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Experience picking up at UPS hub?

p1ally

p1ally

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 23, 2010
161
31
We're at the verrrrrry tail end of the UPS delivery route (like 8pm), and I'm tempted to have my phone held at the local UPS Hub (hub, not store) for pickup in the morning before I head to work. I've searched and found random snippets in threads, but no good information.

Anyone have experience holding your phone at a UPS hub for pickup? Was it delayed at all, or were you able to pop right in and pick it up? (Obviously after rerouting it from UPS MyChoice or Customer service).
 
The only way it would be delayed is if you tried to have it held the night before/day of. If it goes on the truck or is bound for the truck, it may take all day to get back, and get sorted, etc. That's not a hard and fast rule, but obviously the more lead time you give UPS as to your preference, the better they'll be able to route your package.

So if you chose the UPS hub say, tonight or in the morning, you should have no problems. I've picked up important packages at the UPS hub and it's quite convenient, especially since I've had delivery men in the past leave without knocking, even when I was patiently waiting for my delivery.
 
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p1ally said:
We're at the verrrrrry tail end of the UPS delivery route (like 8pm), and I'm tempted to have my phone held at the local UPS Hub (hub, not store) for pickup in the morning before I head to work. I've searched and found random snippets in threads, but no good information.

Anyone have experience holding your phone at a UPS hub for pickup? Was it delayed at all, or were you able to pop right in and pick it up? (Obviously after rerouting it from UPS MyChoice or Customer service).
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I did it with my watch and it worked out great. I showed up bit early when they first opened and they were still unloading trucks so I went and had breakfast and the dude at the desk called me on my phone to tell me it was ready.
 
Did the pick up last year and went around noon which was really smart as there was no one there. The guy who helped me said there was a really long line when they opened. Going to do the same thing this year though I will be going on my lunch break this time but I should be in and out regardless.
 
Showed up to the Ontario hub when they opened at 10AM last year, there were around 15 people before me in line. Disgruntled lookin' UPS employee stared at us in disbelief when we paraded inside, and said "You guys all here for iPhones!?", obviously annoyed. Was kinda funny. Made some conversation with other people in line and walked out 45 minutes later with my phone.
 
MarkZinger said:
Showed up to the Ontario hub when they opened at 10AM last year, there were around 15 people before me in line. Disgruntled lookin' UPS employee stared at us in disbelief when we paraded inside, and said "You guys all here for iPhones!?", obviously annoyed. Was kinda funny. Made some conversation with other people in line and walked out 45 minutes later with my phone.
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Haha same here at the Anaheim, CA hub/customer center.

I would think they appreciate it more than they acted, as we did the job of their driver. Instead of having 100+ extra phones on their route all of us picked them up directly throughout the day.

It's easy to tell the new UPS employees from senior ones. The new ones were totally shocked and seemed annoyed they actually have to do work, but high seniority drivers and CS reps were ready for us and a lot more friendly.
 
I am debating on if I want to have it held at UPS, or just set it up for a confirmed delivery with ups my choice and pay the $8 to have it confirmed for delivery within a 2 hour block and sit at home and wait.
 
So, I usually do a will call pick up every year. Do you typically wait until it is in transit to place the will call? My phone is going to be overnighted Thursdays for a Friday delivery, thus it is just setting at a UPS hub right now.

Is it safe to go ahead and place the will call, or should I wait?
 
Whenever mine gets here I'll most likely have it held as well. I have in the past gotten it on lunch, but this time I might go when the doors open. At least I'd be waiting in a line that I knew would result in getting a phone.
 
BlueGoldAce said:
So, I usually do a will call pick up every year. Do you typically wait until it is in transit to place the will call? My phone is going to be overnighted Thursdays for a Friday delivery, thus it is just setting at a UPS hub right now.

Is it safe to go ahead and place the will call, or should I wait?
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Doing it now will be fine.

I have done hold for pickup the last 2 years and it worked out fine both times. The important things to remember are:

1) Do it far enough advance BEFORE it arrives at your local UPS CC.

2) ONLY hold it for pickup at the UPS CC, not a UPS Store or other access point. Anything except a CC will more than likely add another business day before you can pick it up. And that could very well be Monday.

3) If you live in a large area, there will probably be a line when the CC opens. If in a smaller area (like mine), there might be one or two others, but not a problem to get there are opening.

4) Make sure you have your ID with you. My local CC doesn't even ask for it, but they should and that's UPS policy.
 
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Travisimo said:
Doing it now will be fine.

I have done hold for pickup the last 2 years and it worked out fine both times. The important things to remember are:

1) Do it far enough advance BEFORE it arrives at your local UPS CC.

2) ONLY hold it for pickup at the UPS CC, not a UPS Store or other access point. Anything except a CC will more than likely add another business day before you can pick it up. And that could very well be Monday.

