Agreed… I missed the “software” part. I was thinking of a guy walking in to a UPS store or depot or center with the box under his arm, and the box is addressed to Trinopus, P.O. Box XXXX, City, State, Zip. The nice clerk behind the counter should say, “Oh, wait, we can’t deliver that.”
Anyway, it’s my HO, and I’m sticking with it.
Most companies use third party software to generate shipping labels.
But if a company is using UPS software and it allows an invalid address for the service selected, then I agree, it should prevent that from happening.
Ok.
But the shipper controls this also.
If they wanted UPS to return all packages with a problem, they just need to tell their rep that they would prefer address problems be handled this way and UPS would do just that.
UPS is capable and does handle it both ways, either return the package or try to find a better address for the recipient.
But the shipper you used didn’t wan’t UPS to handle it that way.
And I don’t want UPS to handle it that way, and that’s why I’m calling them a stinking bunch of corporate assholes.
(That, and, as I said, they delivered stuff to my uncle’s house. Same last name, wrong destination!)
This is why I always specify in my instructions to shippers not to use UPS (FedEx, etc.) and this is why I will never ship anything via UPS (etc.) They’re stinking cretinous pukes. And I don’t like them very much, too.
It’s an opinion thread, innit? Well, you’ve just had a faceful of mine…
My experience with a custom PC building (and shipping) company I worked for, plus personal experience, indicates that UPS is much more likely to successfully deliver the package to the right address. At least in the Pacific NW, FedEx and USPS tend to drop it off at a completely different address and swear up and down that they delivered it correctly. (Thank God for people who return packages that aren’t theirs. I nearly was on the hook for a $$$ pair of boots that way.)
When it comes to package damage, they’re all about equivalent. If you’re sending a box too large for you to wrap your arms around, they will all handle it by rolling it end over end. “This side up” labels mean nothing. The delivery folk don’t want back injuries, and I don’t blame them. And claims for damaged or lost packages are about even too. I think the only time the PC company got reimbursed for a damaged package without argument was the one that a forklift speared. There was a hole right through the box, through the computer, and out the other side. That one they didn’t argue about. 
Canada Post is surprisingly good. Buy some Xpresspost envelopes (flat rate) and cram your whatever into them until they puff up like pillows. They’ll reach their destination right quick. FedEx is okay for faster stuff. Loomis can bite me.
Wtf? Are you playing games?
The shipper DIDN’T WANT UPS TO RETURN THE PACKAGE.
THEY WANTED TO PAY UPS TO TRY TO DELIVER IT BY FINDING YOUR HOUSE! IT ACTUALLY COSTS THEM MORE MONEY TO HAVE UPS DO THIS SERVICE THAN IF UPS JUST RETURNED THE PACKAGE TO THE SHIPPER.
Do you understand yet?
UPS did EXACTLY what your shipper asked them to do.
I personally will not buy from or deal with anyone who ships UPS. They are terrible in my area. They have thrown so many packages into the corn field at the bottom of my drive that the local office has instructions that unless I personally sign for something they cannot call it delivered. If the driver does not deliver it on the first attempt, but leaves one of those “we tried stickers”, I reject the package because I’ve already told the shipper that I don’t accept UPS deliveries.
My preferences are USPS (yes, they have tracking even for first class mail) and FedEx. The only way I’ll accept a UPS delivery is if they actually knock on the door to get the signature that’s required (and they NEVER do that, instead they put a sticky note out there).
I take it one step further. When I donate blood I specify that the recipient must not be a UPS shipper.
UPS is actually okay for business to business deliveries, in terms of price performance for ground package delivery, although you’re screwed if something gets damaged in transit.
I can’t answer the poll as posted, because they all suck in some way and most have some advantage.
USPS is cheapest for delivering stuff if you’re not in a hurry, it’s not too bulky, and you don’t have to go into their “office”.
FedEx is generally best for fast service, especially inter business deliveries. They’re also usually the most expensive.
UPS is good for freight from business to business, or if you are sending to a home but don’t care if it actually gets delivered to a real person.
DHL just sucks balls. I’ve interacted them exactly twice, and both times I have long stories about how badly they hosed the whole thing. One involved a credit card sent to me in Germany; they somehow got it to Berlin instead of Frankfurt, since, hey, Germany is small and it’s all the same place. It probably had to go through Frankfurt to get to Berlin. I asked them to cancel the shipment and return to sender since it wouldn’t reach my hotel in time. Instead, they sent it on to the hotel after I’d left. The hotel ended up just giving it to someone I’d never met and didn’t know, but worked for my large company somewhere else in the USA.
Holy shit, UPS.
I opened an account with UPS so I could ship stuff to my daughter and have all the fees charged back to me instead of her receiving it and paying whatever extra customs charges Italy attached after inspection. I got a call a couple weeks ago because I hadn’t used it since September, they were wondering if something was wrong and they offered me a 20% off deal. I accepted and sent off her Christmas parcel.
The discount looked to me like it applied correctly when I set up the shipment but apparently at the invoice stage (which I just received this morning) there was an error and they charged me the full price. They called me before I had a chance to review it and notice and instead of just applying the discount to fix it they’re wiping out the whole invoice and not charging me at all. AND the package arrived this morning 2 days early.
I’ve never seen service like this from a shipper. I still hate DHL though.
This poll seems to be meaningless…
This might not help you much, but I’m a big Canada Post booster.
(Latest discovery: they even sell packets of 12 Christmas cards and envelopes, with stamps, for $15! The stamps themselves are worth more than $7! There aren’t a lot of places you can just buy that many Christmas cards for as little as $15, let alone with postage.)