Tool theft by UPS?

[Revere Cycles]

I ordered some tools from the Sears website a few days ago. Earlier today, I received a notification that "merchandise is missing" and a replacement would be sent out shortly via UPS.

I receive about 300 packages a year, through all the major carriers, and this is the first time ever that I have had something like this happen. I have read reports of orders from Sears getting mixed up; ie, receiving an item that was not at all what they had ordered, but "merchandise is missing" comes across as entirely different. Since the package was en route and due to be delivered tomorrow, this is definitely a problem with UPS and not Sears.

Has anyone else had this happen to them? I know packages can "disappear" but this one seems a little fishy... The item in question was an Estwing hammer with the leather grip. Is tool theft common among carriers?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.


Attached is the email I received.

 

[RedFordTruck]

Hmm Ive never seen that!

Ive got an Epstein order coming with UPS right now... hope everything makes it!

 

[Mickey O]

I've gotten stuff from Sears that was so poorly package I'm surprised it arrived, one of the last things I got from Sears was the Craftsman 1/2" socket/ratchet module, the ratchet and one socket were missing.

Those are the only problems that I can remember with tools being delivered. I do know a couple of local FedEx workers got busted for stealing lap tops. I don't know if there's enough money in tools to jeopardize your job, although I've read about killing a person for a pair of sneakers.

 

[gilbo]

have u ever seen the way packages get moved around, sorted at a UPS facility, and the amount of packages on a given day.

here probably what happened more than likely, pkg got damaged during a jam sorting through the belts (which happens alot) and i am sure sears didnt pack it well, then hammer falls out of package, thus the snowball effect.

 

[archirelic]

I think it's a little premature to be calling theft on behalf of UPS, b/c I too have received packages that look like they went through soccer practice before arriving on my doorstep. I'd chalk it up to improper packaging and very, very sloppy handling in some sorting facility. And I've had it happen with both UPS and the USPS. Oddly enough I have never gotten a package in poor condition from FedEx and maybe that's b/c not many vendors I frequent utilize them...

 

[Loudpipes66]

I had ordered a 3/4 socket set and one box was damaged by the US postal service during transit. Apparently it broke open at a sorting facility and they tried to find all the contents. The 2 largest sockets 2 1/4 and 2 3/8 and breaker bar head were lost. Luckily it was insured and after alot of paperwork and 1 month I received a refund for the full amount of the 3 items.

 

[metaldad]

On a slightly different note, I can't believe that UPS will leave thousands of rounds of ammunition on my doorstep, not get a signature, and in his haste to get to the next stop, not ring the doorbell. Has happened here at least 4 times.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Yeah the system is highly automated... More than likely the single piece of tape they used on the bottom of the package didn't hold the contents in. So it gets lots in the sort, and UPS doesn't know the contents of the package so who knows what happens to these items. I'm sure higher-dollar things people call in and they track down...

I have had packages go on the wrong truck a couple times in the past six months or so. Just takes an extra day. I've also had a package delivered to the wrong address. One of those local stickers came off another package and got stuck on mine. Well he never looked at the main UPS sticker and just piled it in with the other packages for that place. I even found out who it went to (some hotel) and called but they couldn't find it. I had to file a missing item thing and got it all sorted out no issues. But a couple months later the hotel calls me and asks about a package they have. The person was on vacation at the time and it just sat in someone's office for months because everyone thought it was someone elses... So I drove there and got a freebie (just a cheap computer case)...

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

have u ever seen the way packages get moved around, sorted at a UPS facility, and the amount of packages on a given day.

it's a horrible story to hear.

 

[Mickey O]

On a slightly different note, I can't believe that UPS will leave thousands of rounds of ammunition on my doorstep, not get a signature, and in his haste to get to the next stop, not ring the doorbell. Has happened here at least 4 times.

Please post your address and when you next expect an ammunition delivery, you should probably order some .380, 9mm, .45, .38, .223 and a **** load of .357.

 

[gilbo]

On a slightly different note, I can't believe that UPS will leave thousands of rounds of ammunition on my doorstep, not get a signature, and in his haste to get to the next stop, not ring the doorbell. Has happened here at least 4 times.

well not asking for a signature is the shipper fault, not ups

 

[ihateminimumwage]

well not asking for a signature is the shipper fault, not ups

I've had 'Signature Required' stuff left on my doorstep with no one home more times than I've had a sticker left on the door (at different addresses, in different states). I think that comes down more to who is delivering the package.

I don't trust USPS if I need to get a shipment somewhere by a certain date. At least UPS updates their tracking daily. The postal service just seems to say 'received' & 'leaving sort facility' for the entire trip and then 'delivered' when it arrives. Paid extra to get a package from ID to CA in two days, and it took longer than the standard rate would have, with no tracking info updates to tell me where it went in the meantime. It finally made it to the destination 4 days after shipping.

 

[mmack66]

I've gotten stuff from Sears that was so poorly package I'm surprised it arrived, one of the last things I got from Sears was the Craftsman 1/2" socket/ratchet module, the ratchet and one socket were missing.

