Beware of UPS

[ray*j*gun]

I'm so angry........ its now 5 deliveries in a row that have come damaged out of the UPS truck. I mean crushed boxes boxes partially open boxes and the last one was crushed and soggy!!!!

One was tossed to me while I was walking up the steps to my house ......the idiot thought throwing a box marked fragile was a joke! I don't know whats going on but I won't be using UPS anytime soon and I have asked B&H and Don Goldberg if they would use USPS in the future which I never had a problem with.

I called to complain and I couldn't get any sort of empathy so I'll be filing claims ... that will be fun! So beware!! A heads up to the members.

[MickH]

They're no better on this side of the pond.

Crushed packaging & broken contents on more than one occasion. I'd never use them out of choice.

[keithdunlop]

The only major problem with switching to the USPS is the lack of tracking. Although I've never had the problems you describe with UPS, I always use FedEx for shipping.

[srtiwari]

Hmm... This just adds to their stellar reputation !
Recently, they delivered a Pizza box to my door. It was empty, but had signs that it had contained a pizza quite recently. The UPS man was speechless, but guessed that someone at their delivery center had ordered and consumed a Pizza the night before. The Ass**** in question then had taken a sticker off another package (waiting to be delivered to me) and attached it to the now empty box, and tossed it into the delivery truck.
When I complained ath the service center, the woman laughingly told me that "the night shift must have had a party the night before !" Thats Customer service for you !!
I agree with your decision.

[Moriturii]

Not so much UPS as the individuals who work there that delivers around your area I would've thought.

[Ducky]

I've never had a problem with UPS.

[wjlapier]

Recently, I had a driver stay and watch me open a box that has a slight ding on it. It was a package from Schouten and the content was very well wrapped and with lots of peanuts.

[wgerrard]

It all depends on the local outfit that actually delivers to you. If you do call to complain, be sure to call that office and speak to your driver's supervisor.

I've had one problem with UPS, quickly corrected, and several problems with FedEx, so UPS is my default choice (I caught FedEx drivers faking failed delivery attempts when I was home at the time they recorded.)

[Rob-F]

UPS="United Package Smashers." Maybe not true in all cases; but certainly true in Raymond's case.

[fbf]

Originally Posted by wgerrard

It all depends on the local outfit that actually delivers to you. If you do call to complain, be sure to call that office and speak to your driver's supervisor.

I've had one problem with UPS, quickly corrected, and several problems with FedEx, so UPS is my default choice (I caught FedEx drivers faking failed delivery attempts when I was home at the time they recorded.)

I agree with above.

I have never had any problem with UPS or USPS but plenty of problems with Fedex.
It's totally location dependent, UPS, USPS or Fedex.

[nikon_sam]

Originally Posted by keithdunlop

The only major problem with switching to the USPS is the lack of tracking. Although I've never had the problems you describe with UPS, I always use FedEx for shipping.

USPS does have Tracking...it's called Delivery Confirmation...it may cost extra but they do have it...

[tjh]

Problems are not only location dependent, they are often driver dependent!

[lilmsmaggie]

Originally Posted by keithdunlop

The only major problem with switching to the USPS is the lack of tracking. Although I've never had the problems you describe with UPS, I always use FedEx for shipping.

Not true. Tracking is available through USPS. Used it many times. As for Brown, I suggest that the OP file a complaint as well as a claim. That's unacceptable service, especially tossing a package to a customer. It also helps to provide photographs with claims. It may or may not help but at least its a source of secondary documentation.

B&H generally uses UPS - but I suppose you can request another carrier such as FedEx. Most businesses will ship via your request - but you have to ask.

Bottom-line: Check with businesses in your area you receive shipments for either USP or FedEx. Find out who they prefer, who they've had problems with, etc.

Get to know your USPS/carrier, UPS/driver. You'd be surprised in the difference getting to know them makes in deliveries.

[lilmsmaggie]

Originally Posted by photomoof

It never seems to work on my shipments, I get a record when they receive the package and one after it is delivered, but I never get any tracking.

You have to ask USPS to provide you with tracking info:

http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm

[Steve M.]

I've never had UPS pay on a damage claim. Never. The way I understand it, the only way they will pay a damage claim is if they packed it. I wouldn't bet that they would though.

USPS will definitely pay damage claims, but w/ them it's all or nothing. They will pay the full replacement price, not damages. Delivery confirmation is not tracking, nor are the insurance numbers. I think the only way to get USPS tracking is Express Mail.

[newsgrunt]

Ordered a custom designed canoe pack. Never delivered via UPS. I was leaving on a canoe trip and needed the pack. He sent out another , same wonderful guys and IT went missing as well. I think he was handcuffed at the time and UPS was his only shipping option. Eventually got the pack but if I ever see this canoe pack on a portage in northern Ontario or the BWCA, I'll know it was stolen and will lay a curse upon the paddler that he fall head to toe into a thicket of poison ivy and have hives the rest of his/her/it's life. Or that the fishing gods laugh at him and curse him with dull hooks. Can ya tell I'm still peeved ?

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Originally Posted by wgerrard

(I caught FedEx drivers faking failed delivery attempts when I was home at the time they recorded.)

