I got ahold of UPS live support twice. They said nothing they could do.
The package is in my town, but was told I may not pick it up in person (and they are closed today anyway).
Yes, I booked a client with gear on order. I was told that it would be here on time and I paid extra to make sure it would be here yesterday. UPS tracking indicated it would be on time. It wasn't until today (a day late) that the tracking information changed.
Weather wasn't a factor. On a different order for a lens weather is a factor and is posted as such on the tracking site.
This is a clear case of apathy and incompetence. If there was a problem they could have notified me. Instead I waited at home all day because the package requires a signature. There was never any indication that it wouldn't arrive until I called customer service at 10PM and was told it would be delivered Monday. When I asked why the online tracking service was inaccurate I was told it was not inaccurate. The lady on the phone was very annoyed when I said, "I updated it two minutes ago and it says it will be here today." She said, "the online tracking doesn't work that way."
So, again I said, "Then your system is inaccurate."
I was also told I may not pick it up in person, even though it's about 1.5 miles away.
I'm not as angry as I was yesterday. As others have mentioned, it's not the end of the world. There are a million people with a lot worse problems than a silly camera order, but it was the apathy of the two customer service reps (and the company in general) that got on my nerves. Not once did either rep make any kind of "we'll make this up to you" statements. The vibe I get is "We're huge. We don't need you. Go away and fe3l lucky to get your package at all."
If this was the first time it would be one thing, but I've had this happen every single time I chose to use UPS. I should have focused more when ordering from Adorama to see if there were other shipping options (other company options). Adorama was so helpful, so I have nothing but love for them. I ordered through live chat and the 6D body was $1849. I said, "Wow, that's just about full retail. Any deals?"
Then she said, "For $1797 you can have the 6D body and the 70-300 USM IS."
So that's the package I ordered. On top of that they threw in a cleaning kit, a UV filter, a polarizer, and more.
After selling the 70-300 the 6D body will only cost me about 1400-1500 new. Adorama did right, and they shipped it on time.
I'll get over it. I bounce back from stuff like this quickly. I'm already in a much better mood this morning, but still annoyed with UPS. For the record, the client is a friend from work for whom I was going to provide very inexpensive senior portraits. Her son got his hair cut yesterday and had two new outfits ready to go. She was a bit bummed, so I told her we'd reschedule at no cost to her.
It will all work out fine. It's no big deal. But I wanted to slam UPS publicly because they were apathetic over the phone.
I'll feel even better when I give their truck a new bumper sticker that says "Unreliable" in brown and yellow. Just my little friendly practical revenge joke. Who knows. Maybe they'll get bent out of shape about it and make a public spectacle of it (which will backfire, of course).
NOTE: I love the U.S. Postal Service. I always have. I don't know anyone who works there, but they are, from my experience, much, much more reliable than brown.
I have more problems with USPS than others.
