I'm madder than hell

[all-world1]

I've been trying to avoid UPS like the plague, because of their unreasonable cross-border brokerage fees of which I learned the hard way about a year ago.

So when I placed an order with Speedway, I asked them to insert in their shipping documents the statement: "Customer will do his own brokerage" and they correctly documented that. I expected a phone call from UPS once the shipment hit their depot.

Well, whadda ya know....on Friday morning, the UPS truck pulls up in front of the house and the guy charges me the $10 shipping cost plus $40 for the brokerage fee.

I got on the blower and it's almost impossible to find anyone at UPS to complain to. Now the office is closed for the holiday weekend.

 

[rooster57]

Their motto should be (What can Brown Do To You)

 

[der Spieler]

Or: "Oops, I made something brown!"

 

[donsrods]

Something is going on at UPS and it isn't good. We keep getting our packages at work delivered to the wrong places, and we keep getting other peoples stuff. When I called the 800 number the girl I got was obviously very frustrated, and she went on a rant about how she is seeing more and more business go to FedEx because of sloppy service like that. I was almost embarrassed because she went on such a tirade about it.

She left a message for the local supervisor to call me, supposedly within one hour, and that was three weeks ago.

I use FedEx ground whenever I can, cheaper and better service.

Don

 

[all-world1]

I wish you could sometimes specify the shipper you want to use, but a lot of suppliers have a contract with UPS and you have to live with that. I guess the thing to do is to let the suppliers know when the shipper screws up....maybe they will change shippers when enough complaints come in.

 

[putz]

I would tell them if they want your business they have to ship with who you want might cost a little more upfront but not 50 that is ridiculous. Customer relations.

 

[LKE]

Something is going on at UPS and it isn't good. We keep getting our packages at work delivered to the wrong places, and we keep getting other peoples stuff. When I called the 800 number the girl I got was obviously very frustrated, and she went on a rant about how she is seeing more and more business go to FedEx because of sloppy service like that. I was almost embarrassed because she went on such a tirade about it.

She left a message for the local supervisor to call me, supposedly within one hour, and that was three weeks ago.

I use FedEx ground whenever I can, cheaper and better service.

Don

I think alot of this has to do with the local offices. I will not use Fed Ex at all. Ups does my business good. With the only exception being they seem to have a hard time making my pick up on mondays LOL.

For the guy that started this topic, I am in the mail order business. And learned a few things recently about shipping to canada. First, when doing the shipping with UPS supplied shipper software, there are two options for the shipper regarding getting thru brokerage. One is the shipper can make up an invoice thru the software, listing the parts, country of origin, price, etc. Or the second option is they can print out a form, almost like a power of attorney, to let ups handle it. I don't know if I trust ups to have mine and my customers best interests in mind. The second is, that parts going residential get hit with a $40 delivery fee. But not commercial ? So maybe, can you have your parts delivered to a business ?

 

[RPM]

We have had the best luck with UPS. You want some real headaches use the post office. Boy those people have an attitude, no wonder the post office is losing money.

 

[RexRod]

I completely understand your frustration if you don't have a choice in shipping carriers. It's too bad really that some business offer only one or two options.

I know this next part is not helpful to you, but for others here that ship out of the country, this is what I've learned. I have shipped a few things out of the lower 48, and I NEVER use UPS or FedEx. I always use the United States Postal Service. It's about half the price, and I've never had a problem. I've shipped to Canada, U.K., The Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Dubai, and Spain. In fact, my packages get to all of these places in only 5 days. That's only a day or two longer then it can take here in the States! The good old post office comes through for me.

My customers almost always say that customs charged them nothing. Maybe when it's the postal services between two governments, it's somehow different. I do fiddle the paperwork a bit. That seems to help. Also with the postal service in another country, there is no charge for residential delivery. They're coming to your door everyday anyway.

For all my shipping here in the lower 48, I only use FedEx. For some reason, they treat the little guy better. UPS is always 3 to 5 bucks higher in price per package. I have no idea why. Maybe it's a regional thing.

My two cents.

David

 

[putz]

I actually sent speedway a link to this thread so they will know how there customers are treated by UPS. USPS tracking is a real joke to.

