Got up early to move hay and found a note from a forum friend giving me the UPS tracking number for some cuttings that are overdue.  UPS shows that they were delivered and left on my porch Monday.

NOT HERE!!!!!!  I called, the UPS people tell me that only the shipper can lodge a non-delivery complaint.  No way they were delivered; I live out in the country, my porch is a hundred yards up a winding driveway, no one can even SEE my porch from the road. 

I suspect that my fig cuttings are sitting frozen on someone else's porch, or have already been opened and thrown out by someone who got an unexpected package and opened it.;
Ox

I'm sure you can work something with the sender. Were there a lot of cuttings?

Ox,

1.  Do you have a release on file with UPS that allows them to leave things?
2.  I had cuttings stuck in a USPS truck over the weekend in -5 F weather and they are still viable. <sigh of relief>
3.  Contact the sender pronto and have them file a claim.
4.  Were you using the UPS website to track the shipment?  If so, do a refresh and reenter the tracking number.  I have had problems in the past because the computer memory cache had an old number that HAD been delivered weeks before.  I went crazy.

Hope your cuttings turn up safely.

C.J.

Update:  The tracking data showed delivery "left on porch" which would have been fine as that is the main entryway to the house and I go in and out there several times a day. 

As it happened I walked around to the side of the house and found the package leaning against the steps to the patio door on that side.  Frozen solid of course; it was 17F here last night and I moved hay this morning because the ground was frozen solidly enough to support the truck and the tractor.  (Until about ten thirty, that is, and then it turned to muck). 

I brought the cuttings in, placed them in the fridge to thaw.  I will set them to root tonight, hoping for the best. 

I would bet a hundred dollars against the hole in a doughnut that the driver left my package at the wrong house and whomever got it just dropped it off here yesterday thinking that I would see it thru the door.  Propped against the cement steps it was invisible to me until I went out on the patio this morning.  Arrrrrgh!!!!!!
Ox

Hi Oxankle,
if they dont work out maybe some of us could replace them.
Keep us posted please .

Sorry to hear about the UPS mess you had there Ox. Glad you found them and I hope they pull through for you.

I most likely don't have anything that you ordered but I second that comment Martin made. If alot of them fail, I'd be happy to pitch in on the effort to replace some of them if possible.

I just sent some cuttings out to over a half dozen members two weeks ago. 

/Ciao Ox,  sometimes they don't even bring us our regular snail mail if they don't feel like it around here.  They just don't bring it. Even if its not a holiday.  I called and complained many times. The rates keep going up, the service is just going down, down, down.

I have more shipping nightmare stores that will fit here.  Bottom line:
The service you get from any carrier varies dramatically by area.  UPS is the absolute best in my area.  Problem with Fedex is that the delivery people are "independant contractors" so they have little accountability.  I have had HUGE problems with them delivering letters and leaving it in a doorway because the recipient allegedly have a "release on file"...but really don't.  Local idiots from DHL left a computer sitting at the end of my 300 foot driveway because there was a 2' patch of ice.  UPS brought it up the driveway and delivered it after nearly running over it.  With 20+ years of experience, I have to say that UPS is awesome in my very rural area.

It's the luck of the draw.

Thanks for the offers of help guys.  Small wonder we come to think of the people here as both generous and helpful.  I've got this covered; if the cuttings don't grow I'll get a replacement in the spring.

This is the first time UPS has messed up here.  Generally I find my packages sitting on the bench on my porch.  I cannot account for this.  I ship from Wagoner, OK where there is a UPS shipping office in a drug store.  Good service there. 

I know the US postal service people,  and they leave stuff in my truck if they cannot deliver a package.  If it is too big for the box they come to the house and stick it on the seat of my farm truck, leaving a note in the mailbox.  I know it is not the same in all communities, but here the town is so small that we all know each other, or have friends in common, etc.
Ox

To me, this is a very interesting topic as I have worked for FedEx for over 12 years.

The standard for a delivery to resi is to leave the package in safe spot (as long as value is below I believe 400$) if the sender does not request signature.  Most of my customers do not request signatures for resi shipments as it adds to the cost.

However, we are not business's that have to worry about cost structures, and if I was sending important fig cuttings I would ask for the signature and pay the surcharge.  By the way unless you need an adult to sign for the package, the option "Indirect Signature Required" will suffice.  Adult signature implies you want FedEx to verify age with ID. 
Good luck everyone!
Nas

33: The ordinary delivery here is left on my porch, on a bench that I must walk beside to get in my door.  Had the package been left ON PORCH as indicated in the tracking file I could not have missed it.  The fact that it was around the side of the house and propped against the steps is what makes me think that is was left at the wrong house and that person brought it here and left it for me.  Ticks me off; I wanted those cuttings.

Having "Adult Signature" on the package would not benefit me as I am alone and not usually in the house.  The deliveryman would just go on about his business and I'd not hear from them for another week. 

Exactly the point, Nas.  I am dealing with an issue right now where a document was sent via Fedex with a signature requried.  The individual on the receiving end said they didn't receive the package.  Fedex said that package was delivered and that it was signed for.  I requested a copy of the signature.  What I got was "signature on file".  The recipient stated adamantly that they had never signed a signature release and, ultimately, Fedex could not produce the release.  Can't tell you how many times that has happened to me in the past 2 years.

C.J.

Less ~1-3 mishaps; from hundreds of shipping
via  usps - priority mail; I am very pleased with it. 

I feel your pain, that sucks...

I stress about it all the time when I am getting/expecting cuttings.  I find all the drivers in my area very nice ( FedEx (Well I know him very well), UPS (Great guy) and Purolator, but I guess I'm still cynical and expect the worst.

The other thing us Fig nuts have to worry about is freezing while in transit.  I ship everything express anyway, but I know if it goes Ground there is a good chance its going to sit in a trailer at least one night  on its journey.  Not good.

Good luck Oxankle,  I hope it was just bad luck...

Nas

UPS or FEDEX,

I order products that require ADULTS to sign. And what do they do? They just leave it in front of the door and leave.

Glad you didn't lose it at least.