Funny Delivery

[Smitty37]

This has not happened to me before.

I bought an item from Amazon that was out of stock and they would ship as soon as they got it. Amazon sent me a notice that the item had shipped on the 3rd of January via UPS and would be delivered today - they provided a valid UPS tracking number.

I went to the UPS Site and it indicates the item shipping has been paid for but the item has not even been picked up yet. It is a heavy item. I think UPS has been warning of shipping delays due to the weather during the Christmas rush and since.

Are others seeing the same thing?

I ordered another item shipped separately (also via UPS) and the notice I got from Amazon was dead on they said it would arrive Friday and Friday it was here.

 

[Haynie]

You might check your post office. For some reason several packages we were supposed to get are being given to the PO. Another reason to be irritated with UPS right now.

 

[Ed McDonnell]

I've had some orders recently shipped out of Canada that arrived by UPS just fine (on time as promised). They weren't super heavy though. Maybe Canadians are better about getting stuff on the truck in arctic conditions than the people located wherever you ordered from?

Haynie - The UPS / USPS cooperative delivery service is showing up more places as the low cost shipping alternative. If you don't want the USPS involved, then pay a little more for "pure" UPS. Alternatively pay for USPS priority. I've found that to often be the best delivery solution (and often times cheapest).

Every vendor I've used discloses somewhere how the UPS / USPS option works. It may be cheaper, but in my experience it is way slower than using either of the partners alone.

Ed

 

[Smitty37]

You might check your post office. For some reason several packages we were supposed to get are being given to the PO. Another reason to be irritated with UPS right now.

These are 90 pounds and the PO weight limit is 70 so that can't be the case here.

 

[Smitty37]

My curiosity is not shipping cost - in this case it's free shipping - or specifically the time it takes - it is UPS ground. My curiosity is aroused because the shipper, Amazon, and carrier, UPS, are giving me different "tracking" information.

 

[bobleibo]

Now you know.....

My curiosity is not shipping cost - in this case it's free shipping - or specifically the time it takes - it is UPS ground. My curiosity is aroused because the shipper, Amazon, and carrier, UPS, are giving me different "tracking" information.

I have spent an entire lifetime in the transportation industry and here is the reason for what you describe....
Yes, the shipping companies have had some serious problems lately due to weather and last minute promises by the vendors, and yes, each of them has royally screwed up at some point or another, however, far more often than not, the problem that you describe plays out like this - 99% of shippers use shipping software that generates the label with tracking numbers at the same time it generates the fulfillment/order ticket REGARDLESS if the item has actually shipped. It then transmits that data to the carrier (i.e., UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc.) and usually sends an email to the consignee telling them that their "package has shipped" and provides the tracking number when in fact the item has not even been placed in a box yet. Being that the majority of consignees are unaware of this internal process, they are FALSELY led to believe that the item has actually been given to the carrier and it is on the way and then assume that all delays are the problem of the transportation company.
I could easily give you a list of 100's of companies right off the top of my head (1,000's if I spent a few minutes) that do business like this. If you call the company and ask for information, the only thing the customer service person can tell is that "your order has shipped" and they go on to blame the carrier.
If you see a term such as "electronic information received from the shipper" when you track the package with the carrier, that is what is taking place.
If the shipper uses a regular driver to pick up their packages and it is scanned right then and there, the tracking info is transmitted then and the term "accepted" will appear if you track it. If the shipper loads their shipments into a large trailer, the tracking information will appear once that trailer crosses the property line at the carrier since it is uploaded in bulk batches and the tracking numbers are tied to that vehicle.
Weight, size, destination, product, service level have nothing to do with any of this.

If you want to test this out, the next time you ship a package (if you generate, pay, print and ship online from home/work), wait about 10 minutes after you print your label and then track your package. This is assuming that the package has not yet been given to the carrier. This will show you the sequence of events more clearly.

Now you know......

 

[Smitty37]

My curiosity is not shipping cost - in this case it's free shipping - or specifically the time it takes - it is UPS ground. My curiosity is aroused because the shipper, Amazon, and carrier, UPS, are giving me different "tracking" information.

I have spent an entire lifetime in the transportation industry and here is the reason for what you describe....
Yes, the shipping companies have had some serious problems lately due to weather and last minute promises by the vendors, and yes, each of them has royally screwed up at some point or another, however, far more often than not, the problem that you describe plays out like this - 99% of shippers use shipping software that generates the label with tracking numbers at the same time it generates the fulfillment/order ticket REGARDLESS if the item has actually shipped. It then transmits that data to the carrier (i.e., UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc.) and usually sends an email to the consignee telling them that their "package has shipped" and provides the tracking number when in fact the item has not even been placed in a box yet. Being that the majority of consignees are unaware of this internal process, they are FALSELY led to believe that the item has actually been given to the carrier and it is on the way and then assume that all delays are the problem of the transportation company.
I could easily give you a list of 100's of companies right off the top of my head (1,000's if I spent a few minutes) that do business like this. If you call the company and ask for information, the only thing the customer service person can tell is that "your order has shipped" and they go on to blame the carrier.
If you see a term such as "electronic information received from the shipper" when you track the package with the carrier, that is what is taking place.
If the shipper uses a regular driver to pick up their packages and it is scanned right then and there, the tracking info is transmitted then and the term "accepted" will appear if you track it. If the shipper loads their shipments into a large trailer, the tracking information will appear once that trailer crosses the property line at the carrier since it is uploaded in bulk batches and the tracking numbers are tied to that vehicle.
Weight, size, destination, product, service level have nothing to do with any of this.

If you want to test this out, the next time you ship a package (if you generate, pay, print and ship online from home/work), wait about 10 minutes after you print your label and then track your package. This is assuming that the package has not yet been given to the carrier. This will show you the sequence of events more clearly.

Now you know......

Most of that I understand because I send an email when I generate the postage lable for my own packages. My email does state the date when the package will be picked up by the carrier....
It does not say "your package has shipped on mm/dd/yyyy" is says "your package will ship on mm/dd/yyyy". Another email is sent that gives the ship date as the day the email is sent, usually after the item is already gone.

I also notice, that the package does not always get scanned when picked up so the USPS tracking will say they have gotten electronic notice sometimes for hours after the pickup. Now and then the package never gets scanned until it gets to the sort center - particularily when a substitute carrier is on duty for my regular mail lady.

I did get a notice from UPS today that says they will deliver the item tomorrow afternoon.

 

[jallan]

UPS took 28 days to del. my pak. which weighted in at 28 lbs. Their site told me every day for the past 5 days out for del. but that never happened. Than when they did del.it they del. it to the wrong address and I had to go get it. I think their service stinks.

 

[Smitty37]

On the other hand, most of the packages they deliver to me are on time and delivered when they say they'll be delivered. My question here was not to judge UPS we're all going to do that on our own - I simply had something happen that I'd never run into before.

 

[Smitty37]

Stranger still

I had gotten notice from UPS that my lathe would be delivered today...then yesterday I got an email from them saying they had sent me the delivery email in error and the lathe would not be delivered today. Half an hour ago the delivery truck showed up with my lathe...So it is here.