 

[der Spieler]

What really chafes me is when shipments come via both UPS and USPS. I ordered some cigars from a company in Tampa. They acknowledge the order and sent me a UPS tracking number. Tracking showed the item had arrived at the hub 40 miles from me at 0430 one morning and was out for delivery. Usually when I get this notification I can expect the UPS truck to pull up about 1:30 pm that afternoon with my item. This day, nothing. I phoned the shipper and he had the same information I had. The next day the package was delivered by a letter carrier for the USPS. I guess my package was "out for delivery" to the nearest post office. This has happened quite frequently but more often with DHL than UPS. And I say ditto to putz. USPS tracking numbers are meaningless.

 

[LKE]

In most cases, usps tracking numbers are not tracking numbers. but delivery confimation numbers. I would choose usps over fed ex anytime. I also ship internationally with USPS. but I only ship small packages internationally.

 

[terrymac]

The real big advantage shipping is that USPS ships everything by air going to Canada and there is no brokerage. That in it self is worth a few more days. UPS delivery time is a joke always "exceptions" and an excuse to stick it to us up here.

 

[all-world1]

Thanks for the constructive input guys, there's some good ideas out there. I actually heard something about getting your package sent to business addresses when using UPS. And thanks for sending this link to Speedway.

 

[Mike]

I've been running the shipping at my day job for 24 years, so I've used them all. And I've heard them all and seen it all, too. I could write a book about some of the tall tales the carriers have told me over the years.

UPS is a PITA. Full stop.

That being said, they carry nearly 100% of our outgoing packages.

I don't have a pick-up contract with FedEx, so if I have something to ship FedEx ground service and schedule the pickup today, they will come after it tomorrow. So that puts me a day behind everyone else.

I had a really great price deal with DHL, but they're history. From here to the east coast, they were always a day ahead of UPS. They were no faster to the west coast, but they were no slower, either.

For those of you living in a remote, rural area, USPS is your best bet. The Post Office will deliver to you, if you have mail. UPS will drag their feet, claiming it is not cost effective to deliver to you, if your neighbors don't have packages. They don't want to drive off the beaten path to deliver to just you. And the Post Office won't ding you for shipping to a residential address.

Each one of the carriers has their strengths, but UPS (sadly) has the best all-around package going. If FedEx could catch up on a couple of their internal services, I would switch to them in a heartbeat.

 

[RPM]

We used the USPS here at RPM for several months. They have lost so much stuff and damaged so much stuff. All of it insured, but we have not gotten a penny back from them. We had several packages that says they were delivered and the customers have not gotten them. So for the few extra that UPS charges it is worth it for the customer service you get after the sale so to speak.

 

[blownt]

I recieve alot of stuff and send alot of stuff and have never had a real problem with either UPS or the USPS. I think UPS costs more and it takes longer than the USPS. If I can fit the part in a USPS Priority Mail box then I will sent it USPS Priority Mail and it is usually delivered within 2 days, 3 at the most. Even 1 day if it is near Texas.

I have had MAJOR problems sending just a friggin letter from the mail drop here at my office building downtown. I have had SEVERAL letters with checks in them take OVER one week to go from here (Houston) to the west coast. When I sent a check to the guy in LA for the jetboat I bought off ebay it took 1 1/2 weeks for him to get the letter. Should have sent it DHL or FedEx overnite.

 

[all-world1]

Update

Finally got hold of someone to complain to at UPS. Told 'em that my documention mentions tha the customer will take care of the brokerage and the customer service agent said that as a one-time good will gesture, they will refund my $40 brokerage fee but future notes should be put on the original invoicing not the waybill. In my case, the note was entered on the original invoice. So I'm not looking forward to any future shipments with UPS....anything's possible.

 

[olblu]

Agree totally about the UPS brokerage fees to Canadians. My wife ordered $19 worth of Steinway pieces from NYC. UPS charged her $21 brokerage fees.
A buddy in Montreal Canada claims that what he did when the UPS guy came knocking was to refuse the package. The UPS guy took it back to the warehouse which is at the airport and my buddy went there to claim it and do his own brokerage - for nothing! He tells me that it was the UPS driver who offered this trick!
Don't know if its really true but you may want to collar a UPS driver one day and ask him about it.
As far as USPS goes I would se it 100% of the time.
BTW I am in Canada if you haven't already figured it out.