The UPS Store

I went in today to get my mail and talked with Rita about what the fudge is going on. She was trying to sell the location (she owns multiple UPS stores) and so didn’t renew her franchise with UPS. But the sale fell through instead and now the location had no license to be a UPS Store.
So what UPS told me yesterday about the location going out of business was wrong. They’ve re-​submitted their franchise request and it should be back within a couple weeks.
In the meanwhile, UPS and USPS is delivered as normal. FedEx too if they get there during the hours she’s there. You just need to pick up between 9 and 11 in the morning until things are back to normal. Or call in during those hours and Rita will make arrangements for you to pick things up.

This has become a non-​UPS store and because of a dispute over franchising is refusing all UPS packages. Other mail is supposed to be picked up at the dry cleaners next door. I have several months left on my mailbox agreement and now do not know if they are going to re-​open or what the name of the store is now to report them to the Better Business Bureau. I have been a loyal mailbox customer for 3 years and now they have screwed me over.

So today I went to my local UPS store. I was impressed that I could walk to it, and was looking forward to having a store so close to my house. I figured I might be able to use it for other things as well besides just shipping.
I had to return some shoes that I had ordered for work. I had all the contents in the box, just needed to tape it off and send it. I went to the UPS store at:
6311 Van Nuys Blvd.,
Van Nuys, CA 91 401
(Yelp score 1.5 out of 5 stars)
I walked in and there were no other customers. That should have been my first red flag. The second red flag? The disinterested woman behind the counter, who watched me walk in, and did NOT smile, or say hi, or say anything (like Welcome to UPS how can I help you?). Instead, she just watched me as I walked in, then waited for me to say Hello to her.
I said, «Hi, I Need to return this box please. Can you guys add some tape for me?»
She said «Sure, we offer this tape for $ 4.95 and then we can tape up your box and you can keep the tape.»
I said, «you can’t just tape it for me? It just needs a little piece here and here». She said, «No, we sell the tape. We don’t package boxes for you. But when you buy the tape you can keep it.»
This made me very upset because it just a way to nickel and dime the consumer. I expected that they would tape it because I am fairly sure that has happened in the past at other stores. I got annoyed talking to her, because she just kept repeating herself, telling me that in order to use any tape I would have to spend 5 bucks.
I asked if there was a supervisor I could speak with. She sent out a heavy set man with a goatee. Notice I don’t have any names because they did not share their names with me and the card I got from them is just a card to the store.
I explained to the supervisor that all I needed was a little tape. I was not going to spend 5 dollars of my hard earned money to buy a roll of tape I don’t need from rude employees who are not even TRYING to do anything besides regurgitate the same words over and over.
He even tried to make me feel stupid by saying, Do you really think we could give people tape for this much (indicating 2 inches) and then charge them for this much (indicating 6 inches). The answer is YES. I just needed a little tape, I did not need to mummy wrap my box in tape. If I needed that much tape, being a reasonable & educated person, I would have purchased it. I then told him he would lose my business, and he said he didn’t want to lose my business but that they require boxes to be ready to ship in order to be dropped off.
I could not believe how much no one cared about me or my business in that store, and I left. As a matter of principal, I would rather drive to another store who will help me out and give them my business.
At that point, because I was paranoid this horrible requirement might be company wide policy, I called the next closest store which was only 1 mile away (with an actual parking lot – which matters in So Cal).
A very nice woman answered the phone. I said I had a box to ship but I needed some tape. She said «no problem we can do that for you». I asked ‘is there a charge?” She said «of course not. We can do that for you no problem».
So then I drove to the other UPS store located at:
13 300 Victory Blvd.,
Van Nuys, CA 91 401‑1831
(Yelp Score: 3.5 out of 5)
I easily found parking and walked in. Unlike the other store, this one was bustling. People doing mail stuff, a gentleman using the copier and a woman helping him. She acknowledged I was there, and as soon as she was done, she came over to me. I told her I had called before, she said welcome, and already had the tape gun in hand. I told her I was treated so poorly at the other store and that was why I was here. She apologized for my inconvenience (at the other store! Not even her store and she apologized. THAT is great customer service) and immediately handed me a receipt and told me to keep it so I had my tracking number. There were cards, but unlike the other store, this had her name on it. Her name was Rita Bhalla and she was the owner (not just a supervisor who doesn’t care) of her store.
She made me feel welcome, and special. She went above and beyond. I will be going to her store exclusively from this point on.

