FedEx

[sherpa]

Who else has prbblems with FedEx deliveries to rural areas?

FedEx calls me and wants me to drive 50 miles oneway and pick up my packages so they don't have to drive out here. After I pay for home delivery I am not driving 100 miles to get the package. This has been going on for about 7 years now. I have written two different complaints to Memphis with no results. The third letter is going out tomorrow and this time I am asking for a refund!
sherpa

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Just don't use fed ex, or ups either.(they don't do rural alaska at all) For Urban Alaska usps is much cheaper and just as quick.
Rick

 

[doall]

Never had a problem. I can't believe you are more rural than me, not you Rick.
but I would complain or use other shipping too. I'm 40 miles from a city of over 5,000 people.

 

[RTII]

Never had a problem. I can't believe you are more rural than me, not you Rick.
but I would complain or use other shipping too. I'm 40 miles from a city of over 5,000 people.

I haven't had any problems with fedex. They deliver no problem but UPS still can't find my house! Only 12 miles out of town. Not on the GPS data banks yet..............

 

[themichelob]

We've just finished the snowiest November on record for here--the roads are terrible and we live at the end of a four-mile gravel road. FedEx delivered today with no problem, and they've been good in the past. Can't say the same for UPS--had problems with them in the past. Regards, Mike

 

[jinjimbob]

Just don't use fed ex, or ups either.(they don't do rural alaska at all) For Urban Alaska usps is much cheaper and just as quick.
Rick

When you UPS or Fedex to parts of Alaska, they send it the USPS and they finish the delivery off, its cheaper for UPS/Fedex.

USPS won't drive more than half a mile on a dirt road (at least here), so they're useless. They leave a note "sorry you were out" at the mail box at the end of the road, then we have to have a 24 miles round trip to the post office, not handy at all. All other delivery companies deliver no problem. :thumbsup:

 

[Cat_Driver]

I guessing that it's an economical thing being 50 miles out. I'm thinking it costs them more to deliver that 100 mile round trip then they are making. I'm also guessing they hope to lose you as a customer so don't expect any help no matter how many letters you right.

It just doesn't make economic sense.

Fed Ex used to deliver to me before 10am no matter what the delivery time was, then they changed so I was getting my stuff at 5PM no matter what the time said. There excuse I'm RURAL so the by 10M rules do not apply. So now I have to pay extra and put on BY 10AM.

The only problem I have had with UPS is they deliver out to my area after 5pm and I'm long gone. UPS just throws the package over the gate no matter what the weather is and they do not tell anyone.

I've caught UPS lying several times where they say they left the package in the "lobby" uhh there is no lobby, there's a gate and a 600' driveway but no lobby.

You can't beat USPS.

 

[Skyco]

You can't beat USPS.

Yeah right!
I had a recent thread I started complaining about USPS leaving "you weren't home" notes in my mailbox on a subdivision street 100 ft from my front door. Our security cams show the mailman never getting out of his truck, just leaves the note.... I also dislike that one can't track a package if using USPS.

The only real problem I've had with UPS was I sent an overnight package to my son in Canada at the time. Took a week for him to get it. Turns out they claimed they only delivered to that area, Temagami, once a week. When I asked for a refund since I paid for overnight I was told, sorry, different country, should have known yada yada...

Fedex is good here except for the bonehead that used to leave a big post-it on my front door that there was a package at the front door...well duuuhhh.
Problem with the note was it could be seen from the street clueing any thief in there was a package to steal.

 

[forgeblast]

Fed ex we get once in a while, I like that they deliver tuesday to saturday, means I am more then likely home when they come.
UPS is who we normally use. The guy is great, and knows where to put the packages, to keep them out of the rain.

 

[dgl24087]

The majority of Fedex package delivery is done by independent contractors.

 

[MikeInEburg]

The majority of Fedex package delivery is done by independent contractors.

FedEx ground is delivered by independent contractors, while FedEx express (overnight and 2nd day) drivers are company employees.

 

[ToadHill]

The last 3 times I've ordered something that was supposed to be sent Fed Ex it was actually delivered by USPS. It seems to leave the shipper by Fed Ex then somewhere along the way it is sent to the post office, every time that has happened it takes at least 5 days longer to get to me.

