Is It That UPS Hates Me, Hates Buffy, Or Hates Both of Us? by Groosalugg

BUFFYVERSE

Is It That UPS Hates Me, Hates Buffy, Or Hates Both of Us?

POSTED BY: GROOSALUGG
UPDATED: Wednesday, July 4, 2007 08:45
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 4203
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Friday, May 4, 2007 5:26 PM

...'Cause I get, not a lot, but a 'decent' amount of stuff thru UPS, and had probably had maybe two minor problems in, like, the last five years... and now this is TWO MONTHS IN A ROW they've screwed up with my Buffy comic!

Last month, they delivered it to the wrong house, and it took the neighbor two days to finally bring it over--so instead of getting it on a Thursday, I got it on Saturday.

This month, well, the tracking site said it was scheduled for delivery today, May 4. Should've been on a truck from one regional facility (in NY) to another (in RI) last night, out for delivery this morning. But wait--I check it this morning, and see this:

MASPETH, NY, US - 05/03/2007 - 10:58 P.M. - THE PACKAGE WAS LEFT IN A UPS FACILITY CAUSING THIS DELAY; FORWARDED TO THE FACILITY IN THE DESTINATION CITY

So some idiot (

) obviously didn't put it on the truck last night like he was supposed to. But hang on, it gets better. They actually DID get it on the truck tonight, so you'd figure it'd arrive at the next stop and be put on a truck for local delivery tomorrow morning, right? WRONG!! It's now re-scheduled for delivery May 7--MONDAY!!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but they DO deliver on Saturdays, don't they?

I swear, I'm gonna order issue #4 from the same place next month, but if UPS makes it 3-for-3, I'm gonna look around for someplace that'll ship USPS. I'm paying $4.75 shipping (the only option this particular comic dealer offers), and I'm getting THIS kind of service?! This is ridiculous...

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Friday, May 4, 2007 5:49 PM

SIGMANUNKI

I understand your frustration; wrong house == no excuse. But, the delivery date. That really depends on what shipping method was used.

For instance, if you ordered it using, say, 1-5 day shipping and it says the delivery date will be in 3 days, you can't really complain if it shows up on day 4 or 5. Logistics are typically fluid within the guaranteed time frame. Also, computers only know what they're told and "hiccups" do occur. The world isn't perfect, especially when it comes to the computer world.

Regarding the Sat delivery. It's an extra:

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/shipping/time/service/value_added/ind
ex.html

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Friday, May 4, 2007 8:54 PM

GROOSALUGG

Okay, thanks for the heads-up about the Saturday thing. But just like with being delivered to the wrong house, there's no excuse for some tool not putting it on the truck last night like he was supposed to. Fact is, it was originally scheduled for a May 4 delivery, and now it's gonna be May 7.

This is my fourth month (3 Buffies, plus another comic the previous month) ordering from this place, and each time it's taken only one day to get from NY to RI. It's got nothing to do with the type of shipping involved--UPS simply screwed it up. No two ways about it.

It just really

's me, 'cause I've spent a month looking forward to it... especially over the last few days, when I was anxiously waiting for it, practically counting down the days 'til it arrived on Thursday or Friday. I'm now jealously looking at the number of replies in the "Season 8, Issue #3" thread, wishing I could join in, but not wanting to be spoiled

.

ARGH! Another 3 days...!!

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Saturday, May 5, 2007 2:54 AM

JWHEDONADDICT

If it means anything to you, mine is being sent through USPS 1st class/Priority Mail. I received an email Thursday from the site I ordered them from telling me that my order was sent that day and would arrive in 2-4 business days. Unfortunately, I'll never know if anything happens to it because there's no way I can track it because there's no tracking number. If there's another way, I haven't found it yet.

**************************************
"Drew isn't that talented. He just gets away with stuff because he's cute."--David Fury on Drew Goddard
"Our fate has to be our own, or we're nothing."--Angel
"In Joss We Trust."

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Saturday, May 5, 2007 4:23 AM

CLJOHNSTON108

Are these comics only available via mail order?

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Saturday, May 5, 2007 8:08 AM

JWHEDONADDICT

No, but some of us don't live near or know much about the comic book stores in our areas.

**************************************
"Drew isn't that talented. He just gets away with stuff because he's cute."--David Fury on Drew Goddard
"Our fate has to be our own, or we're nothing."--Angel
"In Joss We Trust."

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Saturday, May 5, 2007 9:48 AM

SIGMANUNKI

@Groosalugg:

In all seriousness, and I don't mean to be a dick about this, but I really do think that you being irrational.

You see, everything that they do is an estimate. Sure, they've gotten really good at it over time, but it is still an estimate. All they have to go on is past data, and that certainly is _not_ a perfect method for predicting things. From time to time they /will/ be wrong.

