O.T. - FedEx Sucks

[Rick Ruskin]

As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.

A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
4:05PM. It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
proper address.

6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
whereabouts of my stuff. In addition, I was given a different story
with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a claim
could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
aware of the problem. I was finally given the name of the trace
agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
the business day yesterday. That call never came.

In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
mistake. She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next day.
Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. (The tracking department knew
nothing of this until I called them this morning).

It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
eccentric. What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
of their communication both within the company and to their customers.

As a shipper, I will never use them. As a purchaser, I will request
any other carrier.


Rick Ruskin
Lion Dog Music - Seattle WA
http://liondogmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/rickruskin

[mcp6453[_2_]]

On 11/19/2010 1:41 PM, Rick Ruskin wrote:
> As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
>
> A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
> was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
> its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
> 4:05PM. It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
> proper address.
>
> 6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
> whereabouts of my stuff. In addition, I was given a different story
> with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a claim
> could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
> aware of the problem. I was finally given the name of the trace
> agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
> the business day yesterday. That call never came.
>
> In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
> hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
> mistake. She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
> finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next day.
> Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
> shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. (The tracking department knew
> nothing of this until I called them this morning).
>
> It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
> especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
> eccentric. What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
> drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
> of their communication both within the company and to their customers.
>
> As a shipper, I will never use them. As a purchaser, I will request
> any other carrier.
>
>
> Rick Ruskin
> Lion Dog Music - Seattle WA
> http://liondogmusic.com
> http://www.myspace.com/rickruskin


You're making the mistake of assuming that companies care about their customers.
Most of them do not. Customers are fungible commodities. Lose one, get another one.

Unfortunately they couldn't care less whether you ever use their service again.

Fortunately, not every company is that way, but most of them (TimeWarner Cable,
AT&T, Verizon) are.

The good news is that these companies are leaving themselves wide open for
competition. Maybe one day, they will have some.

The bad news is that UPS is much worse than FedEx. YMMV

[William Sommerwerck]

> It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
> especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
> eccentric. What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
> drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
> of their communication both within the company and to their customers.

> As a shipper, I will never use them. As a purchaser, I will request
> any other carrier.

It's not /just/ a matter of helping a customer track down a package. It's
also a matter of whether a signature is required. If it wasn't, then the
driver had little motivation other than to dump the package.

[Scott Dorsey]

On 11/19/2010 1:41 PM, Rick Ruskin wrote:
> It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
> especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
> eccentric. What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
> drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
> of their communication both within the company and to their customers.
>
> As a shipper, I will never use them. As a purchaser, I will request
> any other carrier.

FedEx's customer service is basically oriented around their tracking system,
and when a package isn't in the tracking system, they get all confused and
don't know what to do.

If you think this is bad, though, UPS is even worse. FedEx loses things
and they break things, but they pay on the insurance when they do. UPS
has to be taken to court to get them to pay.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Dar]

On Nov 19, 12:00*pm, mcp6453 > wrote:
> On 11/19/2010 1:41 PM, Rick Ruskin wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
>
> > A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
> > was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
> > its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
> > 4:05PM. *It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
> > proper address.
>
> > 6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
> > whereabouts of my stuff. *In addition, I was given a different story
> > with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a claim
> > could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
> > aware of the problem. * I was finally given the name of the trace
> > agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
> > the business day yesterday. *That call never came.
>
> > In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
> > hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
> > mistake. *She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
> > finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next day.
> > Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
> > shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. *(The tracking department knew
> > nothing of this until I called them this morning).
>
> > It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
> > especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
> > eccentric. *What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
> > drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
> > of their communication both within the company and to their customers.
>
> > As a shipper, I will never use them. *As a purchaser, I will request
> > any other carrier.
>
> > Rick Ruskin
> > Lion Dog Music - Seattle WA
> >http://liondogmusic.com
> >http://www.myspace.com/rickruskin
>
> You're making the mistake of assuming that companies care about their customers.
> Most of them do not. Customers are fungible commodities. Lose one, get another one.
>
> Unfortunately they couldn't care less whether you ever use their service again.
>
> Fortunately, not every company is that way, but most of them (TimeWarner Cable,
> AT&T, Verizon) are.
>
> The good news is that these companies are leaving themselves wide open for
> competition. Maybe one day, they will have some.
>
> The bad news is that UPS is much worse than FedEx. YMMV- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I hate ups mostly because they are a ripoff .
I'm saving about 40% on shipping since I ****canned them and started
using
usps priority flat rate shipping . I can crap up to 50 lbs of metal
parts into a $14 box,
2-3 days .

