UPS Rant- is it common?

[Lifer]

I'm retired and I am home all day long and my deliveries usually don't come till around 5 or 6pm. Yet when I was working they would come around 1pm and sit all day on my porch. Go figure!

 

[jd371]

When I order coral no one is home during the day to accept it so I have it shipped to a store location instead for pick up on the way home from work. I have both a FedEx and UPS store about a mile from my house. I haven't needed to use the UPS store yet, but I have had stuff sent to the FedEx store, they will send you a text message when the package is ready for pick up at the store.

 

[DracoKat]

I am glad I am not the only one with shipping issues.

I remember 2 years ago, USPS "lost" my package with my urchin and sea star. They attempted delivery and left a note on my door saying where and when to pick it up. Even though it SAID ON THE BOX to leave at door if no one's home AND I had a note tacked on my door asking them to leave it with my signature. So I go to the PO half an hour before they close, and they couldn't find the package. I was furious and ripped them a new one and left, telling them to leave the package at my door first thing in the morning.
Contacted the seller so they know what went on.
5 minutes after I got home, the package shows up at my door and the postal worker was extremely rude and defensive to me. all she could've done is apologize and give me the package, nope, she ripped me a new one for complaining to her manager about her ignoring instructions and losing the package. Not my fault she isn't doing her job right.

This is why I hate ordering things online, especially live animals.

 

[Ronald Brown]

After reading all of the posts today I wondered if I would have this happen to me. I haven't had to many problems with fedex in the past but this one takes the cake for me. After I read it I called them and questioned them in a firm tone and the person on the phone said that there was a dog in my yard so he wouldn't get out to deliver the package. First off I was here watching for the driver to show which it didn't and second I have the only dogs in the neighborhood and they were in the house. So frustrated now

 

[DracoKat]

He probably heard dogs barking and said "nope". idiots.

 

[sil40sx]

Like others already mentioned, it all comes down to the driver. There are drivers that are lazy. If they missed your house they will just say no one is available to receive the package on the tracking status, but then there's no note on your door. Ugh.

...don't even start with "fragile" sticker on the box. LOL

 

[Ronald Brown]

I just received a phone call from the local fedex office and asked me if I would mind coming by to pick up my package today.

 

[DracoKat]

Seesh, it's like everyone is having issues suddenly. What's going on?

*not my fault, I didn't start it!!*

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

I've had decent luck with UPS, but my last coral shipment that was coming from two hours away through FedEx Express ended up bouncing around back east. They told me the pick up driver keyed in the wrong zip code after trying to blame it on the vendor. I ended up getting my stuff a couple of days later and thankfully it was zoas, so five of seven survived their US tour.

 

[Neptune1707]

When I shared my above story with a friend who is dating a UPS guy....he had some interesting insight. First of all he agreed there should have been more priority on "livestock" being delivered. Second...he said (if this is true) UPS has very advanced tracking practices in place. So UPS know how long a driver is sitting in a truck, driving, if he has his seatbelt on....how many minutes to deliver to any given address including stairs, offices etc. If you call and complain at UPS they can pull reports and track a specific location. If it shows that it should have taken say 3 minutes to deliver a package and it shows the UPS driver was only at the location for 30 seconds (drive by and doesn't stop), then I guess these guys get in a lot of trouble, suspended and often fired.....so this guy says. I just wonder how often that really happens. This guy I talked to said that if you leave a phone number to call....the driver will not call. It's not their responsibility to use their personal cell phone to call you. OK...I get it...but I asked for a simple knock at the door or a doorbell ring....I was less than 50 feet from the door I would have heard if they knocked. At the end of the day it's just laziness in my opinion.

 

[pelphrey]

I had this happen with my first order of Reef Cleaner rock. Unless it was a new UPS driver they know where we live. We have Amazon boxes on the porch a couple times a week. It was stated it was refused, which it wasn't and it was sent back to Florida. Hated it for John because he had to turn around and send it again. Hopefully he disputed this with UPS.

 

[stevo01]

Interesting that this would show up today, I placed an order with PEA for corals and an orange spotted goby, receive my UPS info tracking number etc. last night and get up this up I morning to check status and it says there was s problem at their distribution center and it's been delayed and won't go out till tomorrow. I email PEA to see if anything can be done and mention that as fAr as I know there had not been any bad weather so I didn't know why it had been delayed. PEA emails back that was not delayed because of bad weather , delayed because it had got left behind and wouldn't go out till late tonight early tomorrow morning. First off these are live precious cargo!! 2nd that's why I'm paying $45.00! For overnight shipping and 3rd I made arrangements to be home today to accept my pkg. so needless to say I'm ANGRY!!!:mad: My box of live corals and fish will be tossed and knocked around all day because no one will read all the warnings on the box and to top it off when they finally bring it to my door it will probably upside down in drivers hand cause they don't read what's on the box!!! Thanks for letting me vent.

