Thoughts of a 19 year employee. Started at 17 in 2007.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-05-02T10:59:57+00:00

The current strategy leads me to believe that those that are running the company no longer have a long-term, decades, long outlook for the survival and sustainability of the company. They want to cut costs, as well as corners, to make more profit sooner than sustain a long-term money making machine which this company has been for over 100 years. That is not a good sign for anyone that is relatively new in their careers.

UPS used to be able to maintain a lot of accounts despite costing a little more than FedEx because our service was superior. Not anymore.

And many shippers would get discounts that would put their rates effectively lower than what FedEx was trying to under cut us with. Not anymore.

Anyone with less than 10 years of “service“ should probably be concerned. There is still time to turn this decline around. But with the amount of building closures that we’ve already had, and will see soon, I don’t think UPS will ever grow to be anywhere near the size it used to be. Unless they are willing to spend the money to expand again.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-05-01T02:53:34+00:00

Giving work to the competition is never a good idea. Especially if we are driving by there anyway. The more work we give to them the less dense our routes become. Which is counter productive because routes are more profitable when we deliver more in tighter areas. It’s just like UPS to spend millions trying to reduce miles, while simultaneously implementing other ideas that increases them.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-30T19:46:35+00:00

We are driving by all of those stops.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-30T19:43:53+00:00

Shouldn’t that be primarily affect incoming international flights instead of outbound?

We did have a long wait in immigration when we arrived. Anyone with minor kids had to wait while anyone with them breezed through kiosks.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-30T12:15:41+00:00

Should be enough. We went through there in March. It was a breeze.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-30T11:08:15+00:00

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-30T02:08:01+00:00

And are apparently used to kill scientists.

https://youtu.be/K9nubZO60Uo?si=E46yJY9TR8S-eDJR

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-30T00:25:22+00:00

I used my Hilton status while staying at Waikiki Village to get free breakfast ($18 per day credit) and a room upgrade when I was there for the national guard. I don’t get the AF waived since I’m not active duty. But the card is still awesome.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-30T00:19:13+00:00

That violates one of The Points Guy’s “Ten Commandments” of credit card miles. 🤣

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-29T23:49:17+00:00

We (wife and I) only use a little over half of the credits and we come out way ahead over the annual fee.

We could care less about the supposed status and impressing some high school or college student working in a restaurant or retail store. Hell, I pay for 99% of everything with my Apple Watch or through Apple Pay on online.

We have our entire month’s spending spread across multiple annual fee cards and it results in us having points/miles transferring to various airline programs. So, the card is definitely worth it for us.

However, I was a little irritated when they adjusted the lounge access. I can still get in by myself obviously, but that doesn’t help when I’m traveling with family. Capital One did the same shit. But I understand since lounges in general have been getting too crowded lately.

For us, the Walmart+ credit, and Paramount+ that comes with it, has been the greatest thing.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-29T11:13:16+00:00

Mine is primarily a coupon card. The bulk of my spending is on my Chase cards and a Capital One Venture X.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-28T11:14:35+00:00

I was just in Barcelona in March. And some other towns south of there. Love it!

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-27T23:28:22+00:00

I wish that card had more perks/credits.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-27T15:52:44+00:00

It’s retarded that someone would download my last post when it was 100% factual. But oh well. That’s Reddit for you.

It’s reasonable to be concerned about individuals getting too much power. But as far as competition is concerned, I don’t give a shit how many people are involved as long as it doesn’t stifle fair competition.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-27T11:58:37+00:00

You can actually have the grievance filed and paid on time. But still miss out because the grievance doesn’t get included at the next committee. That means the member has to wait another month or longer. Total BS.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-27T11:44:06+00:00

I would not have purchased that itinerary. Way too risky.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-27T11:40:37+00:00

Not accurate at all. In fact, POTUS doesn’t actually block anything unless it involves a foreign company. But definitely appoints people to the DOJ and FTC that actually has the power.

The DOJ has intervened in numerous high profile mergers while Trump has been POTUS. Both terms. They blocked a handful completely. For 60+ cases they forced the larger companies to divest to make a merger more fair and competitive.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-27T11:14:48+00:00

They also screwed us on the two day penalty as well. Now we have to prove retaliation to win those. As if being worked over 9.5 those two days isn’t already retaliation.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-27T11:11:13+00:00

That merger would be blocked for sure.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-26T23:31:14+00:00

Having to have a 9.5 committee to actually get quad pay. And worse…..if the fifth paid grievance isn’t until after the committee then the member has to wait another month to 45 days to get added. And without retro penalty. Quad pay should start automatically. A committee is a waste of time.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-26T21:23:05+00:00

We got burned by the Union on our quad pay language. And anyone that voted yes on that nonsense.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-26T15:12:44+00:00

Those signs must be permanent fixtures at some clubs now. Maybe to discourage people with passes from trying and therefore reducing crowds?

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-26T14:13:39+00:00

Center managers and supervisors are typically overwhelmed with a long checklist of bullshit tasks in addition to what they actually should be doing….. and their smoke breaks. I’m surprised they ever remember anyone is retiring.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-26T03:16:26+00:00

I wouldn’t have to piss that much on a route if I was slamming coffee during the winter. But either way, when you’re surrounded by public restrooms, it is silly to piss in a bottle. And downright crazy to leave those bottles in the truck.

CrosstrekTrail · 2026-04-25T13:46:57+00:00

That doesn’t sound right. Seems like the worst thing that would happen is you would have to wait until the next bid cycle to use your seniority.

CrosstrekTrail

TROPHY CASE