D

[Dar]

On Nov 19, 3:00*pm, "Soundhaspriority" > wrote:
>
> You're thinking that because one carrier is good, the others are bad. Scott
> Dorsey hit the nail on the head. It's not about the customer anymore. We're
> all fungible, which is the economic term for an interchangeable commodity,
> like electricity, or soybeans.
>
> Bob Morein
> (310) 237-6511- Hide quoted text -
>

absolutely, individuals do not matter . I get things from
a large supplier that ships me overnight ups for no extra cost. I
imagine that
they are big enough to matter to ups , but they're also big enough not
to give a crap about me.

D

[William Sommerwerck]

> Both UPS and Fedex have a sliding scale of deliberate obstinacy:
> 1. They pay off a $100 claim without difficulty.
> 2. As the insured value of the shipment goes up, they make
> it increasingly difficult, by finding faults in the packaging.
> 3. For high value, nobody gets paid, except possibly if the
> shipment is in an ATA case.

FedEx's policy on what "insurance" comprises verges on the incomprehensible.
I've never fully understood it.

> You're thinking that because one carrier is good, the others are
> bad. Scott Dorsey hit the nail on the head. It's not about the
> customer anymore. We're all fungible, which is the economic
> term for an interchangeable commodity, like electricity,
> or soybeans.

Or pobble beads.

[Jason Warren]

In article
<1tgde656pb5g5piejorqgdi1q0dclnla6s@
4ax.com>, says...

>
> As a shipper, I will never use them. As a purchaser, I will request
> any other carrier.
>
>
> Rick Ruskin
> Lion Dog Music - Seattle WA
A couple of years ago FedEx delivered a
rather expensive camera to my house. They
left it behind the closed garage door, in
the snow. The front door is (yikes!) a 50-
foot walk from the driveway. That evening,
my wife opened the door with the remote
controller and backed out over the
package... FedEx eventually made good.

I've since learned that the folks behind the
wheel are not FedEx employees. They are
contractors. I now have the pesonal cell #
for the manager for our area and have used
it several times. He said calls like mine
are taken into consideration when it comes
time to renew the contract.

[William Sommerwerck]

> I've since learned that the folks behind the wheel are
> not FedEx employees. They are contractors [sic].

That's true for FedEx Ground. Is it true for all other FedEx services?

[Larry Pattis]

In article >, Rick Ruskin
> wrote:

> As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
>
> A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
> was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
> its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
> 4:05PM. It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
> proper address.
>
> 6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
> whereabouts of my stuff. In addition, I was given a different story
> with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a claim
> could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
> aware of the problem. I was finally given the name of the trace
> agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
> the business day yesterday. That call never came.
>
> In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
> hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
> mistake. She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
> finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next day.
> Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
> shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. (The tracking department knew
> nothing of this until I called them this morning).
>
> It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
> especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
> eccentric. What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
> drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
> of their communication both within the company and to their customers.
>
> As a shipper, I will never use them. As a purchaser, I will request
> any other carrier.
>
>
> Rick Ruskin
> Lion Dog Music - Seattle WA
> http://liondogmusic.com
> http://www.myspace.com/rickruskin





My sympathies, Rick.

I've had similar experiences with ALL the various carriers.

The chances of the same thing happening again for you with some other
carrier are likely equal to the chances of it happening again if you
continue to use FedEx.

IMO FedEx does have the best tracking system around, even if their own
personnel can't manage to help the customer in a situation such as
yours.

--
Larry Pattis
http://www.LarryPattis.com

[Steve King]

"mcp6453" > wrote in message
...
| On 11/19/2010 1:41 PM, Rick Ruskin wrote:
| > As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
| >
| > A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
| > was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
| > its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
| > 4:05PM. It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
| > proper address.
| >
| > 6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
| > whereabouts of my stuff. In addition, I was given a different story
| > with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a claim
| > could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
| > aware of the problem. I was finally given the name of the trace
| > agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
| > the business day yesterday. That call never came.
| >
| > In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
| > hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
| > mistake. She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
| > finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next day.
| > Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
| > shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. (The tracking department knew
| > nothing of this until I called them this morning).
| >
| > It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
| > especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
| > eccentric. What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
| > drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
| > of their communication both within the company and to their customers.
| >
| > As a shipper, I will never use them. As a purchaser, I will request
| > any other carrier.
| >
| >
| > Rick Ruskin
| > Lion Dog Music - Seattle WA
| > http://liondogmusic.com
| > http://www.myspace.com/rickruskin
|
|
| You're making the mistake of assuming that companies care about their
customers.
| Most of them do not. Customers are fungible commodities. Lose one, get
another one.
|
| Unfortunately they couldn't care less whether you ever use their service
again.
|
| Fortunately, not every company is that way, but most of them (TimeWarner
Cable,
| AT&T, Verizon) are.
|
| The good news is that these companies are leaving themselves wide open for
| competition. Maybe one day, they will have some.
|
| The bad news is that UPS is much worse than FedEx. YMMV

