Don't mind me, I'm just venting but here's the story.

A customer of mine needed 2 rack mounted computer cases (4U and 2U) and he needed it by a certain date (2 days from the day he notified me). I found a source online who had them and because it was Monday morning at the time, I could have it overnighted and reach him guaranteed (here in Hawaii) by Wednesday afternoon. I paid over 380 dollars for overnight shipping each to get here on time and the customer wasn't very pleased when I didn't deliver on time.

He decided on going with a completely different rack mount case from a local vendor, but he ended up with something he really didn't like but because of time constraints, he had no choice because he needed something right then and there. I called FED EX many times on Wednesday because according to their online tracking, the packaged touched down in Hawaii Monday night that I ordered it but it never went on the truck. The customer service phone person kept reassuring me that it'll reach me in time. Today they had the nerve of sending me the package on my door step (Friday) and expected me to sign for it.

Now FED EX is saying that they are going to charge me shipping back to the sender, and the company who I bought the cases from are going to charge me a restocking fee.

So I went down to my attorney's office and filled out a formal affidavit and went down to FED EX explaining the whole situation, and in the most polite manner that I could muster, I asked them what can they do for me since I'm totally screwed because FED EX didn't deliver on time. I paid top dollar for their best service and they delivered it at the same time I could have ordered via normal parcel. I showed them numbers as to how much I'm standing to lose all because they took 1 full business week to deliver.

FED EX is of course saying they don't know what happened, and I don't expect the person who I was speaking to, to know... but I would have gotten some satisfaction if they remotely said anywhere along the lines of "hey, I'm sorry, but let me see what we can do for you."

The manager said "well I dunno, left for the back and didn't come back." I called my attorney to come down and he settled everything. I got my money back and then some. Here's the details.


Supermicro Rackmount Cases - $1050.00 and $899.99
Shipping costs for overnight delivery - $760 for both
Supermicro restocking fee - 20% ($390)
(at this point I already lost $1150 dollars on parts and shipping minus the labor I had to refund the customer)

Okay, that's one story...

The other is when I overnighted 4 sets of tires on a Tuesday and they delivered them on Saturday. The tires actually touched down in Hawaii Tuesday night, but according to them, they had a delivery attempt to my home but I was home all day. As I check online for the details to the delivery attempt, it said "attempt not made".

They said again that "we dunno what happened..." and that excuse is getting old. People need to start taking responsibility and start saying "I'm very sorry..." and that'll tell me that they acknowledge their screw up.

I've had similar experiences with UPS also and I hate it when people use either of them to ship to me. The only carrier that has never failed me, is USPS... good old US Postal Service is the bomb. Even if the option isn't available to me, I always ask if they'd be willing to ship USPS because of the prior experience with the other carriers.

 

all i got to say is that "My other car is a big brown truck!"

 

All I have to say about that is ... "if you see a Ryder truck parked outiside your house..."

 

I work at a publishing company in MI. We ship TONS of stuff everyday. The only time we ever use Fed-Ex, is if the customer specifically requests it. We hate their service. Nothin' but the brown for us...and Roadway (best freight company, by FAR).

I have some audio equipment coming from Seattle via Fed-Ex, it's going to take 6 business days. Would only be 4 with UPS, and cheaper. Freakin' Fed-Ex.

 

I am currently in "discussions" with FedEx over $700 worth of software their driver "delivered" god only knows where! I have lived in the same house for 25 years and they still can't find it!

 

We get shipments from UPS, DHL and FedEx. Without fail, the FedEx boxes are destroyed. We got a shipment of OXO yesterday, which is pretty light product. Two of the boxes were completely ripped open. The stuff was all there, but you could tell the shipment was abused.

We have been shipping with DHL/Airborne for about a year now. They run about 1/3 less than UPS and almost always beat their delivery estimates. DHL makes us look very good to our customers.

 

Yea I also hate how fedex can't get in contact with their drivers.

I missed a fedex delivery by 5 minutes, (on a friday), I called in with a tracking number, and said I would just have to wait till the next day to have them ship it again (which was a monday), and I needed the parts that weekend.. ugh

All UPS drivers, on the other hand, carry cell phones, so you can always call in and they will re-deliver if you request it.

as for USPS, they're not bad, but if you ever try claiming insurance with those bastards, it's damn near impossible to get anything, even when it's obviously their fault.

 

USPS is definitely the best for people outside of urban areas. My sister lives in North Carolina. FedEx won't guarantee overnight delvery to her. FedEx and UPS 2 day take anywhere from 3 days to 1 week to find her.

But USPS can, and will, get something to her overnight. Priority mail always reaches her in two days. I sent her some software that I made for her kids school project, got to her in two days for $4.00. Love it.

 

The only difference is that UPS employees are all union drivers, and sad to say, i have yet to see one go out of their way in getting things to go my way. i have been shipping fedex because for the most part, things arrive when they should. I did have a package the other day that i paid next day express, by 10:30, and it didn't arrive until 11:45... which got me a little ticked off, but manageable.

 

^^^ You sir, are in the minority!