Rant on shipping

[Gem99ultra]

It seems to be routine these days that "Item has Shipped" simply means that they received your order and maybe even printed a label. It sure doesn't mean that the item is on the way. That's obviously an easy way that they can bill you early and operate on your money - not theirs.

 

[California]

Would anyone be interested in a shipping service that cost Half typical prices, But you had to drive to the nearest town to get (or send) your packages? (Sort of like having a PO Box at the post office but for packages....)

Amazon does that here (northern California). UPS stores, a few grocery stores, college bookstores are listed as alternate destinations generally to arrive one day earlier than to your home.

 

[California]

When my pallet forks were delivered, they were thrown off the back of the truck at the end of my drive.

Me too. Into high grass halfway between the house and lane. I had walked by there several times looking for them. After the shipper insisted they were delivered I looked for them a couple more times, and finally noticed them, well hidden in the tall grass. Thanks UPS.

 

[goeduck]

They refused, told me I had to call the 800 number. I've spent that last 20 minutes on the phone punching buttons and yelling at the stupid voice system before finally getting through to a person ... in Asia ... that I could barely understand.

We could have a whole thread on that subject. Very frustrating and time consuming, particularly when you wait through 30 minutes of bad music and then get told that you have the wrong department and "let me transfer you"...... Then another 30 minutes of bad music and another transfer....... And so on and so on. I spent all day on Wednesday of this week with my health insurance going though that.

Many websites are very limited and when you need to do anything beyond the standard selections, there is very little (capable) chat or phone support. And as you say, you often cannot understand them on the phone. For that reason, my first option is usually chat.

 

[PILOON]

Your call is very important, pls be patient as we have an above normal calls today---- music----
Repeat message---music---message saying to go to web site---music--- repeat---music---1/2 has passed by----CLICK--- (automatic cut off)=Dial tone!
Next AM @08:00 (hoping to be first in line) but same run around.
AND
If so lucky as to get a real person they have such an accent that U can't understand anything.

Reporting a Hydro outage around here is just about the worst frustration possible.
They have it all automated with canned messages, hints and suggestions and always say power will be restored in 3 hours. (rarely happens)

 

[ultrarunner]

Reminds me of a guy having trouble getting cable restored and was told dispatch is based on the number of subscribers affected…

He went out and pulled down the rest of the branch that took out his line increasing the number affected from 1 to 37 and in less then an hour two trucks were making repairs

 

[Doughknob]

Amazon does that here (northern California). UPS stores, a few grocery stores, college bookstores are listed as alternate destinations generally to arrive one day earlier than to your home.

But at half the price of 'to your door' service?

 

[Alan W.]

Your call is very important, pls be patient as we have an above normal calls today---- music----
Repeat message---music---message saying to go to web site---music--- repeat---music---1/2 has passed by----CLICK--- (automatic cut off)=Dial tone!
Next AM @08:00 (hoping to be first in line) but same run around.
AND
If so lucky as to get a real person they have such an accent that U can't understand anything.

Reporting a Hydro outage around here is just about the worst frustration possible.
They have it all automated with canned messages, hints and suggestions and always say power will be restored in 3 hours. (rarely happens)

If it gives you the option of dialing by extension # I will usually keep trying random numbers till I figure out their system. Then I’ll talk to everybody that answers. Telling them my problems.

 

[Diggin It]

^^^ Random number rings through.

'Hello, how can I help you?'

'Hey, a person!! Cool. I've been stuck in this phone tree for an hour. I need help with a package.'

'Hour huh? Well this is Pops the janitor and I've been trying to figure that dang thing out fer near on ten years now. I never know who's on the other end of this thing. Hey, you ain't a doctor are ya'? Maybe you can help me with my gout ...... '

 

[Pixguy]

Your call is very important, pls be patient as we have an above normal calls today---- music----
Repeat message---music---message saying to go to web site---music--- repeat---music---1/2 has passed by----CLICK--- (automatic cut off)=Dial tone!
Next AM @08:00 (hoping to be first in line) but same run around.
AND
If so lucky as to get a real person they have such an accent that U can't understand anything.

Reporting a Hydro outage around here is just about the worst frustration possible.
They have it all automated with canned messages, hints and suggestions and always say power will be restored in 3 hours. (rarely happens)

"Due to the larger than normal calls, you may experience some delay"

blah blah blah