I *HATE* UPS.

[infared]

Sorry to be cynical (well not really). Let's be realistic. The treatment it got in the trucks it traveled in and the sorting facilities was as bad or worse than your drop box. Any of my shippers usually package things decently and the packaging from the factory is very protective. I think you are over-reacting big time. If you are having this much anguish over the delivery wait till you check the AF on that lens...THAT could cause heart failure! I had to send my first one back to B&H...the second one was very good and just needed a little tweaking on the dock. Hope you got a winner!
Now...you should never do what I did today...I ordered a VERY expensive lens and TC1.4x Kit(twice as expensive as the Sigma 50 Art), for my Micro4/3rds camera from Osaka, Japan! I did this for two reasons. The lens is a new release here in the US and cannot be had in the states for months and I actually (unbelievably), am saving $70 by ordering it from Osaka! Go figure? I am not concerned at all about the long trip...I do this all the time with camera bodies and lenses and have never had a problem.
I am sure that your lens was totally unfazed during the shipping. Don't sweat this, there are actually things in life to get upset about.

 

[Tsuru]

I normally try to avoid using UPS within Canada but I've had really good experiences within the US.
That being said I must have the laziest delivery driver assigned to my route recently.
I've had two parcels scheduled to arrive in the last week. On both cases the parcels were less than one pound each and small enough to fit in a mailbox with ease. In both cases someone was home and within 15 feet of the front door. No loud music on, expecting a knock on the door at any time. No knock ever came but there was a delivery slip on the wall by the mail box. Sounds like par for the course so far but here's the real kicker. My wife was looking out the front window when the driver pulled up. He got out of the vehicle with THE SLIP IN HIS HAND. He didn't even bring the parcel out of the vehicle. My wife wanted to see what would happen so she let him go to the door and then walk back to the vehicle. She apparently went out the front door to accost him but he had run back to the van so quickly he had driven away before she could catch him.
I'd complain to UPS but I've done it in the past and they really don't seem to care.

 

[WillThompson]

You should read the UPS minium packaging requirements. All packages must be packaged as to survive a 6 foot drop by the shipper.

3 feet is nothing if properly packaged.

Remember the conveyer belt is 6 feet off of the sorting center floor and when they have a backup some packages do fall to the floor thus the spec.

It is the shippers responsibility to package properly.

I have had fedex home change status to note left without ever leaving there depot.

Best to know your driver and there cell #, that way you do not have to wait just meet them and go home early.

 

[tpatana]

Long long time ago I had awesome experience with UPS. I was expecting a package, but I was also leaving for a trip the same day when it was supposed to arrive. I really really wanted to get the package before the trip, but the usual UPS time at my building was after I already had to leave for airport.

So the morning when it said it's out for delivery, I called the local office. I explained the situation, so they checked their machine, gave the truck ID number and rough scheduled route it was driving. They also let the driver know about that.

I jumped in my car, drove along the route and quite soon found the correct truck. When it made it's next stop, I drove next to it and told I was here for my package their office had called about. He handed me the package, I thanked and drove off to airport.

Happy ending.

 

[Lawliet]

Are you ready to pay double the delivery price for better service and working conditions?

Lets take a somewhat different approach: default delivery to a logistics station strategically placed at a crossing of high volume public transport and easy car access.

Taking a slight detour after work or during conveniently scheduled activities would easily beat chasing down some random person in the neighborhood, driving to some backwater location or taking a day off to avoid the former troubles without certainty it will actually work.

At the current state of affairs not having your package delivered could even be offered as a premium service.
On the upside - the parcel services here do their best to keep brick and mortar stores alive.

 

[Marsu42]

Taking a slight detour after work or during conveniently scheduled activities would easily beat chasing down some random person in the neighborhood, driving to some backwater location or taking a day off to avoid the former troubles without certainty it will actually work.

True, but in my crowded area (central Berlin) the problem is time - ring the bell, wait for the person to come down the stairs (or climb them yourself), take the signature, get back. Just dumping a "didn't meet you" postcard takes 15 seconds, the real deal 2-3 minutes.

Lets take a somewhat different approach: default delivery to a logistics station strategically placed at a crossing of high volume public transport and easy car access.

