JoelKlein
Well-known member
Fair enough.
UPS strikes again
- Thread starter RichF
- Start date
If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).
I have rental camera gear held at the local UPS store for me to pickup. Only problem is that they charge me about $5-$10 to pick it up. It's like having something mailed to you through the Post Office and when it arrives the postman wants an additional fee. Since I live in a quasi-rural area, I can have Fedex/UPS packages sent to the local post office for me to pick up. I lose a day in picking it up due to staffing problems there. Still have to go to a local UPS/Fedex for the return.
UPS Stores are independent franchises.
Our local UPS takes prepaid labeled packages - not happily but does it smoothly. When it comes to their services I find their prices very expensive. Once they boxed up an item for me, cost over $100 for something that normally would cost $20 to ship. Also their box costs are 2x that Office Depot.
While our local USPS service is terrible (mail holds are not honored or mail delivered 2-3 after the hold ends), counter service is not at all friendly, mail delivery is skipped one or twice a week, they do an excellent job delivering Priority Mail packages.
Drivers are Teamsters. Highest paid drivers in the transportation industry. Costs are always passed to the consumer. UPS' delivery performance is over 98% effective. They are currently in negotiations for a new contract. The new Teamster president is playing hardball. Costs are definitely going to increase with the new wage structure, as UPS is a publicly traded company and must satisfy their shareholders.
John Navitsky
Well-known member
Owney
Active member
All of these problems will be history when UPS and FedEx stop free deliveries to individual residences and instead create lockers in every zip code and charge a premium if you want home delivery. They will save millions and thwart porch pirates by eliminating/minimizing home deliveries by having their drivers make one stop to offload all the packages. You heard it here first.
I suspect that the size of locker warehouse would be huge. One locker for every 10 houses? Some packages I get a fairly small, say 8x6x2. Others are 25 or 30" on a side.
The suggestion is interesting but the complexity if large and I am not sure that it would result in a cost saving or an incredible expense.
I live in a safe rural area but for those who live in a more urban environment I’d rather pick up from a locker however than you will have criminals who will rob you from there. I’ll stick with loving way out of town.
I'm wary of all delivery services. Years ago, we ordered a musical instrument for my son, a "college-performance-level" bassoon. Back then, it cost over $12k new, but he got a full scholarship to study Bassoon, tacked on top of his first major, Computer Science, so it was a win overall.
I paid to get upgraded tracking on the shipment, which also required a signature at the destination. I watched the tracking carefully and left work early to be home when they indicated it would be there. To my surprise, the instrument was already delivered when I got home, but was not under the porch, and within two minutes of my taking it inside, a torrential thunderstorm arrived. Nobody signed for it at my house, and it was left out in the elements where it would have been ruined if I hadn't arrived at home when I did. I contacted the carrier and they provided a receipt of the signature upon delivery. My name was spelled out, but nowhere close to being my signature. When I asked them about why it was left out in the yard, they said that since it was signed for, that is the signators responsibility.
Caveat emptor; Q.E.D.
I paid to get upgraded tracking on the shipment, which also required a signature at the destination. I watched the tracking carefully and left work early to be home when they indicated it would be there. To my surprise, the instrument was already delivered when I got home, but was not under the porch, and within two minutes of my taking it inside, a torrential thunderstorm arrived. Nobody signed for it at my house, and it was left out in the elements where it would have been ruined if I hadn't arrived at home when I did. I contacted the carrier and they provided a receipt of the signature upon delivery. My name was spelled out, but nowhere close to being my signature. When I asked them about why it was left out in the yard, they said that since it was signed for, that is the signators responsibility.
Caveat emptor; Q.E.D.
Calson
Well-known member
Something to be aware of is that with expedited shipping via UPS or FedEx the package goes to a east coast hub before heading toward the planned destination. The hubs are located in areas where bad weather is increasingly common as a result of global warming thanks to the energy and meat industries. Often using ground service is a safer bet.
Cameron T
Well-known member
I think you might be over reacting a wee bit there. I'm not sure anyone but you feels that's a legitimate concern.
