Holiday Ho-Ho-Horror Stories: Worst Delivery Service Poll

[LostLassie]

It's a war of attrition now. I'm leaving my phone on until one of two things happens: until the battery dies, or until some *&^#$ at the USPS Customer "Service" line answers my call. Right now, it's @ two hours and counting.

In the last 10 days I've been jerked around by both FedEx and the USPS--lost gift in USPS Little Rock facility, replacement shipment of same gift STILL in Little Rock and day-and-a-half after seller shipped it (both first class), another gift purchase held hostage in a FedEx truck for days (yes, it's technically "out for delivery", but that doesn't mean they'll choose to actually bring it to you.)

No one shipped by UPS this month, but I've had plenty of aggravation from them in the past, including a triple-digit purchase where they, despite having mis-delivered the package somewhere else, refused to take a lost package claim because it was "too soon". The package sat in pouring rain from Friday to Monday before being picked up and brought to me with the box disintegrating and the contents dripping.

Makes a great case for only shopping brick & mortar stores, I guess. Especially at this time of year. Or any time you really care about whether you ever receive your purchase intact and on time.

 

[WyoBuck]

It's a war of attrition now. I'm leaving my phone on until one of two things happens: until the battery dies, or until some *&^#$ at the USPS Customer "Service" line answers my call. Right now, it's @ two hours and counting.

I tried that with the IRS once. I fell asleep on the couch and when I woke up, I was still on hold. Good luck.

 

[LostLassie]

Just got off the phone with them, not that they were any help. It really had just become a science experiment at this point. So. roughly 3- to 3-1/2 hours on hold. Another seller from Amazon that I corresponded with told me USPS had been fouling up massively this year. Probably why there are so many calls ahead on their lines.

I put a Christmas parade on TV on mute, waiting for the football game to start, drank coffee, looked over one of the gifts that was actually in my possession, and listened to the Rifftrax Star Wars Holiday Special. So, I didn't stress myself out too much. It is obnoxious, though, no question.

 

[AKAK]

USPS is 5 for 8. Only 3 missing.. not bad.!

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

UPS delivered my new Polk speakers right on time.

All I say is that Netflix and USPS better get Bad Santa to my door on Tuesday or all hell will reign.

 

[LostLassie]

USPS is 5 for 8. Only 3 missing.. not bad.!

3/8. I know when I've been gainfully employed, if I screwed up my work 3/8th of the time, my employers were delighted with me.

 

[Crump's brother]

So far so good here. I buy almost everything on EBay or Amazon, keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Crump's brother]

3/8. I know when I've been gainfully employed, if I screwed up my work 3/8th of the time, my employers were delighted with me.

The post office nearest my workplace posted their "winter hours" two weeks ago. They closed fifteen minutes earlier than normal. Of course, I had to zip down there last minute to mail something only to find they were closed. Bastards.

 

[LostLassie]

Love to hear the explanation for those winter hour adjustments. Are they afraid to drive home in the dark? (Maybe they should be, given how they're performing.)

 

[LostLassie]

So far so good here. I buy almost everything on EBay or Amazon, keeping my fingers crossed.

That box abandoned in the rain by UPS was an Amazon shipment. Knocking wood to avoid a jinx here, but so far in my experience, Amazon has the crazy-best customer service of anyone. They respond to emails promptly, and when there is a screw up, they've been lightning fast in addressing it by refunding money or putting extra credit on my account as compensation. You're almost better off having something foul up with an Amazon purchase--you may very well come out of it with a profit.

 

[Dee-Liem]

Sent my sister in Denver a Christmas gift on Tuesday (17) via Priority Mail (Two-Day). Still hasn't gotten there yet (as of 21).

Not even updating the tracker either, other than it leaving the shipping hub of my city. Hoping it's not lost.

 

[LostLassie]

Yup. Apparently, these services have had budget cutbacks that led to them not issuing calendars to their employees. Wha-aaa-aat? It's Christmas? Really? Who knew?

Checked the status on the replacement shipment of the gift for our family friends' little girl--the one that disappeared into the black hole that is Little Rock, Arkansas.

