Archive for the 'Random' Category

A view of Pot Belly chips just after opening them - this would have the old Wendy’s lady saying “Where’s the chips!?”

chippy

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) gets a B from me.  The movie was entertaining but often used deus ex machina a bit too much.  Very cool special effects and very enjoyable from an imagination stand point (e.g. the elevator phone booth, etc.).  Acting was so so.

After selling quite a few items on eBay, dealing with eBay/Paypal and UPS PITAI’s, and doing some quick analysis, I have concluded it is usually more beneficial to donate items to Goodwill and take the tax deduction. The analysis took into account my tax rate, the value of my time, and some intangibles (ease in dealing with everything relative to benefit). If you’d like to see the analysis (xls) let me know.

What you are about to read is my 1+ hour endeavor to get my account reactivated with UPS since it wouldn’t work with PayPal’s UPS integration. Summary points:

• UPS CSR training needs to be improved
• UPS needs to reduce the number of phone number people have to call for certain issues (it’s not like this is a hospital)
• UPS needs better customer info. on their web site regarding account types, payment methods, and how the processes/systems work together in regard to sharing info/timing
• UPS needs better account management and billing system integration (they have a separate billing site that isn’t integrated with the account management site)

Call 1
Called UPS PICKUPS #, said UPS closed account due to outstanding balance, need to call collections/Allied; He said I need to give them my account#. He gave me two phone #’s, first one didn’t work due to hours of operation even though I called within those hours; 866-230-1983 <-- doesn't work and 866-657-2056

Call 2
Called Allied about $9.51 for account XXX023. First # they gave me didn't answer and informed me I needed to call during normal business hours (I was calling during normal business hours!!!!). I called the second number and was connected to a woman who asked for the account #... she couldn't find anything. She then asked for telephone numbers and still couldn't find anything. She asked for company name too - still nothing. She asked for the collection amount... and laughed. $9.51 she said? I said yes. She said "Wow, surprised they have us collecting on that amount." She said sorry but to call UPS billing (800-811-1648) back and see if I can find out more.

Call 3 (3.1)
Called UPS Billing @ 800-811-1648. I explained my desire to activate my account so it would integrate with PayPal. I explained that I was very confused as to why the account works just fine online (it let's me still ship) yet according to them it is cancelled. The Customer Svc. Rep. explained that the two are "different" (very helpful explanation) when it comes to payments. He said he thought there was an outstanding balance issue and referred me to the Account Changes Dept. He said he'd transfer me.
Call 4 (3.2)
I was transferred to the Account Changes Dept. since he said there is no direct line. I changed the billing address with the woman on the phone. She was kind enough to mention it will show in the master systems in one day. She referred me to UPS Accounts Receivable since I have an outstanding balance (who said I have an outstanding balance already!!!!). She gave me the UPS Accounts Receivable #: 800-477-7080.

Call 5
I called UPS AR. She said in the "notes" from earlier I was given "my options" and didn't do anything with them... I mentioned that is because I was told I had to call Allied to pay. She said I can pay UPS directly and that I didn't need to call Allied. I explained that wasn't mentioned to me on Call 1. She also mentioned once activiated I had to go on a different payment plan and thus can't bill via credit card anymore. Grrrrrr I said (not actually what I said, but that's the gist of it). I then gave her credit card # (REI new one) to pay off the whopping $9.51. As she was processing the card I got dropped...

Call 6
Called back in to make sure (I WANT TO PAY SO BAD!!!) Spoke to Stephanie (wow! someone offered their name!!). I usually, and should have, asked for the other's names, but would it have mattered? She isn't showing a balance. I am "bypassing" my account by using the online credit card even though I am logging into that account. UPS would only bill once a week if I was using "account proper." She is calling credit card dept. and they can transfer back to UPS (from collections agent). I explained (her extension 7676) that I treid to pay earlier and that while processing I was disconnected. She said she is calling Roger (in credit card dept.), and that since the balance is so old, he can transfer it back to UPS from the collections agency so I can give her ccard to pay off (probably what CSR on Call 6 was trying to do when I was disconnected). Evelyn reactivated my account. Steph said it takes 24/48 hrs. She saw it "active" in her system. So probably tomorrow or Wed I can use the account. I asked if UPS got my money? She said she wasn't sure, but it's a requirement to reactivate the account, and thus Evelyn likely processed the payment after our disconnection. BTW, Stephanie informed me the outstanding invoice was from March 2005!! So, in the end, UPS has it $9.51 (no guarantee from Steph, but likely), but it had to be paid since Steph sees my account as active. Steph then asked if I'd like to pay by credit card (she's going for the gold here!) - she explained that it would be billed once a week. I said I'd like that option and she added my REI card to the account for this to happen. She explained the process - M-F I ship, Sat UPS invoices, Sun UPS charges to my credit card. WOW - she knew the process too! She said Paypal should work tomorrow (24 hrs. for batch cycles to run). So it ends, fun with UPS… Stephanie should be promoted.

Here’s an article which talks about what my colleagues and I refer to as the T-Rex Effect (i.e. poor posture due to laptop usage).  The article even refers to the wrist issue - which makes one further resemble a T-Rex dinosaur… who knows, perhaps our fate will be that of the dinosaur if we don’t get better ergonomically designed laptops.  One other thing they didn’t correlate with in the story is the consultant flight side of T-Rex Syndrome (coined).  That is, most consultants travel every week on a plane - think about how great of posture airline seats promote (NOT!).  Laptops combined with frequent travel accelerate T-Rex Syndrome.  Yikes!