The UPS Store

Avoid at all costs if you want any kind of shipping expertise. My experience: A few weeks ago I went to the store to ask how I could go about mailing a 12oz box of chocolate to a friend in Mexico. The person behind the counter, whose name I know but will withhold, told he me he could take care of it for me. So he printed out the labels, the custom form, marked the package as «candy», and even put the box in the package. Great service, I thought, even if clerk had to print the label twice since the address was incorrect the first time around.
The first problem emerged with the tracking. Since the label was printed twice, the tracking # on my receipt was incorrect. They never gave me a new receipt. Thankfully I took a picture of the second label, so I had the correct number stored on my phone. The second problem was the delivery: it got stalled in Texas and then marked «return to sender». I went to the store to inquire and they had no info, and were quick to say they were not liable if it was my fault. Odd, I thought, but let’s wait for the package to come back. They assured me that since it was delivered from their store, the package would return there.
Weeks go by before the package makes it way back to NY, and it was shipped to my home, not the store. In the process I find that you can NOT ship candy to Mexico. I learned this via other channels, not UPS. I found it rather disappointing that even though the UPS store had marked the package as candy in the system, neither the staff nor the computer knew that this was a prohibited item. What exactly are they there to do? Is it just a glorified mailbox? They took $ 50 to ship a package and that was it. On the third trip back to let them know what happened, the staff said I needed to speak to the manager iif I wanted to ask for a refund, but that it was unlikely I’d get one. The manager wasn’t there so they gave me his card. I remember that it was the manager, in my second trip to the store, who told me that if I was liable he would not give me a refund. I am not going back a 4^th time, but I am also never going back to this store. What a waste of time and money.
Next time, I’ll go to a store with real knowledge about mail services.

Store hours posted our 11 AM open on Sundays standing outside the store 20 minutes after 11 still no employee has shown up. After lugging a bunch of boxes down here to send I’m more than frustrated. I figured I get down here early be able to get them posted and accomplish my days errands. This has put a real damper on that.

These people are very arrogant and rude. My friend was going out of town for 2 weeks and I suggested to use the doorman services of the UPS store. They told him that anybody can pick up the package as long as he or she has some proof of I.D. He left me with his picture ID the tracking number and I had my own Identification as well. When I went to pick up the package they said that only him can pick it up. My friend was out of town for weeks and there were some perishables in that package. He called and asked to return it to the post office so that I can pick up there with no problems. They held on to it for days damaged it before returning to the postman. Don’t use this place go to the UPS store on Broadway and 106^th street. They are professionals there.

If you need to send or pick up a package and are in the neighborhood, the staff here are pleasant and efficient!

These guys are always super helpful! I’ve gone in here multiple times to drop off packages, and they were extremely busy. But as soon as I walk in, they notice it’s just a drop off, and save me the trouble of waiting in line. They’ve been kind enough to give me quotes when I didn’t even end up using their services. So conveniently located for CU students as well. Keep it up!

Possibly one of the worst run businesses around Columbia University…
Initially in the summer 2009 when I first dealt with this UPS Store it was relatively well run and the employees/​managers appropriately handled most situations. The store since then has over time fallen into functional disrepair mostly due to inept employees including the current manager, and notably a failure to appropriately manage their relationship with the US Postal Service.
Since then I’ve had a variety of problems that seem to never end… Everything from hostile/​lazy employees attempting to close early, as much as 20 minutes prior to the listed closing time to outrightly losing packages delivered (via their mailbox service) and packages (again via the mailbox service) that were misdelivered or returned to sender for no other reason then inept employees.
The store has a major problem with the US Postal Service in that USPS often attempts to deliver packages or mail after business hours because the store is on highly residential street, rather then reaching out to USPS to resolve issues with undelivered packages they pass the buck to the customer, paying upwards of close to $ 50 a month for mailbox services, to manage the situation.

Your UPS for Morningside Heights. Came after work to drop off a package. Place was pretty empty. I like that in a UPS. Not far from the 1 train.

I do my shipping from this store. The staff is super friendly especially Andy the manager. I have family out of the country and Andy makes shipping internationally to them a snap. Takes care of all the crazy forms and all.
Now they added computers to print your stuff on. In NYC you don’t have space to own a printer. So this is very convenient.
Also I always see people getting passport photos and the staff is very friendly to them

I have been using this UPS store for 7 years– since I moved to the neighborhood. The staff is awesome, friendly, efficient and super attentive. They make sure I get my mail and that all of my printing and shipping needs are handled well and easily. I never go to the USPS because UPS is so much better. All of the staff are very polite and helpful– I would recommend this as a great go to place for anyone in the Columbia neighborhood. Great people and great service.

