WHAT has happened to UPS!!!!???

bucephylus · #1 01-04-2008, 11:16 PM

So, many of us are more or less used to shipping via UPS; right?

Well, today they tried to deliver an item to me at 4:30 PM. OK, I was at work. No problem right? Typically, I just call to tell them to hold it and pick it up the next Monday morning.

WRONG.

Now, the main "Customer Service" Center in Mesa AZ is only available for pickups on two days per week - Wednesday and Thursday. And when I call and try to talk to a human being; sorry, that is no longer possible.

Let's do the math - their business is growing at a steady rate, and they are laying off most of their staff (apparently).

Someone is laughing all the way to the bank.

This is very grim. I guess I will have to restrict all business to USPS and DHL. The Bogey Man seems to have gotten the brown truck.

MyUsernameHere · #2 01-04-2008, 11:30 PM

F#$k UPS!!!!

I had the same problem today. Went through the 10 minutes of robot voiced menus trying to set up a pick-up for a package I missed today. When I finally got to the point where I was on hold to talk with an agent they disconnected the phone.

I went through this three times until I finally got a human on the line. He promptly told me that he couldn't help and to hold on until he connected me with someone who could. Guess what? They f#$*ing hung up on me again.

I finally went down to the main hub to talk to a real person who, after I argued with him for fifteen minutes explaining that I wasn't lying about the automated phone number, grudgingly got off his ass and made the two second phone call to have them release my package for pick up latter in the day. He took my phone number, told me that the truck probably wouldn't get back until 8:00pm and said someone would call me and let me know it was ready for pickup. When I asked if they were still going to be open that late, since there was no sign with the office hours posted, he assured me that they would be.

Well, when 8:30 rolled around with no call I drove back down there thinking I'd just hang out if it was going to take a while and what do you know. The customer service center was closed.

That whole organization is a big stinking pile of c@#p!

Dirk Diggler · #3 01-04-2008, 11:39 PM

Well I hate to say it but I trust our good old govt. run system called the USPS. Much faster, cheaper, and they actually will pay claims on damage.
Good luck,
Dirk

Curtybob · #4 01-04-2008, 11:52 PM

I was doing a lot of shipping parts and recieving parts when I was really into computers. UPS has been going downhill for several years. I don't even deal with them anymore unless someone insists upon shipping a part to me with them. Around here, FedEx is usually cheaper, plus there's a hot chick at the local FedEx store that wants my bod. Yeah, I know. I have that effect on people. At least I don't have a big head about how hott I am or anything.

bucephylus · #5 01-05-2008, 12:01 AM

This seems like a rather sudden and drastic change. My last experience with the customer center was last summer. They were great. Something has seriously changed in a very bad way.

I hate sounding negative, but this has bogey man rocket scientist MBA written all over it.

What does MBA stand for, anyhow? Make Bad Assumptions? Messed-up Business Association? Mentally Behind Almost everyone? Me Before All?

My Grandfather ran one of the two major cement companies during the 60's when they were building the Interstate highway system. I know that if he were back here today he would gag at the greed and avarice that are masquerading as business expertise.

Another one bites the dust.

I wonder what will be left standing?

Anyhow, I sent them an email stating rather eloquently that my business will go to USPS, FedEx, and DHL from now on. That ought to fit their Business Plan.

69nites · #6 01-05-2008, 12:04 AM

statistically your packages are more likely to get to you in one piece and on time with UPS than any other shipping system in the world.

they are much more likely to claim you had improper packaging than any other shipper tho.

and I hear internationally they are terrible

just last month I had a shipment I needed and called ups got the location of the driver and picked it up directly from him off the truck. I think your situation may have been an isolated incident or a side effect of losing all the seasonal people when the shipping volume is still higher than average (as it is currently).

bucephylus · #7 01-05-2008, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69nites

I think your situation may have been an isolated incident or a side effect of losing all the seasonal people when the shipping volume is still higher than average (as it is currently).

I wish you were right. However, the website has been changed to coincide with the phone robot - pickups are now only available two days per week at the main distribution center. I get to wait 5 days to pick up the freakin package. What a joke. Why is that? Because someone can't be available at the main distribution center to walk to the Hold room and get the box. Now that is what I call DOWNsizing. All the way down. Straight down the tubes. Flush it.

Cerb · #8 01-05-2008, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

Well I hate to say it but I trust our good old govt. run system called the USPS. Much faster, cheaper, and they actually will pay claims on damage.
Good luck,
Dirk

They aren't cheaper anymore. The United States' Postal Service's prices just skyrocketed lately. I tried to ship a 4 pound box that was about 48"l/w and 4"h recently. I was informed that they are trying to cut back on the amount of large packages moving through USPS and that it would cost $68.

I ran down to Fedex and shipped it for $14.

UPS is a joke, and so is USPS now. Fedex or DHL are the only way to go.

69nites · #9 01-05-2008, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cerb

They aren't cheaper anymore. The United States' Postal Service's prices just skyrocketed lately. I tried to ship a 4 pound box that was about 48"l/w and 4"h recently. I was informed that they are trying to cut back on the amount of large packages moving through USPS and that it would cost $68.

I ran down to Fedex and shipped it for $14.

UPS is a joke, and so is USPS now. Fedex or DHL are the only way to go.

if you want a higher chance of your package being lost or damaged...

statistically of course Fedex is the worst

DHL goes through the USPS system

many FedEx packages go through UPS hubs.

doktorfeelgood · #10 01-05-2008, 12:33 AM

So....basically we're all screwed no matter what carrier we use...? I guess all we can do is have a receipt for actual value and insure it to that amount. And pray real hard that it doesn't get damaged... And gets there "on time"... )-(

Trevorus · #11 01-05-2008, 12:47 AM

I think it's time to drive it myself...

