Who the hell is UDS and what have they done with the UPS man?

[lschmidt]

I ordered something from Amazon, and using my student amazon prime, I got one-day shipping for just $4.99. This product was shipped from and sold by Amazon.com.

It was supposedly shipped via UPS, and I tracked the package on ups.com.

My apt buzzer goes off, and my delivery is here. No UPS truck outside though. Hmm...the guy at my door is wearing a shirt that says UDS, clearly not a UPS guy.

I watch as he leaves to see what he drove...it's just some red minivan, with nothing visible suggesting it's a delivery vehicle. wtf?

Does UPS outsource shipping occasionally or something? Just seemed kind of strange since I've never seen this before.

EDIT: and now I opened my package and it's a separate order from amazon.com that I had 2-day shipping on that should have arrived tomorrow. I'm still awaiting my UPS shipment now...still, the red minivan UDS shipper is kinda strange.

 

[Positive Carry]

Unibomer Delivery Service...

Be very afraid.

Or...

It may just be these guys... http://www.uniteddeliveryservice.com/index.php

 

[BrynYoungblut]

United Delivery Service

Looks legit enough.

 

[lschmidt]

Yeah it was just weird that the guy drove in a plain red minivan, as in...you'd expect it to be a soccer mom. No UDS logo or anything.

 

[BrynYoungblut]

Yeah it was just weird that the guy drove in a plain red minivan, as in...you'd expect it to be a soccer mom. No UDS logo or anything.

Must be one of those smaller route type of things. There's a guy who delivers Canada post to me in a regular unmarked minivan and no uniform or anything.

 

[BeerNuts]

Many packages I get from Amazon Prime come "Laser Ship" sometimes it just a guy in a car that drops off the package. Fucking weird.

 

[jgrim]

Sometimes UPS and Fedex will use other shippers to deliver packages to save on cost. I've even received packages from UPS via USPS.

 

[Atlasj]

Where do you live? UPS uses plenty of subcontractors in the boonies.

 

[jgrim]

It was when I lived in NC. I live in Ohio now.

 

[Grindstone]

Guy at the post office told me that amazon uses a bunch of smaller shipping companies directly. And they're fast. He said it's common for people to come into the post office cuz they got a delivery email notification before it even hits the post office.

 

[Fatbat]

If I order anything via UPS or Fedex it comes to me through one of two local delivery companies one of which drives unmarked vans. Only DHL delivers directly to me in big yellow and red DHL trucks.