Next day air package takes 14 years to deliver
Filed under: Technology
A businessman named Paul, who mailed a package using next day air service from UPS, found out 14 years later the package never got there, according to a report on The Consumerist. Well, he probably knew that was the case, and 14 years earlier he probably sent replacement materials, but he wasn't able to find out what was actually in the package.
The package arrived empty and damaged. It was torn open and the contents were missing. Paul reports he has no idea what was in the package and his records for customers 14 years ago are long gone. He said the only way he could even tell the age of the package was that it had his company's shipping number and company label on the damaged package. In fact the address for the shipment was his home address from which he ran the business at the time.
What's really incredible is that the UPS tracked down the business to its current location, which has changed numerous times, just to deliver an empty, damaged package. UPS even offered to pay a claim on the package, but there's one big problem. Paul needs to know what was in the package before he can file a claim and he has no idea given the package is so old.He did talk with a UPS customer service rep, who he said was laughing about it. Given that's it's so old it may be something to laugh about, but I'll bet Paul wasn't laughing when he first found out the package didn't arrive. The UPS customer service person told him he could still file a claim in the future if he can ever figure out what was lost.
Today, thanks to technology advances, a package that was shipped and not received would probably be noticed much more quickly, Susan Rosenberg of UPS said in telephone interview about this package. While she didn't know the details of what happened to this package, Rosenberg speculated that it could have been stuck in a belt or wedged in the side of one of the UPS trucks.
She admits that does happen, but in today's environment with e-mail notification throughout the process of shipment available, companies more rapidly report lost shipments and searches can be conducted much more quickly than 14 years.
To avoid something similar happening to you, Rosenberg recommended that you should be sure you add your e-mail address to the records for any shipment you send and ask that you and the receiver (if you have the receiver's e-mail address) get notices of packages in the process of delivery. That way if a package does get lost you can more quickly start the search process for the package.
I'm still wondering what happened to a package of mine that was lost five years ago when I was in the process of buying my current home. All my financial records were in the package because it was my formal mortgage application and all supporting data. I had to cancel all my financial accounts and open new ones, but UPS did pay for one-year of credit monitoring as part of my claim. I wonder if I'll ever get an empty envelope in the future and wonder what will be in it?
I do give credit to UPS for taking the effort to deliver that empty package, but the bigger question is where has it been all those years, who opened it and what did they do with the contents? I certainly wasn't laughing about the lost package when someone tried to use one of the accounts I had to cancel thanks to the mortgage package UPS lost for me.
Obviously for Paul this was not as critical a loss. Are you still wondering about next day air packages that have never arrived?
Lita Epstein has written more than 25 books including The Complete Idiot's Guide to Improving Your Credit Score.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
10-05-2009 @ 3:28PM
Linda Bussey said...
Funny this story comes out because I sent something to Rimouski Canada a few months ago and UPS said it wasn't deliverable. I mailed by regular mail and it go there no problem. I received my original envelope back however I was never reimbursed for the shipping. I refuse to deal with UPS anymore.
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10-06-2009 @ 9:18AM
andy said...
not all ups are bad maybe just one close to you. I work for UPS and it is a great company to work for, and our center is number one in our region. sometimes if UPS does not have routes in a country you would like to ship they will subcontract courier companies there. IF UPS could not trust a sub contract they might have declined the buisness
10-06-2009 @ 11:56AM
King David said...
TYPICAL U P S!!!! This is another example of why I refuse to use these incompetents. Not only did they lose a negotiated document, sent with the highest priority and cost, but they also lost a second one sent by my partner. AND, to make matters worse, THEY DON'T DELIVER ON SATURDAY!! USE ANY ONE ELSE -- DON'T USE THESE CLOWNS.
10-06-2009 @ 6:52AM
Michele said...
We live in a Mobile Home Park and UPS just drops stuff on the porch without knocking or ringing the doorbell. We have lost a $300 vacuum cleaner, a coffee pot, and a box full of medical supplies that way. And sometimes they take them to the wrong trailer. Honest neighbors bring pkgs to us, but some just keep the pkg. Of course, the company has replaced the items we didn't get, but if UPS would just knock, it would save the Company money.All pkgs should be signed for.
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10-06-2009 @ 8:08AM
trainwrexxx said...
thats why you request something with delivery confirmation...
10-06-2009 @ 8:55AM
Carol said...
