You know, I found montestruc's declaration that comparing UPS and the USPS led to the inescapable conclusion that private enterprise was inevitably superior laughable at the time. And now I am even firmer in that opinion. My dealings with the postal service have not been entirely without annoyance, but my packages tend to arrive ahead of predicted times, and they're cheaper. Moreover, there's post offices all over. On the rare occasions I've had to pick up a package because of an unsuccessful delivery, all I've had to do is hop one bus, ride maybe 6-7 minutes, and then walk three blocks.
On the other hand, UPS last week tried to deliver a package, didn't find me home, and concluded that I'd moved. Whaaat? I called in and set them straight on that, and they said they'd redeliver on the following Monday. Monday, it gets to be around 6 pm and I conclude, correctly, that no such thing has in fact happened. But I did receive the notice they mailed me about the failed delivery, so I called that number. Turns out the package shipping center never heard anything from the UPS hotline. So they confirm that I haven't moved and make a note that I live in the basement, so the emptiness of the upper house is not an indicator. And then they inform me that they can't redeliver the package because the shipper won't allow them to reschedule deliveries. WTF? Okay, I apparently have to go get the package myself in the remainder of the week. And their location is out in the outer industrial park part of Minneapolis, a two-transfer, hour-and-a-half plus bus ride from me, which ceases to be possible after about 4:30 pm. Luckily I talked a friend into giving me a ride, but still.
Then on Wednesday I ordered the latest Penny Arcade book, Birds are Weird, from Amazon and used my free Prime 2-day shipping. I get home late Friday night expecting to find it waiting on my doorstep. And...no, not so much. What the hell? I go track the package...and it says I've moved. Fucking IDIOTS. I called them again, and confirmed that no, I haven't moved anytime in the last 7 years or so, certainly not twice in the same goddamn month. I have the lady note that a) I have not moved, and b) I'm not usually home during delivery hours, so leave it, on my record. Redelivery is scheduled for Tuesday (apparently it takes an extra day if you call after normal business hours). I made damn sure Amazon didn't have a similarly stupid policy. So here's hoping they haven't fucked it up again.
But seriously....UPS: We Can't Find Our Asses With Our Heads Shoved Up Them.
On the other hand, UPS last week tried to deliver a package, didn't find me home, and concluded that I'd moved. Whaaat? I called in and set them straight on that, and they said they'd redeliver on the following Monday. Monday, it gets to be around 6 pm and I conclude, correctly, that no such thing has in fact happened. But I did receive the notice they mailed me about the failed delivery, so I called that number. Turns out the package shipping center never heard anything from the UPS hotline. So they confirm that I haven't moved and make a note that I live in the basement, so the emptiness of the upper house is not an indicator. And then they inform me that they can't redeliver the package because the shipper won't allow them to reschedule deliveries. WTF? Okay, I apparently have to go get the package myself in the remainder of the week. And their location is out in the outer industrial park part of Minneapolis, a two-transfer, hour-and-a-half plus bus ride from me, which ceases to be possible after about 4:30 pm. Luckily I talked a friend into giving me a ride, but still.
Then on Wednesday I ordered the latest Penny Arcade book, Birds are Weird, from Amazon and used my free Prime 2-day shipping. I get home late Friday night expecting to find it waiting on my doorstep. And...no, not so much. What the hell? I go track the package...and it says I've moved. Fucking IDIOTS. I called them again, and confirmed that no, I haven't moved anytime in the last 7 years or so, certainly not twice in the same goddamn month. I have the lady note that a) I have not moved, and b) I'm not usually home during delivery hours, so leave it, on my record. Redelivery is scheduled for Tuesday (apparently it takes an extra day if you call after normal business hours). I made damn sure Amazon didn't have a similarly stupid policy. So here's hoping they haven't fucked it up again.
But seriously....UPS: We Can't Find Our Asses With Our Heads Shoved Up Them.