesday morning (at ground rates!). Can't beat that!

Marc

Marc J. wrote: BUT Golden State Overnight is GREAT!!!

I know I wish more retailers here in California would switch to GSO. I love the next day delievery at ground rates.

Andy Velebil wrote:

Marc J. wrote: BUT Golden State Overnight is GREAT!!!

I know I wish more retailers here in California would switch to GSO. I love the next day delievery at ground rates.

A second vote here for GSO!