What The Absolute Frack UPS?

Today, finally after getting bounced along and around by UPS support including supervisor level support, I did get a return call from even higher level UPS support after I had left a few messages, to find out at least one interesting new thing today.

The firearm was not in fact stolen and diverted to Kansas City, MO, as they had previously indicated.

Nope, instead UPS seized the package and sent it to their secret fraud center in Kansas City, MO on suspicion of fraudulent activity.

Blink.

Why you may ask?

Why indeed.

Well, apparently about 5 years ago the UPS shipper id number I had been issued in late October of this year by Stamps.com had apparently been used by a fraudster in Texas for some nefarious purpose.  This nefarious purpose was not to be revealed to me, but it was indeed a purpose most nefarious and fraudulent.

5 years ago.

The shipping id number associated with the fraud was however then released by UPS to Stamps.com for use, but remained flagged in the UPS system as a fraudulent shipper id, and then sat there just waiting to pounce as my legal shipment entered their clutches.

One would think they would retire such an shipper number and not reissue it for use, but no.  My package then allegedly got intercepted solely based on that number.

I'm now told that my package is now going to be released and delivered on to the buyer sometime soon as I've now proven I'm not the fraudster in Texas and it is a legitimate shipment.   

Of course, they should have been able to figure this out themselves since the package was dropped off in Pontiac, Michigan not Texas. One would have hoped that a shipping company knew geography. Another clue could be it was legally declared as a firearm and the FFL of the receiver was provided and package was paid for, and it was not being sent from or to Texas. Or, maybe, perhaps they could have just contacted me at the outset, but what do I know?

Of course, this is after I've already spent time and reported it to the Sheriff's department that it was stolen based on their prior statement that it was intercepted and delivered to an unknown address in KC, MO.  It would have been nice if from the get-go they stated what was actually going on rather than stating the package had been stolen.

It would also have been real nice had they contacted me once the diversion happened rather than my learning about it on their tracking page solely from seeing the package marked "delivered" but to Kansas City and not its actual destination and no message at all regarding any delivery exception.

We'll now see if it really does get properly to its destination as promised and paid for.  Sheesh.

UPS Mis-shipment - Deliberate Not Accidental

It looks like this was a deliberate theft.

Someone at UPS in Pontiac deliberately re-routed the package to Kansas City, MO.

This is a problem with declaring contents of a package as a firearm.

Even better their system is not even letting me file a claim.

This is getting interesting.

UPS Missed It By How Much?

The bad news: UPS was off with its delivery of my package to the recipient by only 1,500 miles.  Yep, just missed it by that much.

The worse news: It was a firearm.

A rifle actually, properly declared with a copy of the receiver's FFL provided to their shipping desk as required.

Clearly labelled, with the address,  UPS label was checked and correct, and also destination labelled on other parts of the box with the proper address.

Instead of the FFL in Montana, they dropped it off in Kansas City, Missouri and not at an FFL.

This is very much not good. Investigation and claim form is about to be underway.  At least I sent it insured, but how did they screw it up this badly?

UPS Is Pronounced OOPS

So I'm expecting a package to arrive today, the contents of which may merit a blog post later.

UPS sends a helpful email yesterday that notes the arrival time should arrive from 10:15 AM - 02:15 PM today and since I have to sign for the package someone better be at the home to sign for it.

So I figure I'll work from home in the morning so I can get the package and then go to the office.

They send another helpful email this morning that I can track the location of the delivery truck online.

So I do, with a window open on the computer as I get some work things done.

Viewing their site I can see the truck icon on the moving map. I watch the truck happily roll along, getting literally two streets away from me and I begin to expect seeing it pull up in my driveway.

Then its one street away to the north, so this should be good and I can get the package and head into the office and all is well.

Then it suddenly turns away and bypasses me to the south, traveling along a parallel street right past my house. WTF?

I then at that moment get a new email that the delivery time is now changed to 1:45 to 5:45. That's rather annoying.

It's now, per the icon, a mile south and heading more southerly as it goes. I have half a mind to go chase after it. Whoever came up with the route certainly messed up their delivery efficiency, and my plan for the day is now a bit askew as well.

Update: As of 2:28 the UPS truck icon on the map has quite literally and illustratively gone in a circle around my house, carefully avoiding it at all times, but happily chugging along adjacent streets, including streets that lead to my street.

Last Update: it finally arrived, after circumnavigating the neighborhood at least 3 times.