Stupid UPS

[cmedin]

I'm waiting for a package of nice gear to arrive via big Brown. As usual, they didn't disappoint: last scan was a 'destination scan' on Friday. Nothing since, no 'out for delivery' like I normally see. I call this afternoon to inquire, and somebody tells me they can tell from the computer that it was 'loaded on a truck this morning and will be delivered today'. OK. 8:30PM rolls around and it is becoming apparent that no UPS truck will show at my house today, when the package was due to be delivered. I call and get a vague 'uhh... it's in Georgia somewhere', and am informed that I can't do a damn thing except wait until tomorrow and then ask the shipper to call them to start a trace on it.

Fine if you screw up--we're all human--but I gather the person I talked to this afternoon actually LIED about it being loaded ('my screen says out for delivery') since the other UPS rep this evening said that hadn't happened.

Hopefully they'll find out where it is, it's some used gear that I found a nice deal on and I'd hate to lose it...

[back alley]

waiting is always the hardest part...except maybe for the saving $$ to buy it part

canada post website says my new domke bag was due for delivery today...well, maybe tomorrow it will show

joe

[dmr]

Having to deal with shipping almost daily, UPS gets it right about 99.9% of the time.

However, when they do foul up, they are the WORST as far as actually doing something about it. I had the most frustrating time back in 2000 when they delayed one box which we needed desparately in setting up for a trade show. We knew it was in the right city, but somehow made it to the wrong depot. All we could do was wait two days for maybe a delivery tomorrow.

I also had them once return a package saying we refused it. The thing is, at the time they said they refused it, nobody was in the mailroom. He didn't get there for another half hour or so.

I always use FedEx when it is critical. DHL seems to have a good track record lately. Well, actually, I haven't had to find out the hard way when either of them misroute something.

[wgerrard]

I've had delayed packages with both UPS and FedEX, but they are rare events. However, it's common for UPS drivers to drop packages without knocking on the door. (Although, I'm not sure they are actully required to do that.) Also, UPS drivers have twice quietly dropped "signature required" packages on my doorstep without making any effort to collect a signature.

FWIW, nothing I've ordered from Amazon -- I'm a Prime member and it's all shipped UPS -- has ever gone awry.

[cmedin]

I have to say that yes, most of the time the UPS stuff isn't bad, but I'm in 110% agreement with dmr that when things DO go bad it's the worst damn company to deal with. A year or so ago I bought a Dell laptop and had it held for pickup at the local office. Called and confirmed that I could pick it up, went there, waited for TWO HOURS (not exaggerating), only to find out they couldn't figure out where it was. Came back next day when it was 'found' only to have the same thing happen again. Eventually got it delivered to my workplace a week or so late.

[cmedin]

Unfortunately it's now considered officially lost. Worst part is the seller underinsured it for some reason, so now I'll have to deal with that on top of not getting the gear I hoped for.

[ywenz]

I've had UPS deliver my package to some church, which was totally not large commercial complex that was my work address. Amazingly, they had the driver retrieve the package from the church at the end of the day.

Amazing that the church gave it back.

[cmedin]

Well, praise the deity of choice; I got a call from a very nice lady at UPS this morning asking me for details on the package contents and then told me she was pretty sure that she had it sitting right there. No details as to where it's spent the past week, but they're sending out to me now so we'll see if it's a) the actual gear and b) not broken.

Nice to see they have friendly and helpful employees as well, not often I seem to run across those when dealing with them.