StarscreamG1 · #12 01-05-2008, 01:16 AM

Oh man this is scary. I'm expecting two basses through UPS this month. O_O. I have had horrible luck with FedEx...They lost half of a package of 74 Gran Torino parts I desperately needed...when I called FedEx about it the guy is like 'which package of car parts are we talking about? We have that many broken open!!!!' I was literally speechless for a few seconds. After a few days of diligence they managed to get most of my parts back and reboxed but the one part I needed the most they never found......

Now I'm going to be on pins and needles till my two basses come in.

69nites · #13 01-05-2008, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarscreamG1

Oh man this is scary. I'm expecting two basses through UPS this month. O_O. I have had horrible luck with FedEx...They lost half of a package of 74 Gran Torino parts I desperately needed...when I called FedEx about it the guy is like 'which package of car parts are we talking about? We have that many broken open!!!!' I was literally speechless for a few seconds. After a few days of diligence they managed to get most of my parts back and reboxed but the one part I needed the most they never found......

Now I'm going to be on pins and needles till my two basses come in.

this issue wasn't with the stuff coming in at all.

it's about picking up at the distro center.

your delivery will be exactly the same as before.

bucephylus · #14 01-05-2008, 01:29 AM

Yeah, I agree. IF you are home between 9 and 5, they will probably deliver no problem.

The few of us morons left with straight jobs who work for a living are out of luck.

Of course, they do give you the option of signing off on the slip; that way they can leave your Sadowsky outside your door until you come home. Or until someone else decides they need it. Or you can wait 5 days while it sits around at the "Customer Service" center.

I've probably vented enough. I'll go in to the distribution center on Monday, and see if I can get one of the human beings to help me out. I'll report back on my findings.

StarscreamG1 · #15 01-05-2008, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69nites

this issue wasn't with the stuff coming in at all.

it's about picking up at the distro center.

your delivery will be exactly the same as before.

Sorry. I read the thread and thought that if their pick up is that lousy now, how bad has other aspects of their 'service' gotten and posted thinking on that instead (thinking how bad are they beginning to treat packages etc if their customer service has gone down so badly). I apologize. But I will make double sure I am home when each one is expected in now!

69nites · #16 01-05-2008, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bucephylus

Yeah, I agree. IF you are home between 9 and 5, they will probably deliver no problem.

The few of us morons left with straight jobs who work for a living are out of luck.

Of course, they do give you the option of signing off on the slip; that way they can leave your Sadowsky outside your door until you come home. Or until someone else decides they need it. Or you can wait 5 days while it sits around at the "Customer Service" center.

I've probably vented enough. I'll go in to the distribution center on Monday, and see if I can get one of the human beings to help me out. I'll report back on my findings.

does your place of employment take in UPS daily?

if so you can take it there.

your shipping will also be cheaper.

I did this for a long time when I worked at a CVS Pharmacy.

Also sometimes you can get them to do a later delivery for you if you call and ask them to. I advise always calling don't deal with them via email. Normally if the driver is still out they'll do it.

bucephylus · #17 01-05-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69nites

does your place of employment take in UPS daily?

if so you can take it there.

Thanks, I know that. Those are really good points, Unfortunately, my employer has come under the MBA draconian knife, and as a result, I am no longer comfortable mixing any personal life stuff with work. Zero. I feel like I am living through the Salem witch trials all over again. Mass hysteria in the business sector.

I apologize to those legit MBA's out there for my offhand remarks. I know the degree doesn't frame the person. I was just venting about a lot of extremely poor business decision making I am seeing in favor of ballooning the bottom line (and this UPS change sure looks like one). To me it looks like a bunch of heroin junkies at the business table. But, what do I know? I'm just a lowly PhD.

BillytheBassist · #18 01-05-2008, 09:51 AM

UPS.... Those guys suck. with a capitol suck. They truly are the suckmeisterz. I made an order for some gear for work from a utility safeguard about a week ago. I was supposed to receive the package yesterday. So, as soon as i got home from work i tracked the package online. The status was "out for delivery"....this was at 6:00 pm. So i ate dinner and decided to check it again, and the status said "delivered". So i go outside to check for a package and, no package. I then check delivery details, and it said "package delivered to PORCH in Big spring TX....LOL.....PORCH? Thats the description they use? So obviously the dude left it on a porch somewhere in my city. I called UPS and waited for 13 min. The CSR said "i'm sorry sir....you'll just have to contact the shipper and have them contact us". With no offer to run a trace or help in anyway. This isn't the first time either...... from now on it's Fedex or nothing for me.

fenderhutz · #19 01-05-2008, 09:53 AM

I thought the USPS stations were private now anyway.

Gumby4 · #20 01-05-2008, 09:58 AM

Some insider information:

All shipping companies have an "incestuous" relationship. You really have no idea who touches your shipment from point A to point B.

Customer service for most shipping companies depends on the local office. If the local people are good and competent, then your satisfaction will be high. UPS has had some real problems at the local level, Fedex and DHL have not had that problem (yet).

USPS is really no different. Big city USPS's can be a real nightmare while small town offices are a dream. Not always but surveys often show this trend.

I use both UPS and FedEx, both local offices are great. DHL and USPS.......be afraid, very, very afraid.

Of course, results will vary depending on where you live.