There are a few ways to ship a single golf club, but few are as affordable or as convenient as ups shipping. Let’s explore the ups options and how much it costs to ship a single golf club via ups compared to other common shipping solutions.
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UPS Global Expedited Shipping
UPS Global Expedited Shipping is pretty self-explanatory; it’s an expedited shipping method that aims to get your goods to your customer (or recipient) in a short amount of time, usually within one to five business days. This is an economical solution for smaller and midsized businesses who may not need the extra protection that standard UPS shipping provides.
UPS Global Expedited Shipping is typically a cheaper option than other shipping solutions because the shipping company doesn’t have to make as many stops along the way to deliver your item to its final destination. The item travels by truck from one of their hubs to your customer (or recipient) in one stretch. This is often referred to as having “one stop shipping.”
One downside to this service is that your customer (or recipient) will have to wait a little longer for the item to show up at their door – sometimes as much as a few days. But given that time and expense are both relative terms, it’s still a viable option for a lot of businesses.
UPS Ground Shipping
UPS Ground Shipping is pretty self-explanatory; it’s ground shipping with delivery by either a truck or an airplane. The ground shipping option isn’t really geared towards golf equipment because it takes more time to arrive at your customer (or recipient) – often one to three business days. This is a more traditional solution and works for a lot of businesses, especially larger ones who need to ship a lot of gear. It’s a secure solution that provides full insurance coverage. But it also comes with some hiccups. For example, if the shipping company encounters extreme weather along the way, it could potentially lose your goods due to delays or damaged in transit. To give you some peace of mind, they also offer an additional layer of insurance coverage that will protect your goods in case of this kind of weather-related mishap.
FedEx 2Day Air
Shipping with FedEx is pretty self-explanatory. It’s the same as FedEx Ground Shipping with the exception that you get a 2-day air option for a faster, more reliable delivery. Since most businesses work Monday through Friday, this is usually the best option for large shipments or deliveries that need to be there by a certain date. But it’s not always the best option. For example, if you’re sending a gift and don’t want to spoil the surprise, FedEx 2Day Air is not the best option because the recipient will have to open the package and find out what is inside. So, in this case, it might be better to go with UPS Ground Shipping or FedEx Standard Shipping.
UPS Air Freight
UPS Air Freight is pretty self-explanatory; it’s an economical air shipping option for businesses that don’t necessarily need the extra protection that FedEx offers. But it does come with a couple of caveats. First, the item has to fit in a container that can be securely packed and tied down. Second, you need to be in a bit of a rush to make this option work for you. Typically, they don’t provide any real time estimates for this service, so you’ll have to make a snap decision at the time of purchase whether or not to take them up on their offer.
USPS Standard Shipping
USPS Standard Shipping is pretty self-explanatory; it’s the standard option for mail-order, internet-based retailers who ship a lot of small items. In this case, it is an economical solution for bigger businesses who don’t necessarily need the additional protection that FedEx and UPS offer. Like other shipping solutions, the item is packed and shipped from one of their distribution centers to its final destination. But USPS offers a tracking number and insurance coverage in case something goes wrong.
One downside to going with USPS is that you have to be in a bit of a rush to make sure that the package is delivered in a secure and reliable manner. The shipping company doesn’t always work on a first-come, first-served basis, so you might have to wait a while for your order to be packed and scheduled for shipping. Once it’s packed and ready to go, it will take at least a couple of days to a week for them to process and deliver your order. During peak periods, it can take even longer.
DHL Global Express
DHL Global Express is a shipping solution that aims to give you the best of both worlds: the security of a major international shipping company while also getting your item to your customer (or recipient) in a timely manner. They specialize in expediting shipping for smaller businesses, so if you’re a reseller who needs to ship a large order, it might be a good option for you. They also provide a tracking number and, in some cases, insurance coverage in case something goes wrong.
UPS Worldwide Express
UPS Worldwide Express is similar to DHL Global Express, except it is a little less expensive and has an additional courier service (more than one) that you can choose from when making the purchase decision. This is a viable option if you plan to ship a large order and need a shipping company that can provide you with additional service levels (such as door-to-door delivery and scheduled delivery dates).
FedEx Smartpost
If you fall into the category of businesses that need to ship items internationally but aren’t necessarily looking to spend a lot of money, you might want to consider FedEx Smartpost. It is an economical solution designed for small and midsized businesses who want to ship items to other countries. But it does come with some drawbacks. First, you need to be in a bit of a rush to make this option work for you. Unlike the other FedEx solutions, Smartpost doesn’t have any predetermined service levels, so it’s up to you whether or not you want to subscribe to this service. Also, if you have a package that is over five pounds (about 2.3 kilograms), it will cost you more to ship it via FedEx Smartpost than it would to ship it through the post office (about $30 versus $25, respectively). Lastly, if you’re going a significant distance (more than 500 miles; 833 kilometers)), you might want to consider the cost of gas, as well as the wear and tear on your car (if you’re driving).
Overall Cost Comparison
To compare the cost of shipping a single golf club via different shipping solutions, we’ll use the example of a driver’s club. This is the most basic type of golf club that you would need to ship in order to play golf. Let’s assume that you have a standard-sized golf bag that holds seven clubs, and you want to ship it through the post office. Here’s how the costs break down (all prices are in US dollars):
UPS Ground Shipping: $35.55
UPS Air Freight: $125.45
USPS Standard Shipping: $38.45
DHL Global Express: $45.95
UPS Worldwide Express: $45.95
FedEx Smartpost: $30.25
To determine the cheapest way to ship your golf bag, you would need to choose between the USPS Standard Shipping and the DHL Worldwide Express options. In this case, the DHL option costs less, but in some instances, UPS Ground Shipping is cheaper depending on the quantity and weight of your order. If you want to find the most economical shipping option for your personal use, you would need to check out the USPS Standard Shipping and the DHL Global Express options. The USPS option is generally cheaper than the DHL one, but it comes with some significant drawbacks. First, you need to be in a bit of a rush to make sure that your mail gets there on time. Second, you have to be careful about what you pack in your bag because if something breaks inside the container, you’re kind of stuck with it (unless you want to buy a new one). In case you’re wondering, the bag I used to take these pictures is a Velocity golf bag, and it retails for about $400. (I’ve included a link to its page on their website, but be sure to check out their inventory because they have a lot of great items at decent prices.)