ups = upsetting parcel system!

the primary nature (and really only nature) of UPS's business is to deliver packages all across the united states. this, they claim, is their specialty. why is it, then, that they are never able to get a package to its destination within a reasonable amount of time?

i ordered our business cards early last week, with the anticipation they would be here at the beginning of this week. i finally received my tracking number from ups and was informed they would be here on tuesday. okay, no biggie. tuesday will work. so, yesterday i waited all morning long. i checked my tracking number and was told that the package was out for delivery. that was at 9:31. a little after 10, i checked again (i know, i'm obsessive) and the tracking number said that the postal code was incorrect and that the package had been rescheduled for delivery -- in tulsa! the ups center is about a mile and a half from my parents' house, so i decided to hop in the car, and see if i could just pick up the package myself. upon arriving at the center, however, i discovered that their pickup time is from 9-10 in the morning. since i hadn't even realized there was a problem until after 10, i was too late.

i called ups to find out what the problem was and see if i could either pick up the package or correct the issue. the man that i spoke with was very helpful, confirmed the address with me, (read it back no less than 3 times), and assured me that the package would be delivered today (wed) in muskogee.

first thing this morning i received a phone call from ups saying they needed me to confirm a correct shipping address. when i called back, the package was still in tulsa! the man yesterday did not get it re-routed back to muskogee. after confirming the address again, the lady said she would have the tulsa center give me a call. the tulsa center called, and we went through the entire process again. she confirmed it all again and then said that the package would be delivered tomorrow. i told her that i really could not wait for the package to maybe be delivered tomorrow and asked if i could please come pick it up. "you're going to drive to tulsa??" was her response. again, i stated that i couldn't wait any longer as the package was supposed to be here yesterday, and then today. she gave me the address and travis will pick up the package for me later today.

i think it's a little funny that i am opening a business that focuses solely on customer service. this type of experience drives me crazy!! (much like the walmart bakery experience i blogged about before). sometimes your hands are tied and you cannot avoid working with these poorly run companies. i think that is the part that aggrevates me more than anything. i was telling my dad this story and he said he and my mom have never had a pleasant experience with them. in fact, they no longer ship or receive shipments from ups (not like they received them before anyway!).

to step off my soapbox ... i am excited to see the cards this evening when travis gets home from work. i definitely need them to include in the product for our client. yes, i said it -- our CLIENT!