Things That Should Be Scheduled Better

$100,00 Pyramid

UPS Delivery

Cable repair service

Home maintenance

Bug spray/Exterminator

All of the above!

Every single one of the above should be scheduled better by their respective service provider. But let’s focus…

Today I rushed home, praying that UPS hadn’t been to my apartment yet because I had been tracking my package all day – literally since 7am – and watching as it continually said “out for delivery”. No “attempt failed”, no “Customer was not available”. Everything was pointing toward success. And then, as I entered my building I saw it. The dreaded yellow/white slip stuck halfway under the door that said “First Attempt Made”. ARGH!

The notice goes on to say that another attempt will be made tomorrow, sometime. Come on!

Why doesn’t UPS have evening hours when more people will be at home? I’m not saying “don’t deliver during the day”… just give us the option. I work every day until 6pm and am never available to receive packages from UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS, whoever!
Why can’t UPS (et al) give me a narrow window of when the driver will be delivering my package so that I can make plans to either be home or have someone available to sign for it?

The same problem plagues the cable industry. “Sure, we’ll replace your modem sometime between 5am on Tuesday this week and 11:30pm on Sunday in 2014.” Thanks for that!

In a digital world where I have no doubt that these companies track every detail of their logistics programs WHY OH WHY are we, the consumer paying for these services, not better informed of scheduled delivery times.

I would bet a box of Dunkin’ Donuts that the UPS delivery person knows, within an hour, of when he/she will be arriving at my building. I would bet a second box of Dunkin’ Donuts that his/her truck is tracked by GPS so that a central system knows precisely where each driver is every second of the day. I would bet a bonus box of Dunkin’ Donut Munchkins that this data could EASILY be attached to the tracking number provided for each shipment so that we, the paying customer, could see where our package was and how soon we had to make it home before the driver arrives.

I’m begging you delivery/repair/service industry. Please make this better! I know you can do it. I trust in you. I have faith that you can make this world a better place simply by keeping us informed.

Please don’t become another answer on $100,000 Pyramid… unless that answer is “Things That Don’t Infuriate Me”. Many thanks!

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About the author

I’m Tommy, a writer and storyteller who works in marketing for the arts and cultural communities. I’m the author of Mabel Stanley and the Town That Was Built All Wrong, a fun and heartfelt book, and I’m currently working on a novel about self-discovery and the complexities of memory. Writing is a big part of my life, but I also enjoy creating experiences that bring people together, which is why my husband, Matt, and I co-run the online store Have Fun Spread Joy. It’s all about embracing the playful side of life and giving back along the way. I’m married to Matt, and we share our home with our two pets, Zoey (the cat) and Dixie (the dog). When I’m not writing, working on our store, or doing marketing for the arts, I like to dive into theater, something I want to get more involved with over time. I was diagnosed with ADHD, and while it comes with its own set of challenges, it also gives me a unique perspective that I try to channel into everything I do. Whether it’s writing, working on creative projects, or finding ways to spread joy, I’m all about making a lasting impact in whatever I do.

Tommy Karr