Posted by Diann/MI on 9/29/11 9:49pm
Msg #399235

UPS

I previously made four calls to UPS within the last month to order supplies (envelopes, pouches etc). Each time the order was taken but the supplies were never delivered. Today, I placed a fifth call only to be told that I would have to open an account and that I would have to pay. In the past, my supplies were sent expeditiously and I never had to pay. I asked the Customer Service Rep if this was a new policy. He said no and that he was surprised that shipments had been delivered to me without my having an account. WHAT IS GOING ON?? Do we now have an additional expense of purchasing UPS supplies?

Reply by John Tennant on 9/29/11 9:57pm
Msg #399237

FIND ANOTHER CARRIER. DON'T USE UPS. n/m

Reply by HisHughness on 9/30/11 12:06am
Msg #399248

UPS = Unfriendly Poor Service n/m

Reply by Philip Johnson on 9/29/11 10:07pm
Msg #399239

Set up an account and order your supplies.

They don't charge for supplies and i get mine normally 3 days after ordering.

Reply by ME/NJ on 9/29/11 10:26pm
Msg #399240

Ditto set up get acct# and supplies are free n/m

Reply by Bee_CA on 9/29/11 10:54pm
Msg #399242

Re: Ditto set up get acct# and supplies are free

I have scoped out the drop boxes in my area that are well supplied with envelopes and airbills and keep a bag of such for FedEx and UPS in my car...

Reply by Scriba/NM on 9/30/11 1:26am
Msg #399252

Obviously, you are doing something wrong. First of all, if you are in this business, you need to have both a UPS and a FedEx account. Why, you say? Because you can then generate airbills right on your computer professionally instead of scratching around on some multicopy airbill that usually looks unprofessional. Anyone that's been in the business must know this.

The account costs you nothing. You indicate that you want billing to your credit card. When preparing your airbill, you indicate third party or recipient billing, you get a zero bill from UPS and no bill from FedEx. You also have the convenience when you really want to ship and pay for something (like a screw up). Anything you pay for is a business deduction anyway.

You develop an address book and merely click on the repeat recipient you want and presto, the form is almost all filled in. You only need package weight, date to ship (FedEx) and a few other boxes and a professional airbill pops out of your printer. This is not rocket science.

Then, you also have the convenience of ordering supplies online. There is no "call to UPS" to order supplies. You need an account, but why "call?" Also, you can walk into the UPS store and ask for supplies you need. Granted, some UPS stores are backwards and not helpful. Avoid them, I do. That's why you order online. FedEx is always very helpful. You order in lots of 50 (envelopes, pouches, etc.) for both UPS and FedEx. It has always been this way, and will continue to be.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 9/30/11 7:02am
Msg #399254

Respectfully, I disagree with Scriba/NM

See:
Msg #213288
Msg #217051

Both these message threads deal with chargebacks from UPS for shipments generated with online shipping labels by the notary. One of the chargebacks was mine, even though I generated the online airbill using the UPS account number that was given to me by the title company on that job. After that experience, I will stick with my handwritten airbills when a shipping label is not provided by the hiring entity.

I have had issues with UPS repeatedly closing my account due to inactivity. All I do is order supplies on my account. I order as many legal window and legal non-window envelopes as I am allowed to, as well as airbill pouches. Next time I need to order supplies, I discover my account has been deemed inactive and has been closed by UPS. So I open a new account and order supplies. I tried ordering without an account number but it was too much of a hassle and the supplies never arrived. FedEx gets my business when I have to ship a personal package, because they have never closed my account and played games with me. FedEx does limit how many envelopes I can order at one time, but I can deal with it.

Reply by Notarysigner on 9/30/11 7:35am
Msg #399255

I agree with you

Here UPS Very greatly in terms of service. I have discovered that some of the stores, 3 or 4 offering poor service in various cities in the bay area are owned by the same person.

There are only two in the whole bay area I go to. Logistics also plays a part, who whats to go to a UPS store in the center of a mall? I like to drive up, park directly outside (with a meter) go inside, period.

Reply by Richard Ingram on 9/30/11 11:36am
Msg #399289

Re: I agree with you

UPS is the biggest PITA I have ever seen. Never had a problem with FedEx and will only use UPS as a final resort. I had to cancel my account due to added charged for deadbeat companies not complying with their stated policies. Hardest people to work with and unreasonable in light of the fact I could use their services at least 15-20 times per month btr elect Fedex due to the unfriendly ways.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 9/30/11 9:14pm
Msg #399348

Re: Respectfully, I disagree with Scriba/NM

I've read of too many issues of fees being charged back for various reasons, so I write out airbills, too. I have a FedEx account to order supplies (also not a problem), but i don't even bother with that with UPS. I have a UPS store very close to me where they are pretty nice and have been helpful, but I don't like to push it.

Every now and then I find myself in the vicinity of a regional UPS hub with a customer service counter (non-franchise), and I stop in there to load up on supplies. I've also had a UPS driver offer me a whole packet of legal size envelopes. And fortunately, it seems that lately all my clients that use UPS also include a preprinted label. So far, so good... They are never my first choice, though. (But then again, I don't pay the shipping bill. )

Reply by Scriba/NM on 9/30/11 9:26pm
Msg #399350

Re: Respectfully, I disagree with Scriba/NM

Well, I guess if I had all those problems, I would probably be singing a different tune, but I've really had no problems. No chargebacks, or anything like that. Everything works like it should.

UPS bought out all of the old MaiBoxes Etc. Stores and the franchisees are still running the stores (under the theoretical watchful eye of the area/district manager) but some are terrible here in ABQ. The one right by my house is wonderful - if I am in a rush I can use their computers (no charge) and download docs and print directly to their printers and I get a rate of 4 cents per copy and a monthly billing. Been going there for over 7 years - very nice people.

Other stores, however, are like gestapo stores and won't give you anything. I just don't go there. My UPS driver is excellent - had him for five years. I guess I'm just fortunate.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 10/1/11 5:53am
Msg #399373

Both accounts since '05, never a problem

I've had each carrier's on-line system STOP me from processing a label due to the client's account number being either wrong (my bad, typo's) or invalid. I love the on-line systems, the records, the address book & auto-fill, the ease of getting supplies, all of it.

Particularly, I like that they validate the account number & the delivery address. There's a bit of responsibility on me, to make sure I've completed the form accurately - but I've had a couple of client's acct numbers show as invalid (and I am prevented from completing a label in the first place) - called clients and get the "oh yeah ...um ..here, use our (other carrier) account." THIS gives me a little bit of a head's up that a particular client might need to have smaller 'line of credit' with myself as well. =)

FedEx was validating the account numbers a long time, UPS seems to have 'caught up' more recently (to me, "recently" might mean the last year or so?). I wonder (searched and didn't find) if anyone has had UPS charge-backs in the last year?

I also use drop-boxes routinely, and again - no issues. THAT definitely seems to be dependent on location, though - with rural areas getting more than their fair share of problems. I always use the same two boxes now (everyone scared me into that routine), both are late pick-up and central to a large metro-area filled with businesses - I think it might help that in the event of a missed pick-up, a LOT of people would be screaming about it.