You've got this in German towns: there are automated delivery stations, parcels get put in, you get there, type in your secret code and get your parcel 24/7. I don't use it as it's a job killer and jobs are scarce enough around here.

 

[Northstar]

A good lesson can be learned here....Leave a politely written note for delivery people if the package is fragile/valuable.

 

[sanj]

You've got this in German towns: there are automated delivery stations, parcels get put in, you get there, type in your secret code and get your parcel 24/7. I don't use it as it's a job killer and jobs are scarce enough around here.

I personally think this is a brilliant idea.

 

[risc32]

i love UPS. i've never had a single problem, my delivery guy is super awesome, my tracking numbers always work(unlike post office codes that simply say, yeah, something was sent). I've bought tons of goods, and sold just as much without a issue. I use UPS for the av/photography stuff i've sold on ebay all around the world. sold to places i cant even spell or pronounce, and it's always found it's mark without error.

 

[Ruined]

Not working today, although lots of homework to do. But, Adorama had delivery of my Sigma 50 1.4 Art as being today through UPS. So, I went to the office, opened all the doors, turned on the lights, so clearly we could received inside delivery. So, it's 4 PM, still no delivery, so I check UPS tracking again. "Delivered 12:30 PM outside". Sure enough, the bastard had dropped it 3+ feet into our outdoor box (onto the hard concrete/steel floor) for when we're not at the office. Lazy bastard. Merry Christmas to you, too. If started to drop one of my cherished lens over three feet onto concrete (in boxing or not), it'd risk injury to dive onto the ground under it. I understand it was in a decent lens case. But the sudden deceleration can be good for it. Goll-dang it!

I had a UPS worker trip and drop a new 24L box about 3 feet to the ground. It was 100% fine though, they are generally packed to withstand falls.

 

[Houndog]

I agree that UPS should do a better job. I ordered a 24-105 lens from Adorama. I found it on my front steps, in plain view from the street with the Adorama label broadcasting "camera stuff". Next morning. No doorbell, nothing to tell us to look. Fortunately, I am an early riser and found it when I went for the newspaper.

 

[Chisox2335]

Okay, I realize he's not "lazy" in that he delivers a ton of weight everyday (for pretty good money from what I've heard), but still, he's not "lazy" in the absolute form of "welfare queen lazy". But, as a musician and amateur photographer, I have seen a HELL of a lot of equipment damaged over the years from these guys carelessly and thoughtlessly throws this stuff around. The packages look like they dragged them behind the truck, not in them. They sure as heck wouldn't throw their own stuff around like that. And the sticker on the door when the door was open, that happens all the time here, too. And our UPS and Post Office places are minimum 40 minute round trip if there's no line at the counter when you get there. Even if I send my staff member to get it it's $20/hr plus lost productivity. So, yeah, I'd pay more for fragile delivery. Better packaging would help, too, although this package had an air pillow on 5 of the 6 sides. But, since the weight was on the side where the air pillow wasn't odds are higher it fell on the unprotected side. I'm just kinda pissed. If I keep this lens, I always will wonder if it's loosened or damaged. And it would have taken 15 seconds to open the damn door and deliver it inside.

15 seconds times 400 packages a day. 1 hour and 40 minutes he'd prefer to be with his family.

 

[epsiloneri]

Not surprised.

 

[gbchriste]

A couple of suggestions

1. Whenever I order something high value like a camera body or lens, I set the delivery up to pick it up in person at the local UPS or FedEx facility, depending on how it is coming. Yes, it requires a little more work on my part to drive there and stand in line, but that way I don't take any chances.

2. Did it ever occur to you to hand write a notice on a piece of paper - "Please deliver packages inside" - and stick it on the front of your drop box?

3. Unless the package was clearly marked "Fragile, Handle With Care" or some similar notice, how the hell is he supposed to know? You're the one that put a parcel drop box with a 3-foot drop on to concrete/steel in front of your business for exactly this purpose, and now your pissed that the delivery service used it.

