sharp@ksi.cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Maurice Sharp) (12/23/89)
I just thought that I would relate this experience to you. I recently
ordered some memory and some disks from the States. I used a major machintosh
mail order house. When they asked how I wanted it shipped I picked UPS
(United Parcel Service) since I thought they were big, reputable, and safe.
Obviously, they were not. In fact, a few days after I placed my order,
two friends of mine who had also used UPS told me that they were 100%
unreliable. One person had used them twice, both times the package took
considerably longer than normal surface mail. The other person used them
three times. Once he was overcharged by $15, twice he received slow service.
It is now over a month later. I have discovered that the order was
shipped on the 29th of November, and was REFUSED by my university on the
14th of December. I inquired as to why it was refused. Apparently, UPS has
such *BAD* *UNRELIABLE* service and *DAMAGES* so many packages, that our
university refuses to deal with them and automatically refuses parcels from
them.
The bottom line....
Next time the mail order person asks UPS tell them
'Maurice says JUST SAY NO !!!'
thanx for listening to my flames
maurice
Maurice Sharp MSc. Student
University of Calgary Computer Science Department
2500 University Drive N.W. sharp@ksi.cpsc.UCalgary.CA
Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4 ...!alberta!calgary!sharpdks@shumv1.uucp (D. K. Smith) (12/24/89)
In article <2283@cs-spool.calgary.UUCP> sharp@ksi.cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Maurice Sharp) writes: > >.... our >university refuses to deal with them and automatically refuses parcels from >them. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > >Maurice Sharp MSc. Student C'mon, now Maurice... S__t Happens, ya know.... Doesn't the university's attitude seem to indicate a bit of an isolated, closed mind-set?!? It is unfortuante that when a problem occurs it affects a "human individual" (it has happened to me, too) however when one thinks of the volume of freight moving around our misfortunes are but miniscule %'s of %'s. Besides it's the season of to be jolly :-) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dk smith | htims kd -my opinions reflect my opinions. | .snoinipo ym tcelfer snoinipo ym- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
wrp@biochsn.acc.Virginia.EDU (William R. Pearson) (12/24/89)
In article <2283@cs-spool.calgary.UUCP> sharp@ksi.cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Maurice Sharp) writes:
]
] I just thought that I would relate this experience to you. I recently
]ordered some memory and some disks from the States. I used a major machintosh
]mail order house. When they asked how I wanted it shipped I picked UPS
](United Parcel Service) since I thought they were big, reputable, and safe.
]considerably longer than normal surface mail. The other person used them
]three times. Once he was overcharged by $15, twice he received slow service.
]
] It is now over a month later. I have discovered that the order was
]shipped on the 29th of November, and was REFUSED by my university on the
]14th of December. I inquired as to why it was refused. Apparently, UPS has
]such *BAD* *UNRELIABLE* service and *DAMAGES* so many packages, that our
]university refuses to deal with them and automatically refuses parcels from
]them.
]
UPS is a large reliable shipper. I know of none more reliable
for the price. I receive hundreds of packages UPS every year. I have never
had one lost. Your university is the problem, not UPS. If they had
accepted the package, you would have recieved it on time. (And then
there is Canadian customs. I have had trouble with Federal Express getting
through Canadian customs.)papa@pollux.usc.edu (Marco Papa) (12/24/89)
In article <2283@cs-spool.calgary.UUCP> sharp@ksi.cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Maurice Sharp) writes: > I just thought that I would relate this experience to you. I recently >ordered some memory and some disks from the States. I used a major machintosh >mail order house. When they asked how I wanted it shipped I picked UPS >(United Parcel Service) since I thought they were big, reputable, and safe. They ARE. > Obviously, they were not. [...] > > It is now over a month later. I have discovered that the order was >shipped on the 29th of November, and was REFUSED by my university on the >14th of December. I inquired as to why it was refused. Apparently, UPS has >such *BAD* *UNRELIABLE* service and *DAMAGES* so many packages, that our >university refuses to deal with them and automatically refuses parcels from >them. Your University is NUTS! UPS is a VERY reliable company. We've used them for 5 years now and NOT ONE package got lost or damaged. And the shipping time is far better that the US Postal Service (or the Canadian Postal Service for that matter: they won't even allow floppies to be shipped without major hassle). An institution that refuses packages without even checking for damages is what I would call a "bunch of bozos". Period. -- Marco -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "Xerox sues somebody for copying?" -- David Letterman -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
tgelder@silver.bacs.indiana.edu (tim gelder) (12/25/89)