All that's really needed for a package to not make it on a truck is being at the bottom of a larger than average pile and/or to have more 1 day shipping than normal which _will_ bump any 1-5 day shipping and/or... In other words, there are more ways than one that a package doesn't make it onto a truck. Not to mention that trucks have a /finite/ amount of space. So, any real amount of deviation from average can result in delays. Now, whether these delays cause something to actually be late is another matter. And you have yet to show this.

And ~$5 shipping. You probably got the cheapest one. Which, from what I recall of UPS's site, is the slowest method (1-5 day shipping). Thus, the only thing that UPS guarantees is delivery within 5 days. Past ship times are moot.

I actually ran into this type of "problem" a few years ago when I worked at FedEx doing tech support. A caller said that a package hadn't arrived on time. She stated that packages always arrived the next day. Problem is that she checked the 3 day shipping box to save money. And b/c the two points were so close it always ended up being 1 day. The only thing that we could tell her was that if she wanted it the next day, she should have ordered it using next day shipping. B/c is shipping volumes are more than average, hers /will/ get bumped for shorter shipping methods.

Basically, don't complain if they are keeping there end of the bargain. And whether you like it or not, this _does_ seem to be the case.

Please save bitching about UPS for those that have actual problems with them. Like when they broke one of my computers in a move and it was clearly there fault. But, it still took about a year to get them to own up to it and to get the insurance money to replace it.

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Saturday, May 5, 2007 10:42 AM

GROOSALUGG

Quote:
Originally posted by SigmaNunki:
@Groosalugg:

In all seriousness, and I don't mean to be a dick about this, but I really do think that you being irrational.

If you say so. Rational or ir, I felt the need to vent (seeing as how this is two months in a row they've goofed it somehow). Sorry, I guess. Next time I suppose I'll just sit and stew in silence, then...

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Sunday, May 6, 2007 6:35 AM

CHRISISALL

Groos, can you locate a comic store in the vicinity?...I never order stuff if I can help it, and will drive hours if need be to get things, especially with UPS involved- they ALWAYS come when I'm not home

!!!!

Signature needed Chrisisall

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Monday, May 7, 2007 9:36 AM

GROOSALUGG

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Groos, can you locate a comic store in the vicinity?

None that are convenient to get to mid-week, and the comics always come out on Wednesday. I'd have to wait 'til the weekend to go pick it up, and the way I'm doing it now, if UPS will hold up their end of the bargain, it should come on Thursday--Friday, at the latest.

Ah, well, it finally showed up today, so no more gnashing of teeth and indistinct muttering for at least another month...

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Monday, May 7, 2007 9:46 AM

TINADOLL

I have had similar problems with UPS. Mainly that they deliver wonky hours(aka anytime they damn well please),their hours in which the notice says they will come are not accurate ( it says 11-4...I wait all day- then they come at 5:30,don't press the button and leave another stupid notice) they deliver to the wrong place,they don't deliver on time at all and the worst part- since i live in an apartment- they don't press the apartment #.

They are worse then the postal service and charge way too much. This is why i have them deliver stuff to my work.

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Monday, May 7, 2007 10:01 AM

PEULSAR5

We sniff the air, we don't kiss the dirt.

Quote:
Originally posted by Groosalugg:
Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Groos, can you locate a comic store in the vicinity?

None that are convenient to get to mid-week, and the comics always come out on Wednesday. I'd have to wait 'til the weekend to go pick it up, and the way I'm doing it now, if UPS will hold up their end of the bargain, it should come on Thursday--Friday, at the latest.

Ah, well, it finally showed up today, so no more gnashing of teeth and indistinct muttering for at least another month...

Best advice I can give you: Go to that comic shop and set up a subscription. They'll hold it for you and may even give you a discount. Wikipedia says this thing is supposed to go over thirty issues and possibly more than fifty, so the question becomes: How many YEARS are you willing to put up with UPS?

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Monday, May 7, 2007 11:01 AM

OPTIMUS1998

Quote:
Originally posted by jwhedonaddict:
If it means anything to you, mine is being sent through USPS 1st class/Priority Mail. I received an email Thursday from the site I ordered them from telling me that my order was sent that day and would arrive in 2-4 business days. Unfortunately, I'll never know if anything happens to it because there's no way I can track it because there's no tracking number. If there's another way, I haven't found it yet.

if they just sent it via priority mail, there is no tracking number, unless you pay for Delivery confirmation, signature confirmation, Registered mail, or certified mail.

on top of which ( in MY experience), the USPS tracking system is beyond useless, 9 times out of 10, i have the package in my hand before the system shows anything OTHER than " Electronic shipping notification received" meaning that the company sending it out to you has notified the post office that they (the USPS) should be receiving this package.
hasn't really mattered where it is coming from.

