This little store surprises me almost every time I go in. The employees at first glance look like the employees of any random retail store. I first expected the middle aged woman to be gruff and short with me and for the seeming teenage workers to act like, well, teenagers. My first impression couldn’t have been farther from the truth.
This UPS Store handles shipping and every thing that could possibly be related to shipping. They sell envelopes, pens, postage stamps, even the occasional toy or high-tech gadget to include in your package. They offer notary and fax services. They do copies in all varieties of inks and paper colors, including banners the size of a refrigerator. They have boxes and bubble wrap. They’ll even box items up and attach the label for you. A lazy man would be very happy shipping from this location.
I was introduced to this multi-function store when I needed to make about one hundred two-sided color copies. I had traveled around Tyler to the most obvious places –Kinko’s, Office Depot and Office Max only to realize that they were charging way more than I expected for simple color photocopies. My next idea was to purchase a thirty-five dollar color printer at Wal-Mart, which after paper, ink cartridge and a connector cable was well over sixty dollars. I got this home and printed out twenty copies at high quality. It ran out of ink faster than I had ever imagined, and the copies looked subpar. Needless to say I was disappointed.
On my next visit to Wal-Mart I saw a sign advertising cheap color copies at the UPS Store. I didn’t even know that shipping businesses made copies at the time. I went in and got amazing prints, amazing service and all for an incredibly discounted price. The copies were about a fourth of the cost of Kinko’s. The price was very nice, but the reason I kept going back and still do today was because the service was so impressive. As I said earlier, my first impression was very wrong.
The employees of the UPS Store treated me like they were happy I was there. They smiled, asked how they could help, helped above and beyond what was necessary and maintained a very healthy level of small talk. The cool thing is that it was not just Christmas or something like that. Somehow the manager has found a way to maintain a standard of this treatment with all of their employees. In most of my frequented stores I brace myself when I walk in and wince when I see certain cashiers. This is never the case with the UPS Store on Highway 64. It also seems that they have a small enough client base to remember me. It’s not quite like the television show Cheers, but it is close. They just haven’t memorized my name.
The other thing that so impresses me with this store is their shipping service. I suppose that should be the first thing one notices with a shipping business, and that is probably the case with most people. The employees always try to find the cheapest solution for me. They weigh the item and wince with me when it will cost an unexpected amount. They even offer to ship via the US Postal Service. It is at a slightly higher rate than going into the post office, but the convenience is more than worth the extra pocket change.
My most recent discovery is that if wanted they will save your information in their computer database. I walked in this Christmas with an unlabeled box. I told them my name. They verified some basic details to make sure it was me and then asked who I was shipping to. I started to tell them the name of the addressee and they finished my sentence and told me the address they had saved. I let out a stunted laugh and told them it was correct. Then they printed the label and charged me an arm and a leg to ship a box during the Christmas season. I didn’t mind. I left with a smile and told my wife about the good experience.
I must offer one last bit of praise for this business. They are the only place I have found on this side of Tyler that sells individual, large, red, permanent markers. I need these every year before Christmas and can never find them. Most years I end up paying five to ten dollars for a multi-color pack and then fill my drawers with blue and green markers that I will never use. I am not sure why they even sell the red ones, but I am so grateful for this discovery. If you are in need of a large red marker go to the UPS Store on Highway 64 near Wal-Mart. There is even a Papa Murphy’s next door so you can bring home dinner.
3872 STATE HWY 64 WEST
TYLER, TX 75704
STATE HWY 64 W @ LOOP 323 IN THE WALMART PLAZA
Phone: (903)526-3232
Fax: (903)526-3434
Email: store5437@theupsstore.com