A few weeks ago, I ordered a parcel tray from MossMINI, and settled in for my wait. The part was put on backorder, and after reading all the threads here regarding parcel trays, I assumed that I was out of luck. Then, last week, a ray of sunshine! My parcel tray was shipped that day! Hooray! I'm giddy with delight, even Sally seems happy. I checked the progress of the part with UPS on Saturday and it was supposed to be delivered on Monday. I was reminded of the wait for Sally, and chuckled.

Monday comes along, and when I get home from work, no parcel tray. I'm disconsolate, Sally can't seem to hold her top open. Then I remember that UPS doesn't usually come here until late. It seems we are too far off the grid for early delivery. The spring returns to my step, Sally's roof ribs are doing a better job of keeping the canvas off the headrests. All is right with the world again!

Afternoon turns to evening, and still no UPS. So, I check the website, perhaps they were too far away, and decided to deliver tomorrow. That happens sometimes. The website says it was delivered at 1559! Impossible! I was home! The dogs didn't bark! The dogs didn't slobber on the door in anticipation of the visitor in the driveway bringing them pounds of juicy steak! The dogs always bark when someone comes! I race outside.......no box. I search around back, the driveway, the mailbox out at the road. No box. I hop in Sally, and check with all the neighbors. No box. Despair. Disconsolate greyness. I drive home with my head tipped to the side, Sally won't hold up her roof again, and is too disappointed to respond to repeated button pushes. She really wants a mod, and I have not delivered. This tray, meager as it is, will be her first medal of ownership. Her first piece of bragging right when out on the roads and highways, stopped at lights and parking lots. Her first visible item that she can show to other cars, mortal and MINI, to prove that she is loved and not just transportation.

Once home I put some icy hot on my neck to soothe the cramped muscles, and reach for the phone. I call UPS, and they are cold, uncaring, and typically inefficent. "The computer says it was delivered, so you must have it". "But I don't have it, and was home when you say you delivered it!". "Look harder". I'm flummoxed, flabbergasted, slightly flatulent, and furious! "May I speak with your supervisor?". She connected me to the person who obviously taught her everything she knows about customer service.

Eventually, UPS opens a trace, and instructs me to contact the vendor. Failure, poor Sally is crushed, and trying to lie on her side under the garage door in hopes of being guillotined out of her misery. I right her back onto her tires, tuck her in, and head to bed.

Tuesday comes cold and grey (no really! It was about 40F and raining, very unusual for the corner of the world) and I head off to work. I call Moss on my lunch break and they are supportive. They promise to work with UPS in any way they can to help ensure that I am happy. I realize they can't do anything, but appreciate that they want to try. Maybe UPS should send their employees to Moss for customer service training. Work ends, and I head home.

2030, and the dogs bark. The doorbell rings. It's my neighbor, and he is holding a box! A Moss box! I hear the whine of a power steering pump from the garage, and the whir of the top opening and closing. "I think this is yours". Joy! "I think you're right!". Happiness. "Where did you get it?". "About 1500 today, a car pulls up my driveway, a woman steps out, and asks me if I know you. I said yes, and she hands me this box while explaining that you aren't home". It was delivered to her home yesterday. She lives 3 miles away! The depth of UPS's incompetence knows no bounds.

Actually, it does. The kindness and honesty of a complete stranger who chose to take time from her day, and gasoline from her tank to do something nice for someone she has never met. Ma'am, if you are reading this, I don't know who you are, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Faith in humanity restored. Happy Wednesday everyone, and greetings from home.

 

I feel the pain you had. Whenever I used to get something via UPS, they would deliver it to the office of our apartments, as we were at work. Problem is that the office keeps the same work hours, and there was absolutely no way to retrieve it.

I called UPS and read them the riot act, that the office is NOT the address where I live, and if they EVER left a package addressed to me ANYWHERE else but my doorstep, there would be pure he** to pay. They sent the driver back to retrieve the packge he'd left at the office, and delivered it when I indicated I would be home.

