I have to post this. I ordered some software last week from a major online retailer, for a client, and paid extra for 2nd day air so I would have it by the weekend.
Well, Friday rolled around, and no software, so I checked the website to see what was up:
Ship Method: UPS Second Day
Tracking Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Status: IN TRANSIT
Shipment Date: Mar 17, 2004
Destination: Portland, OR, United States
Order ID: XXX-XXXXXXX-XXXXXXXDate Time Location Service Area Checkpoint Details
Mar 23, 2004 01:37:56 AM KOELN (COLOGNE) DE HUB SCAN
Mar 23, 2004 01:34:20 AM KOELN (COLOGNE) DE HUB SCAN
Mar 22, 2004 06:51:42 PM MAIA PT HUB SCAN
Mar 22, 2004 08:06:00 AM MAIA PT ROUTED INCORRECTLY AT UPS FACILITY;PKG HAS BEEN REROUTED TO DESTINATION
Mar 22, 2004 08:03:00 AM MAIA PT UPS INTERNAL ACTIVITY CODE;FORWARDED TO DESTINATION
Mar 22, 2004 06:11:54 AM MAIA PT FLIGHT DELAY FOR MECHANICAL REASONS
Mar 22, 2004 04:38:22 AM MAIA PT HUB SCAN
Mar 22, 2004 03:45:14 AM MAIA PT HUB SCAN
Mar 19, 2004 12:19:08 AM KOELN (COLOGNE) DE HUB SCAN
Mar 18, 2004 12:25:13 AM PHILADELPHIA PA US LOCATION SCAN
Mar 17, 2004 11:54:00 PM PHILADELPHIA PA US UNLOAD SCAN
Mar 17, 2004 11:09:00 PM PHILADELPHIA PA US ARRIVAL SCAN
Mar 17, 2004 10:17:00 PM NEWARK DE US DEPARTURE SCAN
Mar 17, 2004 06:58:52 PM New Castle DE USA SHIPPED
Mar 17, 2004 06:07:12 PM NEWARK DE US ORIGIN SCAN
Mar 17, 2004 02:32:38 PM US BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED
Would you believe… it was in Germany! Funny, that. It shipped from Newark, Delaware, and was being shipped to Portland, Oregon. How it ended up in Germany I’ll never know.
On top of that, the flight back to the US was delayed for mechanical reasons.
And on top of that, the client has since changed their mind about upgrading. So I’ll have to fight for a refund on it. Hopefully the fact that it’s been so badly misrouted will help my case.