ordering deadlines. Customer service numbers and exceptions are included as well. Many will soon pass by if they haven’t already so if you haven’t done your shopping yet, time’s a wastin’!
SHIPPING
HP Takes Three Months To Repair Laptop, Then Ships It To The Wrong Address
By 12.1.07
Hewlett-Packard took over three months to fix reader Mark’s ailing laptop, which they then shipped to the wrong address. HP charged Mark several hundred dollars for the repairs in July, and gave an expected delivery date of August 5. In early September, Mark was told that the laptop would definitely ship by September 24. On October 10, Mark learned – after sending an email to the CEO and leaving ten messages – that his laptop could not be repaired, and that he would instead receive a new Compaq Presario by October 23. The laptop finally shipped on October 25 to Lavergne, Tennessee. Mark lives in Iowa.
Best Buy Ships Crumpled Seinfeld DVDs
By 11.18.07
What’s the deal with Best Buy? Reader Brian ordered the first eight seasons of Seinfeld, but instead of shipping seasons one, two, or seven, Best Buy decided to send two copies of seasons three and eight. Best Buy was willing to correct its shipping error, but when Brian noticed that several DVD cases were crumpled, Best Buy asked him to keep all eight seasons wrapped for eight business days while UPS conducted an investigation.
DHL Overcharges You $750, Doesn't Refund It Because They "Forgot About It"
By 11.16.07
When Sue wrote in about DHL and said that she “wouldn’t use their company again on a dare,” she was dead on. If you think receiving packages with DHL is bad, just wait until you try shipping.
UPDATE: DHL Laptop Thieves Busted After Reader Complaint
By 11.1.07
Sue, whose Dell laptops were stolen by dirty, dirty DHL thieves writes in to update us.
DHL "Loses" Two Brand New Dell Laptops In A Row
By 10.18.07
Here’s a lovely coincidence: DHL keeps “losing” brand new shiny laptops from Dell. How mysterious!
The Case Of The Disappearing Samsung Television, Will It Ever Be Found?
By 10.10.07
What do you do when Samsung is supposed to ship you a replacement TV, but all you get is a list of excuses?
Dell Sends You Halo 3 Slightly Early
By 9.24.07
Reader pr0zac would like the world to know that Dell sent him Halo 3 slightly early. He’d like to thank Dell (and DHL) and apologize to everyone who has to wait, um, a couple hours.
FedEx Package Signed For By Mysterious "LOLDLADY"
By 9.21.07
I’ve been waiting for a FedEx package and apparently it was delivered today while I wasn’t home and signed for by “LOLDLADY” (an abbreviation for little old lady maybe?). Either way, I just thought this was funny considering FedEx will usually enter the name of the person who signed for the package and not just a description like this.
Microsoft Presents: UPS And The Case Of The Vanishing XBOX 360
By 9.12.07
Reader Daniel’s XBOX 360 went missing after he shipped it back to Microsoft via UPS. UPS did not give him a receipt. Now that they’ve lost the package, Microsoft won’t send Daniel a new XBOX 360 because he has insufficient proof that he shipped it in the first place. Daniel has a signed letter from the UPS manager stating that UPS did indeed pick up the package, but that’s not good enough.
Would UPS Lie About Delivering Harry Potter To Stay In Amazon's Good Graces?
By 7.23.07
Jason Kottke was home Saturday at 3:36 pm when UPS claims they attempted to deliver his copy of Harry Potter. No notice was left on Kottke’s door; the neighboring doorman saw no UPS truck; UPS’ own website shows that the package never transitioned from the penultimate status of “In Transit To Final Destination” to “Out For Delivery.” Why would UPS lie about delivering a copy of Harry Potter?
FedEx Could Have Kicked This Package Once More
By 7.22.07
[Utica, Michigan, July 20. Image via Nuxx.net]
Get Free Shipping Materials From The Post Office
By 7.9.07
If you’re going to be mailing stuff, why pay for envelopes and boxes when the USPS will send you great ones for free? The USPS will send you Priority Mail flat rate boxes, shoe boxes, envelopes, video boxes, address labels, stickers…. as well as all the various forms you might need… for free.
Overstock Sends You Sexy Leather Pants Instead Of A Rug
By 5.22.07
Internet catch-all retailers like Overstock.com are prefect for hilarious shipping mishaps. Order a rug, get a sexy pair of pants.
DHL Wins Package Race, UPS Still In Transit
By 5.2.07
Every year Georgia Tech’s Supply Chain and Logistics Institute holds a shipping race to see who can deliver packages to remote locations the quickest. Unbeknownst to the companies, they’re competing in the Olympics of shipping.
The Mystery Of The Closed UPS Store
By 5.1.07
Someone get Nancy Drew’s skinny ass down here, we’ve got a puzzler. The UPS Store in Marietta, OH is closed. Are they out of business? Is someone on vacation? Did someone die inside?
IKEA's Delivery System Still Broken
By 4.16.07
I had originally asked the IKEA in Paramus, N.J., to deliver my kitchen cabinets on a Saturday. I later found out that my Manhattan co-op building prohibited large deliveries on the weekend, so when the truck arrived on the designated day, the crew couldn’t unload their cargo. IKEA billed me for the delivery. Totally fair–I goofed.