The message evidently got through, because our apartment manager said the UPS guy was grumbling about having to retrieve the package!

 

I loved your story! Congrats on your mod!

UPS really should hear about their error however!!! As if they would care though...

 

Cute story!! I love this, " I hear the whine of a power steering pump from the garage, and the whir of the top opening and closing."

Too funny!!

Glad things worked out for you!!

 

Some people really are wonderful - great that you got it

 

Oh dear. My boyfriend is a UPS driver. I'll have to share this story with him. Honestly though... it doesn't surprise me at all!

 

are you a writer by profession? you should be! sad but funny story:

made me laugh out loud!

 

Excellent story! Always love to hear the human side of owning a MINI!

 

 

I want more! More!

Tells us of Sally! Is she elated! When will she be undergoing the mod?
We need more chapters in Sally's life!

 

Yes, was a sedative given to Sally so that she didn't feel everything during the surgery/mod?

 

lol who would have thought a little parcel tray could have made a good story.

 

Actually, I feel a little badly for the drivers who have to come out here, the sand roads are poorly or not at all marked, and I have never seen a GPS/Nav that lists any of them.

 

I'm not a writer, but perhaps a rather gifted typist . In truth, I work in a tech field. I'm glad I was able to put a smile on your face!

 

LOL, great post!
I'm so happy for you and Sally. Just imagine how horrible her existence would be had she gone to one of those "other" MINI owners (the ones who don't wave, motor just for the joy of it, or, gasp, buy their MINIs gifts!).
Annette

 

Sally is eagerly awaiting going under the screwdriver. She is tentatively on the operating garage schedule for this evening. This morning my chief anesthetist and I provided her with some pre-op counseling. We explained the procedure, its inherent risks, and told her that she is beautiful even without the surgery, but she is insistent. She signed the consent forms, and we tried to obtain pre-authorization from her HMO. Unfortunately, I'm not a covered service provider. But she is so excited to show off her mod to anyone who will look, she signed a guarantee of payment with the only currency she knows-happy miles of motoring! I consulted with a specialist, and was told to give her 5mg of valveium to help calm her about an hour prior to it, and 10mg of motorphine to ensure she feels no pain during the procedure. Her underdash panel will go to pathology, and then be available if someone needs one. She asked me to thank all of you for your well wishes, and instructed me to post some post-op pictures.

 

Oh that's a great story! You'll love your shelf too!

My friends once had a gallery return one of their pieces and UPS left it at their old house that they hadn't lived in for over 2 years! The labels were all correct but for whatever reason UPS used their old home address, which they'd never used for shipping anyway only billing.

 

Great Story, My parcel shelf is supposed to come in tomorrow, I hope they dont send mine 3 miles away

 

Ditto on the great story, Still waiting for my car let alone my first mod.

 

Well, Sally underwent the procedure at 1935 local yesterday. She had a minor reaction to the motorphene, and continues to drip condensation from her cold air intake. The Kleenex, whilst only the finest hidden serge poly cloth type are causing some irritation to her grille, the effects should not be long term. Otherwise, it was a complete success! Sally is ecstatic, and has been keeping clear of the garage door since then. So far, I don't have anything to place in her new parcel shelf, but she has made some suggestions to include an iPod adapter, and something that reduces her to fits of giggles when she tries to tell me what it is. My wife, hereafter known as the Coolest Woman In The World (CWITW), has made some excellent suggestions as well.

This is the view of the surgical site. Sally is scheduled for a day at the spa where she will be pampered with a thorough wash, polish, wax, vacuum, glass cleaning, roof clean and seal, and interior shine.


This is Sally, medicated and recovering home in bed. Yes, the lawn tools to her right are secured to the wall.


This is Sally soaking up the sun last week. The last time she was clean!


Sally wanted me to tell you that if you see us out motoring, she promises we will wave.