You could try asking the driver why it's late. Take pictures. Hold them accountable for damage. I think our pets need to be handled properly. We are charged for live shipping but in my experience UPS doesn't care what it is. It's getting tossed around. Let's just say I know for a FACT that they throw, drop, and play games with packages. So lesson learned. I personally refuse to do business with a company using UPS for live shipping. I would prefer no shipping by ups at all, but Amazon...FedEx is pretty awesome here. I hope your live stock will be ok.

 

[ngvu1]

You have 1 second to respond to the door bell. If you don't happen to be by the door, you just miss that delivery :-)

I've had issues where USPS would leave a note in the box saying they couldn't deliver because no one was home when I was actually home.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

I live in an apartment and my unit is on the back side of the building. Never once have I actually had a package make it to my door or so much as a note. Always just get a confirmation email it was delivered to the office. Aside from when the usps actually delivers, they always make it to the door.

 

[SRandolph]

A lot of shippers ship UPS because they have a lower damage rate than FedEx. FedEx drivers are contract UPS are employed. Either way they are both trying to deliver a large number of packages and get home at a decent hour. They are expected to spend 15 seconds at each door and move on to the next. You can also call your local UPS hub and they will message the driver to make a 2nd attempt if you miss them. Or like other people have said you can have someone else sign via note left on your door or have them deliver to the local UPS Store.

 

[scardall]

IMO Your location along with which driver/delivery service in your area is likely the cause of either bad or good service. In my area Fed-Ex is careless more often than not. Occasionally I might have a UPS delivery with some damage. USP service handles packages well most of the time. (In MY area) ( I usually will put a note on the door when I know I will not be home during a delivery)

Good Luck All

 

[Rattooth]

I've had nothing but good experience with FED EX AND UPS . Been buying live fish online for over twenty years. Maybe just lucky. I have had a SPS coral arrive that punctured shipping bags and all the water leaked out . We immediately placed it in bag with another coral in box. Did acclimation - no problem. I believe these corals may be handled a lot differently in place of origin ( assuming not tank raised) , than the careful way final owner does. They may be tougher than you think.
But for the last 15 years , or so, things come to my business . Which gets shipments daily from non fish wholesalers. So the drivers know us well and see the tank everyday. They are excited to bring new fish.

 

[Fercho]

When I order coral no one is home during the day to accept it so I have it shipped to a store location instead for pick up on the way home from work. I have both a FedEx and UPS store about a mile from my house. I haven't needed to use the UPS store yet, but I have had stuff sent to the FedEx store, they will send you a text message when the package is ready for pick up at the store.

THIS! Is what i would do for ANY type of live stock.

But i know this things happen so i dont order livestock online.

 

[Cameron Martinez]

Is UPS known to claim "receiver refused delivery" on their tracking, especially when the driver never came around? I was home all day and it's impossible for me to miss them.

I normally don't order things online, and when I do, it's usually through normal postal or FedEx.
Seems like most aquarium related items are through UPS.

this is the 3rd time it has happened to me in the past 2 months. and all 3 times, the items gets turned around and right back to the sellers.
Thankfully Drs Foster and Smith worked with me to resolve the issue painlessly the first time. Second seller wasn't as helpful but I did get what I ordered. Both delayed me 2 weeks.

I hope BRS is just as easy to communicate with for this shipment (I had ordered the 2 part dosing kit)

Now I am worried about my live animal shipment that I believe is also through UPS.

Is this common for UPS? I am beyond annoyed. Waiting for UPS to get back to me.

BRS customer service is great! As for UPS FedEx I get my stuff on time with the tracking 98% of the time and I order a crap load on line. I am lucky if they knock on my door or ring the door bell though. I usually will go out to the porch and find a surprise or I'll check the tracking and it will show delivered. Twice it showed delivered and nothing on the porch, items were miss delivered, both times I was able to work with USPS and FedEx. With FedEx I got the package back the same day. With USPS I had to catch the mail man and ask him about the delivery no one at the office informed him about it. After he made the box stop I use he went around the block and next thing you know he was at my house with my box... So the driver was great but the office sucked in that case.

All in all on line orders usually turn out for the best especially with how much your saving with no tax plus the price increase at your LFS.

There was my 4 cents. Tired and turned into a novel sorry guys.

 

[Jmass015]

I use to live three miles from a UPS distribution center.Every time I ordered something for my tank it would be 5:00 pm or later before it was delivered.
If I ever had a chance for FedEx shipping I would take and have it held at the FedEx Distribution center and drive a half hour to pick it up.