FedEx is Worse Than the Cable Guy
I’ve spent the day tied to the homestead waiting for a package from FedEx which according to their website has been “On FedEx vehicle for delivery” since 6:20 am this morning. When will it arrive? Who knows, but if I want to lay my hands on it, I have to be in my place from the time I get up to the time they deliver my package.
Six PM rolls around and still no package, so I give them a call. They’re response? They claim they tried to deliver the package at 5:35 which was 25 minutes ago. I told him this was absolute garbage as my desk is by the window and I’ve been home all day long. Of course they can’t do a thing except make me wait around for them another day.
Disregarding the fact that they outright failed at getting a box to my front door and then lied about their failure, the fact that they track every single package with a great deal of precision should mean that they can give us a more reasonable window in which it will be delivered (theoretically).
The cable guy gives a three hour window these days. The US Postal Service, which is considerably cheaper, shows up at roughly the same time every day with any deliveries. I can’t imagine why we pay a premium to FedEx for service so terrible.
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Comments (29)
UPS is not much better. I work from home and they don’t even knock. They leave a note saying they tried to deliver. They assume that no one is home so they don’t try very hard. When I caught one he said that he assumed no one was home.
ditto on what chong said re: UPS. i hate them with somewhat of a passion.
the only delivery people i like is the usps because at least they will drop things off (which, i suppose, could be good or bad, but i trust the people in my building enough not to worry…).
i wish that when you ordered things online it was easier to specify how you wanted the package delivered. normally the options are based on the time it takes, not the delivery service.
I agree, UPS isn’t any better. I bought something and it was shipped UPS home delivery. I could not be home, I called to have them change the delivery address to where I work. UPS said that was not possible. Then I asked If they could hold it at the delivery center and I will pick it up. They said that was not possible at the “home delivery” level (cheapest) and for me to receive the package at work, they would need to send it back to the company that delivered it and re-ship to the new address. This would take two weeks. WTF! I ended up cancelling the order and sending it back. Re-ordering with my work address and it finally got to me 4 days later…
FedEx Home Delivery contractors are there own buisness not employees. We have to run our routes different everyday unlike usps. We also work 60-70 hour days. How the hell do you expect us to know when we will be in a certain area at a specific time? When you drive 250-300 miles a day and stop your truck 90-125 times a day. One customer isn’t more important than the other 89-124, and we have to pay our own expenses and fuel. We supposed to turn around and drive 60 mile round trip to get to your house because I was there at that time the day before. We don’t have time for you to get off the toilet and get to the door before we have to leave for another delivery. And then drive back 30 miles to where we left off on the route to get to you. Contractors have the right to refuse to deliver to a customer like you, and in this case I would wait till my last stop of the day around 10:30-11:00 p.m. if I decided to deliver it to you with an attitude like that. Do some research and respect delivery drivers, you havent driven 1/100 the miles or worked 25% the hours and physical/mental stress FedEx and UPS drivers do. We are not employees.
Dear FedEx Contractor,
If the US Postal Service can do it, why can’t FedEx?
In the meantime, if you feel like you work long, underappreciated hours and that FedEx is taking advantage of you, don’t blame the customer. Blame FedEx. And get either a better job or a union.
Many contractors are trying to change how FedEx handles things through class action litigation and are fighting to join the union. If you are interested in learning more about the FedEx contractor struggle or issues inside of FedEx, please go to http://www.fedexaminer.com/FedEx/
It’s a year later from these original posts but if anyone ever reads these hopefully this helps. Drivers for both companies work hard but who really cares, that’s what they get paid for. The truth is most drivers take pretty much the same route each day they work. The shippers are the one’s requiring signatures and that makes it a pain for everyone, the drivers would much rather be able to just leave the box at the door and be done with it. FedEx drivers dont get the full pay if they don’t deliver but they still have the expense for going to the site. My best advice is to talk to the driver if you ever see him/her they know more about their route than a secretary you’ll get by calling the company. They should be able to give you a three or four hour window theyll be there by. I have a few that I even have a phone number for that I’ll call before I get their. FedEx policy is residential packages don’t need signatures to be driver released unless requested by shipper or customer so also be careful what options you select.
the reason FedEx wont drop off packages is because people will claim they never got the package and demand compensation from the fedex contractor. drivers get fired for just leaving packages on door steps. you need to sign the little form saying its OK just to drop it off and they will.
Umm. I was there all day. Did you read the post?
I dont have a problem with fed-ex but this time i do. when i shipped a $2000 computer in perfessial packageing. and they messed the computer up. which i am not to happy about. as for the people who work for fed-ex and ups. if you dont like the job then get other job. you picked that job. so i dont feel sorry for you at all.
