How To Deal with UPS?

O

OldCorpse

Rockin the Boat
I am at the end of my rope. UPS is so bad on my street in Los Angeles, that it's giving me ulcers. I have yet to receive a UPS package without multiple phone calls and idiocy Every. Single. Time. The building I have my stuff delivered to, has a gate that unfortunately has no phone. UPS drivers for some reason always have my street as the last possible stop on their routs (even though it's right at the border of West Hollywood), and so, officially they're supposed to deliver packages by 7 PM, but they usually do so anywhere between 8-9 PM. Now, I argued and begged on the phone and in chats for them to arrive by 6 PM because I can keep the gate open until then, but after that it gets closed, and I have to wait outside or nearby to open it up for the driver. Except, the driver never tells you exactly when they'll be there - and if you don't happen to stand there, they won't shout out "UPS!" so I can come out running, they'll just stick the notice in the gate and run away... at which point I get to wait - as today - until Monday, or whatever. Meanwhile, how practical is it for me to stand there from 6 pm to 9 pm just waiting for the driver???

I have no such problems with FedEx, because I can call and they always tell me what time the driver will be by (and it's usually in the morning too!). Post Office is the best - no problem, they get into the gate with their own key. OnTrac and other delivery service drivers announce themselves, so I can walk out and open the gate. But UPS, uniquely, is the absolute pits, and I cannot tell you how often I've called and complained and nothing happens - and no, they never can tell me when the driver will be by, and they for some reason don't call the driver (like FedEx does).

So I've given up on UPS. Every chance I get, I try to avoid using them in favor of USPS, or FedEx - even if I have to pay a bit extra. Unfortunately, many stores seem to have contracts with UPS and I can't avoid them.

How do you get good service with UPS - do you have to go down in person and try to find a supervisor and bribe them? I mean I'm just completely out of options - I wish UPS didn't exist. How do you guys do it?
 
More cable stuff?

Where I live, there is a hub or processing center from where all packages are sent out for deliveries. Those that get delayed (for whatever reason) go back there at the end of the business day until they go back out for another delivery attempt on another day. I have driven there a few times in the evening with the yellow slip and personal identification and was given my package. You might check into that.
 
My UPS driver is fine, but I don't have a unique situation like yours. Best bet is to find the nearest Mailbox kind of place and ask them if they'll accept your UPS packages for you without renting a box. Most of them will for a couple bucks per package. There's also a good chance they'll get dropped off there earlier as they'll be getting more stuff.
I live in a nice area, but we get a lot of package theft so a lot of people who work during the day have their packages delivered to one of the Mailbox places.
 
Well, there is a processing center, but it's quite a drive away and a pain to get to. Since I buy stuff online all the time, it's an issue. For years I used a mail box place (ironically called "UPS Store"), where I had all my stuff mailed to, but the building the store was in got sold and the developer is putting up condos there, so I changed the address to this building where I am, and there are no UPS stores nearby (again, I'd have to drive there, which in Los Angeles, I try to avoid as much as I can). So that's why I'm stuck. It's just an unlucky location in the UPS grid - and for some reason FedEx is so much more accommodating. It seems like UPS has the worst customer service of all the carriers (at least in my experience).

Edit: hey Andrius - saw your post right after I posted - unfortunately, a mailbox solution which worked great before, is no longer available to me at a convenience.
 
I remember once running to the door at my apartment building only to see the UPS guy just launch my package over the very high gate. Glad it was a light stand and not an order of bulbs or anything.

Fed Ex always called me when I left a note on the door, and were easy to deal with.
 
here on the east coast, UPS has always been great and Fedex has been terrible, every single time. UPS drivers are incredibly nice and Fedex doesn't seem to care. When a package of mine went out for delivery when it was supposed to be held, UPS coordinated with the driver to wait at a stop so that I could pick it up from them. I was very suprised they would be willing to do this for me and was extremely greatful. Their prices are pretty ridiculous though.
 
Ahahah! At this point I can only laugh through tears. So I got the building management to agree to keep the gate wide open ALL DAY LONG - even though it annoyed other users of the building - just so the UPS driver wouldn't have even an excuse of a problem. Nothing. Then, 7:23 PM I suddenly see the UPS app show - delivery re-scheduled till tomorrow, "because recipient not present"... OK, I was here all day, so WTF??? And then it hit me - a terrible thought. I walk over to the next building in the same complex, that has the same unit number as mine (but different building number) and I see on the door, stuck a UPS notification meant for me. Oh brother - the mouth-breather driver got the wrong building, knocked on the door, got no answer and left a notification. So I guess the last try is tomorrow. If lucky, I'll finally get on Tuesday the microphone that was supposed to be here Friday (already missed using it on a shoot Sunday). Meanwhile good news - the SDHX cards I ordered got here today - DHL had no trouble finding me at all, and delivered right on schedule. No other carrier seems to have a problem, except for UPS. They must get the drivers rejected or flunked out of all the other carriers.
 
Don't get me even started with UPS. I truly hate them from the bottom of my guts!!! Starting from 2500$ monitor insured for 3000$ damaged by the heat in the truck due to incorrect packaging by UPS representative, who suddenly quit the job when dispute was open, and no one had any documentation on him (no money was refunded by UPS end of story), ending with 3000$ laptop with direct signature required which was given to my neighbor with no ID check, who signed as me (incorrectly of course). Opened a case where UPS driver was supposed to randomly come back and find a package. That never happened. Had to bust that f*cker myself to get the laptop (end of the story: got the laptop back and returned the laptop to the store).

I have tons of personal horror stories, and from friends who used UPS to ship thousands of dollars worth of equipment for the shoots.

Switched to FedEx for shipments/deliveries. Will never use UPS unless it's the only option.
 
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