I have been a retail musical instrument and pro audio dealer in business since 1987. Since 2009 I have been using exclusively using the UPS Store located at 426 Main Street, Spotswood, NJ for all my merchandise shipping. Over those years I have had issues with packages being damaged in transit and I have been unsuccessful in getting compensated for the loss in spite of the fact that all packages are always shipped fully insured. The store owner, Jason, has provided a variety of reasons for this ranging from "claim not filed in a timely fashion" to "UPS postage was purchased online at UPS.com so its' not our problem".
Finally, on February 10th, 2016. I went with two packages to be shipped to two different customers, one in Maine (weight 49 pounds) and one in Florida (weight 14.20 pounds). The counter representative weighed both packages and since I had printed the shipping labels at UPS.com he helped me tape the labels on each package, using their tape. The Counter rep then scanned each package in, one after the other, and printed out a receipt for each. The receipts do not indicate the ship to address but do indicate the package weight, which again was 49 pounds for one and 14.20 pounds for the other. Since both labels entered the system and both produced receipts I left the UPS store believing all was fine.
After 5 days, the tracking number for the package going to Florida weighing 14.20 pounds showed first "in transit" then "delivered 2/15/16". The other tracking number for the package destined for a customer in Maine showed only "shipping label created" and no further updates. When I contacted the UPS Store in Spotswood the UPS rep told me "since you purchased the shipping at UPS.com you need to call 1800 PICK UPS to get an answer, we didn't sell you the shipping label so this is not our problem". Less than helpful to say the least I contacted UPS and they confirmed what I already knew, one package was delivered and the other was only "label created" and nothing more, even though I had a receipt generated at the Spotswood UPS store saying I had brought it there for delivery. On the evening of February 15th I received a call from the Florida customer advising that BOTH packages had been delivered to his home and he had only ordered one. This solved the mystery of the missing package but began just continued my shipping adventure. Calling the UPS Store in Spotswood on February 16th and advising them of the error I tried to enlist their assistance. Jason, store owner, told me simply that it was a mistake but again, not his problem since they didn't sell the postage. I asked how two packages with identical labels could be scanned into their system and be sent off when those labels only represented one collected shipping fee, and wouldn't an alarm go off when the second package was scanned with the exact same label, same tracking number, etc., telling him that label was just used and entered. Jason said " I don't know how that happened, you must have just got lucky". He then told me to call 1800 PICK UPS to get the help I needed, and he would do nothing further for me, even though the error started right in his store by his own employee.
Calling UPS Customer service they helped me get and return ship tag to Florida, got the package returned to me where I affixed the correct shipping label to the customer in Maine, and then shipped the package to the correct destination. UPS also assured me that after the customer finally received the package UPS will reimburse me for all the costs related to this error, they could not have been more helpful and nicer to deal with.
I know its' a long story but it was a two week saga generated by the carelessness of the employees at UPS Spotswood and the uncaring attitude of their owner Jason. I can tell you as a small business owner in central New Jersey I will never set foot in their store again and will make every effort (including this post) to dissuade local business owners as well as persons simply shipping items to family and friends not to use the UPS Store in spotswood...EVER !
J Mullen
Dynacoustics Pro Audio
Old Bridge, NJ read more