Correspondence with Beechwood. A $50 order of their cheese, became garbage. I would hesitate purchasing from Beechwood Cheese Company I am NOT pleased with the service on my order. Whether it is your fault, or UPS I don't know. The invoice shows a date of September 19th. It arrived today. Only by luck did I find the package since it had been left outside in the sun, and no doorbell or other notice of delivery was made. This has been the delivery method of UPS for the last few months. There is cover over our entrance doorway, and not just one, but two doorbell buttons.... Neither are used, nor any other means of notice. Packages are just left out in the sun, and today, rain. It was not placed under cover. The cheeses were, as expected, soft. We have not opened any of them, but have placed them in the refrigerator to cool, and solidify. With temperatures here in the high 90's, I question the safety of the cheeses since they have been in transit for some three weeks, subjected to who knows what conditions. A response would be appreciated. I would suggest a change of delivery means, as UPS is certainly NOT a reliable carrier. Sorry to hear UPS didn't take care of our cheese-even though it says 'perishable product' on the outside of the box! Couple of things to note: In order to circumvent the problems you encountered, we pack all our shipments with a heavy duty insulated box with ice packs, we ship by zones so that no order is sitting in a warm UPS warehouse and although your invoice says the 19th (that is when the order was placed), your shipment actually shipped on 10/2. We will pass your concerns on to our UPS account representative. If your product went out on the 2nd it should have gotten to you by the 6th. Depending on when you put the product in the refrigerator, it should still be good. Again, I am sorry if they did not live up to their end of the bargain. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you. Regards, Mark Rolison President Beechwood Cheese Mr Rolison, Please note that the cheese arrived on the 10th, the day of the email to you. The cheese was soft, and warm. Though in a heavy Styrofoam box, the two small ice packs were melted and warm. The cheese, according to the ship date you state above, was in a state of improper temperature for at least 6 days. I don't dare use the cheese, so it will be properly placed in the garbage. I was holding it in the refrigerator, awaiting only your response. I have contacted UPS on the matter, but don't expect compensation from them either. I am greatly disappointed in your attitude of un-concern. Needless to say, I shall not place any further orders with Beechwood, and will advise friends of my experience. I am sorry that you feel the way you do. I am merely stating that we do everything we can on our end to make sure our product will 'survive' the shipping windows we are provided by UPS. I am sure you are aware that once it leaves our doors we no longer have any control of what UPS is going to do with the package. This is the first instance that this has happened and as my last sentance says in my previous email, 'please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you'- was left open for you to suggest to us how you might want us to make it right. In no way was it 'un-concern' but rather an opportunity for you to let us know how we may satisfy you due to UPS' mishandling of the shipment. I'm sorry if I was short with you in my answer, but I am of the old school in merchandising and customer satisfaction. During the last month, unlike years of Internet buying experience, I have had less than satisfactory experiences. Additionally, local store purchases have been a problem.... Rebates improperly computed, wrong colors delivered, damaged merchandise on delivery, etc. An example, I had ordered a 'come-along,' ratchet type stretcher. It was delivered yesterday, but not one, but two were delivered. I wondered why until I attempted to use one of them. It wouldn't work... Neither would the second one. I guess they sent a second one hoping one would work. After dis-assembling and repairing one, I got it to work. Is there anyone of the old school left... A company that has ONLY customer satisfaction as their motto? Seems everyone has one object in mind...THE BOTTOM LINE. My expectation from Beechwood, would have been an immediate reply offering either, a complete refund, or a replacement order, properly packed and shipped so as to arrive safely. No doubt, UPS was mainly at fault, but I question why my order of the 19th, was shipped on the 2nd of the FOLLOWING MONTH (was the cheese not yet made?). I question why standard ground UPS was chosen when delivery from your location to mine would normally take around 6 days (according to UPS) with two small ice packs to keep the product safely cooled. That this is the 'first instance,' I doubt. Perhaps the first time a customer has registered a complaint, as it seems most now accept, and expect poor or shoddy service. At age 79, I remember my world, as a different place.