UPS first tried to cheat ME regarding a valid damage claim on a package of camera items in 1972. I've gotten freight through them longer, but never had damage before that. This is not so much about politics as larceny. They've never shown me anything but indifference and incompetence. And WORSE.
FedEx is largely about avoiding liability lawsuits, and frankly, while I hate it, I also understand that portion of their avoidance. It was startling to me to have to show a driver's license at a business address where my license is on the wall. They were delivering anything to do with a vehicle or driving, and they guy KNOWS me. It's miserable, but it gets done. FEDEX customer service is unresponsive in an UGLY and INSANE way, but better than the scum at United Parcel.
UPS treats small shippers worse than dirt, and rips them off constantly. So I don't deal with the bozos.
On small items, by the way, USPS is very much cheaper. However, the Post Office won't do powder, loaded ammo, primers, or anything remotely related to ignition or explosion. They will do brass and bullets.
Another sad part about United Parcel is the rank stupidity of most of their employees. Not to relay anecdotes, but I've been told the most ludicrous and weird things at "hubs", stuff so ridiculous it boggles the mind. Here in my home town, one absurd idiot opened a supremely carefully packaged, many thousand dollar rifle and very nearly damaged it in his his insane act of "security". I was told, too, many times that "firearms and related items cannot be shipped at all" even by "licensed individuals" and only by "companies". I am BOTH, of course. Among other principles I've learned is that dealing with incompetent, crackpots, the delusional and so on is futile and lowers one's psychological tolerance level artificially.
I've never even heard, in over fifty years, of UPS paying a damage claim to a small shipper without a fight. I ship things because I want them to go places, not to pick fights.
