UPS (my first AND LAST experience with them. ever)

[stuffc0]

Just thought I should scream into the void here and hopefully someone else will be spared the missery of trying to do business with UPS (canada).

I've been selling on eBay for 18 years. Always use Canada Post, in recent times especially beause of their shipping calculator with exact shipping quotes for customers. I really don't miss the old days of constantly providing shipping quotes to potential customers who ask!

I recently sold a large tail light for a car. It exceeded the volumetric weight Canada Post allows so I tried UPS.

What an absolute waste of my afternoon.

I phoned first to make sure I could bring a parcel in to weigh (it's too large for my parcel scale at home). After waiting on hold for 15 minutes a UPS Canada employee gave me a drop off location within 10 minutes of my house and said I would be able to weigh and purchase the label there. So I loaded up my SUV and away I went. I went in to the pharmacy and they turned me away. They absolutely do not and never have weighed or measured parcels for people. It is drop off only.

No worries, mistakes happen. I'm sure it was a simple mix up.  So I phone UPS Canada again. And wait 15 minutes, again. I explained to the UPS Employee what had happened and they appologized for the mix up. They gave me a new address and PROMISED I would be able to weigh my package there and get a label. I drove 40 minutes (one-way) to the new location only to be turned away again.  Wow. Now it's starting to stink.

So I phoned UPS for a third time. Waited 15 minutes, again. Finally when someone answered they listened to my issues. I begged them to help me ship a package. I was under the impression that was what they did? (My mistake). The third employee gave me another address to try. So I did. And, drum roll please, I was turned away. Wow. Now I was frustrated. 

So I called UPS. And waited. Finally someone answers. And, gives me A FOURTH ADDRESS. I said I wanted to talk to a supervisor as I felt my concerns were not being addressed.  The supervisor was busy. The UPS Canada Agent (#4) took my number and promised me the supervisor would call within an hour. 

Here I am. Four hours later. No phone call.

Do not support this business. Do not waste a minute of your precious life on them.

I never will use them. I ship about $500 in labels with Canada Post every day. 

UPS needs to finish withering away. I do not understand how a business operates at such an incompetent capacity. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my rant. Please learn from my mistake. Do not trust or support UPS.

Have a good one!

[femmefan1946 · Accepted solution]

Is there a ChitChat Express in your area ? They have contracts with UPS and other couriers although most of their work is with USPS. I'm not too clear on their services since they don't operate in my area, but many eBayers seem very pleased with them.

Or try CanPar or another more local shipper. Some of those have contracts with international shippers.

My own products mostly move by LetterPost so I'm certainly no expert. I have tried to ship heavy boxes through UPS but find their website baffling. 

The places you went sound like pickup subcontractors. Is there an actual UPS Store in your area ?  Our local p/u office will weigh and even wrap, but they also will take in your drycleaning, sell you an earthquake prep kit, shred your papers, and type manuscripts. 

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@stuffc0 

The one time I had to request a UPS driver to pick up a package for a wrong delivery to my address, no one showed. Ended up walking it over. 

Side note: Recent announcement(Oct 25, 2021) on dot com regarding goings on and surcharge billing etc with UPS and Fedex. Sounds not pretty. Hope no Canadian sellers using those services  are getting hit with those "bonus" charges after the fact?

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/UPDATE-as-of-10-25-Shipping-carrier-peak-season-rate-and...

-Lotz

[parts_and_diecasts]

yes, recently got hit with a $5.35 "bonus" charges spread over 3 parcels using UPS: comprised mostly of fuel surcharges and one residential address surcharge (which I already paid upfront?!?). Just makes Chit Chats USPS Priority and even cheaper Chit Chats US Economy Tracked services that much more attractive.

with regards to OP's issue, I would advise using an actual UPS Store (not an outlet). never had an issue shipping car parts (as big as entire front grille assemblies) through UPS via Net Parcel; the alternative through CPC is much more costly and slower. My local UPS store ( a 5 mins walk from my place) is professional and trustworthy, with twice daily pickups (noon and 6:00 pm); results may very depending on location I guess.

Also might want to:

• invest in a $40 shipping scale available on Amazon.ca (up to 110 lbs).
• stop using meaningless keywords like L@@K and *Rare* in your listing titles, nobody search for those and it makes you look dated as a seller (we're in 2021, not 1997)

[parts_and_diecasts]

@femmefan1946 thumbs up for Chit Chats recommendation despite not being available in your area, you are a trooper

Note that Chit Chats no longer associates with UPS and FedEx.

"We have slowly been phasing out third-party postage for grandfathered accounts. After another careful review of our current offerings, we will retire UPS and FedEx services completely by September 30, 2021*."

Third-party courriers (other than UPS) can be found at discounted rates on Paypal/Net Parcel: Purolator, Canpar, DHL, and others.

[stuffc0]

Thank you for taking the time to read my rant and respond! I looked into ChitChat and i’m right in between two locations (*150 km each one-way). But CanPar seems like a decent alternative with s similar weigh/measure at home system. I am definitely going to look into their rated more for future use potentially; thank you! Have a great weekend

[stuffc0]

Lol thank you. The additional charges are what I am worried about; having read UPS’s fine print. I’m worried about the buyer getting slapped with the charge too potentially. We’ll just have to wait and see if/when it arrives.
As for the side notes I appreciate the constructive criticism! Your comment about my dated listing tactics made me laugh lol thank you. I must admit I bought into the 2004 eBay “How to List an Item” pretty hard and haven’t changed since. You are right, I need to dedicate a day or two to learning more modern techniques.
I agree about the larger parcel scale; I have my eye on an industrial one for $50 next time I travel north to the nearest major city (a couple hours away from me).
Thank you for taking the time to read my rant and respond, I appreciate it.
Have a good weekend!

[intimewithmusic]

    When I had a brick and mortar music instrument store most of my shipments were large and heavy. I loved UPS. they came practically every day. Drivers were always friendly and their handling of goods was good. 

   Now that my online store is running rather than wait for an order I've already prepared to ship heavier items through UPS.  I haven't used them yet just to be transparent.

   I know from experience UPS is a courier  not a post office.  Although they take "one off" shipments through affiliates UPS is a pick up and delivery courier.     My experience with UPS meant having your item packed labeled and ready for pickup in your place of business. The driver picks it up.  They didn't used to do pickups for companies that didn't get regular  deliveries but that's changed I think. 

    That said, here in Kelowna we have a dedicated UPS store near my business. It's not just a 3rd party drop off in a drug store. It's a UPS Store and they have customer service.   I would recommend those stores for a "one off". You are going to pay full retail. 

   Rather than do that as I expect random heavier orders I chose to set things up with a UPS "Small Buiness Advisor".  This way you become a commercial customer. They will give you a commercial rate. All of your shipping details go into their system.  It makes printing labels and getting time & cost estimates much easier than going to a drop off location. It allows you to offer a custom quote to a customer before they purchase. There is no waiting on the phone.  They excel at international shipments and have a great online customs harmonization code lookup. 

   I don't think a company can be "all things to all people".  The post office has people with varied amounts of training in drug stores. The trucking companies (even though they compete with the post office) are trucking companies...  For those who need a trucking company for 6 or more shipments a year I recommend opening an account with a UPS Small Business Ambassador who you can easily reach by telephone. You will need to have your  items packed and ready for pickup or you can drop them off prepaid.