For most of us, shipping is shipping, and it'll be fine 99.9% of the time regardless of method or company used.
For most of us, shipping is shipping, and it'll be fine 99.9% of the time regardless of method or company used.
in a word, LAZY
Cameron T
Well-known member
I've found shipping really depends on the local end as to how much effort they'll put into things. Last place I lived, UPS was fantastic, so was USPS. Both local guys were great, always cared about handing stuff off and getting signatures. FedEx was the worst, never wanted to use them.
Our local delivery persons are general very good. We have a mail carrier is fantastic, the rest are not so good. We generously gift the good carrier at Christmas. Both Fedex and UPS drivers tend to be friendly and thoughtful. But that could change in a moment,
I think a lot of the UPS people are pissed off (pardon my expression) about the contract and just could care less if they do a good job or not (not all of them!!). They are set to go on strike I think August 1st and it's getting very close. Bottom line is it could get worse unless they sign a nice contract. The 180-600 is shipping in August, it could get really interesting for us all! 
yes it will. My camera store uses UPS though I suspect that they will switch to FedEx at least for a short while. If FedEx performs, they could steal some business from UPS.I think a lot of the UPS people are pissed off (pardon my expression) about the contract and just could care less if they do a good job or not. They are set to go on strike I think August 1st and it's getting very close. Bottom line is it could get worse unless they sign a nice contract. The 180-600 is shipping in August, it could get really interesting for us all!
FedEx haven't been to good around here, actually UPS is better! We order a chest freezer from Home Depot and it came from FedEx busted up. It was easy to see it was and they dropped it by the garage and left. I returned it and they sent a new one and it was busted also just not as bad. Both were via FedEx. If it was damaged when they picked it up from Home Depot they should refuse the order but they obviously didn't care. Such is life these days!
Right now they all are terrible!
Good to know that HD ships large appliances through 3rd party. If I buy one from them, I'll insist on store pickup.
For me and lately, Fed Ex and USPS have been very good locally, and I'd say that UPS has been good, too.
But I'm not using shipping services a whole lot lately, either.
I stated earlier I have had a few problems with UPS and never with FedEx. It just happened again. I bought a refurbished lens from Nikon USA on their ten percent refurbished sale. It said free two day shipping (but did not specify carrier) so I did what I normally do with B&H and had it shipped to a local FedEx Office store, since I wouldn't be home to sign for it. Nikon shipped it UPS and they will not deliver to anyplace other than the recipient's home or office so they are sending it back. The morning after it was supposed to be delivered I went straight to the main UPS hub in Tucson and the woman (who took a while to even show up at the customer desk) confirmed it was being sent back. I called Nikon for redilevery and they said they cannot schedule redilvery but will cancel and refund the order as soon as they get it back. UPS also told me I could NOT have it shipped to a UPS store. Why not? FedEx will deliver to any FedEx Office store or any Walgreens. Since Nikon only uses UPS and I work full time and cannot be home to sign for deliveries, I will never be able to order directly from Nikon again.
Zep33
Well-known member
You can't have it shipped to your workplace?
John Navitsky
Well-known member
it probably depends on what delivery "product" they are using as well as options the shipper has selected. it appears BOTH fedex and ups have options that will NOT allow you to redirect to a store and BOTH have options that will allow it.
i agree this is very annoying, if i want to redirect, let me do so. i understand there is possibly a cost factor, but i'm willing to pay an uplift, and there's probably a chain of custody issue, but the store will sign for it and they can have me sign for it.
i suspect you can minimize your chances of this problem by picking an uplifted shipping product (for those vendors that allow you to do so), and make a comment like "please do not restrict delivery redirection" in the order comments, if they have one.
but yah, annoying
I gave up using the Nikon store a long time ago. They are so restrictive and inflexible that it's more trouble than it's worth. One thing you can do is to set up an account with UPS. Then once the item is in transit you can change the place/time of delivery without even dealing with Nikon.
John Navitsky
Well-known member
i don't know about how nikon ships, but there are definitely selections the shipper can select that you cannot intercept.