I used to work for a couple delivery companies and let me tell you, when you have independent contractors delivering packages you might as well have prison inmates. People have so many problems because these contractors are idiots.
As I sit here waiting for Fedex Home Delivery I am promising myself that if I ever ship something to someone I will never torture them the same way. Why these morons will not allow me to pick up at their warehouse is incredibly stupid. I would already have my package rather than sitting here wasting a whole day for some moron to show up.
To the lady complaining of waiting for her package. As a fedex contractor please understand, the mailman delivers to the same addresses, and knows how many places he has to go to in a day. As a Fedex driver we do not know until that morning how much we have mine is in the neighbourhood of oh (45-75) per day. Some businesses have cut off times, we must makae them. Therefore the route is very seldom the same. I have had people tell me they were told there package would be there in the morning, and they were told this by customer service. Customer service is in Pittsburg and I am in Ontario. They (customer service) has no idea what the route is. Drivers are incouraged not to take the same route everyday for safety reasons. Some Fedex managers knowingly send out drivers with more than they can handle, and told do the best you can. Myself I work from 10-12 hrs a day. We do not get breaks nor lunches, I think I had time once about two years ago to have a half hour to eat. We as drivers for the most part do the best we can. We have no control over what customers are told on the phone, when they call angry. Maybe your right the driver hadn’t been there, but please don’t blame the driver for the response you got when you called. Like any job we don’t know the workers job unless we have done it. I one had a lady call me names I never was called in my life then bit by her dog (which she said I deserved) all because I ran her doorbell and disturbed her from her shower, all to deliver a package that she had ordered. I had a man who said he never got a package, all because he wanted a second one. He figured Fedex would send it to him for free, not realizing that the driver is the one that has to pay to replace it not Fedex. We as drivers go through alot. I realize how important that package is to you, but please don’t place all the blame on the driver. Place it on customer service or managers.
Diane, regardless of the comments people have made I don’t think anyone is really blaming the drivers (but people run companies). It’s the corporate policy of hiring under educated and low paid contractors to deliver packages that people depend on greatly. What makes it worse is the lack of communication or just the plain neglect between the customer service/dispatchers and the drivers. 3 hour deliveries turn into 4 hours. Then into all day. Then the next day. It’s ridiculous when a company claims to provide a service and doesn’t follow through. That’s the problem people have. These companies just need to do what they claim. If the reality is some contractor who just got hired last week is going to be delivering my package and management is placing an unreasonable workload on you then that should be in the commercials and on the websites. This is customer/employee neglect plain and simple. You can’t assume that everyone is like some ignorant woman who is annoyed by her shower being disturbed. The real people out here are annoyed by sitting home from work when they’re already worried about being laid off to get a package that never shows.
I blame the drivers. Yesterday fedex delivered to my house while I was away (didn’t leave til almost 6 as I knew a package was coming), came home at 1am to find my package sitting in the snow on my porch. Now today, another package was supposed to be delivered but I never got it, though the tracking shows it was delivered. Should I blame fedex themselves for leaving a package in the snow, or delivering a package to the wrong house? Nope, thats the drivers fault.
Yep, Fedex is screwed up. I live 35 miles outside of the south’s captial Atlanta,GA. And I had a shipment from South Dakota, the item came routed to Ohio to the Metro Atlanta area then fedex sent it to Anniston Alabama out for delivery. Stupidly fedex waste money and drives 125 miles out of the way to the Anniston,AL contractors to source out deliveries. You know what, my item never arrived,fedex web site says item delivered on 01/10/2009 that’s bullshit,when my house is 35 feet off the street and I never seen a fedex car,truck,van etc that day at all.. This experience with fedex has burnt me,with there lies,theft and all the BS you can find on the net about FedEx home delivery. To put plain fedex you sucks! This is why lawyers get rich,over federally control items that fedex can’t even delivery. Yep I’ve contacted a attorney and we do have great ones in Georgia. So Fedex,fedup, here we come. You people, to what I’ve seen that works for fedex are low live scum bags,thugs,thieves! Period!
Go to the link below to read about UPS drivers. Reading about FedEx got me curious about UPS and found this.
http://www.pressroom.ups.com/mediakits/factsheet/0,2305,1201,00.html
To all who want a specific time for delivery. Ship with Fedex express not Fedex Ground. Express has multiple trucks in one area, and Ground has usually one. That is why the rates are cheaper with Ground to cut costs. Ground also has 3 business days to deliver once the package is on the truck. To the person who called us inmates GROW UP! I am not an inmate I am a single mom with 2 kids and I bust my butt daily on my job. I love my job supply dogs bones to your dogs, small gifts to kids and my regular customes. Don’t put down what you know nothing about. I don’t comment on your job, don’t assume you know mine.
