Bathsheba:
It isn't about the "local delivery driver" it is about UPS re-routing my package to another distribution center that is over 145 miles away from me, when they had it at a distribution center that was only 35 miles away from me. And then, they did not update the tracking information to reflect that. It is still marked as "out for delivery" on the tracking page of the UPS website.
The local guys are pretty good. I know most of them by name. It is about UPS in general not giving a rat's rosy red rear about their customer base.
Peregrine:
You're right. Until Shapeways starts being more interested in their customers' satisfaction and more interested in providing decent service, nothing will change.
I now won't have any time to do anything to the part that I ordered, if there is anything that needs to be done with it. I can't paint it, I can't use it, and I feel like I have wasted the money I spent on it, because it is now a completely useless thing to me. I ordered when I did, and from whom I did, because it was clear that my order would be delivered on time, and before I needed it.
Unless or until Shapeways gives the people who give them money another shipping option, they won't get my business any longer.
I'm voting with my wallet. Shapeways won't get any more money from me. I don't care how good their stuff is. It's my money, and I choose where I spend it.
And if Shapeways won't listen to me, it's their loss. I am the one they are getting money from. I can spend my money better than they can. They won't get any more from me because of this. If everyone did that, there wouldn't be any more Shapeways. So they'd better listen.