eBay

amberwoodottawa · ‎12-17-2003

This thread has been started from another thread I started and where that other thread has led me.

Without revisiting the entire story, here it is in a nutshell:

I shipped a drum set in 2 boxes via Express Post on Friday for Monday delivery. Wednesday the client is all upset as tracking shows the drums were delivered on Monday even though she stayed home all day waiting for them.

I call CP and am told they are probably at the local Post Office and that is why tracking shows Monday delivery. The drums are not there, nor at any of 3 other postal outlets nor at the main post office in nearby Oshawa.

One package is delivered Wednesday afternoon by her post man and the second (damaged) is delivered by CP Express Post truck Wednesday evening.

Why did the tracking information show delivery on Monday?
Who entered it and how was it entered and what is required to reflect deliverey when one of the packages was on a truck for 3 days and the other waiting for the regular postman to bring it to her house also 3 days later?

I thought that this thread may be a good place for people to share similar stories of tracking information which they have suspected to be incorrect, no better to be referred to as falsified.

Clearly CP wants to reflect delivery within its pre-defined time periods so they dont have to give a refund. I think what happened in my case is that they screwed up and delivery took longer than they expected and they got caught.

Anyway I look forward to reading similar experiences with CP, UPS, Fedex etc.

Malcolm

itrecovery · ‎12-17-2003

CP tracking is quite inaccurate.

I have quite a few situations when tracking show delivery, but nothing was delivered at that date.

Also, CP tracking doesn't show transit points. For internet shipping it is only 2 lines:
1. Transaction submitted
2. Delivered

acurael · ‎12-18-2003

We monitor all outbound UPS shipments for successful delivery (as they offer an ontime guarantee or the freight is refunded)

On average, I would say that about 10% of the packages are actually delivered early, about 5% are late, and maybe .5% delivered but for whatever reason don't get a delivery scan. So the package shows as in transit, but the customer already has it.

I've never seen the reverse - where they've claimed delivery, but the package wasn't.

Wade

www-labels4less-com · ‎12-18-2003

Possible they tried home delivery, was scanned before being brought to the door and a p/u tag was left?

amberwoodottawa · ‎12-18-2003

No, the woman was home all day long specifically waiting for the drums to be delivered. No tag was left at her door. Further the tracking information indicated they were delivered but did not indicate delivered to Whitby which led the CP rep to assume they went straight to the postal outlet at Shopper's Drug Mart without any attempt to deliver them to her home.

And then to have the 2 parcels split between regular postal delivery for the 12kg package and CP Express Post truck for the 27kg package, both on Wedensday, 2 days after tracking showed them delivered, raises the speculation bar up a few more notches.

Malcolm

itrecovery · ‎12-18-2003

BTW. UPS tracking is very accurate. They also pay insurance easier then CP.

souranial · ‎12-18-2003

BTW - UPS refunds the freight on express items even if the item was delivered 2 minutes after 10:30! Not that I am a scammer to do that - BUT that just proves their committment to their service.

Canada Post on the other hand will not refund freight even if an ExpressPost item, which they claim has GUARANTEED DELIVERY by a certain date, arrives 2 days late! That is my personal experience with the poor service that they offered.

Regards,
Daniel

ospreylinks · ‎12-18-2003

We ship from a small rural post office that doesn't have scanning capabilities. When we drop off a shipment, it is suppose to be scanned outbound at the first large center that handles the goods. Normally this doesn't happen and when a customer enters a tracking number for an item we are shipping, they get a no record of shipment message.... boy doesn't that make us look good!.

Often, the only time the item is actually scanned is upon delivery. I have spent more time explaining to anxious customers that yes, goods were shipped and they are in transit, but many are very skeptical until the goods arrive.

Doesn't make for very good customer relations.

Jeff

amberwoodottawa · ‎12-18-2003

I shipped a guitar last spring with UPS at the customer's request. They played football with the instrument that had to travel a total of perhaps 25 miles. They took 2 months to pay my claim, they didnt refund shipping costs as they said it is not their policy

I lost the customer and another sale to that customer, I lost my shipping costs that I had to refund the customer and my profit as they paid only the cost of the instrument so please dont tell me about how good UPS is.

They are all alike, CP, UPS, Fedex. If they can take advantage of you they will. I bet I can find you several hundred horror stories about UPS aloing with at least 10 that I have experienced. But I can also find just as many about CP and Fedex.

There are NO RULES with these guys. It all depends on how aggressive you are and who you are talking to. I have had freight refunded by CP through one claims clerk and refused by another.

