posted
Is it just me or is this the absolute worst company on the planet? They are driving me nuts. Not a single shipment seems to get there without problems, delays, overcharge and what not. I don't even want to go into details of some of the worst stories. No time to type all of that. Calling them is a nightmare. After you click yourself through five minutes of automated answering you finally get to a person who maybe speaks more or less english, has no clue of all the other calls you made before,so that you start your story all over again. Then they will assure you that your parcel will be delivered tomorrow, or they will call you or whatever it is, and it will never happen. After which you start calling them again, clicking yourself though some five minutes of automated anwering, etc. etc... Currently I'm waiting to get a parcel that was sent from Ontario on Feb 25, I'm also waiting since 2 weeks to get a refund on a parcel from the States, because they charged me twice,first to get it through customes(per credit card)and then the same amount upon delivery. The driver refused to leave it if he didn't get a cheque, even though I paid that fee already. Now the thing that grates me the most is that you can't avoid this plague of a company. No one seems to put anything into the mail anymore. I trust the mail system ten times over UPS in reliability. The last time I tried to convince a US company to ship me something in the mail, I was told that they were not allowed to do that because of strict contracts with UPS. Excuse me? When was it that I turned around and missed the hostile takover of the business world by UPS? Signs of the end of the world?
posted
super well packed package, rocking horse inside well padded/braced, carrying handles on box, WELL MARKED FRAGILE!!! arrives in San Francisco busticated!! remember Jim Carrey..Pet Detective??
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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I wanted some airbrush parts sent from USA to Australia.
UPS wanted $180 postage. (yes, one hundred & eighty dollars)
I eventually found the parts at another supplier who used USPS, and bought them- posted here for $19 (yes, nineteen dollars).
The difference is atrocious and illogical.
Those price differences are pretty consistent for overseas postage. I won't buy from any supplier using UPS.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Lotti- I would echo everything you posted, but not about UPS- about FedEx! (Both companies may be a little different in other countries)
We are kinda spoiled here because we have a UPS hub in town, with a direct phone line, workers and drivers know you by your first name, and we can have them hold packages so we can pick them up before 8am...
We can't any kind of decent service from FedUP
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1736 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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I had ordered a part for my lawn tractor and it was shipped DHL. I called the supplier and they said it had been delivered.DHL echoed that statement. A month later a friend of mine was playing Santa Claus and delivered my package.He had found a large pile of DHL parcels which had been dumped at the side of the road in the next county. I called to report the delivery driver and he didn't lose his job over the deal. I have shipped rare seashells to Italy and Japan and USPS is by far the cheapest service.
-------------------- Darcy Baker Darcy's Signs Eureka Springs. AR. Posts: 1169 | From: Eureka Springs, AR | Registered: Nov 2007
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If I ever write a book, it will contain many chapters on my dealings with UPS, FED-EX, and USPS. Over the years, I have encountered just about every excuse in the book from all three. I sometimes think about doing stand-up comedy about their escapades. Some are hilarious, to say the least. But that will have to wait for another day and time. Don
-------------------- Donald Miner ABCO Wholesale Neon 1168 Red Hill Creek Dobson, NC Posts: 842 | From: North Carolina | Registered: Apr 2006
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One of my first tastes of UPS happened almost 20 years ago when they put a hole (forklift?) clean through a sheet of quarter inch polycarb.
-------------------- Frank Smith Frank Smith Signs Albany, NY www.franksmithsigns.com Posts: 807 | From: Albany, NY USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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It's so rare that I ever have a problem with UPS or FedEx. They're prompt and things arrive in good shape, and if they need to leave it when it's wet, they put it on the porch under a tarp. I don't know what it's like everywhere else, but the local drivers are all welcome at my dinner table any time. Sorry it's not going that well with you Lotti.
[ March 12, 2009, 08:55 AM: Message edited by: Rick Sacks ]
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6716 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I've rarely had a problem with UPS in the last 29 years. If there was, it was usually the result of poor packaging to begin with. I did find out in February that a Christmas gift was delivered to my home in a FedEx envelope. Haven't found that one yet, waiting for the snow drifts to melt and maybe it will magically appear.
You'd thing they could have opened the storm door and stuck it there, DUH.
-------------------- Bill Modzel Mod-Zel screen Printing Traverse city, MI modzel@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1357 | From: Traverse City, MI | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'm surprised when I hear about issues with UPS, here I've had good service for 19 years. Occasional problems are usually due to poor packaging. I guess their quality is dependent on the region.
posted
Hey Lotti (and others), I could relate to the UPS complaints. I still work part-time at the local hub and can tell you some horror stories. Needless to say, I ship all my packages via FedEx. In all of my years dealing with these companies, I would say they're all about the same. On a positive note, they have great benefits and that's the main reason why I still work there. So don't complain too much about what they charge
Havin' fun (smashing your packages),
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Sorry to hear you're having problems. I have had an occasional package get routed to the wrong state, but it's rare.
It's Fed Ex that gets me. Had 2 neon signs shipped here. One came fine, the other was busted up badly. The manufacturer packaged these signs so well I couldn't believe one was broken. He declared what was in them, told Fed Ex how they were packaged, paid extra insurance on them.... Fed Ex refused to pay? WHAT?????? You pay for insurance and they just refuse to pay??
I like some of UPS's features. We ship proofs with paint chips to customers all over the country. It's so easy to generate a shipping ticket, and we can choose to have the customer get an e mail when the item shipped and when it has arrived. That one is big for us because a lot of our proofs go to schools so the recipient is not there to receive their package.
But everyone is right, over seas rates are ridiculous. Post office is much better overseas.
