# Your preferred mail/courier service? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 27, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280 "2012-11-27T17:04:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/21 "2012-11-28T15:58:22Z")
Hmm. I don’t recall every really having any trouble with UPS and haven’t had much experience with FedEx. At my current place USPS, however, seems to just deliver mail when they have the time. ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/22 "2012-11-28T16:32:36Z")
I usually use USPS’s Click-n-Ship service. Weigh the package on our kitchen scale, print out postage, request free carrier pick-up, and leave it on the front porch in the morning. Bam, done. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/23 "2012-11-28T16:41:29Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Well, I agree that the shipper is also a damn fool for taking the package to UPS, when UPS cannot deliver it as addressed. But I’m most mad at UPS, because they should refuse to accept the package, because they cannot deliver it as addressed. They’re supposed to be the shipping professionals, and professionals say, “Nope, I can’t do that” when asked to do something that can’t be done. > > I know this isn’t the Pit, but, damn, I hate UPS with the fiery fire of a thousand fires. Or something. Again, you are mad at the wrong entity. Your anger is based on a lack of logic regarding the situation. For comparison purposes, we (a shipper) don’t ever allow a person to enter a PO Box in their address if it’s shipping UPS or FedEx - that’s our responsibility. Millions of packages and this problem has never happened. And the reason is because we understand how the system works and setup our systems properly. UPS does check whether an address is deliverable when they are processing the packages and then they go through their procedures for handling a package in which the shipper screwed up and allowed a PO Box or some other address error through. But part of that procedure is to try to get the thing delivered because the large majority of people prefer the thing get delivered, even if it goes to their home. You want UPS to change their procedures for everyone because the shippers you are using have crappy systems. UPS has no way of knowing that you personally don’t want them to resolve the bogus address situation when their (and our) experience shows that 99% of people prefer address problems to get resolved and have the package delivered if possible. In your example the fault lies 100% with the shipper and 0% with UPS. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/24 "2012-11-28T18:38:25Z")
> [@Winston\_Smith](#): > > I won’t bore you with a bunch of stories, but after a short time doing this particular job, most folks come to the conclusion that throwing shit out of a moving vehicle into the rain, and leaving those “door knockers” are perfectly viable alternatives to actually delivering the packages (myself included). Please bore us with at least one story. > [@echo7tango](#): > > In the 80s I worked for both UPS and the USPS. At the UPS in downtown San Francisco (17th & Potrero) you could definitely **NOT** throw any package. Well no, you can’t throw them in the facility, only from the UPS truck while no one is looking, preferably into the rain. > [@Kaio](#): > > Definitely. At my old apartment UPS was for shit. They _invariably_ pulled the BS where they slap the info-notice on the door without bothering to ring the bell. I complained every time this happened. The third or forth package, I bitched out the CSR so thoroughly that despite saying there was nothing they could do but attempt delivery again tomorrow, someone must have called the driver up because he actually came back half an hour later, rang the buzzer, and placed the package in my hands with a mumbled apology. > > And then… I’ve moved all of a mile away (same city, different neighborhood), and the difference is night and day. The driver _always_ rings the buzzer. And, miracle of miracles, will _actually walk up the stairs to give me my package._ > > I like this guy much better. Forsooth. I had a guy in LA who’d actually take the elevator to the fourth floor, knock on my door (!), and get my signature for every single package. If I wasn’t home, I’d leave a note, and he’d leave it on my doorstep the following day like I asked. I always figured he was an anomaly because every other time I’ve used UPS for non-business purposes, they either just throw your shit anywhere, or leave a notice and pretend they tried when they didn’t. The post office, however, regardless of where I’ve lived, just sends my goddamn mail like they’re supposed to! > [@Trom](#): > > Hmm. > > I don’t recall every really having any trouble with UPS… Lies. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/25 "2012-11-28T19:19:09Z")
