Complaint / Review
The UPS Store #4384
Mailbox Coupon Cut to $15 From $25, Locked Dec 24

UPS Store #4384: fraud ads, bait and switch traps, bad customer service.

Do NOT do business with this UPS store. They run fraudulent ads and bait and switch traps.

When I rented the mailbox, I clearly told them that the mailbox rental was for receiving packages, and not for mail. Regular mail can be delivered directly to my home, and I have no need to rent a mailbox for it. My mailbox rental was just to have someone sign for packages for me when I am at work. The store's young employee and the owner agreed with my words, and when I mentioned that a package might be too big to be held by a small mailbox, I was told they would put the package on the floor and leave a note in the mailbox. When I asked about the difference between the mailbox sizes, the young employee told me there was no real difference, just that a small mailbox is too small to hold too much mail, and the owner told me, "Do not worry about that."

The young employee showed me the $25 discount coupon and told me that I could combine the coupon with the 3-month free extension promotion if I subscribed to a one-year mailbox rental. During the checkout process, the store owner appeared and said the price was too cheap if the two promotions were combined. I immediately pointed out that it is illegal to refuse their store coupon and their promise. Finally he redeemed the $25 coupon as $15. I was surprised that the store owner negotiates with a customer about the store's own coupon value. I never begged for anything from him, and I was surprised that they did not show respect for the customer.

About the coupon, I highly suggest that the store should send an original copy of the promotion ad to the BBB for investigation, and then the facts will be clear.

The store plays the typical bait and switch tactic: attract the customer with the bait (the $25 coupon and the 3-month promotion), then break the agreement with some excuse and switch with a threat: pay an additional $99 to upgrade or lose the incoming mail (since the incoming mail is already on its way and there is no way to change the destination).

Several days later, when I went to the UPS store to pick up my holiday gifts, the store owner started to break the agreement and asked me to upgrade the mailbox with some excuses. To my surprise, my holiday gift was regarded as a business item. I told Ken it was a holiday gift and not a business item, but Ken roughly shouted that no matter what the item was, the mailbox must be upgraded to a business mailbox. I asked several times for their formal mail and a formal description of the limitation, but they refused to provide them, and the owner (Ken) claimed that he would throw my items away or return them to sender.

As a customer, I have the right to know detailed information before and after my purchase. However, Ken refused to release any information by formal letter, and it looks like all the rules depend on his instantly flexible words. Until Dec 24, I still had not received exact detailed information about the services. Since he always gives flexible words and wipes them out very soon, I cannot talk with him in person anymore.

On Dec. 24, Ken, the UPS store owner, blocked my mailbox (#106) without my authorization. It was just 11 days after the 15-month subscription began.

This UPS store's actions had a significant negative effect on my Christmas shopping, and lots of my friends in this community know about the behavior. We no longer want to do business with this dishonest person.

To try to resolve the issue nicely, I went to the business, but I found that the lock on my mailbox had been changed and my key had not worked since Dec 24, without my authorization. Also, to my surprise, the owner did not refund the fee and even abused me with bad language. I cannot believe that this type of business activity happens in the US.

As I said before, the owner placed a bogus advertisement to attract customers without any intention to honor the coupon. He tries to take advantage of nice customers. I am obviously not happy with their business style, but I was too nice and fell into the trap of his bogus words.

Do not do business with a bad credit business; once he cheats you the first time, he will cheat you again.