eBay

greenlakesales · ‎02-12-2021

I learned a lesson about FedEx smart post today that I thought I would share. To save a couple of dollars on a large box I selected the Smart Post Option, It has been over a week and the package has been sitting in Rockford, ILL. for 5 days now. I called FedEx and the nice gentleman from India informed me that Smart Post items go to a central area and are put in a container, and that container does not move to the next regional center until the container is full. It was shipped over a week ago and he said I may get it in another couple of days. So if you have a large dox going to a less than metropolitan area do not select Smart Post.

Order shipped 02/03/2021 stopped at Oak Grove IL on 02/03, made it as far as New Berlin WIS by 02/05. Today is 02/12, still in New Berlin.
Tom

simba6 · ‎02-12-2021

Yes it's often called slowpost.

no_zero369 · ‎02-12-2021

Sorry for your experience. I always check the shipping method a seller uses and if it says "Standard Shipping" I write and ask what service they are using. If they use FedEX "Smart Post" or UPS "SurePost" I avoid them like COVID-19!

There is nothing "smart" about them nor sure either. These blended shipping just means it passes through two shippers with the possibility of errors or delays. The biggest hang up is when tracking shows 'delivered' to shipping partner and then there is no USPS scan for days or weeks. Those blended shipping options are always SLOWER than either one individually and probably clock in at about the sum of the normal individual times.

So yeah, sellers love saving a few bucks on shipping, but it is generally at the cost of frustrated buyers. So those cognizant of good customer service tend to pay a bit more to reduce the frustrations associated with delivery.

greenlakesales · ‎02-12-2021

Lesson learned. It looks like it is moving now. Flew right past me to Green Bay, now I may see it by Tuesday.

pooh333piglet · ‎02-12-2021

Also often smartpost is more than fedex home delivery. Check all rates and if close to same price use USPS or fedex home delivery

chucky226 · ‎03-24-2021

Same thing happens right now. I received e-mail from eBay which tells your order arrived at your door.

I tracked myself via FedEx and it says as FedEx Smart post and delivered at front door.

I went to doorman and asked the package (our Bldg generally send e-mail to each Apt when there is any package to the each apt. I did not receive the e-mail from the doorman's booth yet) .

No any package to me today.

Same thing happened from other store like Nordstrom and H&M. They send e-mail the package arrived at your door but those package was stuck at our local post office. I actually received those package 2 days later.

I really don't like the sellers to use this shipping methods.

I'm a seller also by different eBay ID and never use FedEx smart post because it gives buyers wrong information.

greenlakesales · ‎03-24-2021

That sucks, it is amazing in this day FedEx considers this acceptable shipping times. I have a box that moved 20 miles in the wrong direction in 10 days.

chucky226 · ‎03-24-2021

I called the eBay CS and he told your order is estimated to arrive by 3/29, so still have to wait by the date.

So, why eBay (not the seller) sent me as the order arrived at my door?

And since the tracking via FedEx Smart Post site shows as "Delivered" (Where? I don't know exactly but likely to my local post office) and they don't give USPS tracking No, how I can track the package by 3/29?

For the case of UPS sure post, they generally gives the tracking no of USPS when it arrived at local post office, so I can track going to USPS site and fill the tracking No.

My point is eBay does not know exactly how the FedEx smart post works. This is a big issue like they just tells buyer STANDARD SHIPPING.

pooh333piglet · ‎03-25-2021

Ebay sent that message because the system is set up to do that for every tracking number into the site.

As a seller for 20 years I dont email buyers telling them a package is delivered and never will. The tracking info is added into the listing and ebay takes over. That's just how its done here. Similar to other online selling sites. The seller does have to "let it go" at some point.

chucky226 · ‎03-28-2021

Yes, maybe you are right. eBay may just set up automatically but don't know what exactly the Smart Post works.

I haven't received the item yet and finally the seller responded and she told they shipped via FedEx Smart Post which is sent by Ground. Does she mean the Smart Post and Ground service is same?

I checked again the tracking via FedEx site .

The seller's address is Florida and I'm located New York, NY . It is impossible to arrive from FL to NY just 2 days even it is Ground service (The tracking tell they shipped on 3/22 and arrived at my door on 3/24).

Then I checked the Travel history. It was not shipped from FL but IN. They have the warehouse in IN? or Drop shipping? The tracking tells arrived at New York, NY but no Zip code was shown.

Also, the seller asked me what is my shipping address.

Since I paid via PayPal (even via other method), the seller should know my shipping address while I don't know exactly where the seller located (eBay does not show the seller's (actual shipper's) address right now).

Since I did not receive the package yet, I still don't know where they actually ship from and who ship it.

postingid7659 · ‎03-28-2021

I have ordered a lot of things that come FedEx Smartpost or the UPS version and they don't sit like that. They travel like regular ground packages, except at some point within a day of delivery it may be turned over to the postal service for delivery. They can skip this and deliver directly if for instance you or someone on your street also has a package coming regular ground/home delivery.

FedEx typically has been going to my local PO about 11 am - I have gone down and picked up a few and others come the next USPS delivery day.

It may be the companies using it have some deal with them, because I have never once seen a rate for it on my end that saved any money.

pooh333piglet · ‎03-30-2021

Have you now received your purchase? Delivery was by 29th and today's the 30th

chucky226 · ‎03-30-2021

No. Even the seller asked wait 5 days more.

However, I did whatever I could do, asked our doorman and checked packing room with them twice.

FedEx guys comes our bldg. almost everyday , even Sunday because our Bldg has 12 flr. (202 household).

They can't access to each Apt. directly. They have to go entrance and have to see the doorman , never can leave the packages at the front of entrance (the front of entrance is just street).

The doorman scan the each package, so the tracking No. is stored as data with the Apt No. and owner's name.

We checked the tracking but never showed up. The data for 3/24, the tracking No. did not showed up so any neighbor didn't get it mistakenly.

I asked the seller to show the copy of shipping label and also contact FedEx and check the GPS. Since the regular FedEx guys know our Bldg system, they can figure out easily who came on 3/24 to our bldg.

This item is cheap goods so the seller did not make any effort to find where is the package.

They know since the Tracking shows as Delivered, the buyer can not open the Not Received Case.

Anyway, I ask each seller if they use FedEx Smart post on the next time when I order something via eBay and if they use the Smart post (it is not smart) , I go to another seller.

badhombre1 · ‎11-23-2024

FedEx SmartPost is trash dont use it, fedex lost a package and are sending back to eBay and they are doing nothing about it. - Only the party directly paying the shipping charges to FedEx may file a claim to recover the loss. Please direct any questions you have regarding these guidelines to FedEx SmartPost Customer Support at spcustomersupport@fedex.com.