My problem is that I live in an apartment building on the 3rd.floor with no elevator.Both UPS and the P.O. usually are too lazy to walk up the stairs.I don't know how many times my wife was home all day and no one rings the bell.When I come home after work I'll find a yellow sticker on the outside door saying no one was home and they will deliver the next day.The next day the same thing happens.
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UPS bad real bad
- Thread starter Gunslinger1LA
- Start date
The point about it being up to the driver is definately true, but everyone I know has had no problems with UPS. At least in my home area they will leave your stuff with a neighbor if you aren't there - and fortunately the neighbors are trustworthy. The post office is the one that runs and leaves...unless you do a bunch of paperwork to convince them to let you pick it up at the post office. FedEx is simply too expensive, but they do have good service...
Ok guys, here me out on this one! I can speak first hand form experience about what happens at UPS from a Driver's perspective.....why? Because I have been one for 15 years!
Let me say one thing, "I hear the same comments all day long from customers. I personally, since I have been in the knife business have had more problems with UPS shipments than with USPS or Fedex. Personally, I owuld like to use Fedex on all my shipments, but I really do not think most kinfe buyers want to pay the additional amount for FEDEX.(Do You?)
Anyway..........the pace is more than you can imagine. On an average day, I deliver about 140-150 delivery stops(Stops..not packages) plus I have about 20 pick-up stops. Concerning the discussion about drivers waiting at the door for you to come. Honestly, if the package does not indicate that a signature is required, we do not get one. If it is considered a DR(driver release) neighborhood, we are requirted to leave the package out of sight and out of weather. At XMAS time, I jump up to about 275-350 stops a day.......so you can imagine how long we would be out if we waited for every one to come to the door. Now, I do have certain customers I know that are, disabled, older folks or people I know that just can't bend down to get their package, certainly I wait on them. As far as leaving a $1000 pacakage at the front door, we are only notified of a package value if it exceeds $5000. In other words, we have no idea what the value of each package is. Now, Apt. complex, a signature is a "must". No getting around that.
Here lies a part of the problem at UPS. We have these guys called "Cover Drivers". It means just like it sounds. 5 weeks out of the year when I'm on vacation, a "Cover Driver" takes care of my route. Most of these guys do not really know the area very well, and since it is not a permanent route for them, they really don't give a rip snort about the service they provide. Sad but true..... Remember, this is first hand fellas! My biggest gripw when I ship, is the problems with the tracking system. It is almost worst not knowing where the pacakge is . I had another dealer ship me a knife, I asked for the tracking number and was told there was no record of it. I trusted the dealer and knew he shipped it, but it still showed no scans until I received it.I currently have a 2day air going to CA that is late because of UPS. It ticks me off especially when I decide to upgrade a pacakge so he can get it before the weekend and it gets missorted. It is frustrating, although you are entitled to a refund, but the refund is not really the point.
This is no excuse for UPS guys, but us Drivers are pushed to the max every day. UPS tries to cram 9.5 hours in to 8 hours for most drivers. That is why a lot of guys do not last long after trying to go full-time so they can make the "big-bucks" like America thinks we make.
One thing I can say to dealers is, Do not put anything on your packaging that indicates Knives or Cutlery, request a signature if you feel it is necessary, although I ususally don't, because most of the time you are not home during the day to sign for it anyway. But, most of the theft comes internally and not from the drivers.
Guys, if you ever do get the chance to see your driver, get to know him or her well...You know, in the summertime, when someone gives me a coke or glass of water, it goes a long ways with me.(but, I am not partial....I give great service at UPS just like I try and give my Knife customers.) Unfortunately, there are many drivers that only do what the minimum requirement is...I guess we have that everywhere in America.
I have had no packages lost with UPS so far and 1 with the USPS(geez, just can't beat that $3.20)
Ok, I don't even know if I am still on topic or not, but, that is from an insider at the UPS. You are not the only ones with complaints my friends. I hear it all the time from my customers. Most of my customers like their regular driver, but hate the UPS system!
------------------
Knives & Things
Mike Payne
Let me say one thing, "I hear the same comments all day long from customers. I personally, since I have been in the knife business have had more problems with UPS shipments than with USPS or Fedex. Personally, I owuld like to use Fedex on all my shipments, but I really do not think most kinfe buyers want to pay the additional amount for FEDEX.(Do You?)
Anyway..........the pace is more than you can imagine. On an average day, I deliver about 140-150 delivery stops(Stops..not packages) plus I have about 20 pick-up stops. Concerning the discussion about drivers waiting at the door for you to come. Honestly, if the package does not indicate that a signature is required, we do not get one. If it is considered a DR(driver release) neighborhood, we are requirted to leave the package out of sight and out of weather. At XMAS time, I jump up to about 275-350 stops a day.......so you can imagine how long we would be out if we waited for every one to come to the door. Now, I do have certain customers I know that are, disabled, older folks or people I know that just can't bend down to get their package, certainly I wait on them. As far as leaving a $1000 pacakage at the front door, we are only notified of a package value if it exceeds $5000. In other words, we have no idea what the value of each package is. Now, Apt. complex, a signature is a "must". No getting around that.