I totally agree with Diane. Especially since you are directing your statements towards ALL DRIVERS. This just shows how stupidly ignorant you truely are. Yes there are some drivers out there i am sure are either very bad at their job or just dont give a shit, and most likely it is the latter. However i would bet the majority are people like Diane who enjoy it or at least do it with some respect and regard. I have had my fair share of problems with FedEx, i preffer both UPS and USPS over them but if I have to use them ok. The FedEx website sucks, I am currently waiting for an order and since yesterday it says “Next scheduled tracking update: Jan 28, 2009″ I know everything is logged electronically when it leave or departs somewhere so why do i have to wait till the 28th for an update! Just ridiculous no other delivery service i know of that has a website and tracking does that. I am 18 and work as a full time EMT 4 days a week and go to school the other 3 so i know how much it sucks not being able to request to pick up at the FedEx office when signiture is required or it is Ground so you cant request a specific drop time. For that reason i always try to get upgrade shipping or use UPS . . . However i find it utterly disgusting that people think that they can blame everything on the driver that comes to their door!!! Yes i am sure some stuff is there fault but not everything. Just a trick I have found for when a package requires a signiture if you know your FedEx, UPS,…guy or just want to make sure the guy doesnt always knock or ring the bell or he might not wait more than a second because they are on such a tight schedule and you are waiting home all day for a package. JUST PUT A SIGN ON YOUR DOOR SAYING “I AM HOME WAITING FOR MY PACKAGE. PLEASE RING/KNOCK AND GIVE ME A SECOND TO ANSWER.” I bet the person will have no problem doing that since you took the time to make their life a little easier and they then will get paid for delivering the package.
Here’s my story. I was suppose to receive my package on Saturday via FedEx Home Delivery. Stayed home all day and kept checking the website which read “In Transit – Delivery date on 5/16″. I eventually gave up and called them a few minutes after 6pm. I was told by the rep that the truck left late and my package won’t be in until their next business day on Tuesday. So for the whole freaking day I stood indoors and will now just get to run any errands that I can. I just wish that the tracking information should’ve been updated at least to notify me of the delay. This is the second issue that I had with this crappy shipping company.
In regards to complaints about FEDEX delivery times: if you want your package at a specific time, pay the extra charge for an appointment delivery or evening delivery.
Good on you, Diane!
FedEx Home Delivrey is the worst delivery service ever. I will never use a merchant that insists on using this method of delivery. To be fair, in my case, the merchant (verizon who was sending me a free TV for getting FIOS) required a signature. They are jerks for that and I firmly believe they do that in hopes the delivery can’t be made and it has to come back and that is one less free TV they have to give out.
But anyway, luckily I can work from home if needed (I guess these merchants expect people to take a day off to receive a package). The first day I wan’t home and got the note saying I had to be there. I took the next two days off, sitting in my office on the same floor as the front door in a small townhouse and guess what? Just like the other posters, I keep checking the door to see if the truck is there and at some point I see the sticky pad telling me that nobody was home! I was not on the toilet and was in fact no more than 15′ from the door. I guess you have to sit on your front porch from 5am to 7pm if you are getting FedEx Home Delivery.
After the first day I also called FedEx to say I wanted to conveniently pick it up where I always pick up the my FedEx EXPRESS packages, but NO! I had to go 1 hour each direction (D.C. metro area) all the way on the opposite side of the beltway to go to the special FedEx ‘Home Delivery warehouse.’
There it is was clear they are not prepard for people to pick up. I had to walk all through this enormous building, sit in some guys office (not even a counter and line), and wait half an hour for some guy to find my package. It was a ridiculous waste of time!
Never again. I don’t care if it is the greatest deal in the world, if the merchant wants to send FedEx Home Delivery, I don’t want it! Worst delivery service EVER!
To George,
We live in an information society now, deal with it, we expect total knowledge, and for free. Paying extra is for a speedier delivery. Knowing when the delivery will get there, is not.
Domino’s pizza delivery lets us track our order in real time, and other services will soon follow suit. Businesses that don’t adapt will suffer. Even the Comcast service people give a 4 hour window of when someone needs to be there.
There is no excuse for making a person expecting a delivery to wait around all day.
