UPS = Utterly Pathetically Stupid

I’m awaiting the delivery of a package from the courier firm UPS and it’s such a damned effort to manage to get it. It seems that even international corporations are infected by the Belgian lack of customer service (that I’ve recently enjoyed). Just like everything in Belgium there are loads of people employed there – no queues at the call centre – but no-one seems to have a clue what’s going on.

They tried to deliver Friday but could not find my address. Remarkable as there’s a very large number on the house and my name on the bell, and there are no other streets anywhere else in Brussels with the same name. So they tried again yesterday (Monday) and still could not find the place. I called them and they promised a delivery again today (Tuesday), they put the parcel on the van and then the driver has not delivered it because it’s dated to be delivered on 26th August. 26th August? And UPS then claim on the phone that I requested the delay – and I have not even spoken to them today! And if it’s due to be delivered on 26th August why stick it on the van anyway?

Just for additional comedy value it looks from the tracking screen that the package has been routed overnight to Louisville, Kentucky.

So as far as I’m concerned UPS = Utterly Pathetically Stupid.

Rather than waiting for the idiots once more I’m cycling off to Diegem this evening to pick up the package. Their place is easy enough to find with Google Maps. Maybe they might have tried something like that to locate my place?

[UPDATE – 1900]
Well, it had to happen didn’t it. I cycled 7.5km to UPS at Diegem, was first of all directed to the wrong office, and then when I found the package retrieval office I was grunted at by a monosyllabic Flemish chap. He then disappeared for 20 minutes and came back and muttered something to his colleague. “We can’t find the package” he then told me, using English despite the fact I speak French, one of the languages of Belgium. “It’s not acceptable” I replied, stating I had been told to come to Diegem and UPS had twice failed to locate my flat. “It’s not my fault. There’s nothing we can do.” Well I’ll see the manager then I replied, prompting much chuntering in Flemish. The manager duly arrived and was a little more helpful, at least promising to add some notes to my file for the driver tomorrow and giving me a number to call that goes direct to Diegem rather than to the Irish callcentre. We’ll see what happens tomorrow. Sheer incompetence so far.