Most my packages get FedEx labels, which are great. I am close to a facility so can easily drop and get a receipt. Never had a single issue here.
UPS on the other hand is stressful to me. I get less of these labels, but the UPS facility we had nearby closed down awhile ago, and so I am only left with two drop boxes in town. I had a signing the other day and didn’t have time to think on this, but by the time I got to the drop box, it was overflowing (which happens every day). I literally could grab someone’s else’s stuff out of the drop box because of how full it was. I couldn’t drop it because it was unsafe to do so. Anyone could have taken my package. It was a sellers package with a closing date on the docs for the next day; however, the signing service never specified that it had to get out same day. I ended up coming back to the drop box to drop it but it was after pick up time so now it wont go out until later today. I immediately informed the signing service through the portal that the package wont get picked up until today. It’s been several hours but no one has said anything, so I’m guessing they will just post close until Monday now.
Here are my questions:
Is it acceptable to go back and ask for a FedEx label instead of UPS? I cringe every time I get a UPS label, and this one really stressed me out.
Seriously, don’t use dropboxes, trust me! You really want to drop off loan packages where you can get a receipt. Those receipts are your proof and your protection. And definitely let the signing service know about the shipping situation in your area. They’ll probably be cool if the docs go out the next day. If the company needs those documents sooner, they will pay you to scan/fax the loan package. That’s my “two cents”…
I just found out there is a shipping business that will accept ups stuff for $1. It’s probably worth it to make sure it’s safe until getting sent out. I also don’t get a ton of ups.
Don’t have your problem, but if I did, I’d ask immediately after receiving the order if it was possible for them to provide a FedEx label rather than UPS. If the answer is no, you already have a $1 solution.
Agree w/cfletcher and Arichter. Immediately upon being assigned, ask for Fedex label and tell them why. Most companies will oblige. If not, you’ve already procured a solution. (I wonder why they charge. Most of these vendors already receive a subsidy for handling Fedex/UPS shipments.)
The only option we have in this county is a UPS drop box that’s located outside the courthouse. Only had one issue of it not being picked up on Christmas Eve because driver didn’t think anyone other than the courthouse was using the box and they were not working. We got that straight. Have never had another issue! FedEx drop is a store location in the next county. Not that far really but same hours as a drop box…go figure. He doesn’t provide receipts but most recently he’s been given a scanner for Next Day Air drops so tracking begins immediately. One attorney that I work with frequently, knows that UPS is the convenient shipping for my area and that its a drop box. They haven’t had any issues with changing the label for me and receiving their paperwork on time.
I have plenty of Fedex offices and plenty of UPS stores in my area so it doesn’t really matter to me which service they use. Generally though, I find that Fedex stores are more convenient, as they all now have the drop boxes where you can get a receipt, with no standing in line. Those are much more rare in UPS stores.
Totally acceptable, IMHO. It never hurts to ask. Most companies can provide either a FedEx or UPS label. And once they understand your reason why, I am sure they will appreciate you for helping to get their package back to them expeditiously.
@steves11 Yes! The kiosks are Awesome at FedEx & UPS!
Love the Time Saver. Also, the FedEx & UPS Staff often say how much they appreciate me utilizing the kiosk to check in the packages. They say that it helps their queues move much quicker.
I’m sorry that you were put in that pickle. I have the opposite problem. The nearest UPS store is less than 2 miles from me but the nearest FedEx store is a little over 7 miles away (mostly city miles, making for an egregious drop off experience during rush hour). There is a general shipping store about 2 miles away from me which also happens to be an authorized UPS/FedEx drop point that provides receipts, but they have been having staffing issues for the last year or so and are often closed early (or all day) due to no-call/no-show from the sole employee running the place. It’s made FedEx drops (which are the majority of the drops for me) a frustrating experience. The only silver lining in that cloud has been that the shipping center is on the way to the actual FedEx store, so all I have to do is look in the window to know if I should keep driving or not. Good luck!
Never use a drop box! I had the shippers lose a package three times. The only evidence I had was the receipt. On one of those three, I had a closing where the signer had just gone through the headache of having his identity stolen. His package was found in the wrong state with no documents in it. At least I could prove where and when I dropped the package off because I had the receipt.
Do you have a Staples nearby? They take UPS also. I have the oposite issue. No FedEx in my area. I use the dropboxes in my community quite a bit and companies are very understanding. I take a photo of my package against the dropbox as my phone timestamps each photo. Ive never had one let me down yet. It would be over 45 minutes each way flr me to get to ann actual FedEx. With your overflowing box though, thats an issue.
In some cases, even if you walk the package to the counter and hand it to a clerk, they will instruct you to use the drop box to get your receipt and then bring the package back to them.
Occasionally I’ve queried the Staff Member at different locations about this technique & invariably they’ve shared that they’re instructed by the manager to teach customers how to perform the Self-Serve functions for package dropoff & obtaining a receipt => even if it’s Priority Overnight Delivery.
I am the same as you. I HATE UPS!!! We have a FedEx store in our town and we have a third party UPS shipper. I had DISASTER strike this past week with that third party shipper. I took a package there on a Saturday. Company called Monday and said that UPS couldn’t retrieve the package because the location had been blacklisted for non-payment so I had to go pick up the package. Went through all that - the package is lost somewhere and they can’t find it. It has a signers certified checks for closing in the package. End being - I had to do a re-sign with the client and they were NOT HAPPY and then had to deal with the bank…which is a WHOLE other subject - it was a disaster. So even to say - we don’t even have a UPS labeled drop box in my town and I can’t take it to that shop any longer. The company that uses UPS - ONLY uses UPS so they won’t send a FedEx label. So frustrating. Only closes UPS store is over 30 miles from me.
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I collect a lot of documents all week and ship FedEx on Saturday. Having that extra day is important.
how to perform the Self-Serve functions for package dropoff & obtaining a receipt => even if it’s Priority Overnight Delivery.