I ordered a $2,500 Dell computer and HD monitor which was suppposed to be delivered on a Friday (according to FedEx’s tracking site). I stayed home from work Friday only to find upon checking again that it was reschduled for Saturday. So my husband and I got up early and stayed home and within hearing of the front door all day. Around 2pm I checked the door to find the doortag saying we weren’t home. I spent an hour on the phone with customer service trying to get my package. They got a hold of the hub supervisor who said the driver “knocked three times” which is of course not true because we were home and listening for it! Plus we have a perfectly working doorbell that WAS NEVER USED! When I asked them to call back the hub supervisor to tell them we would come pick up the packages at their hub, they suddenly couldn’t get a hold of anyone at the hub (this was still during working hours) – apparently nobody answers the phone at the hub when they know someone is calling to complain. Now I have to wait until Tuesday(!) and my husband has to take a day off work to stay home and receive the package. I hate them and will never order anything that is being shipped FedEx.
I work for Home Delivery as a contractor. I can certainly understand everyone’s frustration. Forget contacting Customer Service for anything. They almost always give out wrong information. Get to know your driver and work with him. Many times drivers are over-dispatched and cannot get to all the stops. To risk being terminated, (and stuck with a $40.000 truck)drivers have to lie about being at someone’s house.
Had another package “delivered” by FedEx two days ago. Guess what? Didn’t actually get it, so now I have to hope the merchant is willing to send me a replacement or can deal with FedEx quickly so I can get my package before Christmas.
@Henry
So we’re supposed to feel sympathy for them then, while we don’t receive our packages and have to get them replaced by the merchant who then makes no money while the lying driver still gets paid? Sorry, but no. Guess if that’s the mentality of all the contracted drivers, its no wonder I never get my packages they’re supposed to deliver.
For all those customers waiting for packages to be delivered via Fed Ex. I’m a independent contractor and have worked up to 18 hour days. It is so easy for the customer to place the blame on drivers. You fail to understand that many of us go way beyond to deliver your package to you. Employement is hard to find and many of us are trying to change how we as contractors are treated. I myself have made deliveries on my days off. When there is a signature required I will look for the customers phone number, if the customer gives a current phone number then I call to arrange the best time to deliver the package.If there is no number then I leave my cell phone number to aid in the signature required packages in hopes you would call me. Customers are unaware that they can leave information for the shipper to put on the label. Example: Customer will be home after 5 p.m. or please call 555-5555 before you attempt delivery. When the customer orders they need to ask if the package requires a signature. And if it does then the customer can leave a signed release downloaded from Fed Ex or even a hand written signed by the customer will work. There are three different signatures that could be required 1.Indirect (which a note can be left) 2. Direct (which someone must be home for) 3. Adult (which means someone over 21 must be home to sign).Don’t assume we as drivers don’t care. I myself worked this 2009 Christmas season 7 days a week apprioxametly 92 hours in one week. We even delivered Dec.24th just to get the packages to the customers for Christmas. I take pride in my customer service and most people are unaware that we are independent contractors. There is no medical benefits, no over time, no sick days, no family leave. If we want vacation it costs us about a months earnings. We are threatened with loosing our routes if we don’t deliver what they give us. It doesn’t matter how long were out there as long as we attempt every stop. We too have families and are trying to make ends meet. Please before you get upset with your Fed Ex driver put yourself in there shoes. Try meeting us by leaving a note for us to contact you.
@Christy:
Well you’re clearly NOT one of the drivers we’re having a problem with because you go above and beyond your call of duty.
Also contrary to what you may believe, most of us DO realize you’re independent contractors and thats where the problem lies. We have issues with our deliveries, contact FedEx and are essentially told we’re SOL because it was delivered by an IC that they have no control over whether or not they actually delivered our package, they just pay them.
I have no problem feeling sympathy for you if I put myself in your shoes, as I said before, you’re clearly the exception to the rule. However again, you’re not the type of driver we have a problem with. The type of driver we’re having problems with will garner no sympathy from me because they’re NOT doing their job. Again I’ll say this, so we’re supposed to feel sorry for the ICs because they feel the need to lie about delivering our packages just so they can’t be held accountable for NOT doing so?
About comment 23.
You said you found a door tag at 2pm. Do you really think the contractor went to your house, didn’t knock, then left a tag. He wants to get that pkg off of his truck as bad as you want it. You probably are sure the driver pushed his truck down the street so you wouldn’t hear it running. The driver only gets paid on completed deliveries, so if he was there (you said he was) he knocked.
Why is it that a package that you are required to sign for at your address can’t be left at the door yet they can let anyone who happens to be nearby sign for it. I had 2 packages come to my apartment and the driver gave it to someone I’ve never heard of. Now they are taking there sweet time getting back to me.