A lousy experience this morning! I arrive at 8 am, opening time, to find the store completely dark, empty, and locked. No one answered the phone. I emailed the store and got a reply at 8:27 that there was a scheduling error and someone would arrive in 20 minutes. At 9 am I wrote again explaining that the store was still closed and that several of us waiting had 9 am meetings and places to be. I provided my phone number and asked if the manager could call to help brainstorm some solutions (perhaps someone could bring me my package later in the day or he could give more realistic info about when the store would open. He replied only that «the employee should be there already» even though he clearly wasn’t.
Several of us had to wait until 9:20 — 80 minutes of waiting — before someone finally arrived. Since I needed my package this morning, I had no other choice.
Frustrated that the manager wasn’t more available to resolve the issue in a timely way and/​or to brainstorm solutions for those of us who were relying on dependable service. A really lousy way to start my morning before a busy day of moving apartments — and really wasn’t expecting this curveball from a store that prides itself on delivering convenience and reliable service.

Tucked neatly away on 115^th street, attached to an apartment probably owned by Columbia housing, identified by an awning and a sandwich board, through a tiny unassuming door, is my UPS store of choice.
It may seem unspectacular — it’s just a UPS store! and it probably is. But I appreciate a staff with a good sense of humor and an easy demeanor. It appears to be run by students who know that if you need to tape up a box you have to buy the roll of tape, but who’ll also concede that the ridiculous scotch tape job you’ve already done is sufficient and, «you don’t wanna spend money, do you?» I sure don’t!

Months ago: I was packing up my box contents and clerk tried to take my things from me saying he would pack them for me. I said no thanks, I preferred to do it myself. He said rudely that I had to leave because I was not allowed to pack my own box on the premises. (Say what ?!) So I left. Went outside to pack on the windy sidewalk, came back inside, and mailed item. He was an asshole. But item arrived safely. C’est la vie.

I usually use the post office to ship my things, but for convenience, I checked out the UPS store. I don’t ask anyone to greet me all the time, but this store’s customer service was absolutely the pits. While I was looking for a box and asked the rep for one, he brusquely told me I had to buy one and with a nasty attitude told me to wait on line. After waiting on line, the other rep helped me, and she also took care of me without any desire to work. However, when the reps were speaking to one another, they did so with so much enthusiasm. If you want just UPS service, by all means visit this place but do not get offended by their cold, brusque «I-really-don’t-want-to-work-here» attitude.

Shipping something? This place is ok. Want passport photos? Don’t waste your time.
For starters, the people really don’t give a crap about their job, are slow and not particularly helpful. The photos they take are from a hand held digital camera. The result is ok photos, but photos that are NOT usable for passport. Might you get away with these? yes. Is it worth spending $ 12 to find out? No way. Find a place that takes them with the instant poleriod like camera for a legit photo.

Dear UPS Store: Thank you for being here. What can brown do for me? Waaaay more than the «other guys» on 116^th.
The staff here is CONSISTENTLY friendly, efficient, and professional and they offer a wiiide array of services (from sending packages, to photos, to faxes, to mailboxes). I’ve been visiting this location for the past three years and have never had to wait more than 10 seconds before someone greets me and/​or helps me. Usually, it seems like they see me walking toward the front door from the outside and are waiting for me.
This location makes me wish I could use UPS more.

Ridiculous service. Went after 30 minutes I had paid to cancel my shipment, they gave it back to me but they did not refund, or even give me store credit. Very expensive. When I called UPS to complain, I realized that UPS does not own this place and thus this place has its own «very friendly» customer service policies.

There are many of these places around Columbia, but I’ll keep coming here because of the service. The employees (and one in particular, I wish I could remember her name) are so helpful and friendly that I have no reason to go anywhere else. If you have packages to send, passport photos to take, faxes to send, etc., and you’re in the area, this place is for you.

Since my original post last year I have continued to frequent this UPS branch. I have had absolutely no issues since the one experience I had with the damaged package. In fact I have had several very pleasant encounters, including one in which I accidentally shipped a gigantic and valuable package to the wrong address. The staff was very helpful in rerouting and retrieving it — I do not think other branches or shipping companies in general would be as helpful.

Twice I’ve had packages delivered here (actually the same thing, twice), about 10 months apart, and twice I’ve dealt with the most pleasant customer service representatives on the island of Manhattan.
I wish I could remember names, but the young man and women who work at this store are very courteous. It seems their mission to brighten the day of whoever walks through the door.
The young man of the most recent experience actually bumped into me a few blocks down the street, an hour after I dropped in looking for my package, and let me know that it had just arrived. Nice.

This is a fine little UPS store. I am not really sure why I am choosing ³⁄₅ stars, but it seems suitable. The cashiers range from good service to aloof. One cashier basically was saying how life stinks (well she had a different adjective). It is a fine place to send packages, I have never had a problem!