The UPS Store

Awful. They do everything they can to take your money. You can buy a box ($ 5) and place your items in the box yourself, or they can shadily whisk it away as you try to begin to package it yourself, and then charge you an extra $ 8 to throw stuff in and then slap some tape on it. And then on top of that, they took my box that I brought in with me… with no explanation. I should’ve charged THEM $ 5. And then $ 8 because, well, I don’t really need a reason, do I?

When I was here the first time, the guy who served me did not charge me for taping up my box and though he did not know the answers to my questions, he clarified with a colleague, was patient and provided good customer service.
So I went there again today to return an online purchase without taping my box prior. I was told by another staff I have to pay $ 2 to have my box taped. And I asked the staff why the discrepancy between my first time there and today, he insisted it was a mistake that I wasn’t charged previously. So I decided to buy a roll of tape for $ 7, then he said I can leave my box on the desk and he’ll tape for me with his tape, after I bought one!
Well, why made a customer buy a roll of tape when it was your mistake misinforming us, and only to provide «free» tape after that? This is terrible customer service and there wasn’t any visible sign on the counter that there is a charge on customers for taping their boxes. The staff was curt in his service and his attitude was really bad! He totally undid my positive experience and impression of the store from my first visit!
P. S. The star on my post was just so I can post this up, otherwise it’ll be none at all.

I’ve always viewed this place as a run-​of-​the-​mill UPS store. I don’t have any particular highlight on the good or the bad side. The lines can get pretty congested here from all of the college students having no idea what they’re even doing in line. The staff, though not the cheeriest in the world, seem to know what they’re doing and are use to the heavy traffic.

They broke half of my packages. I won’t come this stupid place again. Packages were thrown everywhere, tips: the payment may not refundable! Come on, just try usps only one block to go!

I visited this UPS to mail a package and to get fingerprints done for a background check. I really appreciated the kind and patient UPS employee who repeatedly redid my fingerprints when the computer did not like them. (My fingertips have given me trouble with background checks throughout my life, so I know that the rejection this time was not the fault of the employee or the computer. Thankfully, although the computer did not like at least half of my fingertips, the background check still went through. A computer is much better than ink.) Parking can be a bit tough to find nearby. I ended up being dropped off by my husband, who parked a few blocks away.
2015 update: I returned for another fingerprinting. Several people were in line ahead of me, but the fingerprinting went pretty fast for everyone. It took a few minutes or so at most for people. The employee was nice.

Come here if you would like to have your cash, credit/​debit card, pen, whatever, thrown on the counter in front of you, even with your hand out – accompanied by grumpy customer service and glacial-​pace transactions. Perhaps service will improve after the current Pitt (judging by their youth) cohort of employees ages and leaves – who knows. Just an FYI, as most places in Oakland, there is limited parking. There is only a strip of metered parking in front of the store. If you are ever in the Oakland, Pittsburgh, PA area, I recommend going to the FedEx Office Print & Ship Center (Kinko’s) establishment, which is also on Forbes Ave and within a few minutes of this UPS store, for your shipment and printing needs. I have frequented the FedEx store quite often, and the staff is always helpful, friendly, and completing my transaction with urgency.