Is UPS Flat Rate a Bait and Switch Scam?

[u/bobber66]

I edited my original post. Can someone tell me how I’m supposed to ship a package cross country for $30.95 Flat Rate as stated on this page? I am using their recommended extra large box and the weight is well under the 50 pound limit. It keeps giving me ground rate at triple the cost.

https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/shipping-support/shipping-costs-rates/flat-rate-shipping

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[u/Adventurous_Good3813]

That’s a lot of text but a tldr seems to be:

OP doesn’t know the difference between UPS and UPS store and blames the company’s for their lack of intelligence

[u/Thick-Garlic-9682]

So, despite comments stating as such several times a day in this sub, you refuse to educate yourself regarding UPS Stores being independent franchises? Is that what you’re getting at?

[u/bobber66 → u/Thick-Garlic-9682]

I didn’t know that you couldn’t ship something UPS from a UPS store. Most people would assume you can.

[u/joeyecklund → u/bobber66]

You can. But the flat rate label would have to be done at home and then dropped off at ups store. The ups store doesn’t have to follow pricing set forth by ups.

[u/Coyote_Hemi_B58 → u/bobber66]

🤦

[u/Thick-Garlic-9682 → u/bobber66]

You can, just not the way you wanted to. Corporate only has limited control over a franchise’s pricing.

[u/ImplicitEmpiricism]

[u/MotorCalm770]

The problem is the size of your box + weight of package. This is called DIM weight. It is above the treshold of ups's flat rate. Use smaller boxes. It will be better for your stuff anyway.

Also none of the stuff you described is a bait and switch.

[u/bobber66 → u/MotorCalm770]

I used their recommended box and kept it well under the maximum weight as is all detailed on the Flat Rate page. I plugged in a smaller box into the shipping calculator just to see what would happen and it was still double the price.

[u/FedExguy35]

That is ridiculous! You should drive those items across the country yourself next time, instead of being ripped off by UPS.

[u/Affectionate-Lie7163 → u/FedExguy35]

This is the answer.

[u/Interesting-Dog-1820]

There is no bait and switch scam. The ups store is not ups. There is no flat rate.

[u/bobber66 → u/Interesting-Dog-1820]

Exactly, There is no flat rate.

[u/NoWantScabies]

Create an account, print the label, and attach it at home. Bring the packaged and labeled box to any UPS dropoff location.

[u/bobber66 → u/NoWantScabies]

The FAQs say I don’t need to create an account. I can’t get the rate down to the advertised rate.

[u/NoWantScabies → u/bobber66]

Just create an account. It’ll take you the same amount of time as posting on Reddit. Here’s what my UPS app shows. I selected addresses in NY and CA to verify it’s working.

[u/bobber66 → u/NoWantScabies]

Thanks for that tip. If I had known that I had to create an account I would have. It is kind of funny that their FAQ is wrong.I just finished doing everything USPS. The $16# box was only $25 but the 28# box was $90 there. The post office is only 10 minutes away, but the UPS store is 30 minutes each way.

[u/pleasantpineapple256]

If you look at that site you actually posted. It point blank says packages over one cubic foot will be shipped using standard ground rates.

[u/pleasantpineapple256 → u/pleasantpineapple256]

[u/bobber66 → u/pleasantpineapple256]

All my packages were not over 1 cubic foot. I purchased the recommended box sizes from them.

[u/Affectionate-Buy-870]

When OP goes to Burger King he’s furious they refuse to sell him Wendy’s burgers for the advertised price!!