3) If you live in a large area, there will probably be a line when the CC opens. If in a smaller area (like mine), there might be one or two others, but not a problem to get there are opening.

4) Make sure you have your ID with you. My local CC doesn't even ask for it, but they should and that's UPS policy.
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Thanks,

I do will call often, so I doubt they will even ask for the ID, but of course, I will bring it.

I just wondered if that would mess up or delay the shipment, but that most likely is a needless worry.

Not the biggest town, I wouldn't be surprised to be the only one there Friday morning.

Thanks!
 
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Travisimo said:
Doing it now will be fine.

I have done hold for pickup the last 2 years and it worked out fine both times. The important things to remember are:

1) Do it far enough advance BEFORE it arrives at your local UPS CC.

2) ONLY hold it for pickup at the UPS CC, not a UPS Store or other access point. Anything except a CC will more than likely add another business day before you can pick it up. And that could very well be Monday.

3) If you live in a large area, there will probably be a line when the CC opens. If in a smaller area (like mine), there might be one or two others, but not a problem to get there are opening.

4) Make sure you have your ID with you. My local CC doesn't even ask for it, but they should and that's UPS policy.
Click to expand...

I agree with this except for #2 - it varies whether or not you get an extra day. If you've done #1, you are more than likely fine picking up at a store if the store you've selected is in the normal delivery range of the CC.
 
AppleWes said:
I would think they appreciate it more than they acted, as we did the job of their driver. Instead of having 100+ extra phones on their route all of us picked them up directly throughout the day.
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The employees at the hub are not the drivers, and they most likely don't want to have to do the job of the drivers if they don't have to. Holding a package at the hub is more work for those employees, not less.

The drivers who are already out on their routes may appreciate it though. :)
 
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crazyeyes said:
I am debating on if I want to have it held at UPS, or just set it up for a confirmed delivery with ups my choice and pay the $8 to have it confirmed for delivery within a 2 hour block and sit at home and wait.
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I am debating this same thing, since I have to work later in the day. Leaning towards paying the $8 if it saves me a trip to UPS.
 
bnekic said:
Never had a problem picking up my phone at the UPS hub. I go at 8:00am and am out in about 10-15min.
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Same experience here. I've never had any issues with them holding my package at the local hub. I've even had packages rerouted to a local UPS Store near my work without issues too.
 
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vegastime said:
I am debating this same thing, since I have to work later in the day. Leaning towards paying the $8 if it saves me a trip to UPS.
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Well apparently there is some confusion as to whether or not the iPhone deliveries will be eligible for the confirmed delivery window, so rather than taking a chance I just set my delivery up to be picked up at the ups customer center by me, they open at 8am friday, but I will probably get there around 10:30-11 cause friday is my day off and I plan on sleeping a little bit at least.
 
tobefirst said:
Is this true? Do you have experience with this?
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Yes, this is correct. If you have it held for pickup at a UPS Store, the phone goes on the truck and gets delivered to the store at the end of the route. They then process the package to be available the next business day.
 
tobefirst said:
Is this true? Do you have experience with this?
Click to expand...

It happened to me once, but not with an iPhone delivery. I personally wouldn't take a chance, though UPS My Choice should tell you what day it'll be available for pickup when you make the store selection. But since the package has to arrive at your CC first, then hops on a truck to the other access point you've selected, I wouldn't suggest it. If that's the way you gotta do it, go for it and tell us what happens. It's possible it may still make it for pickup that day, but I just wanted to error on the side of caution.
 
Supermallet said:
The employees at the hub are not the drivers, and they most likely don't want to have to do the job of the drivers if they don't have to. Holding a package at the hub is more work for those employees, not less.

The drivers who are already out on their routes may appreciate it though. :)
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I understand, and glad to help my local drivers since they've always been a lot more friendly, and easy going even on super late (10pm delivery) Apple launch days, and Christmas/etc!

The hub workers just give eye rolls and big "sighs" as they tell me to sign and throw the box down on the table. I apologize for making them work more. UPS shouldn't offer customer pick up option if it's not part of their job. ;)
 
tobefirst said:
Is this true? Do you have experience with this?
Click to expand...

Supermallet said:
Yes, this is correct. If you have it held for pickup at a UPS Store, the phone goes on the truck and gets delivered to the store at the end of the route. They then process the package to be available the next business day.
Click to expand...

No, this is NOT correct. If you make the change before the package arrives at the CC (aka the hub) then the package will be delivered to your store the same day as it would have been delivered to your house. They absolutely do not see that you've made a hold request and put it on the truck anyway, and then drive around with it all day just to take it back off and put it on a different truck.

If you request a UPS store that isn't in the distribution area for your hub, you may have a delay. If you don't request the change until after your package arrives at your hub, you may have a delay. If you request it after your package has shipped but before it arrives at your hub, you should be fine, barring any mistakes being made.

I've done this a number of times, and I've never had a package delayed.
 
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