Dang UPS?????

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nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
63,657
20,119
136
Here in Germany (probably elsewhere too), parcel delivery service companies often only pretend to deliver, in order to minimize their cost. Here is an example of what they do, probably especially with shipments to residential areas:

They drop a notice into the letterbox that the recipient wasn't available at time of delivery, and deliver to an affiliated drop-off point instead. They don't ring the doorbell, they just claim that you weren't there.
The USPS was on a streak of doing that to me for a couple years, but it tapered off... probably only because I started getting Amazon deliveries through the Amazon delivery system (where the tracking is a joke, and tends to not update until it's out for delivery)
 

Amol S.

Platinum Member
Mar 14, 2015
2,587
783
136
Java:
import com.ups.tracker; //Made up package
import com.ups.parcel; //Made up package

public static void Main(String arg)
{
    Parcel delivery = new Parcel(arg)
    long time = delivery.getTimeScinceLastLocationScan();
    Tracker tracking;
    if(time > 990000)
    {
        tracking = new BuggyTracker(deliver.getTackingNumb()); //We don't have upto date info, so make stuff up.
    }
    else
    {
        tracking = new Tracker(delivery.getTrackingNumb());
    }
    if(tracking instanceof BuggyTracker)
    {
        tracking.updateServerStatus(10); //Just say delivery will arive in 10 hours.
    }
    else
    {
        tracking.updateServerStatus(delivery.getTruckLocation());  //Actually caluclate delivery time.
    }
}
 
Feb 4, 2009
35,862
17,407
136
I don't often get UPS deliveries these days. I did get one yesterday. I watched their real time tracking PC app that showed where the truck was compared to my house, which is handy.

It so happens I have two UPS deliveries that are supposed to come today. Unfortunately, one of them requires my signature. That by itself bothers me because I'm covid "at risk" and don't want to handle their equipment or get closer than 6 feet from their driver. I figure I can maybe work that. But first, they have to get here. They sent me an email with a link to the real time truck location app but all day the truck is shown in one place, maybe 15 miles away. IOW, it's not working. I called them and eventually got a guy on the phone and he said he has no info regarding that app and that his info indicates it's on the truck and supposed to come 1-5PM, which is what I see online. Their info also said by 8PM and another place it says by 9PM.

Well, it's now 7:38PM and no sign of the truck/driver. I'm thinking the mapping app not working for me might mean the deliveries aren't happening either. Is that possible? That's unbelievably shitty, putting me on pins and needles waiting to sign for a delivery that's not coming, period. Is UPS that shitty?

I have heard you can ask/authorize the driver to sign for you.
 

Spacehead

Lifer
Jun 2, 2002
13,067
9,858
136
Use FedEx next time. They'll drop it off somewhere within a couple blocks from you & that person can deliver it to you & probably won't ask for a signature. *


*Assuming they drop it at i nice neighbor like me that will do the last mile, or so, delivery.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
41,361
10,480
136
I've had good luck diverting deliveries that concern me (relatively expensive items) to the neighborhood Walgreens. I get an email, I go and show my driver's license and the tracking number and bring it home on my bike. It's 1/4 mile away from my house. Done that 2-3 times now. Beats being nervous. It was probably UPS, but maybe Fedex will do that too. I set it up online.