UPS Store #59 Bee Ridge RD Sarasota, FL 34233
Complaint 40980 Details

I went to have some artwork packed and shipped to my son out in california and this artwork was modest in weight size and value and I was in no rush to see it get there so I told them I wanted the minimum insurance the slowest shipping and the lowest price and they assured me they would call and give me an estimate before proceeding with anything; However, they didn't give me any notice and they packed all 5 paintings(the largest of which was 4'x2'x6" and weighed 2.5lbs) and then called me once it was on the truck and almost gone and informed me that the total cost was $752! Luckily I was able to get them to get the paintings off the truck before they went out so I only got charged for the packing but even that was $256. Ovbiously I was outraged that no one called to let me know it was going to be so expensive so I made a quick call to FedEX, with whom my husband's business has an account, and got a free estimate from them. To ship 5 packages that were all the same size and weight of my BIGGEST painting they said the total for packing and shipping was going to be $285. That's only $29 more than I paid for packing with UPS! I then talked to my brother, a practicing Florida attorney, and he told me not giving me an estimate as they said they would before performing the service was illegal and highly unethical and it was what is known as fraudulent induction of payment. In other words they tricked me into paying them. I am currently trying to get my money back through the BBB and Consumer Protection Agency as well as my credit card company. After I told my son what had happened he informed of an instance where he had shipped an autographed jersey that was framed to an ebay bidder from FL to OH and UPS charged him $247 when the next month he had to ship another jersey that was identical in weight and size he took it to fedex and it cost him a total of $60 but this time the package had to go to Portland, Maine! This is absolutely criminal and I think we should not allow UPS to pull the wool over our eyes any longer. As far as I am concerned they are no better than crooks. I'm just happy I atleast was able to avoid the other $500 they wanted to charge me to ship it which btw that is a 250% markup from FedEx. Never go to this store they will rob you blind!