I want to add my story to help make a case for alternate shipping methods to UPS.
UPS botched pretty well every step of the delivery of my most recent order.
First one I can forgive them for because my apartment number was left off the shipping label. Originally my package would have been delivered last Saturday but we'll let that part slide. So, I call after being notified the apartment number is missing and correct this on Saturday. No big deal.
Tuesday rolls around(UPS doesn't do Sunday and they had Monday off as Christmas) and I await my package. Another problem. Oh, nope, wait, still the same problem that was corrected on Saturday.
So, I call and correct it again while letting them know I already corrected it previously.
Wednesday rolls around and I await the call that my the driver can't get in my building but is there(the buzzer on my building doesn't work so I posted a sign with my phone number on it for the guy delivering it). No call. Then it says a delivery attempt was made. Ok, maybe I just missed him and he didn't see the note I left. Info notice says a second attempt will be made by 10:30AM the following day.
So, today, I sit outside starting at 9AM. I stay there until 11AM before going back to my apartment to check the tracking number. "A delivery attempt was made at 10:20AM"
Bull. I was there. Outside. Freezing my ass off and growing more annoyed as the deliver by time came and went.
So, I call the 800 number for UPS and make a complaint. The people there were really nice. They filed my complaint and forwarded it to the local processing center. The processing center calls me and says the guy is "coming back" and that I have to wait outside because he will be there in less than a minute because he is "just down the block".
So, I thank them and go back outside. 15 minutes pass before the guy shows up. I walk over to his truck so he doesn't have to get out in the cold and immediately he gives me attitude.
Swears up and down that he was there. That he left a new info notice(gee, where did it go? I checked for one in case somehow I *had* missed him. Nowhere to be seen). He says that he looked inside the lobby of my building. That he called my phone and left a message.
All of his assertions being untrue(and me knowing since I was there). He then calls me a "damned liar" before telling me I'm "lucky" because he doesn't EVER come back to do a second attempt on the same day.
Then he follows that with "but I'm not contradicting you. I was here. You weren't. I'm just saying."
Essentially, at the very least on a local level(and it is NYC so it's expected to a level), UPS is rude and doesn't provide the service they claim to offer.
Oh, also, my box was crushed in spite of it saying "FRAGILE - Please handle with care." Fortunately, Shapeways shipping department is AWESOME and my item arrived unscathed inside the crushed box(that bubble wrap stuff you guys use is reallllly protective, by the way!).
Anyway, I just wanted to relay my story in hopes that other shipping methods will be offered. I'll be very hesitant to order again until alternate shipping methods are made available.