A (not so) brief UPS rant....

[AtomSmasher]

Just thought I'd mention that I've only had good dealings with UPS and I've ordered and sent many things with them.  DHL on the otherhand...I've only dealt with them a few times and nearly every time they've screwed something up causing me to wait an extra week or two to receive my package.  FedEx and USPS also have been good to me

[RandyT]

In my opinion, the top services are USPS, FedEx, UPS and DHL in that order.   In a previous business venture, I shipped many *thousands* of packages via UPS.  They did ok, but there were problems.  I shifted all of my business to the USPS and Priority mail services. 

The USPS offers free (or at least rolled into the price) shipping boxes and free daily pickup everywhere.  The rates are on par with UPS 3-day, and they don't make promises they can't, or don't wish to keep.  There were still some issues, but my costs went down quite a bit overall, and my customers got their packages faster.

The delivery "guarantees" for any of the services are a joke.  If there's fog at any airport between you and the place your package is coming from, they are absolved (even if it didn't technically keep you from getting your package when you were supposed to.  Has anyone ever successfully made a claim on one of these guarantees?

That being said, I get packages delivered to me all of the time via UPS and the drivers are always courteous and I always greet them with a smile and a "thank you".  I have known a number of drivers personally and they are well paid and have very good benefits, so I would expect nothing less from them.

But UPS just doesn't stack up to the USPS, or FedEx, who seem to have it much more together in the "bang for buck" and general reliability departments.

All of our normal packages go USPS for many reasons, and I listed all of them to the UPS agent when they called to "survey" me on my business needs.  I never heard back from them.

RandyT

[Effayy]

Some good news!

Seems that they managed to get the item secured in the warehouse, and I was able to pick it up tonight.  Of course I get right home and immediately put it to use.   You can see the bit in all its glory HERE

So it was a rough beginning with UPS, but it ended up working out ok tonight.  I must admit, I was ready to raise a bit of a stink at the Customer Centre if they still didn't have access to it, but that wasn't the issue. Huzzah!

- FA

[Kremmit]

I've worked in the shipping industry for the last 10 years or so, and have been the shipper, receiver, package handler, and delivery guy at various times.  I have plenty of experience with USPS, UPS, and FedEx.  I can confidently state that they ALL break stuff, lose stuff, deliver stuff late, and just generally screw up things.  ALL of them sometimes lie to you on their tracking system, on the phone, and in person.  And sometimes, they ALL go the extra mile to help you out and get things fixed.  They ALL overcharge on one service or another, and they ALL have the best rates on some other service.  They are ALL a pain in the butt sometimes when you need to process a package claim, and they ALL just pay with no hassle sometimes. 

What it all comes down to in the end is the specific employees that are involved with your particular package; not the company your package happens to be travelling with.  Each company has idiots that got fired from the McDonald's drive-through, and each company has super-geniuses that prefer working outside to rocket science.  In the end, all you can do is choose the company that has the best pricing for the specific service you need, pack your box really, really, really well, and then hope for the best.

[DrewKaree]

I've worked in the shipping industry for the last 10 years or so, and have been the shipper, receiver, package handler, and delivery guy at various times.  I have plenty of experience with USPS, UPS, and FedEx.  I can confidently state that they ALL break stuff, lose stuff, deliver stuff late, and just generally screw up things.  ALL of them sometimes lie to you on their tracking system, on the phone, and in person.  And sometimes, they ALL go the extra mile to help you out and get things fixed.  They ALL overcharge on one service or another, and they ALL have the best rates on some other service.  They are ALL a pain in the butt sometimes when you need to process a package claim, and they ALL just pay with no hassle sometimes. 

What it all comes down to in the end is the specific employees that are involved with your particular package; not the company your package happens to be travelling with.  Each company has idiots that got fired from the McDonald's drive-through, and each company has super-geniuses that prefer working outside to rocket science.  In the end, all you can do is choose the company that has the best pricing for the specific service you need, pack your box really, really, really well, and then hope for the best.

I used to work for UPS and have a relative currently working for UPS, and all I know is that I don't care who says what about all of 'em, because Kremmit's hit it right on the head.  I do, however, choose to use certain carriers depending on my experiences and in some cases, base my decision on what I've seen (and perhaps done) in the past regarding the condition of the packages I've recieved.

The only thing I know for certain is that FedUp drivers in California can't even tell the difference between a friggen pirate and a stupid toy robot.  Oh, and they also pick their nose on the job, and you sometimes get an "extra" delivery for free

[NightGod]

In my opinion, the top services are USPS, FedEx, UPS and DHL in that order.

