Why would UPS do this?

[Sideshow Spock]

I placed an Amazon order last weekend. The order was split into three different shipments - two via the USPS, and the other UPS.

One of the USPS shipments arrived a couple days ago, the other (if tracking is accurate) will arrive tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the UPS order has gone cross country. The shipment originated in NY (the same state I live in!), was shipped to NJ, and then spent two days traveling to friggin ARIZONA, where it just arrived.

*sigh*

And the weird thing is, I think this was the plan all along. The projected delivery date has always been 12/24, which it still has time to hit, as long as it doesn't detour to, I dunno, Florida or Manitoba the next few days. If it had just traveled from NY or NJ to one of the UPS hubs near me, it woulda been here already.

Reading the boards here and other places, this kind of thing seems to happen fairly often with UPS. Can anyone offer any explanations, or similar stories of their own?

[JPkempo]

SOme one put it in the wrong truck. I've seen it happen before. I had a package coming from Florida to me in Massachusetts came up th cost hit NY than took a left 4 days later it was back in NY.

[batmanmc]

definitly a misrouted packaaage. mike

[Mikey]

I only use UPS when I want my packages to arrive crushed.

[Sideshow Spock]

Update.. after arriving in AZ, the package then began its long trek BACK east. It got as far as Illinois, where it's been sitting and doing nothing (according to tracking) since arriving late nite 12/21.

The delivery date has been changed to January 2. Even if it miraculously got going again on 12/26, I don't know why it would take until 1/2 to get here.

I fired off an angry email to Amazon, where I acknowledged that it was UPS' incompetence at work here, but I still held them responsible for choosing them as their shipping provider. They wrote back a long-winded response (mostly canned I assume), which basically said, "Gee, that sounds terrible. You can always refuse to accept shipment if and when it eventually arrives. We're sorry."

I guess my next step if it doesn't get moving is to contact UPS.

[Hector]

For all the flack the USPS gets, it's so much superior to UPS, it's not even funny.

USPS >>>>>>UPS

[Hulk]

Update.. after arriving in AZ, the package then began its long trek BACK east. It got as far as Illinois, where it's been sitting and doing nothing (according to tracking) since arriving late nite 12/21.

The delivery date has been changed to January 2. Even if it miraculously got going again on 12/26, I don't know why it would take until 1/2 to get here.

I fired off an angry email to Amazon, where I acknowledged that it was UPS' incompetence at work here, but I still held them responsible for choosing them as their shipping provider. They wrote back a long-winded response (mostly canned I assume), which basically said, "Gee, that sounds terrible. You can always refuse to accept shipment if and when it eventually arrives. We're sorry."

I guess my next step if it doesn't get moving is to contact UPS.

Definitely contact UPS. If you get the right person involved, they may have it pulled for express delivery, getting it off a truck and on a plane. Despite their seemingly frequent incompetence, on a percentage basis, I'd take them over DHL or Fed Ex Ground anyday (Fed Ex Home doesn't even deliver on Mondays).

[theantiquetiger]

I only use UPS when I want my packages to arrive crushed.

Filing a claim with UPS AND getting your money back is alot easier than FedEx and about the same as USPS. FedEx is the worst about claims. I have had two with FedEx and lost both and had two with USPS and got my money back. UPS even paid me the replacement value of an item, not just what it sold for on Ebay.

[megozilla13]

I worked for UPS during college as a truck loader and then a sorter and I'm surprised anything makes it in one piece to anyone. From the experience I never use them to ship and try to avoid them as a buyer.

mikej

[batmanmc]

if it hasnt moved since 12/21 that package is probally lost. i would file a claim with ups now. the mail and fed ex claims suck. the ups one is faster and easier. mike

[jds1911a1]

Update.. after arriving in AZ, the package then began its long trek BACK east. It got as far as Illinois, where it's been sitting and doing nothing (according to tracking) since arriving late nite 12/21.

The delivery date has been changed to January 2. Even if it miraculously got going again on 12/26, I don't know why it would take until 1/2 to get here.
:

this is simply a matter of thier business guarantees. 1,2,3 day packages get first placement on outgoing trucks so after they put it in the wrong truck route and it got discoververed in AZ they sent it back. if it was sent standard label there is no guarantee on delivery time (same as USPS) so it got pushed back by all the packages people paid for expidited delivery for for christmas.

[palitoy]

I worked for UPS during college as a truck loader and then a sorter and I'm surprised anything makes it in one piece to anyone.

I had a brief tenure there during college, the guy said "You're hired" before he looked at my application and asked me if I wanted to be a driver. It scared me how desperate they were.

[jds1911a1]

Filing a claim with UPS AND getting your money back is alot easier than FedEx and about the same as USPS. FedEx is the worst about claims. I have had two with FedEx and lost both and had two with USPS and got my money back. UPS even paid me the replacement value of an item, not just what it sold for on Ebay.

excpet UPS is real stingy about packaging if you don't have 3 inches clearance arounf the item and it gets wrecked you are SOL (I had a vintage GIJOE SOTE brit MOC arrive crushed once and that was the answer I got from them

USPS is much more forgiving for senders not protecting the item

[Mikey]

My biggest prob with claiming insur. from USPS.......

True Story .........
I sent a GI Joe Land Adventurer to someone with $50.00 insurance........

It never arrived.

I did the claim...

USPS made me bring in a price guide as to what Joe was worth....

I told them --- I have $50.00 insurance.......

They said, it don't matter.... They need to see a "price guide value"--- and eBay auctions dont count.

All I could find was an old book that had him listed for $40.00

That's all they gave me--- after a waiting time of a month and a half.

Not sure if things have changed.
That happened about 4-ish years ago.

[Sideshow Spock]

The package still hasn't moved in IL, and I emailed UPS this morning with all the necessary information, and my stern request that the package be located and sent to my address via the most expedient method possible. We'll see how that goes before I climb on the phone.

What was in the package? A big bottle of perfume for my wife. Just something silly I tacked on to an order that otherwise consisted of books.

Worse case scenario is the bottle broke, and the aromatic and somewhat soggy package was discarded for containing potentially hazardous materials..