Posted by Sharon Taylor on 1/4/10 7:25am
Msg #316537

UPS now charging $10 for pickup

Just got off the phone with the UPS rep since I have 2 packages to be picked up. First, it is 13 degrees out, and the nearest UPS pickup box is 15 miles away. The only UPS facility around here is also 15 miles away. The ONLY reason I have to leave the house today would be to drop off these packages at the UPS facility, a 30-mile round trip.

So the rep tells me there is a $10 surcharge to the pickup address for picking up one or more packages and that this just started January 1. The only way around it is for the company who has supplied the prepaid label to have already authorized payment of the pickup surcharge or to have its contract with UPS state that they will pay for pickup wherever and whenever. The rep said that all UPS account holders have been made aware of this new pickup surcharge. He also stated that commercial accounts that have regularly-scheduled pickups, i.e. every day or every other day or something like that, can arrange with their account managers to have the service included in their costs. However, for mobile notaries like us, especially those who live a distance from the nearest facility or box, that's just not an option. I do drop whenever at all possible, but sometimes time and/or distance between closings doesn't allow it, and in this case it means spending an extra 45 minutes and 30 miles for the sole purpose of dropping these packages.

Needless to say, I am calling neighbors to see if anyone is going into town today. If not, I'm going to be making a 45 minute and 30-mile round trip in bitter cold just to drop the 2 packages that have to go out today. Hopefully this nonsensical surcharge will lose UPS so much business that they will come up with a plan that doesn't penalize the small occasional user of their pickup service.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 1/4/10 7:38am
Msg #316538

I wonder if Fed Ex is starting the same thing

With the competition between the 2 companies, I'm wondering if Fed Ex will follow suit?

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/4/10 7:45am
Msg #316539

I'm very rural too, with closest drop location 15 miles away

Cost of dropping those package, whether immediately after signing or next business day, is part of my signing fee - I consider it part of the "mileage" or "travel" required to do the job. Most times I go right after signing and get it done and over with but when I do need to make a second trip I usually try to include some errands so it's not a TOTAL waste - and I can ALWAYS find something to do in town.

Looks like you're taking a ride today - bundle up and don't forget to let your car run a few minutes to get those fluids warmed up!!!

Reply by MW/VA on 1/4/10 8:03am
Msg #316541

IMO that's outrageous. It's harder to get a decent fee in this business as it is, and we're not in a position to absorb the costs. It goes with the biz though, since how far we are from drop-off sites isn't the tc's concern. Stay safe & warm.

Reply by TRG_wy on 1/4/10 9:11am
Msg #316542

I canceled my business UPS account.
ALL of their fees are going up a lot. Pickup is just one of them and how close or far away doesn't matter.

Reply by Lee/AR on 1/4/10 9:14am
Msg #316543

As this is apparently now part of the services we provide, it needs to be factored into the fee you charge. I have always dropped at a box (no manned service here) and the time/mileage needed to do this has always been factored into my fee.

Reply by A S Johnson on 1/4/10 9:51am
Msg #316544

UPS and FedEx both charge pick up/stop fees.
Your nearby UPS/FedEx store has been paying these fees for years. They are based on the amount shipped each week. ie if you have an account with a daily pick up the min charge, $150 or more in the week in published daily pick up rates it is $9 per week, if less then it is more.
Remember, most people who send out prepaid drop off labels, are getting discounted rates and if they add the cost for remote pick up, their cost will go up.
If FedEx has not started this, it's in thier tarriffs and they will follow suit soon.
Both have had it in thier published tarriffs for a number of years but most drivers did not enforce them. If FedEx has not started this, they will follow suit soon.
Why is it you fuss about the cost of doing business?
Every business, and you are a business, has cost of doing business and they change all the time.

Reply by jba/fl on 1/4/10 10:09am
Msg #316548

"Why is it you fuss about the cost of doing business?"

because we have a cheap side? LOL

Reply by jba/fl on 1/4/10 10:13am
Msg #316550

Too fast with the fingers for my thoughts evidently -

FedEx drivers started knocking on my door asking for $1-$4 per pickup - citing 'rules'. Fortunately, I now have a new neighborhood store for all shippers less than 1 mile away - I can always find something to do going past there if need be. I'm not paying - cheap, cheap, cheap. Yep - I have a cheap side, family motto: Waste not, want not.

Reply by Notarysigner on 1/4/10 10:13am
Msg #316549

I wonder how long it will take low-ballers to figure this out? It looks like they are trying to stop the one - two package up dispatches. IMO

Reply by Jim/AL on 1/4/10 10:40am
Msg #316554

FedEx charged $15 more for last Saturday pickup I requested,

but t was billed to the TC, so no worries from me. They requested it, so they pay it.

