Free Shipping - Be Careful!


I want to let our community know that we need to be careful when making purchases and accepting “free shipping”.  Here is the story, I recently ordered a set of KT150s from TubeDepot. I was offered free shipping. I accepted it and wrongly assumed (mistake: never assume) that they would use a reliable shipping carrier to ship their expensive, fragile glass vacuum tubes. A reliable carrier to me, IMO and personal experience means either FedEx (my preference) OR UPS. Did TubeDepot do that? No! They shipped with USPS. The problem is that the tracking number isn’t working. Their is no documentation that USPS took possession of the package. While TubeDepot has a nicely written page describing USPS’ problems they still use them and this information is not readily available on their website. If I had this information at checkout I would have chosen FedEx and paid for it. I suggested to them that they should put a link to this information right on the checkout page where buyers are going to choose their shipping. I think this transparency would empower buyers to make an informed decision, take ownership of that decision, and save the vendor a lot of time with back and forth emails about where the product is and why the tracking isn’t working. Bottom line: free shipping may be bad shipping. Don’t blindly assume that the free shipping method is good. Ask the vendor who they use for free shipping before making your purchase and act accordingly. 
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@oldhvymec regarding Chicago agreed. We have the mayor, police chief, and cook county state’s attorney to thank for that. Personally, I think Chicago should have a curfew and the National Guard patrolling the streets in armored vehicles. Interestingly the murder capital of the US is still St. Louis in terms of #murders/100,000 population. The number one murder capital in the world is Los Cabo’s, Mexico. But this is for another thread on another platform. 
I am waiting for headphones shipped USPS and the tracking tells me they have been delivered. Ah no. Digging deeper on their page it says that the package has been delayed. Ah yes. With any luck it will show up tomorrow. 
Just assume free shipping is always USPS. USPS has been a disaster for me over the past year, lost well over $400 on various packages. Also, free USPS has minimum insurance, if items have any value, never use free shipping. Regardless of shipper make sure items insured for full value. I learned the hard way!
I will just throw this out there since others I feel are trying to invalidate my experience: Prepandemic I sent a headphone cable to Dan Clark Audio (Mr. Speakers at that time). USPS delivered it to the wrong address, could not track what happened and would not stand behind the loss. Fortunately, Dan Clark Audio were good sports. But my experience is USPS gives poor package service and there insurance is worth nothing. That is my experience. Your’s may be different. That’s fine. I reserve my right to use FedEx for my shipping and they have always treated me and my packages well and have given good professional service. 
@sns 1+ unless the vendor specifies what their free mystery surprise shipping is, DITTO!