We'll start with Quiznos:
They make a delicious sub, though they've always been over-priced. I like that they offer guacamole as a dressing, unlike any of the other sub chains. They have a new promotion where you can get large sized subs for $5. Being hungry, and a sucker for a good sandwich, I went in. Apparently you can only get specific subs for $5. Fine. But, the veggie sub isn't one of them. In other words, I can get a LARGE sub with all sorts of meat on it for less than a MEDIUM sub with no meat. WTF! When I inquired, the manager had no explanation for the ridiculous logic. "Okay", I said, "can I get a large meat sub without meat?" He said, yes, but I couldn't have guacamole because it only comes on veggie subs. huh? "I can't swap out a bunch of meat for some guacamole?" Apparently not.
I contacted the head office and spent 25 minutes inputting data onto their automated complaint system and was promised, by a machine, that a person would call me back. Never heard back. In solidarity with vegetarians, logic, and reason, I urge you to take Quiznos Subs off your possible lunch options.
Moving onto bestbuyglasses.com:
I was amazed at the competitive prices listed on their website. I ordered a pair of specs. They were $98 (US), plus $16.95 shipping. Fine. A week later I received one of those "attempt to delivery" notices from UPS stating I owed them $47 for brokerage fees. At no point in the online ordering procedure did it mention anything about additional fees.
When I called Best Buy Glasses they monkey who answered the phone politely stated to me that their website clearly states that residents of Canada may be charged additional duties and/or taxes. When I protested she instructed that if I had clicked on the icon saying FREE DELIVERY IN THE US I would have encountered their Canadian shipping information. Like I said, she was a monkey, and though primates share up to 98% of our genetic material, sometimes they can't comprehend simple concepts like national borders. I inquired why I would ever click on an icon about FREE DELIVERY IN THE US, if I live in Canada. Her response: "Because if I was ordering something online, I would want to know if their were any additional shipping fees." How does one even respond to that?
UPS:
Forty-seven dollars in brokerage fees for an item that costs $100? I asked how they calculate their fees, assuming it was a percentage of the value. Apparently they have a scale where a product between $100 and $200 pays the same brokerage. Again, doesn't make sense because clearly the duty at customs isn't the same for two unequally valued goods. After trying to understand their rationale, I left the conversation even more confused.
The next day they messed up the delivery and I had to call them again, and, of course, I got back into the brokerage fees issue. I guess, I won this particular customer service rep over because he called me 20 minutes later saying he's going to cut the brokerage fees to $20.
As happy as I am about that, it just proves the point that UPSs brokerage fees are unfair and arbitrary. There is no way they're eating a dime, even after reducing the fees by $27.
In conclusion F UPS. F Best Buy Glasses. And F Quiznos.
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