What can BROWN do TO you?

JohnHenry

New member
I recently initiated a trade with a forum member (different forum). I paid $17.45 to send three 16 oz bottles via UPS from FL to NC. My friend paid considerably less to send me four 16 oz bottles from NC to FL, using USPS priority mail with delivery confirmation. Both packages were valued at approximately $100.

My package arrived one day earlier than the more expensive UPS shipment was scheduled for delivery.

Instead of a delivery confirmation, I received a notice from UPS that the package had been damaged and some "remains" were being shipped back to me. I didn't think much of it, knowing that the UPS package was insured up to $100.

My main concern was the inconvenience to the other party. I repacked a second box, added some stuff for the hassle, and shipped it USPS.

My "remains" arrived today. Two of the three bottles were returned to me in perfect condition. The third was said to have "exploded." It and my original packaging had been arbitrarily discarded by UPS.

I spoke with the UPS Store franchise owner with an understanding "stuff happens" demeanor. He responded with a "You are S.O.L." attitude. Seems that the UPS "insurance" does not apply if the company decides that the packing was "insufficient." The UPS manager helpfully explained that UPS ships in semi tractor trailers. My 12" by 8" by 3" box "could have been at the bottom of a loaded semi, front to back, top to bottom." (You can't make this stuff up!)

Guys, I loaded trucks on the midnight shift to work my way through college. Guess what, if you load a carton containing four one gallon bottles of Clorox on the bannanas, you end up with a puree. Make that mistake once too often and you're gone.

UPS has apparently decided that it's too much trouble to manage employees who would have such a give-a-**** attitude as to crush the bannanas because it's easier to load trucks that way.

The most aggravating aspect of this situation isn't the damaged bottle or the policy preventing me from receiving compensation. It is the arrogant attitude demonstrated by UPS' failure to provide the damaged packing materials or any further explanation as to what happened. Did a truck run over the box? Did someone nick the bottle with a box cutter when cutting strapping tape or shrink wrap? I don't know. UPS doesn't care.

If the packing was "insufficient", I should have been informed at the time UPS collected my $17.45. Mr. BROWN, if you knew what I do for a day job, your drawers would be brown.

Let's see, where is that FedEx number?
 
The old insufficient packaging, UPS stores best used excuse. Sorry to hear about your shipping problems, but I think if you ship from the UPS shipping depot they are less likely to use that excuse.
 
Sounds like you ought to keep shipping stuff USPS. :)
That's what they say! :)

JohnHenry, someone mentioned above that if you shipped from a UPS store you could plead your case there if they accepted the package for shipment initially. I know it may be a lot of work for a small loss, but if you feel the need to press the issue you might get some satisfaction.
 
Dude.. call the ups customer service number dont goto the store.. if they didnt keep the packaging they should pay you.. when i had something damaged from fedex they made me send them everything before they would pay me.. so if they didnt pack it right (if you payed for them to) and they threw out the stuff they should pay you.. dont give up!
 
Thanks to all for the good advice.

You know what the saddest part of this issue is? I have apparently become one of those miserable curmudgeons (what a great word!) who gets his kicks pissing and moaning about petty crap on the Internet!

LOL!
 
Thanks to all for the good advice.

You know what the saddest part of this issue is? I have apparently become one of those miserable curmudgeons (what a great word!) who gets his kicks pissing and moaning about petty crap on the Internet!

LOL!

Welcome to our club!!! :D
 
Thanks to all for the good advice.

You know what the saddest part of this issue is? I have apparently become one of those miserable curmudgeons (what a great word!) who gets his kicks pissing and moaning about petty crap on the Internet!

LOL!

It is not supposed to count if it is true...and it always is.:D

I had preferred USPS but for some reason any packages I send North seem to take a week or more so I am now using Fed Ex.
 
I did 7 years at Big Brown as a part time employee and in various supervisory roles. The problem is that the part time employees that do the loading are union employees. The union has bred a terrible attitude at UPS. They cannot get fired. Seriously. There has to be theft or violence in the workplace before you will get canned and the union will not touch it. I have TONS of stories that will disgust you. I have zero respect for unions after that place. And you are right, they are terribly slow. The are the most expensive and the least efficient out of the group of UPS, FedEx and USPS.
 
I did 7 years at Big Brown as a part time employee and in various supervisory roles. The problem is that the part time employees that do the loading are union employees. The union has bred a terrible attitude at UPS. They cannot get fired. Seriously. There has to be theft or violence in the workplace before you will get canned and the union will not touch it. I have TONS of stories that will disgust you. I have zero respect for unions after that place. And you are right, they are terribly slow. The are the most expensive and the least efficient out of the group of UPS, FedEx and USPS.

Were you a union member or were you non union management during your seven year tenure?

I worked thirty-five years as a union member and I was subject to firing at any time(don't ask how I know...please). If my foreman wanted to fire me there was nothing I could do about it but go back to the hall. Must be some strong union membership to have that kind of power. I never enjoyed that power in my union.
 
I did both. 4 years as part time loader/unloader which was a union position. Once I went in to supervisory roles (3 years) I could not longer be in the union. I witnessed employees throwing packages like basketballs, not showing up, walking off the line insubordination etc and all disciplinary action would always result in the employee being 'laid off' for a few days while their grievance was 'investigated'. I use the term investigated very loosely. The employee would always come back and would then receive back pay for the laid off days as well as any overtime that they may have had the opportunity to accrue. I would say the UPS union us abusively strong.
 
I worked in the Fed Ex hub the first year thy were in business. We use to turn boxes into footballs all the time. Its just the way it is and will always be. If you have a a$$hat supervisor over you telling you your not moving enough boxes when your already on the verge of collapse, guess where your frustration gets released :notme:

I lasted less then 3 weeks in that hell pit of a job :crazy2:
 
I worked in the Fed Ex hub the first year thy were in business. We use to turn boxes into footballs all the time. Its just the way it is and will always be. If you have a a$$hat supervisor over you telling you your not moving enough boxes when your already on the verge of collapse, guess where your frustration gets released :notme:

I lasted less then 3 weeks in that hell pit of a job :crazy2:
Sounds like they should have fired you on the first day.:wow:
 
I worked in the Fed Ex hub the first year thy were in business. We use to turn boxes into footballs all the time. Its just the way it is and will always be. If you have a a$$hat supervisor over you telling you your not moving enough boxes when your already on the verge of collapse, guess where your frustration gets released :notme:

I lasted less then 3 weeks in that hell pit of a job :crazy2:

Wow.... there's a lot of fail in that post, and I don't even know where to begin...
 
The problem with USPS is they don't want to ship anything liquid.

Otherwise they are faster and cheaper in a lot of cases.
 
The problem with USPS is they don't want to ship anything liquid.

Otherwise they are faster and cheaper in a lot of cases.

I've never had a problem with them shipping liquids for me. Sure, they ask about it, but they've never declined a package because it was liquid.

I just received a package from Amazon, shipped via USPS for free (free to me anyway). It took five days, including the weekend. I'd say that's fast and cheap enough. :bigups And I'm even supporting an American (government run, no less) entity!!!
 
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