Here lies a part of the problem at UPS. We have these guys called "Cover Drivers". It means just like it sounds. 5 weeks out of the year when I'm on vacation, a "Cover Driver" takes care of my route. Most of these guys do not really know the area very well, and since it is not a permanent route for them, they really don't give a rip snort about the service they provide. Sad but true..... Remember, this is first hand fellas! My biggest gripw when I ship, is the problems with the tracking system. It is almost worst not knowing where the pacakge is . I had another dealer ship me a knife, I asked for the tracking number and was told there was no record of it. I trusted the dealer and knew he shipped it, but it still showed no scans until I received it.I currently have a 2day air going to CA that is late because of UPS. It ticks me off especially when I decide to upgrade a pacakge so he can get it before the weekend and it gets missorted. It is frustrating, although you are entitled to a refund, but the refund is not really the point.
This is no excuse for UPS guys, but us Drivers are pushed to the max every day. UPS tries to cram 9.5 hours in to 8 hours for most drivers. That is why a lot of guys do not last long after trying to go full-time so they can make the "big-bucks" like America thinks we make.
One thing I can say to dealers is, Do not put anything on your packaging that indicates Knives or Cutlery, request a signature if you feel it is necessary, although I ususally don't, because most of the time you are not home during the day to sign for it anyway. But, most of the theft comes internally and not from the drivers.
Guys, if you ever do get the chance to see your driver, get to know him or her well...You know, in the summertime, when someone gives me a coke or glass of water, it goes a long ways with me.(but, I am not partial....I give great service at UPS just like I try and give my Knife customers.) Unfortunately, there are many drivers that only do what the minimum requirement is...I guess we have that everywhere in America.
I have had no packages lost with UPS so far and 1 with the USPS(geez, just can't beat that $3.20)
Ok, I don't even know if I am still on topic or not, but, that is from an insider at the UPS. You are not the only ones with complaints my friends. I hear it all the time from my customers. Most of my customers like their regular driver, but hate the UPS system!
------------------
Knives & Things
Mike Payne
- Joined
- May 2, 2000
- Messages
- 86
Thanks for the insight Mike. At least we know 1 good ups driver.
For the first time, ups is starting to p---s me off. I have 5 knives coming to me from Washington State and for the last several days, the tracking system has them sitting in Illinois. The items are being shipped ground if that matters. Maybe this is normal. I sure am hearing bad stories about ups.
I've never seen a package lost in UPS, but I have seen packages misplaced for a few days. I worked shipping at a small clothing manufacturer for a while, and we shipped all medium to large orders UPS. We started shipping small things USPS because it was cheaper, but it took substantially more time. I worked three days a week there, and would have a decent pile of boxes at the end of most days. Being able to leave, and know the UPS driver, who I knew by name and was very reliable, would be there to pick up the packages was a great relief.
That said, I now live in a place where even the post office has a hard time delivering to. I live at the end of a road that only lost pizza delivery drivers end up, and if I had a mail box, it would take a 200 yard walk to pick up mail from it. Since the mail drop is at the entrance to the road, all the houses are unmarked. I have all my mail come to a PO box, and UPS has this small problem about not being willing to deliver to a PO box. I did have one package delivered UPS, and a neighbor was kind enough to bring it over to me. I wouldn't try it again.
Stryver
That said, I now live in a place where even the post office has a hard time delivering to. I live at the end of a road that only lost pizza delivery drivers end up, and if I had a mail box, it would take a 200 yard walk to pick up mail from it. Since the mail drop is at the entrance to the road, all the houses are unmarked. I have all my mail come to a PO box, and UPS has this small problem about not being willing to deliver to a PO box. I did have one package delivered UPS, and a neighbor was kind enough to bring it over to me. I wouldn't try it again.
Stryver
Gollnick
Musical Director
- Joined
- Mar 22, 1999
- Messages
- 29,258
OneStopKnifeShop will ship via USPS. Just ask for it in the "special instructions" section.
Don't get me started on UPS!
Some time ago, somebody posted about an experience he'd had with them. It seems that UPS had opened a package he sent with them. When he complained, they explained that burried deep in the fine print was permission for them to do so and that it was their policy to open all packages sent by individuals to inspect the contents.
I said to myself, "No way! I'm no fan of UPS, but I hate seeing companies smeared online with obviously false charges. I'm gonna get the truth and debunk this lame post." So, I e-mailed UPS's customer service department.
