Yeah I have the same experience like Mechatrommer....
If I need sth. fast I take DHL. Then it usually takes 3-4days (working days) from china or the US to my door.
EMS is more than a week, but if it isn't urgent I take that because some people (in China) have ridiculous charges if you use DHL or UPS or Fed Ex.
EMS is free and UPS is plus 120USD....yeah, sure......for a f*in battery....
UPS may be fine, but it's more sth. for Departments, Companies or Housewives. "Can you tell me when the Parcel will be delivered. An estimation would be fine" ..."Yes sure, between 9a.m. and 5 p.m."
Great, nothing better to do than sitting at home and waiting for UPS. If I am not at home I have to drive and get it or agree another day to wait the whole day.....
DHL is fine. If I am not home, they give me a note and I can pick it up at my local Post office next day (UPS and Fed Ex is in another city here.....not that nice).
My worst experience was with Royal Mail International. I bought some stuff and it was used three times and three times nothing arrived. After over a week I got an email from the seller that the parcel has been returned because nobody was at home. I don't know who is their partner here, but I got no note and how shall I know where the parcel is at the moment (tracking stops at the british border). So they screwed several chances ......