+1. If the hammer was packaged in any way like the Gearwrench ratchets I ordered and received, it would take very little for the packaging to become compromised and the hammer to fall out.

 

[csmitty]

Had a large, cant remember exact pieces, Cman Pro 6pt wrench set disappear on me from UPS. Only one cripe had too. UPS said it was delivered. I said where?? Def. not here. I kid of suspected that as well. Was disappointed as I really wanted the 6pts. Oh well, got a refund easily from cripe. ***** though.

 

[metaldad]

Please post your address and when you next expect an ammunition delivery, you should probably order some .380, 9mm, .45, .38, .223 and a **** load of .357.

I'm good on hand gun, except 460. I do need long arm ammo.

 

[Kev442]

Theft while on the carrier is so rampant in my industry that packages are videotaped while being packaged all the way until the loading dock door from my distributors. We are instructed to not sign and reject an entire order if the count is off even one small box.

 

[jhelrey]

My buddy had some Ford heads dropped off at his house. Not only did the UPS guy leave them in the parking lot of the Apt, he also left the aluminum dolly.

He finally came to get it back! Sat outside all night and didn't move

 

[andywander]

So my question is, how did the carrier know "merchandise is missing"? They must have opened the package, and compared the contents to the packing list...and then notified Sears?

 

[demoman]

Most likely the package broke. My brother works as a mechanic at UPS and they used to have a guy clean out the freight trailers every night. You cannot believe what would be on the floor from broken packages or poorly packed heavy items. Brass fittings, bolts tools parts etc.When something like this happens nobody spends any time looking to see where it belongs unless it looked expensive. Rather it was swept into a pile and boxed up. This all went to a central location from all the UPS centers and auctioned off once a month. There is a lost, damaged freight liquidation place in Kansas City Cargo largo). They typically sell of 700-100 pallets of lost damaged freight a week, every week from various truck lines, UPS and FedEx. Unbelievable but true. I have been to the auctions and there is everything you can imagine. That said your tools probably went to one of these type of auctions. Any employee caught taking anything from UPS is terminated permantly

 

[LSU]

"Please post your address and when you next expect an ammunition delivery, you should probably order some .380, 9mm, .45, .38, .223 and a **** load of .357."

MickeyO, that is shortsighted on your part.

You forgot to mention the .223, .308 and the 30/06 that he "needs".

 

[StevePgh]

The other interesting status is 'damaged in transit'. As a homebrewer, ordered an Erlenmeyer flask for yeast cultivation. My driver noticed the sound of shattered glass pieces when handling it and sent it back automatically with that status.

 

[Tim Cowan]

Sometimes there are truck wrecks and cargo fires that damage the goods.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I would think since ammo is an ORM-D shipment an ADULT signature would be required. Otherwise kids could be ordering this stuff which would be highly illegal... You should probably call up your regional UPS office to let them know...

I was just thinking, one of my friends ordered some stuff, and I didn't think about it at the time but it was all craftsman stuff so he probably ordered it from sears... Anyhow, he wasn't there but asked if I would sign for the package. I did, and when UPS handed it to me (after he dropped it on the floor of his truck and it made a horrible CLANG!) it had a corner that was torn open! I could peek inside and realized that was a hammer that made the noise but I was worried that maybe something fell out because of the big hole. Thankfully nothing did, but there you can chalk up yet another one to poor sears packaging.

 

[BigAl62]

This gets me thinking. I just got an empty package from Sears (and just posted a rant!) today that was delivered by UPS. No note, just and empty padded envelope that should have had a 1/4" drive flex head ratchet. Looks like I'm calling UPS tomorrow (I already called Sears and the lady was shocked that I was calling to complain!).

 

[srmofo]

Every package I have ever received from sears has been packed in 1 of 2 ways. The first is thrown into an overly large box with 2 or 3 of those inflated plastic bags with the items bouncing around inside the box, and the second is an overly large box with the items placed on the very bottom of the box and filled to the rim with styro peanuts. I surprised I havent lost anything from them yet to be perfectly honest. Packing material is only as good as the ***** that puts the stuff into the box. If the items are loose or at the very bottom of the box, its very easy for them to tear through the box or get damaged.

As far as your situation goes, you probably have a good driver and he noticed your package was damaged with nothing inside. Most of the UPS guys around here have to be employed for years before moving up to the driver positions. Its not something that many would be willing to throw away for a silly hammer.

BTW I have the cousin to that hammer in hatchet form
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002JT0BO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[PAPERMAKER]

I'm going to guess poor packaging led to tools falling out. Last package I got from Sears had 2 huge holes in it, luckily nothing was missing.

 

[Catalyze]

How about when 2 packages go into the Chicago hub (Hodgkins, Illinois) and only one comes out? Now each package had half of a 150 pound Prentiss vise. Both scanned in and only one scanned out. UPS went and tried to find the missing slide and screw but never could find it. Half a Prentiss was not funny....but a year later a GJ person found me a donor Prentiss to finish it. Life is much happier now.
Craig

 

[RCStocker]

Packages can fall off of a truck or out of the rack at the airprot or in trucking. It can get kicked off the conveyor. If there is an accident with a truck the package can be lost smashed itc. There a many reasons fo something to get lost. Things get stolen off of trucks all the time. I really happens.