There seems to be a pattern emerging here. I sent some boards by UPS from Indiana to Pittsburgh. A week later a company in NEW JERSEY tells me they have my boards there, with no idea what to do with them. I call UPS, and spend about half an hour convincing them how badly they screwed up and to pick up the boards and deliver them to the right place this time. The only thing they could thing of doing was picking up the boards, returning them to me, and having me pay again to deliver them once again. Ten days later I call to check on progress - and my boards are STILL SITTING ON THE DOCK IN NEW JERSEY! The above routine is repeated once again. Cutting a long story short, my boards eventually arrive in Pittsburgh more than five weeks after they were sent. Not a single apology or explanation from UPS at any stage. The incompetence was staggering, and has caused me massive inconvenience. I have vowed never to use UPS again, and would urge anyone else who cares about their stuff or their time to do the same. At least, if you do use UPS, bear in mind what might happen and how blithely UPS will screw you around when they do fuck up. Tim van Gelder
magik@chinet.chi.il.us (Ben Liberman) (12/25/89)
In article <2283@cs-spool.calgary.UUCP> sharp@ksi.cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Maurice Sharp) writes: > When they asked how I wanted it shipped I picked UPS >(United Parcel Service) since I thought they were big, reputable, and safe. > > Obviously, they were not. > > 'Maurice says JUST SAY NO !!!' UPS is SO reliable that my company STOPPED paying them for extra insurance on shipments ($.25 US for each additional $100.00 of value). The money saved easily paid for all losses during the year (and there was enough left over for a sizable party!) -- ------------ ------------ ---------------------- Ben Liberman USENET magik@chinet.chi.il.us GEnie,Delphi MAGIK
jxf@phobos.cis.ksu.edu (Jerry Frain) (12/25/89)
In article <2283@cs-spool.calgary.UUCP> sharp@ksi.cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Maurice Sharp) writes:
[ blah blah blah I hate UPS blah blah blah ]
Puh-lease people!
Haven't we had enough non-Mac traffic in this supposedly Mac-related
newsgroup for one year (referring to comp.sys.mac stupid flame wars)?
Posting articles to these newsgroups requires a lot of resources
(hence money), and time (for every uninterested person to read far
enough to decide to press 'n').
I suggest creating the newsgroup alt.bash.ups and get articles like
this where they belong -- out of these newsgroups.
Follow-ups to alt.flame (since I can't send them to /dev/null).
Sorry for the interruption, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everybody.
--
Jerry Frain -- Professional Student Kansas State University
Internet: jxf@phobos.cis.ksu.edu Dept of Computing & Information Sciences
BITNET: MUSTANG@KSUVM Manhattan, Kansas
UUCP: ...!{rutgers|textbell}!ksuvax1!phobos.cis.ksu.edu!jxfgillies@m.cs.uiuc.edu (12/25/89)
Maybe your local UPS office has the reliability of the US postal service (ugh). I have never ever heard of UPS giving worse service than the US postal service. I have never ever heard of the US postal service delivering a Next-Day letter on the next day. "Next Day" to the U.S. postal service means "The Next day when we get around to thinking about your package, we'll think about delivering it." I have shipped a few dozen packages via UPS and there has never been a problem. The service has always been cheaper and faster than U.S. snail mail.
ARTABAR@MTUS5.BITNET (12/25/89)
Hmm..been shipping stuff here in the US w/UPS forever...and my mother
sends well over 20 pkgs UPS a day for her employers and has virtually
no problems. Mayhaps UPS-Canada isnt up to snuff as it is here in the US?
Andy
ARTABAR%MTUS5.BITNET@vm1.nodak.edu (Internet)
ARTABAR@MTUS5 (BITNET)knapp@cs.utexas.edu (Edgar Knapp) (12/26/89)
UPS is on the "Black List" of our local Better Business Bureau for being the subject of complaints to which UPS has not replied adequately. Even though I have had no bad experience with them (yet?), I am reluctant to using them in the future in order to make them change their apparently bad habits. But what are my alternatives? Federal mail is slower and more expensive. Comments anyone? Edgar (knapp@cs.utexas.edu)
jjw7384@ultb.isc.rit.edu (Jeff Wasilko) (12/27/89)
In article <7436@cs.utexas.edu> knapp@cs.utexas.edu (Edgar Knapp) writes: >But what are my alternatives? Federal mail is slower and more >expensive. Comments anyone? Unfortunatly, UPS seems to have a corner on the inexpensive-package shipping market. I decided to compare UPS with Federal Express for a package I sent (via UPS) today. The pakage went from Rochester, NY to Culver City, CA and weighed two pounds. UPS --- Standard Ground $2.60 Two Day Air (Blue) $4.00 (Add $4.00 for first pickup during the week. Additional pickups are n/c) FedEx ----- Two Day Standard Air $10.50 (Add $3 for pickup service) We regularly receive packages from UPS from our suppliers (on the order of 5-20 packages a day). I can't think of the last time a package was lost or late getting to us. We have stuff shipped to us standard ground, two-day (blue-label) and one-day (red-label). We also ship a smaller number of packages out via UPS and have not had problems with packages being damaged, late or lost. Now, can we get back to the Mac? ObMac Question: Anyone know of a batch un-binexer and un-stuffer? Jeff
robertt@hpvcfs1.HP.COM (Bob Taylor) (12/28/89)
Sorry to disagree with those that are disagreeing, but UPS to Canada is
risky business. I've never had any problems UPSing in the states, but
have had numerous problems to my parents in Canada:
- it is considerably slower than surface mail
- it is much more likely to get caught in customs (does Canadian
customs harass UPS?)
