Daily Consumer Tips

Ok UPS, Point Well Taken. I will Stick with FedEx

I learned something new today. When it comes to receiving packages for my business, I must stay home to sign up and recieve them. That is, if they are delivered by UPS.

I am still tracking a package that was sent to me via UPS and whose first delivery attempt was January 6th. I was not home but the driver left a note at my door.

Around six PM on January 7th, I went to pick it up at the UPS Customer No Pick up center on Pleasantdale Road in Doraville, Georgia. I was informed that the package was with the driver driver and they did not know when he will be back.

Besides, I was told that I neded to have called before I went to pick it up so they could set it aside. That was my mistake because I did not read those instructions on the back of the door tag.

On Saturday January 8th, I called UPS at their 800.833.9943 number and requested that the package be put on hold and not to be delivered again till I pick it up myself from UPS.

The ensuing two days found the Atlanta area in a historic snow and ice storm. On January 10th and 11th, the UPS customer service center was closed due to dangerous driving conditions.

Luckily, UPS opened the service center on January 12 and there I was hoping that I will pick up my package that had been put on hold the prior weekend.

I was wrong. The customer no service lady told me that the package was being delivered and was not at the UPS Center.

I could not believe it. I knew that they had assured me that there will be no more delivery attempts when I called that Saturday. I called the 800 number while still at the site.

I was informed that the package was still there and that it was not being delivered. I asked to speak to a manager. When I spoke with Doris, the manager in charge of the front desk, she said that my package was there but due to the bad weather in Atlanta, there were no pickers to get my package.

She asked for my contacts and told me that she will make sure that my package will be available the next day. Good enough and understood.

The next day was yesterday. I went to pick up the package at six thirthy PM. Same story again. I was told that the package was with a a driver. Called the 800 number again. I was told that indeed that package was with a driver.

"What happened to the hold I put on the package?" I asked. I was read the same script again, "The package is with a driver but you can pick it up tomorrow".

After being tossed around for so long by UPS wasting my time, it finally dawned on me that no one at UPS wanted to help me.

They wanted me to go away. They did not want to serve me. They wanted me to take my business elsewhere but could not tell me directly.  They wanted me to stick with FedEx. Point well taken.

Omaha, Nebraska Is Number One

A new year brings new beginnings. With the Us unemployment currently at 9.3%, many job seekers and people with low wages would be better off living in cities that are affordable.

For this year, Forbes Magazine has compiled a list of the of best and most affordables US cities. And the City of Omaha, Nebraska is number one in that list. Other most affordable cities in America for 2011 include:

2.Buffalo, New York
3.Detroit, Michigan
4.Indianapolis, Indiana
5.Cincinnati, Ohio
6.Pittsburgh, Pennyslvannia
7.Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota
8.Cleveland, Ohio
9.Oklahoma City Oklahoma and
10.Houston, Texas.

From the list, it is clear that the most affordable cities are in the MidWest and none from the West. Except Houston, there are no southern cities either.

Publix Is Number 1

Fresh Produce

Publix is the new number 1. At least in Atlanta. The AJC is reporting that according to data by the Shelby Report, Publix, with 143 stores in the Greater Atlanta area has a 27 per cent market share.

And the long time market leader Kroger? It is the new number 2. Kroger, with 131 stores has a 25.5 per cent market share. In third place is the world's biggest retailer, Walmart with 58 stores and a 23 per cent market share.

Based on the report, Publix, based in Lakeland, Florida has gained the new number one position after years of expansion, marketing and focus on quality and presentation.

In my opinion, that is only part of the story. While Kroger and Walmart abandoned and eliminated the butchery in favor of prepackaged meats, Publix kept it as part of a service to their customers. Publix is one of the last few remaining grocery chains where the butcher can still cut the meat for you while you are at the store. That is another reason they they are number 1.

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