UPS strike keeps delivering blows to some area firms

Bob Shemeligian

Friday, Aug. 15, 1997 | 11:23 a.m.

The Federal Express packages arrived on time.

However, most of them arrived slashed and empty.

"Apparently, someone saw the return address and got greedy," said Martha Parsek, assistant manager of the Flashbacks memorabilia store at the Belz Factory Outlet Mall.

Parsek was referring to Athena Jewelers, the estate jewelry section of Flashbacks, and the business name written as the return address on seven Fed Ex packages sent last Friday from Flashbacks to locations in other states.

Three of the packages containing jewelry arrived safely.

But the contents of four others never made it to the intended destinations.

"This is unbelievable," owner Andrew Pitsicalis said. "We always used UPS, and they never lost one package."

Like many other business operators, Pitsicalis has used Federal Express for parcel post deliveries since United Parcel Service went on Strike Aug. 3.

Jess Bunn, spokesman for Memphis-Tenn. based Federal Express, explained that company officials are not happy about the strike, because millions of traditional UPS customers have beseeched Fed Ex, the world's largest express delivery service, with requests for parcel post deliveries.

"We are handling a segment of the market that we do not traditionally handle," Bunn said.

Even less happy with the situation is Pitsicalis, who was told by Fed Ex representatives that the jewelry he shipped out to four locations in three states, and was lost, is insured for a maximum of $500 per package.

The value for the contents of two of the packages was under $500.

But Pitsicalis will have to pay the difference for the $900 gold bracelet he shipped to a man in Plant City, Fla., and the $600 diamond ring he shipped to a woman in Bakersfield, Calif.

The customers, who purchased the goods at the store last week, ordered them shipped to their homes in other states -- a common practice by many out-of-state customers who want to avoid the Nevada sales tax.

Federal Express spokeswoman Darlene Faquin said the company is cooperating with police and conducting its own investigation.

"We certainly regret that it happened and we're looking into it, but we don't want to compromise the investigation by offering further comment."

But Faquin did say that because of the "maximum declared value of $500 on jewelry, we do not recommend that shipment of goods through Federal Express that exceeds that value."

But Pitsicalis said he had no choice.

"We had to take a chance with Federal Express because there's no one else," said Pitsicalis, who explained that the U.S. Postal Service doesn't offer packaging services, on-site pick ups or bulk rates for parcel post.

In addition, other delivery services that are swamped with business because of the UPS strike, are reluctant to take on new customers.

But Pitsicalis said he will find an alternative if it's the last thing he does.