 

[Marsu42]

You should read the UPS minium packaging requirements. All packages must be packaged as to survive a 6 foot drop by the shipper. 3 feet is nothing if properly packaged. Remember the conveyer belt is 6 feet off of the sorting center floor and when they have a backup some packages do fall to the floor thus the spec.

Good point there, I don't know the specs of the delivery service I use but remembering my dslr and lens packages, you could have played football with them. Some stuff is even ridiculously over-packeged, I received a roll of black aluminium foil wrapped in 15cm of bubble packages :-> ... probably due to standard package sizes.

But probably as there's a trend towards cheaper rip-off gear like the Yongnuo copy of Canon's 50/1.4, packaging might also suffer. If they calculate with saving every ct on production, they'll also cut corners on delivery. But then, the manufacturer is to blame, not the delivery service.

 

[Sella174]

I read rants like in this thread and always think two things: if you people ever dealt with the South African Post Office, then you would not complain evermore; and how lucky we are with the service by the South African Post Office, compared to what you get from your postal services.

 

[RustyTheGeek]

I realize you were frustrated about wasting your day but I don't think UPS is to blame.

I *LOVE* UPS.

My driver even gave me his personal cell phone number. I'm self employed out of the house and he'll call me or even take my calls on his personal cell to help deliver a package. He hauls ass.

In general, UPS ROCKS for me. I realize that everyone has a different experience but my driver knows I appreciate him. I don't expect him to read my mind. I put up a note (to any carrier) if I need the package and I'm in and out that day or a send my UPS guy a text. I HELP THEM HELP ME.

In your case, I gotta say that it's not the driver's fault that you have a 3ft drop onto concrete. Fix that dude! Add a sloping ramp to a padded box. Put up a note if the delivery is that important.

I don't want to wait longer to get my packages because the driver must waste his time handling other high maintenance people. UPS and FedEx (not USPS) work extremely hard to improve efficiency, tracking and save time to get packages delivered fast and safely. (USPS couldn't care less.)

And the package likely had to endure worse treatment during the journey than at your door. It's up to the shipper to ensure no damage occurs, not the carrier. When I open packages, I get mad at the shipper, not the carrier. Poor packaging is the reason things arrive damaged.

 

[tcmatthews]

Just about every computer, camera, monitor, etc bought in the US is treated about the same before it goes to retail. If not worst. For a short time I worked a Comp USA. DHL delivered TVs in the back of a pickup. If it was raining the delivery guy may put a tarp on it or he may not.

I would not worry about it unless the box is crushed, opened, etc. If it does not work send it back. I usually have more trouble with FedEx. UPS consistently shows up 5:00pm or latter. Fedex can show up anytime.

 

[LovePhotography]

Well, I realize I could've done more. And, when I wrote this, I was pissed off for having wasted 3/4ths of my day with a bad outcome anyway. Padding in the box... gonna happen. Note on the box- I should have done it. And we get a lot of UPS stuff at our office, almost always inside. I thought that turning all the lights on, opening doors and parking in front would let him know the office was open. All he had to do was pull on the door. Adorama packs well, but in this case, one side of the box had no air pillow. But all the padding in the world doesn't change the rate of deceleration. The lens does make a noise like something is slightly moving when I lightly shake it, but I don't know if that is normal , and the lens seems to take pics okay although I have not pixel peeped yet. Adorama (and all others should put "fragile" on all their strapping tape and boxes, although I doubt if the delivery guy cares, or takes the time to read them and be somewhat gentle with packages so labeled.
I guess I am just sensitized because I have received SO MANY technical items (Yamaha PA mixing boards, etc.) where the package had almost disintegrated by the time it arrived. PA speakers where hunks of plywood were missing out of a $2500 JBL cabinet, legs on a steel piano bench bent, etc., etc., etc... I do a good job at work, even when nobody is looking, or it doesn't matter. If you don't want to do the job enough to do it well, do something else.
And they don't make 400 stops in one day. LOL. That's one every 90 seconds.

 

[Sella174]

If you don't want to do the job enough to do it well, do something else.

Most times there isn't something else ...

Back to the topic, sort of. As someone who regularly sends things through the post, as well as receiving things through the post, I have learned that post office proof packing is a martial art of sorts and double-wall corrugated boxes your primary weapon.