Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (April 2006, week 4)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Fri, 28 Apr 2006 01:36:46 +0000
Reply-To:     joe trussell <vanagongl@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         joe trussell <vanagongl@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fun with UPS--DON'T USE THEM.
In-Reply-To:  <BAY101-F2089F2D2331FADBF41D3DCA0BD0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Turns out they double-billed me for the shipment, and I called their billing center and got a thoughtful and courteous customer service rep who credited back the overage immediately. So, that's a positive about UPS (resulting from a negative, of course.)

But they still haven't found my wheels...They said the label probably fell off in Baltimore and they're sitting in a warehouse there where "all of the non-labelled items go."

I asked if there was somebody rifling through the warehouse at this instant looking for my precious wheels and tires, and the guy said, "uhm, probably not..."

Joe T.

>From: Dave Vickery <davevickery@HOTMAIL.COM> >Reply-To: Dave Vickery <davevickery@HOTMAIL.COM> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >Subject: Re: Fun with UPS--DON'T USE THEM. >Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 19:08:26 +0000 > >I use FedEx outgoing and have shipped wheels with tires that way unpacked. >They helped me at the counter put them in clear plastic bags and stick a >tag >on them through the lug/center hole. Much cheaper than UPS for retail >customers. > >But everything I receive seems to come by UPS, which I assume is due to >better commercial rates. They leave all my packages in my unlocked van and >then lock it afterwards. Works awesome for me and the driver likes it too. > > >>From: Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM> >>Reply-To: Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM> >>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >>Subject: Re: Fun with UPS--DON'T USE THEM. >>Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 11:44:58 -0700 >> >>I have to strongly agree wit Joe here. >> >>After my recent divorce I moved to Seattle, and I'm living with a friend >>in >>his house. He explained early on that UPS shipments would be problematic. >>In >>his/our case USPS would not leave a package if nobody was home. They would >>leave packages for our next door neighbors if they weren't home. They >>would >>leave packages for the neighbor across the street if he wasn't home. Our >>address, nope. Won't happen. They wouldn't even leave our packages at the >>neighbors house. >> >>My buddy Eric explained that everything had been fine until December 2004 >>when he purchased some snowboard bindings on eBay. That package was left >>at >>the door, and somebody stole it. Eric filed an insurance claim with UPS in >>the amount of $40, enough to cover the bindings. That is when UPS stopped >>leaving packages here. Even if UPS left a note that they tried to deliver >>a >>package, and we signed it so that they would deliver the next day, UPS >>would >>not leave the package unless someone was home. We had been blacklisted. >> >>I moved in here in November 2005. I almost got screwed on a couple of >>shipments. I had to drive all the way down to the UPS depot to get my >>packages. That was very annoying. I started doing some research. >> >>You make it onto the UPS blacklist simply be filing an insurance claim for >>a >>package that has been left for you, but then gone missing (presumable >>stolen). The dollar amount of the shipment makes no difference. Even if >>additional insurance was purchased, it doesn't make any difference (I >>believe that everything is insured for up to $100). File a claim and you >>are >>forever on the UPS blacklist. >> >>In my research I found that even if insurance had been purchased for the >>package, if you file a claim you are forever on the blacklist. I say >>"forever on the blacklist" because it truly is forever. There is >>absolutely >>no mechanism for review. Your address stays on that list forever. You are >>branded as having an "unsafe address". Never mind that all of your >>immediate >>neighbors have perfectly safe addresses. One claim filed leaves you on the >>blacklist forever. >> >>Now I am the persistent type. I won't just let things go. This was a >>battle >>I was willing to take on, and I did so with gusto. I spoke with countless >>people in UPS. Yes, we had been blacklisted. There is no way to get off >>the >>blacklist. No procedure is in place to remove an address from the list. >>One >>insurance claim and you are on the list. Doesn't make a bit of difference >>that the package was insured. Doesn't make a bit of difference that all of >>your neighbors' houses are deemed "safe". One claim and you are forever >>considered to be in a dangerous area. >> >>I battled this for a month. One UPS employee went so far as to tell me >>that >>I should have packages shipped to me by any carrier other than UPS (now >>that >>is a way to attract customers and grow your business). No amount of >>explaining the purpose of insurance and how it works would change things. >>Perhaps the most incredible thing was there once you are on the blacklist, >>THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REVIEW PROCESS TO GET YOUR ADDRESS REMOVED FROM THE >>LIST! >> >>Finally, through tireless work, never ending phone calls and visits to my >>UPS office, talking with drivers, etc. I did manage to get us off the >>blacklist. It wasn't easy. I have spoken with a number of UPS employees >>and >>they are amazed that I was actually able to get off the list. They had >>never >>heard of that being done before. >> >>The small lesson in this story is to never file a claim with UPS. The big >>lesson is to never use UPS. The drivers are friendly, for sure (or at >>least >>the ones I have worked with are). It is the incredible, illogical >>bureaucracy that should be avoided. >> >>I urge all of you to take your business to companies that believe in >>customer service. >> >>My 2¢. >> >>Cheers, >>Bruce >>motorbruce >>motorbruce@hotmail.com >> >>>From: joe trussell <vanagongl@HOTMAIL.COM> >>>Reply-To: joe trussell <vanagongl@HOTMAIL.COM> >>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >>>Subject: Fun with UPS--DON'T USE THEM. >>>Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 17:34:42 +0000 >>> >>>Hi Folks, >>> >>>Thought I'd issue a consumer alert: >>> >>>Bought a set of refinished Vanagon alloys with Michelin MXT Tires in >>>excellent condition from a guy in Virginia. >>> >>>Called UPS--They said we'll pick them up. I asked if banding the >>>wheels/tires together would be good for shipping? Yes, that's no >>>problem. >>>Total will be $225. Sounds good. UPS said "we'll pick them up Monday." >>> >>>Monday, no pick up. Tuesday, no pick up but a note on the guy's door >>>that >>>they came and didn't find them. Even though I'd given instructions that >>>they were behind his gate. Called UPS. "we have no record of this >>>shipment." >>> >>>"THEN HOW DID YOU LEAVE A NOTE ON HIS DOOR?" >>> >>>"oh, yes, sorry, I see that. We'll get them tomorrow." >>> >>>"It's okay that they're banded together?" >>> >>>"that's perfect." >>> >>>They came on Wednesday and picked up the wheels. The guy who sold them >>>to >>>me emailed to say that all of his banding material was left in a pile on >>>the >>>front doorstep. >>> >>>Wheels are in transit. I check my account. THEY CHARGED ME $450. >>>Apparently banding is not acceptable. Thing is, the guy sent me a >>>pic--they >>>were banded tight and perfectly. >>> >>>Yesterday, the wheels got here. Well, some of them THREE OF FIVE, to be >>>exact. >>> >>>Called UPS. Even though there's a tracking number for the other two, >>>they >>>DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. Lost 'em. >>> >>>They said they'd be back in touch with me WITHIN EIGHT DAYS to let me >>>know >>>what they found out. >>> >>>The moral, so far anyway? DON'T USE UPS. THEY SUCK. >>> >>>What can Brown do for you? Overcharge you and lose your cargo, >>>apparently. >>> >>>I hope this doesn't count as vendor bashing. If a UPS board member is on >>>this list, I sincerely apologize for not handling this issue off-list... >>> >>>In other news, my Vanagon is fast and has three beautiful alloys on it. >>> >>>Regards, >>>Joe T. >>>Denver, CO >>> >>>_________________________________________________________________ >>>Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's >>>FREE! >>>http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/

_________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.