DMK
Member
Recently, I sold some ammunition to a forum member, packed it up, labeled it appropriately, and took it to my local UPS customer counter.
Day #1: When the counter attendant saw the ORM-D on the box, she threw the wrench in the works and told me that they could not ship ammunition. Me: Please get your supervisor. I explained to them that I shipped ammo numerous time over that very counter including one shipment last week. I was talking to a brick wall. Forgetting about the toll free hazmat number, I left and emailed customer service. They responded promptly and courtiously with the email that I posted on this thread, basically stating that it was OK to ship ammunition as long as it was properly packaged and labeled according to federal regulations.
Day #2: The supervisor dismissed the email referring to a poster that they had on the wall. The poster listed hazardous materials, including ammunition. Granted, ammunition is considered hazardous materials, that is the reason for the proper labeling. The poster did not say anywhere that it was prohibited material. I referred to the toll free hazmat number on the poster, on the wall and on the email. The supervisor point blank refused to call it stating that she knew the rules and did not need to get verification. My blood started to boil at this point and I politely thanked her for her time and left deciding that losing my composure and arguing with an idiot was not going to be appropriate or productive. I should have called the hazmat people on my cell phone right there but unfortunately did not think of it. I called when I got home and by that time was sufficiently "cooled off". Of course, they agreed with me.
Day #3: I decided that this was getting unfair to the buyer so I took an extended lunch break and took the package in during the day shift this time instead of stopping on my way home from work. It was the day shift that accepted my ammunition last time. I told the counter attendant that I was having difficulty shipping this in the evening and she was very friendly and apologetic. She agreed with me but decided that she should call hazmat as CYA just in case something changed and she was not aware of it. I had no problem with that. The hazmat people told her it was OK and she took the package.
Now, I'm thinking that requiring a customer to make three different trips to ship a single package is unacceptable, especially considering that the evening people made no effort to verify my information or back up their's. If the evening supervisor called the toll free hazmat number on the first night, this whole thing could have been avoided.
I'm considering writing two official letters to physically deliver to the day shift supervisor, one complimentary concerning the employee who did help me, the other a letter of complaint against the evening supervisor.
How would you handle this?
Day #1: When the counter attendant saw the ORM-D on the box, she threw the wrench in the works and told me that they could not ship ammunition. Me: Please get your supervisor. I explained to them that I shipped ammo numerous time over that very counter including one shipment last week. I was talking to a brick wall. Forgetting about the toll free hazmat number, I left and emailed customer service. They responded promptly and courtiously with the email that I posted on this thread, basically stating that it was OK to ship ammunition as long as it was properly packaged and labeled according to federal regulations.
Day #2: The supervisor dismissed the email referring to a poster that they had on the wall. The poster listed hazardous materials, including ammunition. Granted, ammunition is considered hazardous materials, that is the reason for the proper labeling. The poster did not say anywhere that it was prohibited material. I referred to the toll free hazmat number on the poster, on the wall and on the email. The supervisor point blank refused to call it stating that she knew the rules and did not need to get verification. My blood started to boil at this point and I politely thanked her for her time and left deciding that losing my composure and arguing with an idiot was not going to be appropriate or productive. I should have called the hazmat people on my cell phone right there but unfortunately did not think of it. I called when I got home and by that time was sufficiently "cooled off". Of course, they agreed with me.
Day #3: I decided that this was getting unfair to the buyer so I took an extended lunch break and took the package in during the day shift this time instead of stopping on my way home from work. It was the day shift that accepted my ammunition last time. I told the counter attendant that I was having difficulty shipping this in the evening and she was very friendly and apologetic. She agreed with me but decided that she should call hazmat as CYA just in case something changed and she was not aware of it. I had no problem with that. The hazmat people told her it was OK and she took the package.
Now, I'm thinking that requiring a customer to make three different trips to ship a single package is unacceptable, especially considering that the evening people made no effort to verify my information or back up their's. If the evening supervisor called the toll free hazmat number on the first night, this whole thing could have been avoided.
I'm considering writing two official letters to physically deliver to the day shift supervisor, one complimentary concerning the employee who did help me, the other a letter of complaint against the evening supervisor.
How would you handle this?
