Rant on shipping

[Jstpssng]

Since I'm so good about complaining in this thread and elsewhere, here's a "Hat's Off" to the Postal Service.
Last week my GPS crapped out on me while out in the woods. I went back to the truck and went online looking for a replacement. Garmin listed what I needed as "Not in stock". GPS Store "expected" to get them in sometime next month. A couple other places were the same... but Cabela's had what I needed. I normally don't order anything Christmas week as the delivery services are busy enough but I needed the GPS, and decided to order it before they ran out. I placed the order at around 1:00 PM Thursday, the order shipped on Friday and was in my mailbox today.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

I ordered a rock bucket. It came form Tennessee to Idaho, and took two and a half months. Seemed to move a few hundred miles and then sit for a few weeks at a time. It made it to one hundred and fifty miles away and sat for a week. I finally called the freight company, and they got it here two days later.

 

[3Ts]

When I get equipment, it depends on the company as to what happens. Fedex has had a 53' semitrailer in my "front yard", but UPS won't leave the paved highway. UPS won't stop on a state highway and won't drive on dirt or limestone roads. Almost all roads that are not state highways are unpaved so I have to go to their depot to pick it up which is a little more than 50 miles. And this is after paying for door to door delivery. (I've asked about pricing to the depot and I'm told it's the same).

 

[LouNY]

Around here they drive on dirt roads frequently,
also they come up my driveway once winter is over (1/4 mile gravel),
in the winter I put a large tote down at the foot of it as I don't want them even trying if there is any snow or ice.

 

[Jstpssng]

I live on a gravel road with hills on each side of me which can get icy. In summer UPS delivers to my house; in winter I pay 2$/package to have them dropped off at a nearby dropoff point.

 

[PILOON]

Last week UPS dump/delivered a large package by roadside at a neighbor's that slid down the snowbank.
Poor guy was up to his knees dragging out his shipment.

UPS seems to fear leaving the paved roads and sure avoid private drives.

I was told UPS must be back at their depot by XX hour so that outgoing parcels can make flight time.
Might be hearsay, that or drivers refuse to work past 5:00 PM.
Presume they don't get any overtime pay.
On the other hand I do know their pay scale was +/- $75K a few years back, not exactly peanuts.

 

[Jstpssng]

Last week UPS dump/delivered a large package by roadside at a neighbor's that slid down the snowbank.
Poor guy was up to his knees dragging out his shipment.

UPS seems to fear leaving the paved roads and sure avoid private drives.

I was told UPS must be back at their depot by XX hour so that outgoing parcels can make flight time.
Might be hearsay, that or drivers refuse to work past 5:00 PM.
Presume they don't get any overtime pay.
On the other hand I do know their pay scale was +/- $75K a few years back, not exactly peanuts.

Here, I often see trucks out until 7:00 PM or later. It's about 45 minutes back to base, yet they are still out delivering.

 

[California]

A month ago I was asked to pull a UPS truck out of the ditch that he backed into. He was resting on the chassis. I tried, but my little 1800 lb Yanmar just dug holes in the dirt lane without moving him. He finally got a tow truck to pull him out. I doubt he met his schedule that day.

 

[JethroB]

Probably 95% of what I order from Amazon is delivered by USPS. I use a PO Box in town and that works well for me. Small packages go in my rather large PO Box, the rest I pick up from the counter. Just really two complaints, #1 - if an item has a battery in it the USPS won’t touch it. Then it’s UPS or FEDEX driving across my yard. #2 - My post office closes for lunch, who does that anymore?

 

[Oaktree]

My post office closes for lunch, who does that anymore?

How many employees work there (not counting carriers, who'd be out on their routes at noon)? Some of the smaller post offices here have just one. I'm sure their contract requires the USPS to give them a lunch break.