So on my last update I said I called UPS and that the driver had also left a post-it type thing on my door saying he wanted to follow up about the packages and he'd be back at a certain date and time... Well, he didn't come back when he said he would, he came back earlier and left a hang tag on my door for me to check that I had a problem with my delivery, when to call me, and I had to sign it, and he would pick it up on a certain date. So I did that, and the hang tag was on my door from 6 AM until late at night, so he didn't bother to come back for that either. Seems like my driver wasn't too interested in following up.
So after missing two calls from the local UPS I got a message today saying I had to call back tonight or my case was closed. I called back, reaffirmed that I hadn't received the packages, hadn't received any replacement from GameStop, and no neighbors were holding the packages for me (all things I already told UPS' corporate line... Glad I got to go through it again with the local office).
He asked if I knew the packages were being delivered, and I could sense it might be a trap because if I knew they were being delivered and I didn't make arrangements for them not to be left there because I was working late, they would somehow say it was my fault. I just told him that I had checked online during the day, saw that they were delivered, and when I got home late they weren't there. He commented "So they just sat out there all evening" but didn't go as far as to say they were stolen, and I of course didn't say they were stolen (or even that they were delivered). The guy said he was going to close the case in my favor meaning they would reimburse the shipper and the shipper could then reimburse me or send out a replacement shipment. He was at least polite about it.
So from tomorrow onward I get to deal with GameStop... I'm not sure if they'll either give me my money back or if they'll try to send me a replacement shipment. If they're going to send a replacement shipment I'm having it sent to my billing address rather than the address I'm currently at.
I know it was two packages consisting of 13 games total, but the total price of it all was $50. Would it really have been a big deal for GameStop to eat that cost first and foremost, or for UPS to just take responsibility off the bat once I told them it wasn't received? Surely $50 worth of merchandise is on the low end of the value of packages UPS loses on a regular basis for their insurance to cover. Furthermore I have no history of saying I didn't receive packages with UPS or GameStop, and I'm sure if I had to do a charge back my credit card company could tell them I've never charged back a single thing before. I know both UPS and GameStop are trying to cover their asses because a lot of $50 dings on their bottom line add up over time and I'm sure in hard economic times, scamming is on the rise, but this was a little overkill.