I don’t use this UPS Store very often, but whenever I did visit in the past, I generally had a positive impression. However, my last two visits were extremely unpleasant.
On my first recent visit, I went in to ask about the rate for a UPS Worldwide Express Letter shipment. The online price was around $45, but I was quoted $224 in the store. I understood that store prices might be somewhat higher, but when I asked why the difference was more than five times the online rate, the employee simply replied that she was not the one setting the prices, which completely missed the point of my question.
I was also told to just put the documents in an envelope and mail them with stamps, even though I specifically explained that I needed to send important documents to Hong Kong.
During my second visit, I dropped off a Worldwide Express Letter shipment and asked whether the expected delivery date was visible in the system. The employee responded, “The tracking number is right there.” Obviously I know there is a tracking number. I was simply trying to confirm whether the package would arrive before a deadline for the recipient. Even if the estimated delivery date was not yet available, a more professional response would have been something like, “It may appear later once the tracking updates.”
Although the same employee assisted me both times, this feels less like an issue with one individual employee and more like a management and customer service culture problem.
The location is convenient because it is close to my home, but after these experiences, I do not plan to return.