I adore this store! Went in to mail a check today. The cost is $ 0.80 cents for regular mail. I went to grab my credit card cause I didn’t have any cash on me and Reta, the store manager covered the cost! It was a simple gesture, but it’s the small things that count. I’m a regular here and there’s always a parking spot right out front, and the employees a are prompt to service you as soon as you walk in through the door. They also keep the place nice and clean and have good attitudes. Also now this store will tape your package shut for you, which didn’t use to be the case and you had to buy your own tape, another great perk. I’ve even come here to print out copies of scripts. Just email the document to yourself and you can pull it up on their computer. Definitely the place to got for your mail and package deliveries!

Great customer service by the owner. A couple years back she was at a location not that far away and they jacked up her rent. She said «Don’t even.» Also has notary service which I have used.

Every time I go there I am very happy with their services. I am a regular customer at this store when in CA and have been a customer from its prior location for many years. They have ALWAYS been very helpful with all my mailing and business needs. This would include notary, copies, UPS and regular mail.

Used this place to copy 2x. Both times the woman (maybe the owner) was very nice & I was surprised at the reasonable copy prices.

I’ve been a box holder here for over a decade. Got my first box with them at their old location. Service is the BEST! Rita is an absolute doll. I highly recommend them.

I’ve been here multiple times and they’re always very friendly and give you good service. The prices are standard ups prices and the staff help you pick the right options if you ask them. The younger guy that works on Saturdays is really polite and helps everyone out really fast.

I live close to this store and am a regular patron here. I went in to do some printing today and noticed there was a mistake on my 2 print outs. I corrected the mistake on the computer and printed out 2 more copies. I told the worker I had printed 4 copies but there was a mistake on 2 and that I wouldn’t be needing them. I thought he wouldn’t charge me for the 2 print outs that had the mistakes on them since they were now trash and I couldn’t use them. I was mistaken. I left and on checking my receipt, noticed I had been charged for 4. So, I walked back in and asked why he had charged me for the 2 that were trashed. He said that because it was my mistake and not theirs he had to charge. I told him that at other ups stores they only charged me for the print outs I took home with me. He said they were individually owned. At that point I asked for my two copies back since I had already paid for them. He told me he had already shredded them. :/​So basically he couldn’t let me off 30 cents and then couldn’t give the papers back to me when I asked for them. This was pretty disappointing considering I go there often and have never asked for any sort of leeway here before. The worker said it was his boss that was strict. That’s cool, but unfortunately being a stickler to the rules and refusing to giving a small 30 cent exception does not keep customers coming back. There are plenty of print shops that won’t charge you for one or two papers you print and cannot use. I don’t think I’ll be going back here again.

So happy they opened a ups store nearby. It is always clean and a quick stop. Staff is great!

Great place. I don’t ship things very often so I need help and these guys are great. The lady who works at this store is just absolutely lovely and personable and I loved how she knew frequent customers by name. If I ever have to ship anything else via UPS, this is the place I will go to!

Amazing. In and out in 5 minutes even with 2 people in front of me. All the necessary supplies in stock.

Wow, exorbitant prices. They charged me 23 dollars for a box and a little bit of bubble wrap. The guy estimated 12 and the price ended up almost double. Not happy!!!

Very friendly and helpful staff… especially the lady who is either Mgr. or owner I think.
It’s always clean and neat and I never have to wait too long.
Only downside is that the prices are a bit high. (But, I’m not an expert at that)

There was only one person working who happened to be the owner. She was super friendly but a call came in and she talked on the phone for about 15 minutes while helping me. Not really professional. Nice enough though.

Not so happy about how expensive it is. But the service is good. Carlos remembered me from about a year ago. And the older lady was sweet. Very helpful.

This is just another ghetto strip mall in Los Angeles — I came here to ship a fathers day gift which totaled $ 11. The clerk/​owner boxed up my package as requested and said «it will be $ 11,» to which I said fine. When it came time to pay– the total was $ 20! What the heck?! She said that the extra charge was for packing materials.
Every other UPS store and fed ex has always givin me te packaging for free!
If the $ 10 is that important to her as a business owner– fine. I get it. Times are tough all over. But learn how to run a business lady! When people ask for «the total» That means they want the complete cost– including everything.
I hope this place goes out of business.

I’ve used this particular store a few times and every staff member I’ve met has been extremely friendly and very willing to answer any questions you have. Plus, don’t forget to mention you’re AAA for a discount.