FedEx has done the exact same thing to me a couple times, and I refuse to do business with any merchant who insists on them. Freestyle lost $300 worth of film last summer because of the stupidity of FedEx. They were supposed to deliver a box of film on a Friday. I was home ALL DAY and they never knocked on my door. When my son came home from school he found a notice from those lazy f--kers on our front door claiming I wasn't home. I called FedEx and they refused to bring it back that day, and they refused to let me come pick it up from them that day. They said I'd have to wait till the next Tuesday (FedEx Ground don't deliver on Monday), and in the three days I'd have to wait, my box of film would sit in their truck in the 100 degree heat of July in Indiana.

Nope, sorry, I'm not accepting film that's been cooked for three days in 100 degree heat. I told them not to bother delivering it, just return it to the sender as refused. They then admitted to me that it would not go back to Freestyle till after Tuesday! I called Freestyle and told them that Fedex was ruining $300 worth of film and I expected a refund because I didn't want it. I didn't want them to send more film either, I was going out of town the next week and needed the film before that.

Freestyle refunded my money and I bought the film locally because i needed it fast, and FedEx sent them the film back, ruined by heat. Freestyle told me they filed a claim against FedEx because as far as they were concerned, I was right, the film is unusable and not resellable.

[Tim Gray]

I think refusing the package is the key. If it's smashed, don't open it, just refuse it.

I send all my packages to work. At least that way they get delivered on the day that they are supposed to be delivered.

USPS does do tracking, but it's not quite as timely as Fedex and UPS's tracking. It's worth the extra dollar though to make sure that packages are at least nominally delivered.

[SolaresLarrave]

I guess I'm lucky... the UPS man has come to my house so often that one day, when I ran into him while making another delivery (a block away from my house), he gave me the package and I signed the slip right there. The lady who lives in the house in front on where I was standing, thought I was getting her package! Good we know each other and it was easy to explain that "I was just passing by."

I see him often doing his rounds at noon. I waive from my bike and he waives from his truck. Never have I gotten a dinged box or anything.

But I guess it's that our local office has nice, responsible people like the man who covers my house route. He's been at it for years!

[berlincontemporary]

I never had a problem with UPS. Very quick worldwide and excellent tracking. The problem the op describes is related to local individuals. "Beware of UPS" is slightly out of scale...

[Roberto V.]

One time I received a Kodak 3A model C folder that the seller put in a plastic bag and nothing else. Thankfully it wasn't damaged.

I highly recommend DHL. They are always fast, and I've never had an issue with them. I've shipped and received about 7 grand worth of stuff, with no problems at all.

[NickTrop]

Never liked UPS. Don't see the advantage of it over USPS, costs more. Never had an item damaged but the condition of the boxes are better when I receive USPS parcels vs. UPS, which you can count on being smashed, gouged... what have you.

I worked at UPS for a spell in college years ago. Back then (80's) that was a hard but plum job. Benefits, and about $8.00 an hour... unheard of money for a part-time job. I unloaded. Today, I know some kids who work there. The pay is still about the same... and is not much more than minimum wage now. If I was being paid essentially minimum wage to work that hard, I'd have walked off the job in an hour. My guess is that turnover is greater, lower caliber of worker is there who just don't care. It's the difference between paying a decent wage for working like a doq, and being paid minimum wage for it.

That's my take on USP and their deteriorating service...

[andredossantos]

I've had bad experiences with UPS as well.

I used to live in an rowhouse in NYC that was converted to apartments. So we had 3 small mailboxes outside but whomever was delivering couldn't get inside to leave packages unless you happened to be home.

My UPS man would simply ring the doorbell and if you weren't home HE WOULD LEAVE THE PACKAGE RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR, essentially on the sidewalk, in NEW YORK CITY!!!! And we did not have a stoop or a basement where the box could he hidden. Just right there in front of the door on the sidewalk.

I had two boxes disappear due to this inexplicable practice. Why the boxes weren't brought to the depot for pickup is beyond me. It always took weeks for them to investigate and refund
me, too. It was annoying as hell.

[bolohead]

Someone called my office a few weeks back saying that they found some boxes in the middle of the road that had been shipped from our offices. Come to find out, the UPS driver had left the boxes on the back ledge of his truck and driven off. This was the second time that this had happened with the same driver.

I called the local office and talked to the supervisor. They sent a claim specialist out to our office, examined the boxes and gave us a settlement.

On the other hand, I purchased a Hexar AF three weeks ago here on the classifieds. The seller sent it via Priority Mail, which normally takes 3 days max to Hawaii. It still hasn't arrived.

[sepiareverb]

UPS around here is absolutely stellar. I've had three drivers over the last ten years- every one knew me by name when I ran into them in the grocery store or somewhere while they were not at work- one who hasn't been on my route for five years still says hello. Packages have come with some damage from time to time, never anything terrible- never with contents damaged. I've had drivers stop if I was at the gas station when they've got a package for me on the truck and it is going to be all day before they get up to my place. No matter where I've lived I've always had excellent service from UPS.

Until our current Fed-Ex Ground driver I could not get a package delivered to me by Fed-Ex Ground. I'd have to drive to Littleton NH to pick every one up (50 minutes away)- no matter what the weather, no matter what the package. I'd track the thing till it was on the truck and "out for delivery", then there would be a 'Delivery Exception' and I'd have to go get it the next day. Finally we've got a driver who will do his job- actually introduced himself the first time he came up here- even asked where we'd like him to leave something if we were not home.