"WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?" TO THE CURB.
1907
Jim and his partner, Claude Ryan ran the service from a humble office located under the sidewalk. Jim's brother George and a handful of other teenagers were the company's messengers. The company did well despite stiff competition, largely because of Jim Casey´s strict policies of customer courtesy, reliability, round-the-clock service, and low rates. These principles, which guide UPS even today, are summarized by Jim´s slogan: best service and lowest rates.
PRESENT DAY
[Excerpt from ajc.com-UPS packs up 'brown' slogan, as packages take back seat]
In a love affair a decade in the making, Sandy Springs-based UPS launched a new slogan and ad campaign Monday -- "We [heart] logistics" -- leaving "What can brown do for you?" at the curb.
MY EXPERIENCE:
To minimize unnecessary hassle shopping at one of my favorite soapy shops, I place I place my orders online and have them shipped to my rental establishment via UPS. Until recently UPS has made over half a dozen deliveries to my rental, as well as many to the other 200+ residents of the complex.
About a month ago, I did what I have done so many times before, placed my soapy order online and had it shipped to my rental establishment The upside to having packages shipped via UPS is that customers are notified of their shipment status, in addition, customers are able to track their package(s) from the UPS website using the tracking number provided by UPS. Booya!!! Package in route to my establishment, it will be waiting for me when I get home on a Friday afternoon.
Oh wait, my bad, there is an email from UPS stating that my package was routed to a UPS Annex in Van Nuys, because the driver noted my location as a business/industrial building and they do not deliver to these types of locations. Hmm...Interesting, 200+ residences in a building with balconies, a front entrance with a grand foray, a huge art piece of a sign with the name of the building including the word 'Apartments' as part of the name of the building above the double door entrance. Yeah, really sounds like a business/industrial building.
On a Friday afternoon, exhausted from a challenging work week, I muster some energy and force myself to make the trek out to the Van Nuys location, almost 9 miles with a gps reading of 43 minutes....ONE WAY. The thought of having a new supply of yummy yummy scents helped me regain my composure and off I went.
Not too bad finding the location. The interior looked unorganized and cluttered with various sized packages and paper lying all around the counter. There were about six people in front of me and only two Customer Care Reps. A customer was arguing with the rep about their package, yadda yadda yadda. He was handed off to another rep and the next customer was up. Fast forward 25 minutes later, it's my turn. Thank goodness for Yelp and my addiction to keeping up with friends. Thank you, I was able to keep calm and Yelp on.
I asked the rep why my package wasn't delivered and why does the notification I received say that the driver was unable to deliver because of the type of structure he thought I lived in. At first the rep made excuses, maybe the regular driver was on vacation, maybe he couldn't get into the building. My response to that was then how did all the UPS notifications appears all over the outside and inside the building? Just as I suspected, rep couldn't provide a logical explanation. Here's the kicker, I wanted to know how the driver could say that I didn't live in an apartment complex, when it's clear from it's residential hood appearance, to the building's exterior, to the signage. Rep said, "The driver is allowed to use that excuse." I kid you not, the driver is allowed to note a building as industrial or business.
Reading comments on my check-in thread, it was clear several of my fellow Yelpers have a bad taste in their mouth about this location. Is it the location that is to blame for this inconvenience, or is it UPS as a company, or perhaps both? They say "it" all trickles downward.
Jim and his partner would turn in their grave if they knew what has become of the company they started decades ago. "The company did well despite stiff competition, largely because of Jim Casey´s strict policies of customer courtesy, reliability, round-the-clock service, and low rates. These principles, which guide UPS even today, are summarized by Jim´s slogan: best service and lowest rates guide UPS even today, are summarized by Jim´s slogan: best service and lowest rates. Keywords: strict policy of customer courtesy, reliability, were replaced by customer inconvenience and acceptable excuses.
From now on I'll be using an alternative shipping method.
Btw, Amazon offers shipping to an Amazon Locker and ahs locations all over. check it out the next time you place your Amazon order. read more