A
package is on the way. And I’m quite upset about it.
Yes,
yes, it’s supposed to be delivered in the middle of a snowstorm.
That isn’t too exciting, or upsetting. I’m not looking forward
to fetching it out of a snowdrift if the arrival of the box and
the falling snow begin moving in opposite directions and overlap.
But that’s a small part of it. The timing of weather and package
arrivals aren’t always intertwined. I do hope the package doesn’t
get placed in a snow drift. I hope it doesn’t sit there for a
while. And, it is that sitting in the snow that begins my frustrations
(and the twist for this essay)…
When
was the last time a delivery was made to your house and the doorbell
was actually rung? A doorbell, a knock on the door… whatever…
with a person waiting on the other side for a moment? Unheard
of these days. If there even is such an action taken, the delivery
person is usually back in the vehicle and pulling out of your
driveway before you could possibly open the door to your house.
But
that’s just the start of it. Because my real problem is the technology
involved.
Have
you ever registered for any of the systems offered by one or more
of the delivery services? I have. And yeah, there is a story…
Terry
and I ordered something relatively unimportant about a year ago.
We saw something we liked, wanted to get it, and the price was
right. We placed the order. But we weren’t worried about getting
it immediately, so we just took the free shipping option and moved
along with our daily lives. Time passes.
The
item wasn’t backordered, but the processing was taking a day or
two or three or more, and suddenly something we thought would
arrive in under two weeks was now threatening three to four weeks
before it showed up. We had plans to be on the road around that
time, and really didn’t want a bigger box sitting outside our
house for a couple of days. Didn’t want people seeing the box
sitting there. Didn’t want the box out if it rained. So…
I
caved. I clicked this link and that, logged in to the delivery
service’s system and started an account, then moved over to the
section for changing delivery dates. And it was at that point
my efforts came to a stop. There was a fee to change it.
That’s
you’re great customer service? Get me to sign up and then charge
me fees for anything that I do?
I
checked around the site, looked at a couple of options, and even
made a phone call just to make sure I was reading things correctly.
And… yeah…
I
could pay to get the date changed. I could even pay a second fee
to get the date change matched up with a priority rush offer from
them (not the shipper offering it… from the delivery service)
that allowed for my free shipping package that didn’t leave immediately
to have the delivery sped up for my convenience.
Look,
when I decide to take the free shipping option, chances are good
I’m not looking to change my mind and get things moving faster
after it’s left the business and is in the hands of the delivery
company.
I
laughed at the computer… chuckled while on the phone… and basically
went on with my life. As a funny twist, the package ended up arriving
after our return… because it was handed off to the U.S. Postal
Service for the final stretch of the delivery process, and they
placed it aside due to our free-of-charge hold mail request.
But
the fun continues. I’m in the delivery service’s system now. Any
time we order something that involves shipping using their carriers,
an e-mail arrives. And in the e-mail is all the information I
need in order to log onto their web site, open up my account and
track the delivery.
Oh…
I get it. If I ran a business, where the receiving and sending
of packages was involved, and there was a way to get everything
organized under fewer accounts and places to check, the services
involved quite likely would be a nice thing. I might even appreciate
it.
For
a personal order though… a home delivery… it can be bonkers. After
all, it’s not just the carrier’s personal touch e-mails. The places
we order from almost always send some sort of confirmation e-mails.
You know them…
Thank
you for your order with a confirmation number
Your
order has been processed and here’s the tracking information
even though it won’t matter because it hasn’t been picked up
to start its journey so the information isn’t active and you
can’t find out the delivery details yet
Your
order has been shipped and click here for tracking information
So,
yeah, this wonderful blessing of tracking my package is already
available. I’m not looking to take advantage of your charges for
alternatives. Stop it. You’re annoying me. I already know that
my order has entitled me to a wonderful world of benefits… catalogues
in the mail and sales offer e-mails beyond belief. So, yeah, the
last thing I want is someone else sending along a ton of e-mails
about the darn thing. Just deliver my package.
(Deep
breath.)
I’ve
got a package on the way. Supposed to arrive during the snow storm.
I probably could change that, but it doesn’t really matter. Not
worth the cost. (I do wish I could log on and ask for a knock
on the door with a handing off of the package though. That would
be nice.)