Note that these are just my observations from my experience. I continue
to use UPS for packages in the states, but good old surface mail to Canada.
Bob Taylor
/* these comments are mine and not my employers */earhard@ug.cs.dal.ca (Mark Earhard) (12/28/89)
In article <7436@cs.utexas.edu> knapp@cs.utexas.edu (Edgar Knapp) writes: >But what are my alternatives? Puralatory ground. Their peopel are friendly, and they get their stuff there ON TIME. If you open an account with them you can probably get some sort of deal, but this I don't know about. We've never had a problem. Mark. -- - Mark Earhard: earhard@dalcsug.UUCP 0123@dalac.BITNET me@dalac.BITNET exithelpstop<ctrl>-zhow do I get out of this @#$%'n thing? Disclaimer: I have no knowledge of any such activity, or operation; nor
lampi@pnet02.gryphon.com (Michael Lampi) (12/29/89)
When I was working at a different company (for seven years) we shipped
almost everything via UPS. Once in a while we had to have a tracer placed on
an item that 'disappeared', but they were always located, with one exception:
a hydraulic cylinder (roughly 60 pounds of steel) never did reappear.
Otherwise, we had EXCELLENT SERVICE from UPS, with over several THOUSAND
shipments made.
Michael Lampi MDL Corporation 213/782-7888 fax 213/782-7927
UUCP: {ames!elroy, <routing site>}!gryphon!pnet02!lampi
INET: lampi@pnet02.gryphon.com
"My opinions are that of my corporation!"janna@gsbmva.uchicago.edu (Janna Ore Nugent) (12/29/89)
In article <8400208@m.cs.uiuc.edu> gillies@m.cs.uiuc.edu writes: > >I have never ever heard of the US postal service delivering >a Next-Day letter on the next day. "Next Day" to the U.S. postal >service means "The Next day when we get around to thinking about your >package, we'll think about delivering it." > I experienced a Christmas miracle; my father sent me a package via next day air on Saturday December 23rd. My postman delivered the package on Christmas day at 2pm. I was in shock...but it was great! Janna
rogerk@mips.COM (Roger B.A. Klorese) (12/29/89)
In article <6907@tank.uchicago.edu> janna@gsbmva.UUCP (Janna Ore Nugent) writes: >I experienced a Christmas miracle; my father sent me a package via >next day air on Saturday December 23rd. My postman delivered the >package on Christmas day at 2pm. > >I was in shock...but it was great! Why? Sunday counts as a day for USPS Express Mail Next Day Air. They were a day late. -- ROGER B.A. KLORESE MIPS Computer Systems, Inc. phone: +1 408 720-2939 928 E. Arques Ave. Sunnyvale, CA 94086 rogerk@mips.COM {ames,decwrl,pyramid}!mips!rogerk "Two guys, one cart, fresh pasta... *you* figure it out." -- Suzanne Sugarbaker
jdu@cbnewsd.ATT.COM (john.d.unruh) (12/31/89)
In article <2511@hudson.acc.virginia.edu> wrp@biochsn.acc.Virginia.EDU (William R. Pearson) writes: >] > > UPS is a large reliable shipper. I know of none more reliable >for the price. I receive hundreds of packages UPS every year. I have never >had one lost. Your university is the problem, not UPS. If they had >accepted the package, you would have recieved it on time. (And then >there is Canadian customs. I have had trouble with Federal Express getting >through Canadian customs.) UPS is certainly a large shipper. I have found that they are moderately reliable and a big pain in the rear to deal with. I had a package lost last year. A friend had a package that was eventually bound for me lost this year. He claims that he has had a lot of problems with UPS shipments from CA. They are a big pain for me because there is not anyone home during the day, and my apartment complex is considered a "bad neighborhood" and they will NOT leave the packages. On the last one, I arranged to be home to receive the package on a certain day, and they agreed to deliver it on that day. They didn't come. I called to arrange to pick it up the next day, and then I had to wait for them to call me back, and then they told me I could go and get it AFTER 3 PM. Under these circumstances, they should have dispatched a truck with just my package to arrive at the time when it was convenient for me (they messed up a whole day for me) regardless of the cost to UPS. Also, they have no interest in working on the problem of places they won't leave packages. The people on the phone don't have authority to do anything (which is typical). I really try to avoid the use of UPS. I agree that the problem mentioned in the base note is a problem with the University, not with UPS. It was probably triggered by excessive damaged packages which UPS would not deal with since someone had signed for it. They damaged something I shipped once and would not make good on the claim. The amount was not enough to make it worth my while to sue them. John Unruh
msmiller@gonzoville.East.Sun.COM (Mark Miller - Sun BOS Contractor) (01/03/90)
I've never had big problems personally with UPS, but a friend of mine
did. He shipped a pair of speakers to himself from Mass. to Calif.