To my utter surprise, the response was, "Oh yes. While we're not quite there yet, our goal is to inspect 100% of packages from individual shippers." So, I asked why. They responsed by saying that they wanted to make sure that the contents did not pose a danger to their employees.
I asked them to, without going into any details, cite a few examples of how package contents had endangered their employees. I also asked why they felt that they were getting all the hazardous shipments. Why don't the USPS, Fed Ex, Emery, Airborne, Pilot, DHL, etc., all also feel endangered? They declined to provide any examples and said that they couldn't comment on other carrier's policies.
The next day, UPS announced that they would no longer carry firearms in their less
expensive, "Brown Label" service, only their considerably more expensive overnight
service. So, I asked them why.
I expected some sort of lame politically-correct reply.
The response was nothing to do with politics and nothing to do with endangering employees. The response was, "there's been to much trouble with employees stealing guns out of shipments. Overnight packages undergo considerably less handling, so there's less of a problem."
I asked if they thought there might be some relationship between employees opening packages and inspecting the contents and employees stealing the contents. The response was, "We've forwarded your suggestions on for further consideration."
Hello?
Would you like to buy a vowel!
It doesn't take a genious put that two-and-two together.
As far as I know, that suggestion of mine has gone nowhere.
So, I will not send anything valuable via UPS. This is a company with an acknowledged employee-theft problem, with management that can't see obvious problems, and with absolutely no customer-service orientation.
------------------
Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
Don't get me started on UPS!
Some time ago, somebody posted about an experience he'd had with them. It seems that UPS had opened a package he sent with them. When he complained, they explained that burried deep in the fine print was permission for them to do so and that it was their policy to open all packages sent by individuals to inspect the contents.
I said to myself, "No way! I'm no fan of UPS, but I hate seeing companies smeared online with obviously false charges. I'm gonna get the truth and debunk this lame post." So, I e-mailed UPS's customer service department.
To my utter surprise, the response was, "Oh yes. While we're not quite there yet, our goal is to inspect 100% of packages from individual shippers." So, I asked why. They responsed by saying that they wanted to make sure that the contents did not pose a danger to their employees.
I asked them to, without going into any details, cite a few examples of how package contents had endangered their employees. I also asked why they felt that they were getting all the hazardous shipments. Why don't the USPS, Fed Ex, Emery, Airborne, Pilot, DHL, etc., all also feel endangered? They declined to provide any examples and said that they couldn't comment on other carrier's policies.
The next day, UPS announced that they would no longer carry firearms in their less
expensive, "Brown Label" service, only their considerably more expensive overnight
service. So, I asked them why.
I expected some sort of lame politically-correct reply.
The response was nothing to do with politics and nothing to do with endangering employees. The response was, "there's been to much trouble with employees stealing guns out of shipments. Overnight packages undergo considerably less handling, so there's less of a problem."
I asked if they thought there might be some relationship between employees opening packages and inspecting the contents and employees stealing the contents. The response was, "We've forwarded your suggestions on for further consideration."
Hello?
Would you like to buy a vowel!
It doesn't take a genious put that two-and-two together.
As far as I know, that suggestion of mine has gone nowhere.
So, I will not send anything valuable via UPS. This is a company with an acknowledged employee-theft problem, with management that can't see obvious problems, and with absolutely no customer-service orientation.
------------------
Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
- Joined
- Apr 10, 1999
- Messages
- 57
Why I don't like UPS...
1. They once "lost" 2 knives from a box that was delivered to my door. It was split open from end to end and the styrofoam peanuts spilling out. Apparently two of the more expensive knives "fell out" and nobody noticed. Yeah, right.
2. They once delivered a box to the wrong street, same address as mine. Luckily the occupant called me and told me he had the box or I never would have known.
3. They once made one attempt to deliver a box then returned it to the sender without leaving any sort of notice. I had to call the sender after waiting two weeks to find out they had it.
4. I ordered a knife that came with a plexiglass case. The case arrived broken. OK, no big deal, stuff happens. I asked the sender for a replacement and pleaded for them to send it USPS. They didn't do USPS. OK, fine. The replacement arrived broken.
Other than that, no problems.
1. They once "lost" 2 knives from a box that was delivered to my door. It was split open from end to end and the styrofoam peanuts spilling out. Apparently two of the more expensive knives "fell out" and nobody noticed. Yeah, right.
2. They once delivered a box to the wrong street, same address as mine. Luckily the occupant called me and told me he had the box or I never would have known.
3. They once made one attempt to deliver a box then returned it to the sender without leaving any sort of notice. I had to call the sender after waiting two weeks to find out they had it.
4. I ordered a knife that came with a plexiglass case. The case arrived broken. OK, no big deal, stuff happens. I asked the sender for a replacement and pleaded for them to send it USPS. They didn't do USPS. OK, fine. The replacement arrived broken.
Other than that, no problems.