Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!cica!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!UREGINA1.BITNET!LAUL
From: LAUL@UREGINA1.BITNET (Dennis Gorrie)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: United Parcel Service
Message-ID: <8908282242.AA22479@jade.berkeley.edu>
Date: 28 Aug 89 22:19:09 GMT
Lines: 75








            I am in the process of dealing with a mail-order purchase
            that has become pretty ugly.  The problem lies with United
            Parcel Service.

            I purchased a hard disk from Cache Systems, Scotts Valley,
            CA.  It was a 150 MB Micropolis HD, with a C-LTD SCSI 1000
            controller for my Amiga 1000.

            It was shipped to me August 8, 1989, but UPS Same Day
            Service.  I was told that because it had to go through
            CUSTOMS, it would take longer, a maximum of 3 days.
            I live in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

            When I did not receive it on the 11th of August, I phoned
            UPS it Canada and asked them what was wrong.  They told me
            it was the shippers fault, because they had not included a
            'Proof of Origin" sticker.  I asked why they had not called
            me and they said they had.  This was a blatant lie, as there
            are several people here to answer the phone all day long.

            I talked to Customs officials direct, and found this was
            needed if the article was over $1500 US, which it was NOT!
            So I called UPS again and set them straight.

            Finally on Wed, August 16, a UPS courier dropped a box with
            a resounding 'thunk' on my doorstep.  He charged me for
            sales tax, not only for the drive, but for the shipping fee.
            I talked to Customs again, and they told me this was
            completely wrong.  UPS fumbled again.

            So I set the drive up, but it would not do a DOS format.  It
            would do a few cylinders, then stop.  I would try it again,
            and it would stop sooner,  until it would not even format
            cyl 0.  The gen-format worked ok though.

            I phoned Cache Systems, and they treated me like I was nuts.
            So I talked to C-LTD, and the tech there said I most likely
            had a damaged data head on my HD.  Finally, Cache agreed to
            send a second drive.  It was shipped to me August 18.

            Today is August 28.  I phoned UPS and asked where the drive
            is, and they said it never arrived in Canada.  So I got the
            shipper to put a tracer on it.  I was supposed to get an
            answer within an hour, but that was 6 hours ago, and no
            reply.


            I am not sure what to do now.  UPS in Canada denies all
            responsibility.  I don't have any addresses for UPS or
            consumer groups, Better Business Bureau in the US to send my
            complaints to.

            I really don't want this drive any more, it is costing me a
            LOT more than I expected.  My phone bill is going to be over
            $100.  And all I have to show for it is a useless drive with
            a damaged head.  I am thinking of asking Cache Systems for a
            return and refund, but I am not sure they will comply.


            Does anyone have any useful suggestions?

|============================================================================|
| (patient)  Go ahead doc, tell me the worst.                                |
| (doctor)   I'm sorry, but you have MS-DOS...                               |
| (patient)  MS-DOS??   ...Maybe I caught it from a toilet seat or something.|
|                                                                            |
| DENNIS GORRIE (LAUL AT UREGINA1.BITNET)                                    |
|============================================================================|