I work with large companies frequently dealing with field sales people up to
CEOs. My work often requires that I participate in policy meetings at the
highest levels. I have never got the impression that these companies
"couldn't care less whether you ever use their service again." I do get the
impression from upper management that they care a great deal. I watched a
CEO in a meeting about customer service once invite a manager out of the
meeting for a private conversation, which resuilted in the dismissal of the
manager and an escort out of the building. What I also hear in meetings
over and over is that it is far more expensive to add new customers than it
is to retain current customers. I do hear about failures on the part of
employees "do the right thing", failures of systems and processes, and
failures of (mostly) lower level managers to effectively supervise and train
their employees. Believe what you want, but be careful of generalizing.
About FedEx... I have no direct knowlege of their policies. I use FedEx to
ship. I specify FedEx as a shipper of purchases, when I can. They've never
lost one of my packages. Luck, I guess.

Steve King

[Steve Daniels]

On Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:03:38 -0800 (PST), against all advice,
something compelled Dar >, to say:


>
> I hate ups mostly because they are a ripoff .
> I'm saving about 40% on shipping since I ****canned them and started
> using
> usps priority flat rate shipping . I can crap up to 50 lbs of metal
> parts into a $14 box,
> 2-3 days .


Wow. I can't crap up to fifty pounds of anything in only two or
three days.



--

Howdya like that... we started playing guitar to impress the chicks and wind
up talkin' fingernails with old men.

Ray Boyce - 9.27.09

[Mike Rivers]

Well, you know that FedEx was originally set up to serve
businesses. The delivery system was planned around there
being a real building with the company name on the outside,
where someone was expected to be there to receive the
package during normal business hours. That almost always
worked and FedEx built a solid reputation around their
reliability. It was rare that individuals used the service.

With the eBay explosion, and the rise of people doing
business in their homes and needing a service like FedEx,
they had to accommodate deliveries to residences which are
not so easily identified. The FedEx Home Delivery service
goes on the same airplanes, but the delivery fleet and
drivers are an entirely different outfit. They bought out
another delivery service and that's what they got. Since
there's only one customer service phone number, it takes a
while for the information to get to the Home Delivery
department (someone needs to update the IT there, I guess).

In Rick's case, the driver clearly screwed up. All he knew
was that he made a deliver that he thought was correct, so
that's what was reported. Sounds like things eventually got
straightened out, so that's good.

[Bill Graham]

"mcp6453" > wrote in message
...
> On 11/19/2010 1:41 PM, Rick Ruskin wrote:
>> As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
>>
>> A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
>> was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
>> its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
>> 4:05PM. It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
>> proper address.
>>
>> 6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
>> whereabouts of my stuff. In addition, I was given a different story
>> with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a claim
>> could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
>> aware of the problem. I was finally given the name of the trace
>> agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
>> the business day yesterday. That call never came.
>>
>> In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
>> hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
>> mistake. She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
>> finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next day.
>> Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
>> shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. (The tracking department knew
>> nothing of this until I called them this morning).
>>
>> It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
>> especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
>> eccentric. What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
>> drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
>> of their communication both within the company and to their customers.
>>
>> As a shipper, I will never use them. As a purchaser, I will request
>> any other carrier.
>>
>>
>> Rick Ruskin
>> Lion Dog Music - Seattle WA
>> http://liondogmusic.com
>> http://www.myspace.com/rickruskin
>
>
> You're making the mistake of assuming that companies care about their
> customers.
> Most of them do not. Customers are fungible commodities. Lose one, get
> another one.
>
> Unfortunately they couldn't care less whether you ever use their service
> again.
>
> Fortunately, not every company is that way, but most of them (TimeWarner
> Cable,
> AT&T, Verizon) are.
>
> The good news is that these companies are leaving themselves wide open for
> competition. Maybe one day, they will have some.
>
> The bad news is that UPS is much worse than FedEx. YMMV

Not only all that is true, but it is also true that the average HS graduate
today (in many places) can't either read or write. So you are being killed
by the "dumbing down of America", even when they try to give you good
service.