 

[boatmark]

In the course of business I have sent several thousand UPS shipments - they have lost two. Neither were anything anyone except the recipient would want, and both times UPS promptly paid for the lost items.

If you ship millions of packages a year, it stands to reason stuff happens. . .

 

[Revere Cycles]

So my question is, how did the carrier know "merchandise is missing"? They must have opened the package, and compared the contents to the packing list...and then notified Sears?

This is the status update from UPS.

Merchandise is missing. UPS will notify the sender with additional details. / All merchandise missing, empty carton was discarded. UPS will notify the sender with details of the damage.

 

[aka Larry]

I think UPS could break an anvil with a cotton ball.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Friends don't let friends ship things via DHL... Drop-it Hide-it Lose-it

Two cities I've lived in, same horrible DHL service the few times I had no choice to use them.

One time a package came priority (I don't remember if it was overnight or just whatever top tier) from Taiwan to Texas... I didn't know they were shipping it or when or how, but I kept an eye out for a package. After a while it never came so I contacted the company and they gave me the tracking info. "Supposedly" DHL made 3 attempts to deliver, NEVER a note on the door, NEVER even a knock, heck I NEVER even saw a DHL truck (which has been common practice for ANY package I receive from them)! I have a dog too so the slightest knock at the door and she is barking like crazy! Anyhow the package was already on a plane back to Taiwan. I bitched out the DHL rep to no end, I was FURIOUS. Anyhow they were able to re-route the package once it reached Taiwan so it flew back across the Pacific (for the third time)... I was keeping an eye out for the delivery driver this time.... This time the person came to the door, didn't knock, didn't ring the doorbell, but just put a sticker on the front door. I opened it and stopped the person before they got in their truck and asked them what the hell? Do they even care to deliver packages?

That package racked up more frequent flier miles than I probably ever will... If I ever win the lottery I am buying DHL for the simple fact that I will shut the company down and sell all the assets because it does not deserve to continue to operate.

 

[Hootbro]

...........If I ever win the lottery I am buying DHL for the simple fact that I will shut the company down and sell all the assets because it does not deserve to continue to operate.

DHL has always sucked when it came to home delivery and pretty much has abandoned that and gears themselves as a business to business delivery service.

Their main problems with home delivery is that most times it is a independent franchise company that does the home delivery. The truck and uniform say "DHL" but the actual guys doing the home delivery is a franchisee owner or employee of franchisee owner.

DHL is the Neanderthal of the delivery world.

 

[Provincial]

EOC Jason, did you know that the Larry Hilblom, founder of DHL, disappeared in a small aircraft in the Pacific, and that at the time he was accused of molesting many young girls? His body was never found. Subsequently, it was found that he had sired several children in Asian countries. Does this sound out of character for the DHL you know and love?

As I understand it, DHL has effectively closed out it's US delivery operations in 2009 and is now owned by Deutche Post, the German Post Office.

 

[Kurn]

If you've ever seen a UPS or Fedex hub in action,it's a miracle anything comes out.The sheer volume is astounding.

 

[Terry454]

How about when 2 packages go into the Chicago hub (Hodgkins, Illinois) and only one comes out? Now each package had half of a 150 pound Prentiss vise. Both scanned in and only one scanned out. UPS went and tried to find the missing slide and screw but never could find it. Half a Prentiss was not funny....but a year later a GJ person found me a donor Prentiss to finish it. Life is much happier now.
Craig

Well actually UPS has at least two "Chicago hubs." I am in the South West 'burbs and Hodgkins is my hub, but Jefferson is the city hub.

I ordered a laptop that was made in the Pacific Rim and was shipped to Hodgkins, and then to Jefferson where it disappeared. I was able to get a new laptop made and the second time it went to Hodgkins and then to me -- as the first one should have. Not a big deal for me, except the time delay.

The wife and daughter do a lot of on-line shopping and we have almost daily deliveries from UPS and FedEx. No issues that I ever hear about, but then I wouldn't encourage them to complain to me anyway since there is nothing I can do about it.
Terry

 

[Professur]

I suggest people look up a company called Bargainland ... used to be an Ebay seller. They were selling 'lost and undelivered' UPS stuff (they didn't tell you this tho) at .99$ ... until they got caught. Their locations? Every UPS hub office.

 

[carterbeauford]

when dealing with a company as big as Sears or UPS it's only statistical chance that something's going to go wrong. combine the two and your odds go way down.

 

[hammester]

I currently have an order from sears where they can not find the package and the tracking number never displayed online. The package shows as delivered on Sears's website. They say it will take 8 business days to see if they can find the package which I thought was unacceptable.

 

[CalvinM]

I've worked on the sort aisle at a UPS facility. Packages break open fairly regularly and the automated system of belts tends to be hard on packages when they get stuck or the belts get backed up.

There is a person on the return belt who collects the broken boxes and packaging and scans it as damaged.

I worked at a small UPS facility. I can't even imagine the amount of stuff that ends up being auctioned off at the central hubs.