I agree on the sloppy delivery. IT seems that electronic signature is all they need. Done by the delivery guy. Not you. I have had items delivered to the wrong address, seen the wrong person with my stuff....and no help at all from UPS. But hey they are better than the post office. The post office has lost so many things that I have sent, that I do not use them except as a last resort. I sent some sweaters to my daughter that never arrived. Sent the proper paper work for the insured package, and still never got a peep out of the post office. The last item to go missing with UPS is a radio.
10-06-2009 @ 10:36AM
Jane said...
I agree with Michelle, how hard is it to ring a doorbell or knock? If no one is home, then leave it. We live in an apt. bldg. and I cannot tell you how many times that UPS/FedEx/USPS just leaves a package in our unlocked hallway. Usually, someone is home so if they rang the bell, we could get it. 9 times out of 10, our neighbor will ring the bell and tell us we have a package sitting there. But I will say UPS is better than FedEx; FedEx totally sucks!
10-06-2009 @ 11:10AM
mark said...
Thsts what usally happens in trailer park's!
10-06-2009 @ 11:28AM
robricci said...
well thats because u live in a trailer
10-06-2009 @ 12:08PM
Lauren said...
UPS leaves stuff on our front porch all the time...It sound like your neighbors need to learn how to stop stealing!
10-06-2009 @ 1:37PM
It's Not Just UPS said...
The postal system letter and parcel carriers do exactly the same thing. Nobody wants to work, any more. In fact, I've gotten those "could not deliver, confirmation required" notices put in my mailbox WHILE I WAS AT HOME. The lazy bastard didn't even have the courtesy to ring my bell, so I had to go to the post office to get the stuff, myself. That's okay, he'll find an empty box at Christmas time. (Another thing, Michelle - ignore those illiterates who think they're being funny by commenting about where you live.)
10-06-2009 @ 1:55PM
Jen said...
Michelle,
If they just drop it off on your porch, then you should talk to the people who you order the products from. There is an option to deliver without a signature. Mobile home parks should be no different. I used to live in one and had things sent to me and signed for them.
10-06-2009 @ 4:50PM
ted said...
I agree with you 100% I to live in a tr.park and our UPS man just stands in the street and thros them up to the porch,I dont know how many packages have been wasted our just not worth opening cause of the damage.
10-06-2009 @ 7:11AM
John said...
"I wonder if I'll ever get an empty envelope in the future and wonder what will be in it?"
Really? I would wonder what WAS in it...
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10-06-2009 @ 8:36AM
jbjg24m said...
think u mean what was in it if it was empty
10-06-2009 @ 12:38PM
Jessica said...
Thank you for pointing this out, good to know that proofreading is no longer a requirement.
10-06-2009 @ 8:30AM
Bill Bender said...
Good Morning ! 1st. I think UPS is a Great Co.. I worked for them & their Great. I wish I were young enough to work there again. The Drivers work Very hard & have to make every stop; 1 day we had 170 or so stops, & we made every one. I'm not surprised of the efficiency of the Company. Point of Information: UPS was started by 3 Irishmen; Carey , Ryan , & McCabb in the early 1900 as The American Messanger Service or Co. I'm 74 & not to good w/fine details. But when they hire its a GOOD place for a young man to work & make good $$$ !! >> TOIG=bill
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10-06-2009 @ 8:13AM
Harold Harmon said...
My wife ordered a computer from Dell AND Fed Ex said they delivered it. Turns out the Fed Ex driver signed for it saying he delivered it. My wife changed her mind and had canceled the order. She was no longer looking for the order. Several months later she got a bill from Dell for more than 4 tiimes what the computer originally cost charging interest and penalties. Dell said she owed the money because it had been over 25 days and too late to file any kind of claim. We urge people to NOT do business with Dell or Fed Ex.
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10-06-2009 @ 9:24AM
Minnie said...
I agree. I had ordered a tie for my son's graduation and Fed Ex was the carrier. They had signed it stating it was delivered. I called all my neighbors, looked in the yards, etc... still no tie. I called Fed Ex to see if they really delivered it and they said yes we did (end of story). Well, I called the tie company and they were so good to send me another tie by UPS and I got it the next day. Fed Ex took over a week to loose my tie and it was suppose to be second day. It stayed in one town for four days, just riding on the truck, I suppose. Anyway, Fed Ex finally delivered the tie. I called Fed Ex again and they said, the driver had left it on the truck. I said but he signed saying he delivered it. Another time Fed Ex drove up and I heard a loud thump on my porch. He just drove through and threw it like a news paper! And I could tell you several more stories. Now I tell the vendors I buy from to send UPS or USPS. I rather chance it on the USPS than Fed Ex anyday!
10-06-2009 @ 8:24AM
john said...
I'm sure they will call it "improper packing" and deny the claim
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