The Bottom Line
For the small business owner, UPS most likely will be more expensive than other shipping alternatives. Although they do offer a variety of e-commerce solutions, most would be cost prohibitive for small businesses. If a UPS Store is located near you, you can take advantage of their packing and shipping service for an additional charge. The only area where UPS would make sense for a small business is if you ship heavy parcels (more than thirty pounds) on a regular basis or have complex international shipping needs.
Pros
- Free package pick up for some services
- Variety of delivery options for overnight service
- Wide range of international shipping services
- Comprehensive website and electronic billing service
- Online/Real-time tracking
Cons
- Generally more expensive (without volume discounts)
- Additional charges may be applied (e.g. “Fuel Surcharge”, etc.)
- ”The UPS Store” has limited locations
- Does not handle letter sized mail
- Drop off boxes are limited to commercial and industrial areas
Description
- Same day, overnight and other delivery times
- Domestic and international delivery services
- Customer package pick-up
- Electronic tracking and billing
- International trade services
- Collect On Delivery (C.O.D.) Service
- Small business loans for growing businesses
- Global freight services
- Transportation management and distribution services
- Specialized industry specific services available
Guide Review - Review: United Parcel Service (UPS)
UPS offers a wide variety of shipping services for businesses. For small businesses, unless you qualify for volume discounts, UPS will most probably be more expensive than the United States Post Office. The only exception to this general rule would be if a significant portion of your shipping consists of parcels over thirty pounds. One area where UPS out performs the competition is in their almost real time tracking system.
UPS does have retail stores called "The UPS Store" that offer a variety of shipping and packaging solutions. Unfortunately the stores have limited locations and are located mostly in major metropolitan and commercial areas. Packaging charges can get to be expensive and a small business owner would be better off buying supplies and packaging your shipments yourself.
If your business is growing rapidly, UPS provides a variety of services that may help you while your business takes off. These services include small business loans, freight services and electronic billing. In addition, a UPS account representative can provide onsite assistance with setting up your shipping strategy.