SERVICE: UPS WEB SITE: ups.com ONLINE RATE CALCULATOR: Yes HOLIDAY PACKAGING: No ECO-FRIENDLY BOXES: Yes NUMBER OF STORES: 20 in Buffalo area LAST DAY TO SHIP FOR CHRISTMAS: Ground, Dec. 18; Overnight, Dec. 23 DELIVERY ON CHRISTMAS DAY: No COST TO SEND 10-POUND PACKAGE TO COSTA MESA, CALIF.: Ground Rate 7 days $15.18 BEST DEAL: Discount with AAA membership, 15 percent on services and products and 5 percent on shipping
12/01/08 06:42 AM
Comparison shopper / Shipping holiday packages
Short of Santa’s sleigh, what is the best way to deliver your bundle of gifts to faraway places? With billions of boxes and packages flying across the country, is there a shipping service that offers a stress-free holiday experience? As of Jan. 1, 2009, DHL will only be carrying parcels to international destinations, so we focused on three domestic delivery firms. There is a Web site, www.ShipGooder.com , that instantly compares shipping rates at all three. Also Consumer Reports recently rated their performances. If you have a favorite Santa’s helper, please share your holiday shipper stories on our blog at www.buffalonews.com/moneysmart . — James E. Brennan