The USPS is very efficient at delivering my neighbor’s mail to me. They vary which neighbor’s mail I get enough to keep things intersting, I am not sure where my own mail really goes because I have abandoned all hope and now pay most of my bills on-line and really don’t care where the junk mail goes. For actual deliveries I want, I prefer UPS. Their tracking system is great and I personally know my delivery driver. I will text her when I am expecting a package and tell her where to leave it, maybe in the garage or open the door and put it in the house. USPS might try to put it in a plastic bag and throw it out the car window in the general direction of my house. Or they will leave a slip of paper telling me to drive 15 miles and pick it up at the post office. Both UPS and the USPS have Fed-Ex beat by a mile in the service department. Fed-Ex drivers seem to only operate by GPS, which in my rural area is wrong most of the time. I see the Fed-Ex truck drive by my house heading up a logging road main line into hundreds of square miles of forest. Then I wait about 15 minutes, walk over to the logging road, and wait for them to finally figure out that there are no houses up there. I wave them over on the way back down. I have taken to clearly specifying NO FED EX in my shipping preferences. Fed-Ex must be a shitty company to work for or they would be able to retain drivers for some period of time that would allow them to learn their routes. I never see the same driver twice. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/26 "2012-11-28T19:36:33Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > In your example the fault lies 100% with the shipper and 0% with UPS. The fault lies 100% with UPS for existing. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/27 "2012-11-28T19:39:41Z")
The question seems to have a hidden agenda… ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/28 "2012-11-28T19:48:29Z")
> [@Baracus](#): > > I usually use USPS’s Click-n-Ship service. Weigh the package on our kitchen scale, print out postage, request free carrier pick-up, and leave it on the front porch in the morning. Bam, done. What do you need a kitchen scale for? :dubious: > [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > The USPS is very efficient at delivering my neighbor’s mail to me. Are they getting cool stuff? Oh, and being homegirls with your UPS driver doesn’t mean UPS doesn’t suck. Anywho, success! Got my package! I had to raise heck to get it, but it’s here! Oh, how I raised heck. They actually came back the day following their third “delivery attempt” (the one after which they’re supposed to return to sender) to actually deliver a package, you know, the only thing in the entire world that they’re supposed to do. There’s no reason for that many notices to be left on my door with zero attempts to actually deliver. So there you have it, folks. Being a loudmouth gets you everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/29 "2012-11-28T19:54:45Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Are they getting cool stuff? Oh, and being homegirls with your UPS driver doesn’t mean UPS doesn’t suck. Thanks for the homegirls comment, but I am packing equipment. Got my own little ‘package delivery service’ goin on. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/30 "2012-11-28T20:00:11Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Please bore us with at least one story. Ok, twist my arm… My delivery route was 90% business, 10% residential delivery. I ended up with a new residential delivery customer that had a very long driveway, was very secluded, and had a large, menacing dog that roamed free on the property. It quickly became evident that the people were ignoring my resquests (door knockers) for an alternate delivery location or to tie up the dog, and I was under a lot of pressure from my company to deliver all packages. So, I started saving bits of lunch, or I’d swing by McDonald’s and get a hamburger, and when I saw the dog I’d throw the food out into the driveway on the drivers’ side of the truck (so the truck would be between me and the dog), and while the dog was eating I’d run the package up onto the porch and run back into the truck before the dog even knew what was going on. That worked great. The first couple times. But the dog caught on to what I was doing and the next time, instead of being on the other side of the truck, he was in the path between me and the truck. I managed to get back into the truck without getting mauled, but it really shook me up. So, after that, I wouldn’t get out of the truck. I’d just scan the package, sign it off, and toss it on the ground at the foot of their walk. Good times. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/31 "2012-11-28T20:06:11Z")
UPS and FedEx drivers on my route both bring treats for my dogs, the CanadaPost dude is so terrified of them he sticks a “you weren’t here” notice on the door and never rings the doorbell. Please note that my dogs are inside the house and have never jumped at him, bit him or otherwise done anything to him and when my desk was upstairs and he couldn’t stick and run, I could see he was frightened so I would step outside and close the door to make it easier for him. Now my office is downstairs and since he doesn’t knock or use the doorbell I never know he’s been there until I find the evidence later. DHL I hate with the passion of 1000 burning suns. I have never seen my driver. They do the stick and run even when the package does not require signature and could be left inside the screen door. And there isn’t a warehouse where I can pick it up. And it takes 3 days to schedule another delivery attempt. And their phone support makes me murderous. I have stopped shopping at a couple of favorite vendors because their only delivery option is DHL. Not worth the hassle. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/32 "2012-11-28T20:55:18Z")
