FEDEX Rant!!

[NightOwl]

Over the years, we've shipped hundreds of packages via UPS to (and for) our far-flung family members and have never had a lost, delayed, or damaged package.  I'd rate USPS merely "OK" having  had (frequent) problems with slow delivery and (occasional) damaged packages.   Excuse me, but this claim of "Next-Day Delivery" is a bunch of crap.  In our experience,  to the USPS "Next-Day"  means  2nd or third day.

But I suspect that in certain localities sometimes, the kind of service you get (as someone observed earlier)  can also be related to the kind of delivery person on the truck that day, as well as the destination address.

[SactoCampers]

I can't help you with your question bought thought I would share a funny story. I recently bought something from Costco that shipped through UPS. I tracked it each day and it went from Portland to Seattle to Sacramento, CA, to Eureka, CA then back to the Sacramento area! A circuitous route for sure!

[NightOwl]

I can't help you with your question bought thought I would share a funny story. I recently bought something from Costco that shipped through UPS. I tracked it each day and it went from Portland to Seattle to Sacramento, CA, to Eureka, CA then back to the Sacramento area! A circuitous route for sure!

B, this  extended journey of your package is just another pititful example of why Geography should still be taught in public schools!     E.

[aw738]

I can't help you with your question bought thought I would share a funny story. I recently bought something from Costco that shipped through UPS. I tracked it each day and it went from Portland to Seattle to Sacramento, CA, to Eureka, CA then back to the Sacramento area! A circuitous route for sure!

I have had this same thing happen with UPS. I've ordered items from Missouri that were sent to Charleston WV which is about 30 miles east of were I live. It then should have been sent to the Huntington WV (50 miles west of Charleston) terminal and then delivered to me. It was instead shipped to Roanoake VA and then back to Huntington. When I emailed UPS to inquire of the strange routing they told me it was shipped by the most "efficient" route. I guess the pencil pushers have never looked at a map if they know what one is.

[NightOwl]

I guess the pencil pushers have never looked at a map if they know what one is.

"MAP?  What's that?"   :J  :confused:  

Hey, I think they use something like Mapquest which--a lot of the time in my experience--is a good idea gone wrong. :eek:

[B-flat]

Ummmm, UPS "routes" things to their centers based on where their "hub" is located.  The hub is usually a central or regional distribution center.  Some things like the wrong zip code, wrong address #, spelling errors and things like that hold up delivery also.  It's possible for human error to come into play.  It isn't a perfect world but I do think UPS does try to be the best it can be.  Customers can help by reporting delivery delays so UPS will know what they need to improve service.

[Firefyter-Emt]

I gotta add my $.02 here as well.. I would not mind the USPS if they could find a package if it goes astray.. They do not offer good tracking support at all. As for Fed-Ex ground keep in mind, that is not the same Co. as Fed-Ex air.. I can not remeber the company Fed-Ex bought out but it was a crappy Co. to start with. I never ship Fed-Ex or USPS.. I shipped some parts once with USPS.. I even paid for delevery confermation.. 4 months after I refunded the $$ to the buyer he e-mailed me to tell me it can in and to send me the $ back!! I have never had any real problems with UPS, in fact the 1 time something came thru damage, they reimbursed me in full (I also like the automatic free $100 insurance UPS has) I list on all my e-bay bids that shipping is via UPS only.. I took chances on the others and they just do not have the service.. (well, except for international shipping.. They have UPS or Fed-ex beat on the cost..)

[2manytoyz]

Fed Ex and UPS merged today to form a new company.  They will now be known as Fed UP.

 

[Gone-Camping]

I talked to Fed-Ex today about a job, and found something kind of interesting. They don't hire drivers! All the drivers are owner-operators, and they purchase their routes and pay for their own trucks!

Among other things, this kind of ruled out any chance of getting a job with them!!!

[wiininkwe]

An update to my rant:  I had to call 3 more times after filing a lost package claim before they would tell me that they had "denied" my claim.   When I asked why I was told "it couldn't be proven that the package was lost, and since I was not the shipper, I could not be the one to file the claim."   After they told me I had to file a claim.  And, what do they mean, it couldn't be proven???   So, I got ahold of WalMart, and the very next day WalMart called me back and said "Don't worry, we are refunding the money to your credit card, and we will deal with FedEx."    What a crock!!!   Unfortunately, according to the guy from WalMart, when you order something, it gets shipped by whateever company gets the bid or something, and you can't specify what company you want it to go with.  
T