Just wanted to chime in on DHL-I do field support for a few computer companies and DHL has been, by far, the best of the shippers that I have had to deal with. Other than some issues with being late near the New Year when they were not only dealing with the holiday rush, but also were in the middle of converting over to being fully DHL (as opposed to DHL/Airborne), I have had nothing but excellent service with them. Maybe two packages mis-routed (and therefore took an extra day) and a small handful of times where the plane got fogged in and I had to go pick the parts up in person at the depot rather than have them delivered to my drop location (every time of which they bent over backwards to help me find the parts, even though they were buried in those big shipping containers). Compared to UPS and their abysmal Ground delivery times (seriously, how can the post office get it here in 2 days for 1/3rd the price and you take a week?), I'll take DHL any day.

[hypernova]

In my opinion, the top services are USPS, FedEx, UPS and DHL in that order.

Just wanted to chime in on DHL-I do field support for a few computer companies and DHL has been, by far, the best of the shippers that I have had to deal with. Other than some issues with being late near the New Year when they were not only dealing with the holiday rush, but also were in the middle of converting over to being fully DHL (as opposed to DHL/Airborne), I have had nothing but excellent service with them. Maybe two packages mis-routed (and therefore took an extra day) and a small handful of times where the plane got fogged in and I had to go pick the parts up in person at the depot rather than have them delivered to my drop location (every time of which they bent over backwards to help me find the parts, even though they were buried in those big shipping containers). Compared to UPS and their abysmal Ground delivery times (seriously, how can the post office get it here in 2 days for 1/3rd the price and you take a week?), I'll take DHL any day.

DHL SHOULD be bending over backwards.  They're trying to take market share from the other big two.  Still don't like them.  They used a conversion van, and everything was in a pile in there when we gave them a chance about a year ago or so.  That and they couldn't quite comprehend that our packages aren't ready until at least AFTER 2:30.  Half the time, they'd be in at NOON.  "Um...no, they aren't ready until 2 1/2 more hours, at least.  Just like yesterday, and the day before, and the week before, etc."  So judging by this, they bend over backwards for another reason.  They've apparently got too much time on their hands because there's not enough work for them to do.

[hypernova]

Oh, and they also pick their nose on the job

What Drew, you so high and mighty, you don't pick your nose on the job either?

[Chris]

DHL... ugh.  The last time I used them was on a CPU that I ordered next day air.  Their online status said "out for delivery".  Part never arrived.  Called them and they said I was near the end of their route and they just didn't make it that far, and it would come tomorrow.

I heard this story for THREE DAYS.

Finall on the fourth day, at the end of the day when it "just didn't make it there, sorry"  I snapped.  I wanted someone to pull it out and I would drive to their facility myself to get it.  I was told that story of it being in with 3000 other boxes and they couldn't do that.  I may have been screaming by this point.  I told them fine, but I'm coming down anyway, so they could choose to find the box or deal with me in person.  When I got there there was NO ONE anywhere near the front counter... just my box sitting on the counter (where anyone could have snagged it).  Four days for "next day air" service.

When someone can't get you a package for four days that is supposedly on the truck each of those days, it's hard to shrug it off as "Mistakes happen".

Of course, I've never had anything shipped DHL again.

[NightGod]

Suppose it could be a regional thing, DHL and Fedex are easily the two best carriers in my area, and it's pretty much neck and neck for those two. Though for my personal shipping, I use USPS-good pricing, free Saturday delivery, quick turn-around. For next day stuff, I usually go with DHL, tho.

[DrewKaree]

Oh, and they also pick their nose on the job

What Drew, you so high and mighty, you don't pick your nose on the job either?

I may scratch any of my nether regions, but I'm not so uncouth that I'd pick my nose.  I bet FedUp drivers from California put their snot on a toy robot and take pics of it, that's the detestable kind of people they are

[Kremmit]

What's a little nose pickin' on route?  The snot just gets wiped on the boxes, anyway.  On the other hand,  I hear snowplow drivers in Wisconsin stick the boogers on the windshield until they freeze, and then enjoy a nice snotcicle for lunch.  And landscapers, don't get me started on landscapers...

[DrewKaree]

Those guys are NOTHING compared to pool diggers from Ohio!



...and anyone with half a brain knows snot freezes better on the hood where it's metal than on the glass, DUH!