Reply by Notarysigner on 1/4/10 10:49am
Msg #316555

more info for pickup

I just went to the FedEx web site and it show a basic rate pickup fee and a fuel surcharge fee.

Reply by BrendaTx on 1/4/10 10:53am
Msg #316556

Understand your unhappiness but $10 would make

me very happy not to have to leave home today and get into 13 degree weather. Heck...30 degree weather...maybe even 40 and rainy.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 1/4/10 11:56am
Msg #316570

I don't understand the problem here.

If the TC is paying for it, why is there a problem? I have always called for a pickup M-F. I am sure that it always costs for a pickup. I have never gotten any negative feedback, nor have I been asked to pay the cost.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/4/10 12:45pm
Msg #316575

Re: I don't understand the problem here.

I get the impression from the original post that TC didn't not set this up in advance - I read this as she called this morning to have them picked up and was advised of the surcharge.

I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time)...but that's my take on the post.

Reply by jojo_MN on 1/4/10 1:01pm
Msg #316579

Are we allowed to have someone else drop it off?

My understanding is that only we as notaries and the shipper (UPS/FedEx) are the only ones that can handle the documents once they are signed until dropped off at the receiver's end. I have never let anyone else drop docs for me. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Reply by jojo_MN on 1/4/10 1:18pm
Msg #316582

Re: Are we allowed to have someone else drop it off?

Of course, I'm lucky because both FedEx and UPS are within eight miles of me. If I had to drive 15 miles, I might think differently.

Reply by Lee/AR on 1/4/10 1:38pm
Msg #316584

Re: Are we allowed to have someone else drop it off?

Have never seen any stip that somebody besides yourself/FedUps is not allowed to touch the 'sealed in an envelope' docs, so see nothing wrong with having someone you trust do the dropping. Personally, tho', I don't trust anybody that well.

Reply by Sharon Taylor on 1/4/10 2:07pm
Msg #316589

I was told I'd be charged unless approved in advance

The rep said that unless the commercial account where the package is going has approved and authorized pickups as part of their prepaid service, I would be charged the $10 pickup fee. The rep suggested I call each company I work for who provides prepaid service for the packages I do and ask if they have their UPS service set up so that the recipient will pay the pickup fee anywhere anytime.
You can see where this is going, I hope. I can just see me calling every lender and title company I have worked for and saying, "I drop packages whenever I possibly can, but sometimes time and distance might require a pickup. Does your prepaid return receipt include pickup, if necessary? Can you provide me with a letter to UPS stating that it does so I can show the driver?"
I mean, there are already companies that threaten notaries that if the package is picked up instead of dropped off, they'll nick the notary's fee by $X for it.
In rural areas with wide-apart closings in backcountry locations, at EOM especially, it can be a nightmare.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/4/10 3:09pm
Msg #316594

Re: I was told I'd be charged unless approved in advance

"I can just see me calling every lender and title company I have worked for and saying, "I drop packages whenever I possibly can, but sometimes time and distance might require a pickup. Does your prepaid return receipt include pickup, if necessary? Can you provide me with a letter to UPS stating that it does so I can show the driver?"

I wouldn't call everyone I've ever done business with, but if you think pickups maybe be necessary in the future, I'd do it on a case by case basis. As you get the calls for the signings and see it's a return via UPS, address it at that time - let them know UPS now charges extra for pickups and get it included in their return shipping "just in case". They'll be billed accordingly.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 1/4/10 3:54pm
Msg #316600

Re: I was told I'd be charged unless approved in advance

I agree with Linda - address it on a case-by-case basis and have the company that hired you be the one to set up the pickup (that way it will definitely be billed to their account).

Reply by Claudine Osborne on 1/4/10 10:03pm
Msg #316649

Re: Was told by TC

Did a closing on 12/31 and was told by TC not to have package picked up by Fed Ex as there was now a charge for pick up service! The nearest Fed Ex drop box is 15 miles on way, UPS drop off location is within a mile. How are we supposed to do fax backs and make the drop off? I usually drop on my way but sometimes it just isnt possible!! I am in a rural area too!

Reply by jba/fl on 1/4/10 11:05pm
Msg #316656

Re: Was told by TC

"How are we supposed to do fax backs and make the drop off? I usually drop on my way but sometimes it just isnt possible!! I am in a rural area too!"

Just tell them. Either fax backs or drop off, their choice. Hmm - wonder which they will choose?