United Parcel Service / Shapeways order

Buzzard · September 18, 2015, 07:50:25 AM

So I took advantage of Shapeways recent offer of free shipping and the bits were produced, packaged up and handed over to UPS.

On the first two delivery attempts UPS said they hadn't got "security access" and took the package back to the depot. On the third attempt they said I didn't want the package and that it should be returned. I got all of this info from the UPS tracking website.

On each attempted delivery I was at home and never saw a UPS van/representative and in any case why go to the trouble of ordering and paying for something only to then say you didn't want it.

I rang UPS and after some investigation they told me that the driver knew exactly where to make the delivery but that he didn't want to damage his vehicle driving down the narrow lanes.

UPS said they'd arrange for the package to come on a smaller van and that it would come yesterday. The phone rang around lunchtime and a very apologetic woman told me that the package was now in Brussels on its way back to Holland. As it was now out of the country she couldn't get the package turned around again and so I'd need to arrange with the supplier that it be shipped again.

So because the UPS driver lied about me not wanting delivery their computer system said "No" and the package must be returned. I now await contact from Shapeways about when the package is being re-sent.

Perhaps the free shipping wasn't so free after all?

njee20 · September 18, 2015, 08:06:51 AM

Although you may have a fight on your hands that is entirely Shapeways responsibility. You have a contract with them. They have a contract with UPS. UPS's ineptitude is not your fault in the slightest!

Buzzard · September 18, 2015, 03:08:57 PM

Quote from: njee20 on September 18, 2015, 08:06:51 AM
Although you may have a fight on your hands that is entirely Shapeways responsibility. You have a contract with them. They have a contract with UPS. UPS's ineptitude is not your fault in the slightest!

And to that end Shapeways have got back to me saying they'll reship asap and will be taking up the matter with UPS. I'm guessing part of that conversation will go "we're not paying again because you messed up".

Now looking forward to the package getting here around the middle of next week.

njee20 · September 19, 2015, 08:21:07 PM

Glad to hear it!

georgehgv · September 19, 2015, 08:35:36 PM

Gaugemaster sadly use UPS and because of the archaic system they use I had a similar saga to this, my answer was to only use Gaugemaster as an absolute last resort.

I did use them again and left a note on the door informing anyone delivering I was in the garden and the UPS guy came round and it turns out he used to be involved in model railways and knew of Gaugemaster.

He agreed to take it to a local store next time if I was out.

Sadly he may not always be the UPS driver so I still keep clear of Gaugemaster.

Sprintex · September 19, 2015, 08:41:18 PM

They're not known as Useless Parcel Service for nothing

Paul

georgehgv · September 19, 2015, 08:49:34 PM

Quote from: Sprintex on September 19, 2015, 08:41:18 PM
They're not known as Useless Parcel Service for nothing

Paul

Are I see now Paul.

robert shrives · September 19, 2015, 09:03:37 PM

I have had same sort of shambles with a "retain at depot" parcel having a night out to Bristol and back resulting in a second trip to Tamworth and a bus to depot from Birmingham, transport cost refunded however.

Now UPS offer a local shop pick up point which has helped but I can see how UPS gets its name , dont start me on Hermes however!

good luck to any who use these other carriers - I now use Hattons with a Royal mail only instruction and never had a problem if 10 years - only one being when Hattons new better !!
Robert

dannyboy · September 19, 2015, 09:20:55 PM

On the same theme, even though I live in Ireland, when ordering stuff from the UK, I always try and pick someone who uses Royal Mail. It moves through the UK by RM and once in Ireland, is moved by the Irish postal service - An Post. I have never had a problem this way. On two occasions, couriers have returned things to the supplier stating that my address is not known

- An Post know where I am! On a few other occasions, the couriers have rung me to ask where they can deliver - I usually get them to take it to my wifes place of employment - it is a lot easier than trying to give someone directions and then watch them drive along the lane ignoring my driveway

georgehgv · September 19, 2015, 09:33:26 PM

Quote from: dannyboy on September 19, 2015, 09:20:55 PM
On the same theme, even though I live in Ireland, when ordering stuff from the UK, I always try and pick someone who uses Royal Mail. It moves through the UK by RM and once in Ireland, is moved by the Irish postal service - An Post. I have never had a problem this way. On two occasions, couriers have returned things to the supplier stating that my address is not known - An Post know where I am! On a few other occasions, the couriers have rung me to ask where they can deliver - I usually get them to take it to my wifes place of employment - it is a lot easier than trying to give someone directions and then watch them drive along the lane ignoring my driveway

Very risky sending a parcel to the wife?

dannyboy · September 19, 2015, 10:31:57 PM

I didn't say that I had parcels sent to my wife, only to her place of work! Seriously, she is quite good about my 'hobby'

- as long as I keep buying her 'Hidden Object' computer games! (And they are cheaper than a new piece of rolling stock

).

weave · September 20, 2015, 06:51:40 AM

UPS where I used to live in Surrey are frighteningly useless.

They seem to come down from London, they can't drive very well (that's the frightening bit). Don't think it's a generalisation when every van I have seen can't turn round properly and others have nearly hit cars and have mounted curbs at speed with school children on the pavement.

None of them know where they're going. I lived away from the road down a wide alley between number 8 and number 28. I often walked my dog opposite where there are no houses and the only couriers who asked me where any house number from 10 to 26 was were UPS. It's not rocket science.

Moved to Hampshire now and quite countryfied so will avoid more so.

Thanks weave

Buzzard · September 20, 2015, 07:28:38 AM

Quote from: robert shrives on September 19, 2015, 09:03:37 PM
Now UPS offer a local shop pick up point which has helped

A local shop drop off service would be nice but methinks this might be a step too far.

Not that I've got a local shop within 4 miles but at least having it left somewhere in the UK would be better than having it go back to Holland if there's a problem.

Buzzard · September 20, 2015, 07:38:17 AM

Quote from: dannyboy on September 19, 2015, 09:20:55 PM
On the same theme, even though I live in Ireland, when ordering stuff from the UK, I always try and pick someone who uses Royal Mail. It moves through the UK by RM and once in Ireland, is moved by the Irish postal service - An Post. I have never had a problem this way.

Sensible but when there's only one firm in the world that makes what you want and they don't offer a range of shipping services your hands are tied.

Hyperion · September 21, 2015, 01:49:07 AM

Austpost offer a service which I use all the time now.

They call it parcel collect and so far so good. Now I don't have to worry about a delivery driver at all. They just keep my parcels at the designated post office, of which I can select, and they e-mail/text me to say when something is ready to collect. All I need is my little red collect card.

Makes things smooth and time efficient when I go to the post office. The women behind the counter now see me walk in and go out the back to grab my parcels. Most times I don't even need the card for ID!

I even use the website so when someone sends me a tracking number I can throw it into the list of items on their way.

Also has the advantage that the significant other doesn't see what I have been purchasing.

While this service might end the jobs of several parcel van drivers, that service is contracted out to the cheapest party with service that mirrors the cost of it. Cheap and nasty.