The only way there will be consistency from a carrier is when enough vendors band together and speak as one and not all fighting spearate wars for our own little interests.

Sorry for the rant but I am tired of hearing how good one carrier is over the other. They are all taking advantage of us one way or another. If someone is lucky enbough to have a truly dedicated account executive looking after them, whether it be at CP or UPS great, but watch out when you get a new one in to replace the efficiency you have become accustomed to.

I had a CP account exec at the beginning take care of all sorts of things for me but he couldnt keeep up with the demand so I no longer hear from him.

Malcolm

www-labels4less-com · ‎12-18-2003

I just received my package from Canada Post regarding rate increases. (spent some time reading but still can't find the new small packet air rates).

Early in the new year, Expedited and Xpresspost will be offering eSignature. You will be able to view, download and print a copy of the customers sig.

itrecovery · ‎12-18-2003

That is amazing how different experience with same companies. I got all UPS refunds on a fly, while CP pulling my legs every time.

Malcolm has free CP pick up... I spent a week on the phone didn't get any commitment whatsoever.

Anatoly

amberwoodottawa · ‎12-18-2003

Anatoly
That is exactly my point! There are no rules with the carriers. They change them to suit whomever you are talking to at the time.

Nearly all of my experiences with UPS have been disgusting while other people have had great service and vice versa with CP.

The only way to have everyone on stream with the same high quality service from each of the carriers is to approach them collectively.

That is where Todd is coming in with his web page and group of eBayers to form a type of Buying Group for our carrier services.

Its not just a price issue but a service issue also. If someone in Vancouver is told something by CP or UPS and it contradicts what is everyone else's understanding of what the issue is, we can take it right back to the carrier with the support of the entire group.

Malcolm

www-labels4less-com · ‎12-18-2003

"Malcolm has free CP pick up" I also receive free pick up. I think the rule is 20 parcels per week or its a $6.00 charge per week.

your-chic-shopper · ‎12-18-2003

No the killer www-labels4less-com I was told the same 20 packages a week

Well I have had phone calls from other Ebay Sellers that have been told by Canada Post they have to do 120 parcels a week to get free shipping . This is what pisses me off to no end. I truly believe they Canada Post has a 2 book policy. The book they show the customers, and a second book they can pull out at any time and state " sorry we charge for that "

Example Some of the Ebay sellers are being told the following reguarding Canada Post

1) There is a 5.00 surcharge for writen manifests..to my knowledge this is not true I have confirmed this with my CP Rep

2) You will not be able to use written Manifest in 2004 at all

3) That Canada Post ownes Ebay.ca ~this is not true I called my Rep on this

4) That Canada Post will deliever come rain,water,heavy snow ~this is not true I called my Rep on this question

5) That I have no life outside of Ebay~ this is not true I called my wife on this question

Todd

your-chic-shopper · ‎12-18-2003

First word above is not NO but NOW

amberwoodottawa · ‎12-18-2003

With respect to the number of packages per week to be picked up, I was told 16 packages per week no charge, 8 packages per week $8, less than 8 packages per week $16 charge.

Guess what? I have tons of weeks I shipped out less than 5 packages and I have never been charged by CP, not $8, not $16, nothing.

Once again I think it goes more to profitability than quantity where my average shipping cost would be around $40.

If you want stories about CP,talk to a UPS rep, they have hundreds. Its too bad they dont use real ones though as there is enough of those without having to make a bunch up.

Malcolm

your-chic-shopper · ‎12-19-2003

I bet one of the stories is CP is Goverment run and can get away with that and this and this as well

Heard that story from UPS...told them AH CP is not goverment Run

amberwoodottawa · ‎12-19-2003

They told me the same story.
They also told me that UPS and Fedex were in a lawsuit to force CP to charge customers brokerage fees like they do.
I have at least 35 more stories I kept from their reps.
Malcolm

www-labels4less-com · ‎12-19-2003

Todd, I'm pretty sure that the early information the reps were given was that there was going to be a charge for written manifests. Remember they kept on changing the date this was going to happen? Obviously customers were furious as many/most small to medium sized businesses don't have a PC sitting in a dusty warehouse environment. Another problem. Staffing was another issue. Not to generalize, but many labourers in warehouses are not that computer saavy.
The package I received today from CP states there is a 2% discount if using certain methods of shipping (not small packet) when you use an electronic tool for submitting manifests.

brcyclesalvage · ‎12-19-2003

The charge for manifests (according to my rep) is only for customers that use manifests for letter mail and bulk mailing. The single item manifests that are used now won't be charged for...then again the story always changes.