Unfortunately with the stuff I'm ordering I haven't had the option of selecting a shipping company, if I did it wouldn't be Fed Ex.

 

[NSBound]

It sounds like if you add all the people who don't like using UPS to all the people who don't like using Fedex, both companies have a secure future . I don't either one, either.

 

[jinman]

The last 3 times I've ordered something that was supposed to be sent Fed Ex it was actually delivered by USPS. It seems to leave the shipper by Fed Ex then somewhere along the way it is sent to the post office, every time that has happened it takes at least 5 days longer to get to me.

Unfortunately with the stuff I'm ordering I haven't had the option of selecting a shipping company, if I did it wouldn't be Fed Ex.

That is exactly what is happening to many small items my wife has ordered recently and shipped FedEx. They are delivered to the USPS within a couple of days and then languish in their delivery system for 4 or 5 days with no tracking beyond the delivery to USPS by FedEx. On the bright side, our postal delivery people are terrific and deliver packages too big for our mailbox right down our driveway to the house or drop them into our wellhouse if we are not home. Only once have I had a package delivery attempted by FedEx while on vacation that got returned to their depot about 95 miles away, and I had to go get it.

 

[techman]

I have had issues with FedEx for some years. The driver (independent contractor) dropped the package in the weeds at the start of our driveway by the main road. Never drove back the 1/2 mile on a paved drive. Just by luck we saw the package and picked it up. I complained to FedEx. Got a lot of "we'll take care of it" Next few weeks we had another "package drop" in the weeds. It was raining, but at least he put the package in a plastic bag. We only found it when my wile saw by the online tracking that it was delivered. We drove out and sure enough it was there. I complained again. Got more lip service. Guy at the office said that it was not possible to drive his truck on my driveway ! I guess you would need to tell UPS and the tractor trailers that delivered appliances to our house.

About a month later, another package was dropped in the weeds in the rain. Again bagged, but it was a new PC. Luckily it was OKay. Called FedEx again. Got the story that they were independent contractors, and for each complaint they get financially dinged. Again lots of apologies and a promise that it will never happen again. That night our mailbox was smashed with a bar. Funny that it was in the middle of a line of 8 boxes and only ours was hit. Random, I think not.

We have avoided FedEx since. No more problems.

paul

 

[sherpa]

Living in a rural area with a PC and home delivery is wonderful as long as it is not delivered by FedEx.

As I stated earlier, I have written FedEx twice before about this problem. I got a letter back last year saying it would never happen again. The service is still terrible. I intend to get my $65.95 deliver charges back this time! They are under estimating my determination and my ability to pursue such issues. All I need is a list of cooperate names of authority. I have a file folder with all my complaints verified in writing with the FedEx responses. They have no ideal of the wrath I am getting ready to put them through if they don稚 send me my $65. I am not an attorney; I can do more damage to them as a consumer. I already have my draft letters ready to print and mail if needed.
sherpa

 

[WVBill]

I'll echo the others.

I find FedEx overnight to be fine. They deliver using FedEx trucks/employees with tracking all the way to my door.

FedEx Ground or whatever they call is is hit-and-miss (mostly miss). Sometimes it comes by a FedEx contractor (unmarked or rental truck) - in which case it almost always takes two tries after getting a phone call "where are you at?" or it comes by USPS with no tracking after it's delivered to my local post office.

UPS has always been excellent both in delivery, and tracking.

Sending things by USPS and paying the extra for "tracking" is a joke. The only tracking they provide is "sent" and "delivered". no details on dates, who, where in between or anything.

 

[teg]

I wouldn't go pick it up... if they can't deliver it... I would tell Fed-EX to ship it to you, UPS or the Postal Service, let them pick it.

 

[Agrantina]

I will see if I can help with this one... I happen to work for FedEx...

AndyG

 

[dmccarty]

I guess we are lucky. We have not had problems with either UPS or FedEx. Both made deliveries at the house yesterday. :thumbsup: Never heard of the 1/2 mile from a paved road rule. We are 1/2 mile from pavement.

USPS shipping can be iffy but I do not think the problem is the local office. They seem pretty danged good.

The only problem we have had was with DHL along time ago.

I just go a Big Box from a freight company. Long story but the manager, dispatchers and drivers were very helpful. I was impressed.

Later,
Dan