So here is a little vent of a blog post, but it needs to be done because we here at TWBR have had so many horrible experiences with United Parcel Service (UPS)(aka – brown). Writing tends to be therapeutic for me so here it is. Over the course of the last several months Steve and I have been stocking up on our video equipment and other electronics and gadgets that we will need for the expedition.
On several occasions we have ordered products worth several thousand dollars (i.e. video cameras) which unfortunately were shipped via UPS. All of these high value packages required signatures in order to be delivered. On one occasion, the driver simply left the package on the porch in plain view. Our neighborhood has had problems with people stealing packages from front porches but the UPS driver didn’t seem to care that he was breaking protocol by leaving a valuable package on the porch. Luckily, we came home that day, but what if we had been out of town for the week?
On a separate occasion, we checked to see the status of another valuable package full of sound equipment that had been shipped via UPS. To our surprise, according to the UPS website, the package had been delivered! Of course, the package was delivered to the wrong address and someone completely unrelated to us signed for the package. It took several days to clear that up – browned once again! We have also had UPS drivers leave packages on our porch for people that live 4 houses down the street. I know 3002 York and 3010 York are easily confused but seriously – W.T.F. mate?
For our latest purchase, we requested that the company ship with someone other than UPS given our problems in the past. We indicated that we would even be willing to pay extra to ship via FedEx or DHL if necessary – companies with which we have had no problems. Unfortunately, the only shipping option was with OOPS. The package was another valuable one requiring signature and it was sent on a 3-day delivery schedule. Well sports fans, the package shipped on the 14th of December and did not even make it to Colorado until the 20th – already one day late. It just so happens that not long after it arrived at the distribution center in Denver, a huge blizzard hit. Now, I don’t blame UPS for that, but somewhere between the 20th and the 22nd, the package was placed on a delivery hold due to the weather. We have now had a break in the weather and in the meantime have received packages from both FedEx and DHL and the USPS continues to deliver our mail. However, you guessed it, no package from UPS. It is now the 29th and the last record they have of the package is of it being at the distribution center on the 22nd on a weather hold. That is the only information they have. I would be more than happy to go down to the distribution center myself and save the driver a trip to my house to leave it on the porch, but the problem is, they have no way of telling where in the distribution center the package is. One manager even indicated that it is probably out in a trailer that has been covered with snow and won’t be shipped for another 4-5 days. Obviously the weather had a hand in this, but here we are over two weeks later and a package that was supposed to be delivered in 3 days is now sitting somewhere in the distribution center waiting to be uncovered.
Sorry for the bitch-fest, but UPS totally sucks. Avoid "brown" like the plague. There are several other shipping options out there and although at some times they may be more expensive, at least you know where your package is, can be assured that it will be delivered to the right house, and that your valuable package won’t be left on the front porch for someone to take. No wonder their trucks are painted to look like crap because it reflects their service.
O.K. Denis Miller rant over…
