UPS and Amazon in Hot Water Over Harry Potter Deliveries?

While many bloggers and forum-dwellers are posting breathlessly on the details of the latest (and final) installment in the Harry Potter series, others are not as pleased, having waited–often in vain–all day Saturday for their pre-ordered copy from Amazon that did not arrive.

I myself waited patiently for most of Saturday, even delaying plans to head to a friend’s lake house.

I eventually realized how silly I was being and gave up around two.  I made a quick and painless pit-stop at a Borders on my way to the lake, completing my purchase within minutes–there weren’t even any lines.

“I’ll just return the book that Amazon sends, once it arrives,” I thought. Probably should have been “if it arrives.”

I came home late Sunday afternoon to no book, and no note from UPS indicating an attempted delivery, no message from my apartment building’s management office that I had a package–nothing.

According to my package-tracking page on Amazon, the book was not only delivered, but was “left at front door.” Really? I’ve received several packages from UPS at my current apartment, and they’ve never been left at my door—if I am not home they’re either left with the management office or taken to the post office for pick-up. I’m also suspicious of the time noted, because while it was around the time I may have left, I’m pretty sure I was still home, and sure didn’t hear anyone knocking or beeping at my building’s front buzzer.

Apparently, I’m not the only one. Consumerist reposts portions of Jason Kottke’s post indicating he was home all day, despite UPS’ claims that they attempted delivery. Jason wonders if UPS is trying to play CYA to remain on Amazon’s good side. After all, Amazon’s “release day guarantee” promised a refund to any not receiving their copy–unless UPS attempted delivery at a time when the recipient was not home. Jason and the Consumerist also post links to message boards on Google and Amazon filled with customers experiencing the same issue (also filled with spoilers, so beware!).

A quick search reveals many unhappy bloggers with the same story–package never arrived, bought a copy at the Target/Wal-Mart/bookstore, UPS now claiming they attempted delivery.

Could both UPS and Amazon end up in some public relations hot water, particularly in the unforgiving blogosphere? 

I’m thinking the story will die down pretty quickly, as Amazon appears to be doing a good job of doling out refunds, even to those who UPS claimed were not home at the time of attempted delivery. I have yet to hear back from them, but hopefully they will do the same for me. It also helps that bookstores appear to be almost overflowing with the book, the space left when I picked up my copy was almost instantly replaced by a store employee toting a giant cart full of them.

UPS, however, could take a major hit if the accusations of lying about delivery attempts go unanswered. I will definitely watch this story unfold with great interest.

UPDATE: Amazon took less than 24 hours to process my refund; they are doing a great job of appeasing the disgruntled!

Technorati tags: Harry Potter; UPS; Jason Kottke; Consumerist; Amazon.com