Online shoppers could face an anxious week waiting for packages to show up in time for Christmas.
The tide of online gift orders rises a little every year, and there are signs this year’s surge has strained both retailers and package delivery companies like Sandy Springs-based UPS.
Early barometers show an increase in delayed deliveries, though UPS says it has recovered from unexpectedly heavy ordering on Thanksgiving weekend and the following “Cyber Monday.”
» TWITTER REACTS: UPS, FedEx, USPS make customers' 2015 "naughty" lists
This week will determine the success or failure of the online delivery pipeline. UPS and archrival FedEx are trying to avoid the late-shipping disaster of December 2013, when many customers took to social media to complain that gifts didn’t make it in time.
Last year, UPS overcompensated and ran up costs with excess staffing that cut into profits. This year, the company hoped to strike the right balance. It’s proving to be a delicate challenge in the fast-changing world of e-commerce.
» READ MORE: Visit MyAJC.com for the full story
About the Author