Here's the USPS tracking data for the FIRST (long-missing) shipment:

December 14, 2013 , 7:44 pm

Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility

LITTLE ROCK, AR 72206

December 15, 2013

Electronic Shipping Info Received

December 14, 2013 , 6:29 pm

Accepted at USPS Origin Sort Facility

LITTLE ROCK, AR 72223

And, here's the USPS tracking info for the replacement shipment that the seller rushed around to get out on Dec. 19th:

December 20, 2013 , 3:24 am

Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility

LITTLE ROCK, AR 72206

December 20, 2013 , 2:09 am

Accepted at USPS Origin Sort Facility

LITTLE ROCK, AR 72223

December 19, 2013

Electronic Shipping Info Received

See a pattern developing here? Gotta admit, to my shame, I felt a tiny jolt of satisfaction on seeing that there had been storm damage in Arkansas yesterday. Serves the *)*&* right!

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Yup. Apparently, these services have had budget cutbacks that led to them not issuing calendars to their employees. Wha-aaa-aat? It's Christmas? Really? Who knew?

Checked the status on the replacement shipment of the gift for our family friends' little girl--the one that disappeared into the black hole that is Little Rock, Arkansas.

Here's the USPS tracking data for the FIRST (long-missing) shipment:

December 14, 2013 , 7:44 pm

Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility

LITTLE ROCK, AR 72206

December 15, 2013

Electronic Shipping Info Received

December 14, 2013 , 6:29 pm

Accepted at USPS Origin Sort Facility

LITTLE ROCK, AR 72223

And, here's the USPS tracking info for the replacement shipment that the seller rushed around to get out on Dec. 19th:

December 20, 2013 , 3:24 am

Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility

LITTLE ROCK, AR 72206

December 20, 2013 , 2:09 am

Accepted at USPS Origin Sort Facility

LITTLE ROCK, AR 72223

December 19, 2013

Electronic Shipping Info Received

See a pattern developing here? Gotta admit, to my shame, I felt a tiny jolt of satisfaction on seeing that there had been storm damage in Arkansas yesterday. Serves the *)*&* right!

#karma?

 

[scarletmike]

I have a very small sample size at the moment, but UPS is going to "win" from the looks of things. Now, part (maybe most) of this is thanks to the puzzling nature of the Lowes order, but still...is it just me, or does 2 days for processing of an online gift card order seem a bit much? Plus, they say 1-3 days shipping on the website, but UPS is showing 4 days remaining...ummm...yeah, not happy about that. The winner so far in holiday shipping? Wal-Mart order shipped through FedEx. One of three items got delayed, original order of other two items shipped out UPS, says it will be delivered tomorrow. Delayed item actually ended up shipping at the end of the same day (Thursday), but went FedEx and arrived today.

Think I'll be sticking with FedEx when I can (jury is still out on the small USPS parcel that went out on Thursday).

On a somewhat related tangent, my half self-bought gift of my new camera is scheduled for delivery via UPS on Tuesday, but I have no intention of being home after about 10am that day (they usually come around 5-6pm). It is in Jacksonville and should arrive at the Orlando facility by tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully they won't be dicks and charge me/refuse to hold the package there instead of putting it on the truck when I call tomorrow and ask them to hold it there, but I know they've started with that whole premium account crap that includes holding before the first delivery attempt.

 

[LostLassie]

I had a maddening situation with UPS a couple years ago over repeated confusion about holding/delivering a package of items that were for birthday gifts. So, good luck with that one.

USPS finally found my original shipment from this year, and managed to put BOTH packages on the same plane, looks like. So, at least one of the two shipments of a purchase I made on December 11th may actually get here today or tomorrow. Then I get to send one back.

Even though they jacked me around for a couple days, I will give FedEx their props for customer service. When it got past 6PM and looked like I was going to be bypassed yet another day on my "2-day" delivery, I called their 800 phone. Was on hold a while but not a ridiculous length of time. When the guy answered and I asked to speak to a supervisor he didn't give me any crap about it, was polite, had someone on the line within a minute or two. The supervisor, who sounded exhausted and depressed, was still respectful and courteous, explained in their defense that they were working extra long hours and delivering as late as they were allowed to, and then offered to put me on hold while he called my local office. He talked to a woman in our office here, she called the driver, and instructed him to deliver my package before coming in. It was at my door about 7:50PM.

All previous experience considered, I guess FedEx is my personal winner (again).

Hope everything works out for all of you, and you have a pleasant holiday.