Customers concerned with holiday shipping fees, damaged items

Friday, December 12, 2014

A Consumer Reports survey showed that more than half of customers complained of high shipping fees, damaged items and late packages during the holidays.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- As the holidays get closer, those who are sending or receiving packages are worried about high shipping fees, damaged packages and missing items.

Don Migliardi, owner of a packaging store, said he's heard plenty of worries from his customers this season.

"Generally the biggest complaints we have is the condition of a box when it arrives," he said.

Packaging that showed up damages was a problem for half of those customers in a Consumer Reports' survey. But the most common complaint is the high shipping fees.

To find the best deal, Tod Marks, senior projects editor and shopping expert at Consumer Reports, checked out rates for the U.S. Postal Service, Federal Express and UPS.

"We compared the basic price to ship a three pound package from our New York headquarters to Plano, Texas. We shipped it three ways: standard overnight, second day and ground shipment," he said.

The U.S. Postal Service was the least expensive every time. For example, the rate for second-day delivery was about $12 while the FedEx and UPS rates were more than $60.

Another complaint on the survey is that valuable packages are often left outside the front door. That happened to more than half of those surveyed, and about for in 10 have had a package go missing.

"If you're shipping valuable items, you might want to consider insurance," Marks said. "With UPS and FedEx, you're automatically covered for $100. But you can always buy additional insurance if your item is really expensive."

The post office automatically insures most priority mail express shipments for up to $100 as well.

One final complaint on the survey involved unreliable delivery, with 55 percent saying a package wasn't delivered when promised. Migliardi said he advises his customers to ship early if they want a package to arrive on time.

The post office recommends keeping the following deadline in mind if you want a package delivered by Christmas - Dec. 23. That is the last day packages can be shipped using the express service.