* Will Call: Hold the package for pickup by the consignee
Lifehacker says using this service might cost up to $10, but for people experiencing package problems 10 bucks may be a small price to pay. —MEGHANN MARCO
SHIPPING
IKEA Ships Broken Merchandise, Won't Send Replacement Parts
By 3.18.07
Ikea refused to ship Oz the parts he needed to complete his $2,200 order. The order was placed in early September; when it finally arrived in late October, so many parts were missing that several items could not be assembled.
I hired a guy off of craigslist to help me assemble all of the furniture, given the fact that we had 3 rooms to assemble. This turns into a 2 day ordeal, with a ton of missing parts and us having to document it to call Ikea later. We get to several items such as the desk, which is missing so many parts it’s un-assemblable.
UPS Breaks Package, Won't Reimburse Shipping Charges
By 3.10.07
UPS smashed a gift package containing wine Ryan sent to his father-in-law-to-be, but won’t reimburse Ryan for the shipping charges. We instinctively fear fathers-in-law, especially the ‘to-be’ variety. Like throwing salmon to a bear, Ryan’s gift package, worth about $100, contained fine chocolate, wine, and a leather wine holder. Ryan prominently labeled the package “FRAGILE” before shipping.
About a week after Christmas I receive a call from the manager of the UPS store informing me that my package was destroyed along with the “cider” inside (they decided it was no longer wine at some point). The manager (in very very broken English) requested me to come in bearing receipts for the products or advertisements for items close there to
Ryan brought in his advertisements and told them that they shipped wine, not cider. UPS adamantly declared “this store does not and will not ship wine.” That would be nice, expect they did ship wine. They broke it, too.
Walmart.com Launches "Site-to-Store" Shipping
By 3.7.07
Thousands of products carried online at Walmart.com are eligible for the Site to Store service. Specific Site to Store messaging is featured on eligible product pages to let customers know the online item can be shipped to a local Wal-Mart store for free. During checkout, customers can choose the Site to Store option, select the store where they’ll ship their items and even see the amount saved on shipping.
Will any of you use this? It’ll be available nationwide by the end of the summer.—MEGHANN MARCO
Why Does It Take Microsoft 6 Weeks (And Counting) To Send A Mailer For An XBOX?
By 2.28.07
… another week goes by (4 weeks).
Endless: Amazon Launches A New Brand
By 1.4.07
Amazon has launched a new site, Endless.com, specializing in shoes and handbags. The site has 250 brands and 15,000 styles and makes the unusual, but tempting, offer of “Free Overnight Shipping.” Really? Really.
JC Penney Can Not Deliver A Mattress
By 12.29.06
Natalie is having a baaaad week. Let’s all show her some love in the comments while she waits for her shipping refund. —MEGHANN MARCO
Brown Can’t Do Anything For Denver
By 12.27.06
The snowstorm that slammed the Denver area canceled Christmas for many folks expecting deliveries from UPS, aka Brown Santa.
FedEX Loses Vincent Ferrari’s Package
By 12.21.06
Vincent ordered two scanners from CDW. One arrived, the other didn’t.
Shipping Showdown: What’s The Best Way to Ship?
By 12.20.06
Good Morning America tested all the major shippers from the USPS to FedEx. What did they find? The USPS took the longest, wasn’t guaranteed, but was the cheapest. Stores offering shipping services, like Mail Boxes Etc., were a rip-off, they charged an extra $8 to $15, and tagged on “Saturday Delivery” charges and fuel costs. Best to go straight to the source. —MEGHANN MARCO
Holiday Savings Tips
By 12.20.06
Real Simple has 25 tips to help save money during the holidays, and we like a few of them. Our favorites:
UPS Won’t Give Refunds During Holidays
By 12.18.06
UPS ground doesn’t give refunds during the holidays.
ShopNBC Demands Money For Broken TV
By 12.16.06
The McKenzies ordered two TVs from ShopNBC three months ago. The boxes arrived damaged and the family sent them back for a warranty replacement, which has yet to materialize. As such, the McKenzies haven’t paid for the tv sets.
Last-Minute Shipping Deadlines For Online Shopping
By 12.13.06
Make sure your gift arrives in time to be shoved under the tinsel by checking out these last-minute shipping deadlines for online stores.
USPS Christmas Shipping Deadlines
By 12.1.06
Keep these dates on hand so your sweaters and socks arrive to their intended recipients on time this holiday season.
BestBuy Doesn’t Want You Using Your Gift Card?
By 11.2.06
Does Best Buy have a policy designed to trick you into not using your gift card?
Buy.com’s Packaging Sucks!
By 11.1.06
Jerry writes in with a photo of the totally fucked up book he received from Buy.com. He realizes that it’s the USPS’s fault for messing up the book… but is wondering if Buy.com’s packaging needs to be quite as flimsy as it is.
