Brown Sucks (rant) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Skippy · #1 06-10-2008, 01:19 AM

So I decided the carbs on my 250 need rebuilding, and based on some advice I got here, I ordered the rebuild kits from a place in Arizona. They even had free shipping. So far, so good, right? Trouble is, they use UPS ground. I dealt with UPS a lot in an old job, and they consistently didn't get things where they needed to be when they needed to be there. Today was no different. When I ordered the parts, I included delivery instructions to deliver after 4 pm-to ensure that I was actually home when the parts showed up. So today I got home at exactly 3:57 pm and found a delivery notice from Brown. They came by at 10:40 and intended to to the same tomorrow. What kind of an idiot goes to a residential address during working hours and expects to find someone home

So I called the customer service number. I was informed that they couldn't have the delivery driver come by later. They also wouldn't just leave the package at my door (and I don't trust my (probably illegal) neighbors all that much anyway). So the "resolution" the customer service puke and I came up with is that I get to drive 35 miles to Sparks to pick up my parts in person. I have to burn about 14 bucks worth of diesel to take advantage of "free" shipping. I hate UPS.

bgkast · #2 06-10-2008, 01:21 AM

Weird. They always leave boxes for me under my door mat (I've never been sure what the point of that is

).

DHL, now there is a crummy shipping company.

danwatt · #3 06-10-2008, 03:26 AM

Don't know if you have the option, but I always get things shipped to my work. They seem to do a better job making sure it gets there on time when it's a business rather than a residence.

mgburg · #4 06-10-2008, 03:33 AM

I always try to get stuff shipped to work...nobody bothers the package and someone is there to sign for it...besides, our Brown Guy knows everyone in the place and will leave just about anything there...if the signature is required, he leaves the paperwork and comes back in the late afternoon to collect...if it's not signed properly, he takes the package and paperword and brings it back the next morning for a 2nd shot...works about 99.9999% of the time.

No problems here...

KarTek · #5 06-10-2008, 06:04 AM

My UPS guy is also a neighbor a few doors down so delivery is never a problem...

LUVMBDiesels · #6 06-10-2008, 07:36 AM

I can feel your pain...At least they have not lost your package -- yet

I have had three bad experiances with Brown and will not use them.

The first one was when my wife's father shipped a very expensive antique mirror to us. he went to the Brown store and had THEM wrap it and box it and he insured it for $1000. Well when it never showed up, he contacted UPS. They said that it was destroyed in normal shipping handling and that they were not responsible. They also told him that since it was glass, they threew out the remains (heavy ornate frame) as a safety precaution. It took him over a year (he is a retired DOJ employee) to get them to pay off the insurance.

The second was when I ordered a Movado watch over the Internet for my wife. A watch showed up all right, but it was some cheap Times like POS. I contacted the store, Jomashop.com, and asked if they had shilled the wrong order. They replied that they did not even carry that brand. I checked the wrapping and the box and sure enough, it was slit with a razor blade and carefully taped back together. I then contacted Brown to get the insurance as it was obvious that somebody who knew what was in the package (it was in the shipping documentation) had pulled a fast one. First UPS blamed the doorman at our building, he is a bonded and insured person and VERY honest, then they had no idea what happened, then they made me drive to Edison, NJ to their "Satisfaction Center". I had to bring the package and all the wrappings, etc. Well I went there and they told me I needed to leave the stuff there. They also balked at giving me a receipt. It was only after my wife, a lawyer, *****ed them out that they gave me receipt. Six months later after calling them 100s of times, they sent me the insurance. Jomashop was very good during all this sending me an affidavit detailing how they packed and shipped the right watch. They also sent me a replacement watch at no charge. The Movado was not a cheap watch either.

The last time I used Brown, was for a part for the 300SD. of course it got lost. The problem was, I had no insureance on this one and lost my $$ and the part!

I only use FedEX... They have never lost anything and seem to have their act together.

catmandoo62 · #7 06-10-2008, 08:27 AM

for me if nobody is home when they try to deliver they leave stuff by the garbage can,and put a note on the door.

G-Benz · #8 06-10-2008, 10:08 AM

I though this was a thread about that dang race horse that crapped out this weekend!!!

But as a FedEx employee, I don't mind reading about UPS and DHL horror stories...

Dee8go · #9 06-10-2008, 10:17 AM

I thought you were complaining about Brown University!

I worked for UPS in college and was very impressed with their whole operation. I've never had a problem with them. They paid off quickly on one thing my former FIL shipped (he did not pack it correctly at all). It was a TV that was completely smashed due to poor packing.

Our UPS driver leaves things at my front door now. They don't even seem to ask for a signature anymore.

G-Benz · #10 06-10-2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

Our UPS driver leaves things at my front door now. They don't even seem to ask for a signature anymore.

Saves them time and money.

It's an extra charge to require a signature, so most customers chose not to go that route. As a result, you'll often see valuable merchandise lying on doorsteps of unoccupied residences! I was surpised one day to see a DVD player I bought with rewards points still at my door...it wasn't in a unassuming brown carton, but a full-color box with a picture of the player, replete with giant lettering announcing the contents therein!!!

I think the courier could have at least tossed it behind the bushes or something!!!!???

SwampYankee · #11 06-10-2008, 10:40 AM

That sucks, but every one of the shipping companies have similar issues. I, too, get everything shipped to my work address and have never had an issue.

We ship 5-6,000 small packages a year and had been a UPS customer for about 10 years. FedEx came in and made all kinds of offers and promises and enough of a savings over UPS that we switched (they even got me tickets to Patriots events, stadium tours and autograph sessions). It only took them a year before they managed to screw up and lose so many shipments that we switched back to UPS. I don't think we ever received compensation for packages that we insured that were damaged by FedEx. Every claim was rejected on a technicality.

Bottom line is they all have their problems.

Edit-Oops, sorry G!

Dee8go · #12 06-10-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Benz

Saves them time and money.

It's an extra charge to require a signature, so most customers chose not to go that route. As a result, you'll often see valuable merchandise lying on doorsteps of unoccupied residences! I was surpised one day to see a DVD player I bought with rewards points still at my door...it wasn't in a unassuming brown carton, but a full-color box with a picture of the player, replete with giant lettering announcing the contents therein!!!

I think the courier could have at least tossed it behind the bushes or something!!!!???

I know. I ordered a bunch of inkjet printers last December and whoever delivered them left them sitting at the end of my driveway by the street. They were in the Epson boxes, clearly something worth stealing if someone unscrupulous had happened by.