Done with UPS FOREVER

Plus, if the value of the missing item isn't over a certain amount, $1000 I think, then they don't investigate it. That's why I always ship using a friends business. Who the heck wants anything coming from a print shop?

 

Did you ever try tipping your driver and giving him a card near the holidays or stuff like that? It makes all the difference in the world if you have a personal relationship with your driver. If he knows you ship beer and you're a stranger I wouldn't be surprised if he said fuck this these are heavy ass boxes full of stuff that's not supposed to be shipped anyways.

 

I'm sure a particularly reckless driver could still damage them. Those guys have a knack for destroying packages.

 

I've tipped my fedex guy multiple times, yes. My UPS issues happened within the first couple months after i started trading, so my relationship with him ended before the holidays.

That said, I'm not even sure I have the same UPS driver any more. It's een so long since i've received a package. But, there's no reason to change from something that's working.

So I guess my advice for the Op is to use whichever shipper works for you, but remember your problems are likely due to a bad employee, not a bad company.

 

I've only ever had one thing break in the 150+ boxes I shipped, and it was the first growler I ever shipped. Even that didn't break until it was out for delivery. I pay attention to how others have packed, and have simply adopted that when it comes to shipping beer, overkill packing...is just right.

 

This is entirely untrue. I am a UPS driver an I have ran follow-up tracers on boxes valued less than $20. We investigate all damaged/missing claims regardless of the value.

Occasionally boxes are loaded into the wrong truck... Thes kids that load are loading 3 trucks each with an average of 350 boxes per car-- no one is perfect and misloads happen.
When we find one we are trained (and expected) to scan it and send in a message alerting management that we have it-- if it is close enough we can be instructed to go deliver it, or if it's not close enough many times a manager will drive out and get it from us so they can get it to some one able to deliver it.

A record exists that each package has been processed as "out for delivery" regardless if it gets misloaded, and if a package isn't scanned as delivered or as an exception then that tracking number prints up in a report as a "missed scan."
Management asks questions the very next day to the driver that should have had it in his truck as well as the neighboring trucks.

UPS takes theft quite seriously, and if a driver was consistently doing this sort of thing he would certainly be caught and fired.
UPS takes safely delivering millions of packages per day seriously as well, and there is a reason that we have been in business for over 100 years-- we consistently do it well.
Everyone has breakages... Most of the time it is due to improper packaging techniques than to mishandling of the box.

 

I could most certainly be wrong on this as im not a UPS driver. But again, I was just relaying what was told to me.

The problem as I know it, is that though the package has been scanned 'out for delivery', there isn't a record of which truck it was put on. This then allows the drivers to either report it and follow the procedures you've stated and do their job correctly. Or to steal the package. This 100% happens.

This absolutely happens. I also know of a driver who was dumb enough to steal electronics and have them sold in in wife's name on eBay. UPS investigated it and sure enough he was caught and fired. I think he actually works for FedEx now. Lol.

 

I don't work for UPS, but I'd be incredibly surprised if there wasn't (at the very least) a record of what truck a package was supposed to be loaded onto. That would also entail knowing who loaded the box onto the truck, and what other trucks that person also loaded, at which point you'd have narrowed it down to maybe half a dozen people to ask "hey what happened to this box?" Maybe one of those guys is a selfish dick who has no qualms about taking home a mis-loaded package, but it's not like everyone else is going to cover for his greed when management comes asking questions.

 

If more than 1 box disappears around the same driver, UPS' loss prevention notices it and sees the pattern-- sure, not EVERY person is 100% honest, and some theft does happen, but LP works tirelessly to root them out, terminate their employment, and prosecute them.
LP will then intentionally load wrong boxes in the driver's truck AND make a note of it... This is a well-known procedure amongst the drivers, and anyone is a fuckin idiot to rip open a box under any circumstances.

 

AleWatcher knows his stuff im with im..Me also working for FedUp both companies take theft very serious.if a courier is doing something wrong its just a matter of time and he will be fired..Ups now has sensores on the seat belts and the emergency brakes and the bulck head doors-checking weather the courier is following the rules..both FedUp isnt like the 80's or 90's these days they will fire you for the smallest thing..

 

Bob Dylan is the king of rock and folk..Just had to add that..Hehehe

 

I never said AW doesn't know his stuff. How could I argue with the guy that does the job? I'm actually not trying to argue at all. I'm just saying what I know for a fact has been done. That doesn't mean these people aren't, to use AWs words, fucking idiots. Ofc they are. All I'm saying is that packages do get stolen. It may be the exception and not the rule, but it happens.

 

The problem is that there is no consistency. It depends state to state and what each branch does concerning beer and or breakage. Some branches will confiscate, others will repackage. It's a crap shoot, package accordingly.

 

I am certain that what Alewatcher says above is true, and those who know me know I am a UPS guy all the way. That said, I also know that theft does happen to shipments of intoxicants of all varieties from both UPS and FedEx, and that it is done safely for the most part due to the reluctance of those affected to truly report what was missing. I have never had a problem with UPS, 3 probs with FedEx, but I am certain the risk of theft is equal. Which is to say, very , very slight with either one of those shippers.

 

As a manager at UPS, as well as the person responsible for cleaning up packages that have become damaged and processing them according to State, EPA and DOT guidelines, I can attest that 95% of the packages I process are due to faulty packaging jobs. Product against Carton, Product against Product, no packaging material, and the many other shortcuts people take on their shipments is what causes most damages. PROTECT WHAT YOU SHIP!