and in case anyone is interested, here is ,again my personal experiences here in podunk ohio, but
Approx RESIDENTIAL delivery times by service:
UPS - AFTER 4pm
FEDEX - BEFORE noon (usually)
USPS - Whenever they damn well please.(here, somdays 11am, somedays 5pm, or anywhere in between)

-------------------------------------------------
Nothing like filming a major motion picture to make you feel better about your show being cancelled.
- Nathan Fillion
REDEMPTION!
- Adam Baldwin
Well played Clerks...
- Leonardo Leonardo(Clerks Cartoon)

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Monday, May 7, 2007 11:44 AM

GROOSALUGG

Quote:
Originally posted by Peulsar5:
Best advice I can give you: Go to that comic shop and set up a subscription. They'll hold it for you and may even give you a discount.

Yeah, except that gets back to the whole 'have-to-wait-'til-the-weekend-to-pick-it-up' problem. My experience with the online comic dealer I'm using (going back pre-Buffy S8) is that if things work the way they're supposed to, they ship on Wednesday, and I get it the next day, Thursday. I'm willing to pay extra for the convenience of having it delivered, and being able to get it faster than I could by buying it in person. But due to the previously-mentioned problems, I didn't get #2 'til the Saturday after it was released, and #3 'til today, five days after it was released. If I continue to have these kinds of problems, then yeah, I may look into getting it elsewhere.

It's just crazy that all this time of never having issues with UPS, and suddenly two months in a row they screw up on the same thing...

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Tuesday, May 8, 2007 11:15 PM

JWHEDONADDICT

Got mine Monday!!!

**************************************
"Drew isn't that talented. He just gets away with stuff because he's cute."--David Fury on Drew Goddard
"Our fate has to be our own, or we're nothing."--Angel
"In Joss We Trust."

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Wednesday, July 4, 2007 6:31 AM

SPACECOWGIRL

Quote:
Originally posted by optimus1998:
if they just sent it via priority mail, there is no tracking number, unless you pay for Delivery confirmation, signature confirmation, Registered mail, or certified mail.

on top of which ( in MY experience), the USPS tracking system is beyond useless, 9 times out of 10, i have the package in my hand before the system shows anything OTHER than " Electronic shipping notification received" meaning that the company sending it out to you has notified the post office that they (the USPS) should be receiving this package.
hasn't really mattered where it is coming from.

and in case anyone is interested, here is ,again my personal experiences here in podunk ohio, but
Approx RESIDENTIAL delivery times by service:
UPS - AFTER 4pm
FEDEX - BEFORE noon (usually)
USPS - Whenever they damn well please.(here, somdays 11am, somedays 5pm, or anywhere in between)

Just to educate you guys a little about the USPS.
First, the reason you don't see the tracking information reading "delivered" the second you have your item, is because the info is in a scanner which is downloaded when the employee returns at the end of their shift.

Second, the delivery time of your mail is based on the mail volume, which can differ greatly from day to day. If it takes longer to sort more mail, obviously your mail will arrive later. In addition, if your letter carrier is sick or on vacation, a route might be carried by someone unfamiliar with the names, area etc. causing delivery times to vary.

Many times UPS and FedEX actually accept packages and then pay USPS to deliver them because USPS delivers EVERYWHERE in the US. Other companies often do not find it financially beneficial to deliver small numbers of parcels to more rural areas. UPS etc. also are usually not aware if a recipient has moved, and will leave the package at a house that the person doesn't live at. If your package/letter is addressed incorrectly, your regular letter carrier will still know where it goes. UPS etc. will not.

And please don't tell USPS emplyees that "a site" said they mailed your package on such and such date. Companies lie about that all the time.

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Wednesday, July 4, 2007 6:31 AM

SPACECOWGIRL

Quote:
Originally posted by optimus1998:
if they just sent it via priority mail, there is no tracking number, unless you pay for Delivery confirmation, signature confirmation, Registered mail, or certified mail.

on top of which ( in MY experience), the USPS tracking system is beyond useless, 9 times out of 10, i have the package in my hand before the system shows anything OTHER than " Electronic shipping notification received" meaning that the company sending it out to you has notified the post office that they (the USPS) should be receiving this package.
hasn't really mattered where it is coming from.

and in case anyone is interested, here is ,again my personal experiences here in podunk ohio, but
Approx RESIDENTIAL delivery times by service:
UPS - AFTER 4pm
FEDEX - BEFORE noon (usually)
USPS - Whenever they damn well please.(here, somdays 11am, somedays 5pm, or anywhere in between)

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Wednesday, July 4, 2007 8:45 AM

FARFLY

My only problem with UPS is that they don't deliver on holidays, like the 4th of July..

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