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Wed Jan 6
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Modern Warfare 2 Soundtrack Album Oscar Mike!
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#speakup #modernwarfare2 #mw2 #callofdutymodernwarfare2
I just re-learned to preorder things early if you really want them and ideally from local stores.
I was also reminded to read company policies before ordering from a website.
Finally I learned that UPS can be pretty bad at service sometimes.
I originally wanted to order the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare prestige edition to enjoy the novelty overpriced goggles and the downloadable original Call of Duty game.
I dragged my heels putting in a preorder so all the local stores were sold out and weren't taking any more online.
I decided to order out of country from EB's US site, since their Canadian one is not very helpful (read: you can look at products but can't buy anything and no prices).
The site had the pack in stock and I placed my order. Flash forward to November 9th, the beginning of my Call of Duty journey.
The package entered my country on the 10th and was out for delivery that same day, so far so good. I was not home that day so they left a tag informing me of the delivery and the $20 COD charge. The tag also had no phone number or website on it.
I got a certified check made up that afternoon and pasted it to the door with the tag so they could get it while I was at work the next day.
The second delivery took place on the 12th which again had the same notice about the COD charge not being paid yet. My envelope was left untouched on the door.
At this point I didn't know how much clearer I could make it than "COD charge (EB GAMES) for UPS" on the envelope. I decided to lookup the ebgames and UPS website for more info and the contact number for UPS to phone them directly.
I then noticed a policy on EB's site below that could've bitten me in the ass on an expensive game like this one.
http://www.ebgames.com/gs/help/Delivery.aspx
"Who is responsible for import fees, duties, and other charges?
You will be the importer of record and will be responsible for all levies, duties, import fees, taxes, and other charges. GameStop.com strongly suggests that you check with your local government agency to determine the extent of such charges prior to purchase. GameStop.com cannot issue credit in cases where packages are not delivered due to non-payment of fees."
The last part was what worried me, if UPS thought I hadn't paid the COD and returned the package to EB, I would not get refunded ANY money for my purchase, plus they would keep the game.
The support rep was very nice and I was able to pay the COD charge over the phone. I was in business, or so I thought.
UPS would make three more delivery attempts after this point and after each one, I found in the online tracking that the driver thought my COD charge was not paid. Even though each customer service rep I phoned after the fact could confirm that yes I had paid the COD, and the driver should have been notified.
I spoke to over 15 customer service reps in the span of 2 weeks and 2 supervisors. Each time confirming with them that I had paid the charge and to deliver the package to the back door or to me after 6pm.
The package finally arrived today at the front door with a helpful sticker saying "Please leave in bk". So even to the very end, the driver didn't seem to follow all instructions.
To add insult to injury, EB emailed me a coupon a day after the delivery process began, saying that I could get some sweet trade-in credit on MW2 if I traded it in before early December. A date that I was worried would become more amusing if I didn't even have the game delivered to me by then.
I'll be emailing EB and UPS my story, though I don't really expect much in the way of a reply from either. EB's policy is just to cover themselves and the phone reps for UPS were all very nice and apologetic. Just unfortunately a case of miscommunication, or the right hand not knowing what the left is doing. Hopefully this sort of situation doesn't happen to anyone else over the holidays and we can get some actual gaming in!
The full tracking process is listed below for extra pain.
11/24/2009 - 3:21 P.M. - DELIVERY
11/24/2009 - 2:59 A.M. - DESTINATION SCAN
11/24/2009 - 1:15 A.M. - RECEIVER WAS UNAVAILABLE TO SIGN ON 3RD DELIVERY ATTEMPT / THE ADDRESS HAS BEEN CORRECTED. THE DELIVERY HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED
11/20/2009 - 6:57 P.M. - THE DELIVERY CHANGE REQUEST FOR THIS PACKAGE WAS MODIFIED / THE PACKAGE IS BEING HELD FOR FUTURE DELIVERY. UPS WILL ATTEMPT DELIVERY ON THE DATE REQUESTED
11/19/2009 - 7:53 P.M. - RECEIVER WAS UNAVAILABLE TO SIGN ON 3RD DELIVERY ATTEMPT / A POSTCARD HAS BEEN SENT TO THE RECIPIENT REQUESTING THAT THEY CONTACT UPS.
