FedEx and USPS - twice the "fun"

Thomas Linton

Thomas Linton

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So (surprise) I bought a knife from a guy in Florida.

Seller paid FedEx to deliver.

In two days, it went from Florida to the Columbus, Ohio, area, only 143 miles away.
Oh boy !!!

In the next four days:

It went to Clinton, PA., 123 miles away.

Then back to Columbus.

Then to Belleville, MI, 165 Miles away.

In all cases, FedEx Tracking says the package is at FedEx facilities.

FedEx says I need to talk to USPS about what's going on.

USPS does not recognize the FedEx tracking number, and a USPS "agent" said I need to talk to Fed Ex since FedEx is the shipper.

A different Fed Ex rep reiterated that this is a USPS problem since USPS has been contracted to deliver the package to me. I pointed out that FedEx tracking shows the package constantly in FedEx possession, but the rep kept repeating in a heavy accent that "You must speak to USPS."

Tell me again how FedEx is a better choice?
 
Small sample size, but my experience with FedEx has been significantly worse than with any other carrier.

I own a small business and we get deliveries almost daily. More FedEx deliveries have been late, misdelivered or damaged (when properly packaged) than any other by a significant margin. It has gotten to the point that we've outright requested our suppliers not use them
 
Another fedex hater here. And some companies I deal with for my hot rods only ship fed ex. When I see that as the shipper, I cringe. I can go for days with stories, including them walking right by me, literally 10 feet, to hang a door tag on my door that a package needed a signature.
 
My experience from FLA. (with most carriers) has been a general travel around Texas and Louisiana and finally out west. :rolleyes:
 
Based on what you have said, I'll attempt to explain. Apparently the shipper/seller took the cheap way and used FedEx smartpost (essentially the same type of service as UPS surepost) in either case fedex/UPS picks the pkg up and sends it for most of the distance to a USPS location. The USPS then delivers it on the end. Again, this is the cheapest way and not the fastest. What you experiencing right now is the goofy post office sending it all over the place. So there you have it.
 
Just by chance, don't kill me here lol, but have you looked at the tracking info from FedEx on a "desktop website"? Sometimes when packages have been passed off from one carrier to USPS they usually have a new USPS tracking number at the very bottom of their page which you can't see if on a mobile browser. When having the same issues I've been able to go back to USPS agent and let them know the updated tracker and they've been able to find it. Not sure if that's the case with you, just a friendly suggestion that may have been overlooked.
 
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Don't be ridiculous, nobody is going to kill you. :rolleyes: Now, what was that again about the tracking number? .......Hello. I was asking about .....Hello. :confused:
 
fedex is bad but my usps has always been far worse. ups is pretty bad too, but all my complaints and problems with all three are due to the people working who just dont care and take no pride in their work. not so much the systems and organizations.

that said there are also great people at all three who work hard and care and take pride in their work. just none of them are where i am...which is in florida.:)
 
I had only one really bad experience with Fedex, in which they sent a package targeted to Austria to Australia.
There have been some minor issues, too.
 
Not a fan of this dual carrier system. I would rather one or the other handle the item all the way through. Just as you experienced it is always the other carriers fault. IMO-If Fed Ex takes the money they are responsible and should be making the follow up calls, but that is too easy.
Hope it works out
 
NEVER choose Smart Post.....NEVER!!
It is usually the 'free shipping' choice. Pay the additional few dollars for shipping.......it is worth it!!
The problem arises when one shipping company transfers the package to another for the final leg of the journey.
I've had packages in limbo at that point for over a week, and no one will be able to help.
Never again for me.
Joe
 
katanas said:
Soooo, how do we, if possible, avoid this travelogue of shipping? :confused:
Click to expand...

If you want it in a few days: use the normal UPS, FedEx, or USPS priority mail. The hybrid stuff is ok for things that are not needed timely, or low value. But you get what you pay for.
When you go the cheapest way to ship; it's going to have the lowest level of service - it's just common sense.
Most people don't fully understand logistics and transportation anyway. Quite a bit of the time, the shipper makes an error (example - gets one number in the zip code wrong, or does not ship when they say they did, etc.). Customer gets upset and then they both blame the carrier - it's the easy thing to do. And the shipper certainly isn't going to tell their customer that THEY are the one who messed up.

To the OP: Even being the cheapest way for the seller to ship; seems like the USPS got that thing going around in circles (I am sure that is not normal) and that is not really acceptable service - even at that level.
If you are upset about the whole thing - I would also have a talk with the seller and ask why they choose to go with the lowest cost and lowest level of service to ship.
 
Maybe ask FedEx to speak with a supervisor. I have had to call them now and then at my job and it seems like the reps are trained to tell you the most basic of information to shut you up (The thick accents are also quite frustrating when the phone connection makes the call hard to hear). A supervisor has gotten me a little more detail once or twice.

It seems both services are a nightmare, I would say go UPS because I've had no issues with them but there's also horror stories there as well.
 
I don't understand this at all. Why do people ship FedEx, UPS and DHL who than hands the package to USPS to deliver? It makes no sense to me. :confused:
 
So I asked FedEx if it was normal for a package from Florida to go to Columbus, Ohio, then Clinton, PA, then Columbus Ohio again, then Belleville, Michigan, before finally arriving just east of Cleveland, Ohio.

It took six days to get from Columbus, 143 miles by freeway away, to me.

A "Consumer Correspondent" for FedEx wrote to report:
1. "FedEx SmartPost is not a time-definite delivery service." (But I had not complained about time, per se, but asked about the packaging going back and forth across the country with no progress towards the destination.)

2. "The package was routed normally through our system and tendered to the USPS on August 9 [five days after it left Columbus, Ohio, 143 miles away]."

In short, FedEx says to go away and not bother them with silly expectations of reasonable service. They are busy with other, more important matters. They just "normally" send your parcel here and there as it suits them.

Oh, and, he closed with:
"We appreciate your use of FedEX and the services we offer.. I trust that this communication will be of assistance."

He does sarcastic so very well.
 
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