TG
Tony George
Sep 27, 2026
I am sick and tired of companies trying to nickel and dime customers for everything. It’s 2026. We have AI building websites, but UPS can’t figure out how to scan its own shipping label from a smartphone? More importantly, charging $2.50 just to print a shipping label is ridiculous. What’s worse, it’s not even a peel and stick label. They’re printing it on a regular sheet of paper. I have to believe it costs UPS about $0.05 to print, yet customers are charged $2.50. That is simply disrespectful. It’s like buying a new car and having the dealer charge you for the first gallon of gas.
Unfortunately, the customer service at this location made the experience even worse.
I had three large, heavy boxes to ship. Before bringing them inside, I went into the store and asked the old Indian guy working there if he could print my shipping labels. He said yes, but it would cost $2.50 per label. Since I had three boxes, I initially thought paying $7.50 just to print three pieces of paper was ridiculous, so I told him I would print them at home.
By the time I got back to my car, I changed my mind. I didn’t want to risk delaying the shipment, so I decided to just pay the $7.50.
I then carried all three large, heavy boxes into the store, one at a time. No one offered to hold the door, help with the boxes, or offer a dolly or hand truck.
Once I had everything inside, I showed the old Indian guy the shipping label on my phone. His response was, “I can’t scan that. I told you, you have to give me a hard copy.”
That made no sense to me. I had already told him I was willing to pay them to print the labels. I asked whether he could scan the barcode from my phone or enter the number manually. By this point, he was already walking away from me to help another customer. His response was simply, “I can’t scan it.”
What bothered me most was that he made no effort to explain the process or offer another solution. He never said I could email the labels to the store so they could print them. He simply walked away and left it at “I can’t scan it.”
Rather than argue with him, I left.
Here’s the part that really bothered me. I drove to another nearby UPS Store with the exact same three boxes and the exact same shipping labels on my phone. The employee there immediately gave me a solution. She told me I could email the shipping labels to the store and they would print them for me. Simple. I emailed the labels, paid the printing fee, and was done.
And the difference in customer service didn’t stop there. She offered me a dolly for my three heavy boxes and helped hold the door while I brought them inside.
Same company. Same shipping labels. Same three boxes. Completely different experience.
I still think charging $2.50 to print a regular sheet of paper is excessive, especially when customers are already paying UPS for shipping. But if you’re going to charge the fee, at minimum, train employees to clearly explain the process, offer available alternatives, and provide basic customer service.
The second UPS Store proved there was a very simple solution. The old Indian guy at this location either didn’t know enough to offer it or simply couldn’t be bothered to explain it. Either way, that is poor customer service.