during a temporary transfer and they were slightly damaged in transit.
In the course of (a) getting UPS to inspect the speakers (b) getting
them to admit they had damaged them and (c) getting them to pay a
refund it took about 4 months of phone calls up and down the line. The
worst part - the most brain-dead - though is the fact that they
shipped those poor speakers cross-country about 4 more times because
they kept getting the source and destination addresses messed up. Then
they shipped the check to the wrong place once.
As long as nothing goes wrong, UPS is fine. Heaven help you if
anything goes wrong - you are just somebody else's meal then.
-MSM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mark S. Miller UUCP: msmiller@Sun.COM "In a nation ruled by swine,
################## GEnie: MSMILLER all pigs are upward mobile."
###################################################### - Hunter S. Thompsonbeall@nunki.usc.edu (Judith Beall) (01/03/90)
The problem that I have with UPS's handling of merchandise that is "damaged in shipment" is that you are supposed to tell the delivery person when you receive the package that it looks damaged, otherwise, you really have to fight. And since UPS leaves a lot of packages with people's neighbors or at their doorstep, that makes it even harder to file a claim. I had a small junky stereo that they damaged horribly, but the box didn't look too bad. But even the guy who picks up damaged boxes was impressed. He just looked at it and said "Damn." ALWAYS INSURE EVERYTHING YOU SEND THAT COULD POSSIBLY BREAK! <and insure it for about twice what it is worth, if you feel like the chance is good they might break it...> And make sure you pack everything really well <you might take it to one of those new stores popping up all over that package and send things for you, and insure them> otherwise UPS can simply claim you didn't pack it right and it's your fault.
hankin@sauron.osf.org (Scott Hankin) (01/03/90)
I guess I come to this discussion from a different perspective. Last summer, I had occasion to ship my wife's camera back to the manufacturer for repairs. I sent it through the good old US mail system, even though I had always had very good luck receiving things via UPS. Then the unthinkable happened. The package was lost. I've heard people tell how difficult life was when they had to track down a package sent through UPS. You don't know how lucky you are. The post office won't even talk to you until the package has been lost for a month. It is assumed to still be in transit until then. Then the procedure for locating the package is to fill out an insurance claim form! This goes into the mill for an unspecified amount of time, and assumes that you have the receipts for whatever was sent, in order to establish its value. If not, you have to try and convince them by store price quotes, etc., providing the person handling your case feels like listening. Notice that at no time has anyone mentioned trying to track down the package! There is more pain and suffering you have to go through (including but not limited to getting the signature of the intended recipient on a standard form swearing that they didn't receive the package) but I think you get the drift. The next time I sent a package, I went UPS and it arrived two days later, intact. But if it hadn't, at least there would have been someone to talk to without having to wait a month. And UPS does have a tracking system in place, whatever you might think of its quality. So it could be worse. - Scott PS: By the way, I eventually tracked the package to the manufacturer six weeks after it was sent. The US mail service has not followed up on the loss to this day. ------------------------------ Scott Hankin (hankin@osf.org) Open Software Foundation
roy@phri.nyu.edu (Roy Smith) (01/03/90)
In <7216@chaph.usc.edu> beall@nunki.usc.edu (Judith Beall) writes: > make sure you pack everything really well [...] otherwise UPS can simply > claim you didn't pack it right and it's your fault. What is that supposed to mean? If you don't pack it really well, then you *didn't* pack it right and it *is* your fault. We once had a printer that arrived damaged in shipment by UPS. Why? Well, because the printer was a disaster from the word go and it had traveled back and forth between us and the company we bought it from several times, using the same packaging. Eventually the packaging got so damaged that it no longer protected the contents properly; it's just not made to be reused that many times. It certainly wasn't UPS's fault that the box was torn and the foam stuffing was falling apart. I don't remember how the UPS damage claims were resolved because we ended up telling the company to take the printer back and not to bother sending us the bill. -- Roy Smith, Public Health Research Institute 455 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 roy@alanine.phri.nyu.edu -OR- {att,philabs,cmcl2,rutgers,hombre}!phri!roy "My karma ran over my dogma"