[ March 12, 2009, 11:04 AM: Message edited by: Dave Sherby ]
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5397 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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You bring up another point worth noting Dave. Shippers do not offer "insurance". They instead offer "declared value" protection. If these shippers offer insurance, they would be regulated and subject to insurance industry laws, which would require them to may a lot more of their damage claims.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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I've only ever had 1 problem with UPS & it was a dumb holiday driver. My package was put on his truck by mistake. He left it there for 2 days. When I went to UPS, they searched every truck & I heard the woman on the phone to the driver's boss. It wasn't pretty and I'm sure her calling him at home at 8:30 at night didn't make him be nice when he spoke to the driver. They'll hold packages for me, tuck them under the porch & wrap them if I'm not here & it looks like it might think about raining.
FedEx isn't allowed on my property after the driver destroying part of my yard due to his own stupid & arrogance. That's IF he even brings my package to my house. They have been known (& did it to me) to leave packages marked "signature required" on whoever's porch they feel like. Thankfully the neighbor called to tell me they "found" my new laptop on their doorstep when they got home. Nice, huh? I refuse to order from companies that only use FedEx. Dhl, airborne, etc are just as bad and USPS doesn't have real tracking.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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I'm happy ot hear that some of you have good experiences with UPS. I'm still waiting for the latest parcel I ordered back in February. Yesterday I finally found out that it was shipped with UPS and not in the mail. So I tracked the parcel, and what I found out resulted in yesterday's rant. Today it was supposed to be delivered. Well,I just looked at the tracking record and check out the last entry:
REGINA, SK, CA 12/03/2009 12:23 RECEIVER STATED THEY DID NOT ORDER AND REFUSED THIS DELIVERY / RETURNED TO SHIPPER REGINA,
Cool eh? Gotta go, and spend the afternoon on the phone. Good thing I have nothing else to do.
posted
Yup, UPS here in N.W. Florida is very good. Packages are always on time and the driver is friendly. I have his cell number so can call chase him down early any time if I like... never ever have a problem with UPS or him on packages delivered to my workplace....
However, FedEx and DHL absolutely suck. They show up at any hour from 9 AM to about 8 PM... sometimes they don't show up til the next day. A different driver about every other time... DHL is even worse than FedEx.... and like Kissy, both DHL and FedEx have left packages outside the door in the wide open which is stupid down here because it can rain at a moment's notice. Also we have a open bay around the side of our building where they could put the packages under the roof with minimal effort...
I will say this, Lotti... I live in Alabama so have a different UPS driver there... from a different depot. They change drivers more and are not as reliable or on time.... and a couple times the driver has said he could not find my house (pretty much right on the highway) and didn't deliver the package for an extra day or two. I think that is their way of skipping stops when they start getting late....
And God forbid if you should ever have to call UPS customer service. A while back the driver couldn't find our house for two days in a row. It was down to wire and I HAD to have the package THAT day, so I called customer service... they wanted the tracking number to the package, and I told them I didn't have one... the shipper didn't give it to me and they were closed... she was like "Well, I can't look up your package without a tracking number... it'll probably be there today..." I told her the package was supposed to have been at my house 2 days before and there had to be something wrong, and I needed to find the UPS driver and make SURE I got my package today... she was absolutely no help and refused to try to look it up any other way.... was not nice about it either. I got so mad, I ended up cussing her and UPS which is something I don't know if I've ever done on the phone before. She also would not give me the number or put me through to the local depot... said she'd send a note for them to call me... I told I'd tried that before and never heard from them.... didn't this time either.
I drove around until I found the UPS dude and sure enough, it was a new one and he said he had the package for 2 days... I was still mad enough to explain my opinion of their customer service to him and told him how to find my house for next time. He'll probably throw my packages in the dumpster next time he has some for me....
-------------------- Jon Jantz Snappysign.com jjantz21@gmail.com http://www.allcw.com Posts: 3395 | From: Atmore, AL | Registered: Nov 2005
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Good service here if North Florida...My driver waves when we pass of the road, and also gave me his cell number, in case I needed an earlier delivery.
It's been the same guy for 4-5 years...he's the only one who wears shorts in the winter. I think he must be one of those weird Minn. people...somehow oblivious to cold.
Lotti...I reckon the problems you are having, have to do with the border between US and Canada.. and all the paperwork to cross.
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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quote:She also would not give me the number or put me through to the local depot... said she'd send a note for them to call me...
Whaddaya know, I heard this line today. They haven't called yet, should I hold my breath? Last time I clashed with their customer service I heard that line four(4)times from four different people on four different days, and it never happened. I'm sitting here eating chocolate and trying to think happy thoughts.
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6716 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I hear that UPS and FEDEX are going to merge!
They will now operate under the new moniker of FEDUP!
-------------------- Len Mort Signmaker1.com 11 Juniper Drive Millbury, MA 508-865-2382 "A Good Business Sign, is A Sign of Good Business"(1957) Posts: 811 | From: Millbury, Ma | Registered: Dec 2006
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-------------------- Frank Smith Frank Smith Signs Albany, NY www.franksmithsigns.com Posts: 807 | From: Albany, NY USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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When receiving anything from USA..I always specify USPS. If the seller says I ship UPS, I cancel my order.UPS has the gall to charge USURY brokerage fees. If the package comes via UPS, I refuse to accept. Joe Gluchy
-------------------- Joseph Gluchy Montreal, Quebec Posts: 67 | From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Gee, sorry you guys have so much trouble with UPS. They are great here, and I know all my guys by name . . . They deliver in my area after 4pm, so I often meet them at the loading area in the morning and intercept my package so I get my stuff earlier. They like it when I do cause it saves them a stop too.
I think if I had these kinds of repetative problems with them you mentioned, I would call and write the company several times complaining, and even maybe get up a petition with their other customers and give them some of the grief back.
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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