[Boatanchors] UPS trashing - Requium

Fri Dec 21 09:50:56 EST 2018

>"A week later one of my customers called me asking where was his radio.  I
checked his tracking info and it never arrived at the ups shipping center."

Last year, I shipped a very expensive transceiver to NM.  In the past, I
would print two copies of the UPS waybill, leave the boxes in a hidden
section of the front porch (I live in a secure gated community), and the
driver would sign one and leave it at the door.  

This time, a new UPS driver picked up the package, but didn't leave a signed
copy of the acceptance waybill.  After the package left my home, tracking
showed an invalid number.  I went to the UPS regional distribution center as
I knew a phone call would end up with a very unsatisfactory outcome.  I had
no proof whatsoever that the package was accepted by UPS.  If it didn't
arrive, I was on the hook for a missing expensive transceiver and $4K in
cash.  

When I arrived at UPS, I was met with skepticism and claims that people
defraud them like this all time, etc.  There was nothing they would do
except tell me to wait up to two weeks to determine if the package arrived.
Fortunately, it did arrive.  But the experience taught me a very valuable
lesson:

Whether UPS, FedEx, DHL, never leave a valuable package for scheduled
pick-up.  In my neighborhood, security isn't the issue; it's what happens
after the driver picks up the package.  That means every high-value shipment
is now driven by me to the regional distribution facility where I do not
leave until I have a receipt and ink-signed acknowledgment of the F.O.B.  I
now take smartphone photos of the entire box, what's inside the box, and a
photo of the rep signing the acceptance in front of the box.  

Local drop-off at a UPS Store is not an option for me even though it's right
around the corner.  High-dollar insured parcels must be signed by the UPS
driver when s/he gets there between 6-7pm.  I cannot wait that long.  I
would rather drive the extra distance and get it right to the UPS regional
facility for package acceptance.  

Paul, W9AC

-----Original Message-----
From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net
<boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of bill.riches at verizon.net
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2018 9:15 AM
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] UPS trashing - Requium

I repair s Line and R-390A toys and ship 10-15 packages a month. I am a UPS
shipper so I get a good rate.  Sometimes when I miss my ups truck I take
them to Staples as they are a UPS drop off point. I print out and attach ups
shipping labels to the boxes at my shop.  Staples gives me a receipt and I
put it in a folder. Several weeks ago I dropped off two packages at staples.
A week later one of my customers called me asking where was his radio.  I
checked his tracking info and it never arrived at the ups shipping center.
The other package arrived ok. I could not find my receipt for the packages
from staples.  Ooops.  I asked staples for a copy of it and they said that
they do not keep copies or have them in their computer.  The next day I told
my ups driver about it and he said to put in a complaint to UPS.  UPS looked
for the package, could not find it and said no claim.  I talked to my ups
rep and he said no receipt - no claim.  My ups driver made some calls and I
got a call from the eastern region boss and he said he would check it out.

A week later he called back and agreed that if two boxes were shipped at the
same time and one was received by customer, the other should have been also.
He also said - no receipt - no claim - but he would issue a check for half
of the insurance amount - $ 200.00.  I lost $200.00 but it was something and
if I had my receipt I would have probably gotten the full amount.  Still a
shame - my customer lost a nice 32S3 and I lost $200.00.  I did refund the
$400 to the customer.  I have been lucky with UPS - I pack well and over
shipping several hundred 390s and other toys no claims except this one and
was fortunate.  They did not have to pay this - I lost the receipt!

73,

Bill, WA2DVU
Cape May

-----Original Message-----
From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net
<boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Bry Carling
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2018 5:48 PM
To: SGS 126 <brloper at gmail.com>; RAY FRIESS <rayfrijr at msn.com>
Cc: boatanchors <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>; boatanchors at puck.nether.net;
boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net; Boatanchors QTH <boatanchors at qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] UPS trashing - Requium

NOT always! They canpt ask for it back or throw it away if they refuse to
take responsibility. IF you ship very much - then sooner or later you are
going to run into the bad "customer service" side of these companies that no
longer give a hoot about customers. They will only begin to make any honest
effort to help you after you file a complaint with Better Business Bureau.
That is the last line of defence.

My experience with USPS was that they didn't retain possession of the FT920
they trashed a few years ago. They just REFUSED to PAY the claim, even after
your U.S. Senator contacts the USPS swines. UPS routinely denies all claims.
FEDEX conceals their prices and then overcharges up to 40% above their
quoted prices online and their quoted priices given on the phone. Do not
trust them any more like hte old days when they were a decent company.
There is no longer ANY reliable carrier that plays fair. They ALL swindle
customers and they fail to deliver on their promises; taking what they are
not due, and refusing to pay what they owe.

The ethics and moral scruples of Fedex, UPS and USPS at least, are all of
the alley cat variety. I can't speak for DHL, TNT, Greyhound, Purolator,
Aramex etc.  Also, as far as international shipping, unless you are a very
large copany then you and your recipient are going to pay through hte nose
these days if you want to move anything above about 12 ounces
internationally.

I apologize if this is topic drift or covers old ground.

Merry Christmas to all BA ops!

Bry AF4K

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