11/19/2009 - 3:07 P.M. - RECEIVER DID NOT HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO PAY THE C.O.D. AMOUNT DUE ON THE 3RD DELIVERY ATTEMPT
11/18/2009 - 9:27 P.M. - DESTINATION SCAN
11/18/2009 - 8:52 P.M. - DESTINATION SCAN
11/18/2009 - 4:16 P.M. - THE RECEIVER DID NOT HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE ON THE 1ST DELIVERY ATTEMPT. A 2ND DELIVERY ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE
11/17/2009 - 8:26 P.M. - DESTINATION SCAN
11/17/2009 - 6:11 P.M. - THE RECEIVER REQUESTED A HOLD FOR A FUTURE DELIVERY DATE. UPS WILL ATTEMPT DELIVERY ON DATE REQUESTED / DELIVERY RESCHEDULED
11/17/2009 - 12:46 P.M. - TRANSFER NOTIFICATION FROM SITE TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY
11/16/2009 - 7:44 P.M. - THE RECEIVER REQUESTED A HOLD FOR A FUTURE DELIVERY DATE. UPS WILL ATTEMPT DELIVERY ON DATE REQUESTED / UPS WILL CONTACT THE SENDER AND/OR RECEIVER REGARDING THE STATUS OR DISPOSITION OF THIS PACKAGE
11/16/2009 - 7:09 P.M. - A DELIVERY CHANGE REQUEST FOR THIS PACKAGE WILL BE PROCESSED / THE PACKAGE IS BEING HELD FOR FUTURE DELIVERY. UPS WILL ATTEMPT DELIVERY ON THE DATE REQUESTED
11/16/2009 - 3:22 P.M. - RECEIVER DID NOT HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO PAY THE C.O.D. AMOUNT DUE ON THE 3RD DELIVERY ATTEMPT
11/13/2009 - 7:30 P.M. - DESTINATION SCAN
11/13/2009 - 2:33 P.M. - THE RECEIVER DID NOT HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE ON THE 2ND DELIVERY ATTEMPT. A 3RD DELIVERY ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE
11/12/2009 - 7:24 P.M. - DESTINATION SCAN
11/12/2009 - 3:26 P.M. - THE RECEIVER DID NOT HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE ON THE 1ST DELIVERY ATTEMPT. A 2ND DELIVERY ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE
11/11/2009 - 10:03 P.M. - DESTINATION SCAN
11/11/2009 - 8:48 P.M. - THE RECEIVER REQUESTED A HOLD FOR A FUTURE DELIVERY DATE. UPS WILL ATTEMPT DELIVERY ON DATE REQUESTED / DELIVERY RESCHEDULED
11/11/2009 - 6:20 P.M. - THE RECEIVER REQUESTED A HOLD FOR A FUTURE DELIVERY DATE. UPS WILL ATTEMPT DELIVERY ON DATE REQUESTED
11/10/2009 - 8:42 P.M. - DESTINATION SCAN
11/10/2009 - 5:50 P.M. - THE RECEIVER DID NOT HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE ON THE 1ST DELIVERY ATTEMPT. A 2ND DELIVERY ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE
11/10/2009 - 9:05 A.M. - ARRIVAL SCAN
11/10/2009 - 9:04 A.M. - DEPARTURE SCAN
11/10/2009 - 7:40 A.M. - IMPORT SCAN
11/10/2009 - 5:44 A.M. - ARRIVAL SCAN
11/10/2009 - 4:21 A.M. - DEPARTURE SCAN
11/10/2009 - 2:32 A.M. - PACKAGE DATA PROCESSED BY BROKERAGE. WAITING FOR CLEARANCE / RECEIVER'S CUSTOMS BROKER HAS BEEN ASSIGNED. THE SHIPMENT IS NOW RELEASED TO MOVE IN TRANSIT
11/10/2009 - 1:38 A.M. - EXPORT SCAN
11/10/2009 - 12:56 A.M. - EXPORT SCAN
11/10/2009 - 12:29 A.M. - REGISTERED WITH CLEARING AGENCY / SHIPMENT SUBMITTED TO CLEARING AGENCY
11/10/2009 - 12:29 A.M. - REGISTERED WITH CLEARING AGENCY / RELEASED BY CLR AGENCY. NOW IN-TRANSIT
11/09/2009 - 11:55 P.M. - PACKAGE DATA PROCESSED BY BROKERAGE. WAITING FOR CLEARANCE
11/09/2009 - 10:49 P.M. - THE SERVICE SELECTED IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE DESTINATION ADDRESS / DOWNGRADED, FORWARDED TO CONSIGNEE, SELECTED SERVICE IS NOT AVAILABLE
11/09/2009 - 10:30 P.M. - ARRIVAL SCAN
11/09/2009 - 10:18 P.M. - DEPARTURE SCAN
11/09/2009 - 8:19 P.M. - ORIGIN SCAN
11/09/2009 - 10:37 P.M. - BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED
Kotaku Game Club: Modern Warfare 2 Discussion Concludes.. NOW (Levels 16-18)
Modern Warfare 2 Deployed To NASCAR Paint Job
Just as DJ Hero, New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Guitar Hero have done before it, Modern Warfare 2 will grace the chassis of GameStop's NASCAR Nationwide Series entry car. It'll do so this weekend, too! More »