More Sellers Using FedEx?

[hazelnut.eyes]

Does anyone know anything about all the FedEx shipments of late? Is there a concerted effort to offer FedEx as a viable option to USPS? I've had some sellers say they're shipping USPS but then ship FedEx or "Standard Shipping," which is utterly meaningless. The tracking numbers look identical to the USPS tracking numbers but they're really slowing things down. I usually receive USPS parcels within a few days, even if they're sent First Class, but with FedEx, I have sellers create the label and then take a week, give or take a few days, to drop off the parcel or have it collected. FedEx then takes 7-10 days to deliver it. I recently bought an item from a popular consignment site: paid on Thursday last, arrived yesterday (Monday) from California via USPS. Now, compared to FedEx, FedEx is a joke! My husband's birthday is today and one of his gifts was purchased on June 6th, immediately paid for, and it took two days for the seller to create a label, four days for them to even hand it over to FedEx, and now it may or may not arrive on June 22nd (yesterday, it was June 21st), so 16 days when all is said and done! Come on, now! Another item's label was created, but still hasn't made its way to FedEx. It gets worse when sellers require a signature (which I completely understand, the added layer of security is imperative in this day and age of scams), but when you're not home, FedEx won't accept a note with your signature, won't leave the parcel, and it ends up three towns away because it can't be delivered without the signature. FedEx is notorious for terrible delivery practices and when you work full-time, it's impossible.

In the future, I guess I will either ask if they plan on shipping via FedEx or if they specify it, I won't use that seller. It's been an enormous hassle and a major waste of time.

[badwolf12]

@hazelnut.eyes

Sounds like you're talking about FedEx SmartPost. This is a service where the first leg of the journey is handled by FedEx and the last leg of the journey is handled by USPS. Depending on the type of item they sell some sellers use it for cost savings.

It should show you an estimated delivery date on the listing. Keep in mind they are just estimates and not guaranteed.

Are the items you're purchasing arriving well past those estimated dates?

[hazelnut.eyes]

Thanks for the information, @badwolf12! I didn't realise that one leg is FedEx and one is USPS, I've only known of UPS doing that with USPS! That's v. helpful!

One item was supposed to arrive today (birthday present). 13 June was the date given in the listing on the day that I bought the item, which was 6 June. I absolutely understand that seven days was cutting it close, but I thought perhaps at least it would arrive during the birthday week. As of right now, FedEx is saying 22 June, which is nearly 10 days after the estimated date in the original listing and two weeks after the item was purchased. The other item was supposed to arrive on Friday of this week, but hasn't even shipped yet, just had a label created. Seems like it's a combination of sellers and posting methods!

I'm not normally irked by this, but it just seems a bit inefficient!

[lja440]

I ALWAYS have trouble with FedEx.

Last Sat I made some calls and purchases.

2 different Amazon orders

a lot of records here on ebay

Bath & Body Works from their site

and 2 issues with Keurig which resulted in a replacement brewer and some replacement pods

Started out in the morning with my brewer's screen blank and non-responsive. It was still under warranty so they are sending a new one.  The pods were defective, foil splits while brewing. I had been sitting on that box for awhile so not related to the brewer issue. 

I came home yesterday to both Amazon orders and IN SHOCK the records too. New box of pods in the mailbox and later UPS showed up with the box from B&BW. Yeah I know it hasn't been very long at all but the only package not here is the brewer. And that is the only thing I think is coming via FedEx. 

All I can say is I'm glad that I have an old on the stove percolator for a backup.

[hazelnut.eyes]

Uggghhh, @lja440, that sounds so typical!!! Glad you have a back-up coffee pot! I've had my Keurig go on the fritz and as a coffee fiend, it's like losing the A/C in July!

I've gotten into yelling matches with FedEx over their completely nonsense delivery policies and their complete ambivalence to convenience. I thought I was the only one, but I could publish an anthology of FedEx horror stories from friends and colleagues alike. UPS has been (and always is) terrific, especially now that they have the drop points around town at various convenience stores and their drivers are always very kind. FedEx is a pariah.

Hope your extra bit comes soon and you can get back to percolating! Cheers!

[lja440]

LOL, Yup another coffee addict here. 

I got the Keurig 2.0 to save space on the counter. I had a small espresso machine, a Mr. Coffee pod brewer, and a Hamilton Beach Brew Station. 

My Brew Station was aging, the stopper that holds the coffee in would drip a little and I couldn't find a replacement part. A nephew was setting up his apartment and small coffee pot was on his list of things needed. So I gave him the Mr. Coffee (which was happy to brew any pod placed in it) and got the 2.0 with the Karaf. It is so finicky. If Keurig wasn't replacing it for free, I would not buy another, I'd be looking at the other single cup brewers.