What used to be known as United Parcel Service has some really nice advantages. Primarily that their delivery dates are dead-on. FedEx, on the other hand, just tried to beat their delivery date and not let you know ahead of time. UPS will leave packages at my doorstep, which is also fine by me. But, when a company ships me something and requires a signature, UPS gives you the option of re-delivering tomorrow or you can pick it up at their warehouse tomorrow. So, either way, you wait a day. Also, not a huge problem. The “issue” is when you go to get your package from their pick-up location. FedEx has a nice building with a customer desk with several people working the desk to help you get your package. It’s heated and cooled as needed and has nice carpet. UPS, on the other hand, has a roped off section of pavement near a guard shack. You have to go into the guard shack, have him call up to the UPS warehouse and someone will eventually wheel a dolly down to the roped off section to hand out some packages to everyone waiting. I’ve been there on a hot day in the sun and it was tolerable. I can’t imagine being there in the rain or when it’s freezing outside. FedEx seems to accept the fact that they deliver packages when most people are at work and they will be picking up packages after delivery times (even on the same day). I get the impression that UPS would rather not do anything that doesn’t involve a truck coming out to your house.
The UPS warehouse in Charlotte is actually not that bad. There is actually an office you go in to pickup your package and you can ship from there also. You usually have to do this a day later when you tell them to hold the package. FedEx is a little nicer bacause they are open late and I can usually get there after work to pick something up.