DHL is awful, I thought they were out of business around here but I recently saw a truck. Airborne was terrible too, they seemed like an unorganized shoestring operation. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/33 "2012-11-28T21:05:08Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Again, you are mad at the wrong entity. Your anger is based on a lack of logic regarding the situation. . . . In your example the fault lies 100% with the shipper and 0% with UPS. Nope. You are wrong here. UPS should not accept mail which they cannot deliver. The fault is the shipper’s also, I readily agree. But if you only deliver to, say, Arizona, and my package is addressed to Massachusetts, you are unprofessional to accept the package into your hands in the first place. And that’s what UPS does by accepting a package into their hands which they know they cannot deliver as addressed. Pthththtb. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/34 "2012-11-28T21:15:45Z")
USPS is by far the cheapest. We were able to send packages to our daughter to Namibia for $50, when all the other services were charging $400 and more. We can send a box to her in Chicago for $15, less than any other option. UPS does a good job, too, but it’s no better than the USPS. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/35 "2012-11-28T22:08:28Z")
I send hundreds of DVDs every year via USPS and have received excellent and quick service at a very low price. $2.95 to get a DVD halfway across the country in two days? How much is that service going to cost me from UPS or FedEx? ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/36 "2012-11-28T22:23:23Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Nope. You are wrong here. UPS should not accept mail which they cannot deliver. The fault is the shipper’s also, I readily agree. But if you only deliver to, say, Arizona, and my package is addressed to Massachusetts, you are unprofessional to accept the package into your hands in the first place. And that’s what UPS does by accepting a package into their hands which they know they cannot deliver as addressed. Ok, let’s walk through the process so you at least understand what happens. 1 - Shipper creates a UPS shipping label via some software and places it on the package. 2 - Shipper then places the package into the trailer(s) UPS has parked at the shippers distribution center. 3 - UPS arrives at the prescribed time and picks up the trailer(s) and brings them to the sorting facility. 4 - At the sorting facility they unload the trailer(s) and begin processing the packages. At this point they detect address problems caused by the shipper. When they detect the address problems created by the shipper, they have two options: 1 - Return the problem packages 2 - Attempt to resolve the problems associated with the problem packages What do you think UPS should do differently? 1 - UPS should unload the trailer(s) at the distribution center before taking the packages so they can check for these kinds of problems and then re-load the trailer(s)? 2 - Return all problem packages from the sorting facility to the shipper? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/37 "2012-11-28T22:44:21Z")
The problem occurs and should be fixed in step number 1. The UPS software should reject a PO Box address. Period. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/38 "2012-11-28T22:54:23Z")
**control-z** has most of the answer: the shipper shouldn’t make the mistake in the first place. But some of the blame is on UPS. They should return improperly addressed packages to the shipper. I don’t care if they spot the error at the distribution center or the trailer. I don’t care if the package was dropped off in a box or handed to a clerk. They should simply not accept a package that they cannot deliver. By delivering it to an address other than the destination on the package, they are committing an affront to me; they are violating my wishes; they are imperiling my safety and privacy. And they have, forever and ever, lost any chance of my custom. A guy walks into a cabinetmakers’ shop and says, “I need this suit of clothes cleaned and pressed by four.” Am I to admire the cabinetmaker who accepts the suit of clothes…or the one who says, “Sorry, can’t do that, try the cleaners over there across the street?” ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/39 "2012-11-28T22:58:45Z")
I had occasion, a few weeks ago, to send a package via USPS, and I paid for two-day service to a pretty decent-sized city in the country. The package arrived after eight days. So I can’t say I’m terribly impressed with the post office at the moment. I’ve had the least amount of problems with FedEx over the years, so they’re getting my vote. That being said, all of my experience with them has been for business use, and not personal. I don’t know how much I’d suffer with them if it were my own stuff. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/40 "2012-11-28T23:02:54Z")
I don’t think you understood my answer though. When the shipper enters a POB address then the UPS software/website should reject the shipment transaction outright until a street address is entered. UPS should be stopping it right there. I think their website does just that, in fact it gets picky on street addresses sometimes that the recepient says have been the same for decades. In that case UPS lets you override but says something to the effect of “service delays may occur and we aren’t responsible.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280.md?page=3)