[Bill Graham]

"Soundhaspriority" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Rick Ruskin" > wrote in message
> ...
>> As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
>>
> [snip]
>>
>> It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
>> especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
>> eccentric. What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
>> drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
>> of their communication both within the company and to their customers.
>>
>> As a shipper, I will never use them. As a purchaser, I will request
>> any other carrier.
>>
>>
>> Rick Ruskin
>> Lion Dog Music - Seattle WA
>> http://liondogmusic.com
>> http://www.myspace.com/rickruskin
>
> Rick, don't waste your anger on this. They're all equally bad. To wit, a
> story. A major dealer of audio equipment of all kinds had a roomful of
> packages ruined by UPS, by water. They felt like you do. They switched to
> Fedex. Two years later, they switched back. Now they offer a choice: pick
> your poison.
>
> A manufacturing company of high repute related that they had never, ever,
> succeeded in collecting damages from UPS.
>
> Both UPS and Fedex have a sliding scale of deliberate obstinacy:
> 1. They pay off a $100 without difficulty.
> 2. As the insured value of the shipment goes up, they make it increasingly
> difficult, by finding faults in the packaging.
> 3. For high value, nobody gets paid, except possibly if the shipment is in
> an ATA case.
>
> Personally, I had a Fedex driver come to my door and try to dump a package
> on me. I explained this was not the address. He was going to take it to
> the nextdoor wrong house, but I stopped him
>
> 4. And the good Ol USPS has a way of making packages vanish. Occasionally,
> they do show up again.
>
> You're thinking that because one carrier is good, the others are bad.
> Scott Dorsey hit the nail on the head. It's not about the customer
> anymore. We're all fungible, which is the economic term for an
> interchangeable commodity, like electricity, or soybeans.
>
> Bob Morein
> (310) 237-6511

About thirty years ago, I ordered two pair of down filled mittens with
leather palms through L.L. Bean (IIRC) They never came. So, I put a tracer
on them, and they were sent by UPS. About two weeks later, I got this letter
in the mail that had the shipping paperwork in it, and the driver had
scribbled on the slip, "Put in bricks on front porch". I ran out to my front
porch, and at the opposite end of the porch from the front door, there were
some concrete blocks, with two large holes in each one. Jammed inside one of
the blocks, was my package with the two pair of mittens in it! So, the
system sometimes works...:^)

[Inyo]

"mcp6453" > wrote in message
...

> On 11/19/2010 1:41 PM, Rick Ruskin wrote:

>> As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.

> You're making the mistake of assuming that companies care about their
> customers.
> Most of them do not. Customers are fungible commodities. Lose one, get
> another one.

Oh, no...somebody actually went and used the word "fungible" in Usenet. And
here, all along, I figured that I was digging myself a dangerously deep
cyber-hole when I happened to use "deracinated" a time two or two while
utilizing Usenet...(big ol' grin).

http://inyo.110mb.com/music/rebelrouser.html
My solo, acoustic 6-string guitar version of "Rebel-Rouser." Originally
recorded by the king of "twang guitar," Duane Eddy, whose powerful,
reverb-laden electric guitar production--with energetic saxapone, as
well--soared to #6 in the US during the summer of 1958, eventually spending
12 weeks in the Top 40. One of the most famous instrumentals of the Pop-Rock
Era, composed by Duane Eddy and Lee Hazelwood.

[LA]

On Nov 19, 4:00*pm, "Soundhaspriority" > wrote:

a sliding scale of deliberate obstinacy:


what does Fedex and the ancient Hebrews have in common?

Why deliberate obstinacy of course

He tastes the bitterness of the chalice (12:27). His last thought is
for His Blessed Mother (19:26-27). Christ, according to St. John, is
God, He is the Light of the World, enlightening all men that come into
this world, and - according to their dispositions - attracting them or
repelling them. This self-revelation of Christ, with the accompanying
acceptance or rejection of Him by men, is emphasized throughout the
fourth Gospel. The Gospel explains how it was that the Abrahamic
promises were not fulfilled in the Jews of Jerusalem. It shows that
Christ left nothing undone to convince the Jews of His Messianic and
Divine dignity. Their rejection of Him was due entirely to their own
***DELIBERATE OBSTINACY*****

I love google

[Mike Rivers]

On 11/19/2010 8:46 PM, Bill Graham wrote:

> About thirty years ago, I ordered two pair of down filled
> mittens with leather palms through L.L. Bean (IIRC) They
> never came. So, I put a tracer on them, and they were sent
> by UPS. About two weeks later, I got this letter in the mail
> that had the shipping paperwork in it, and the driver had
> scribbled on the slip, "Put in bricks on front porch".

I still get a newspaper delivered to my house and every now
and then I have to hunt for it. If I don't find it, I'll
call and get another one delivered, then I might find the
original one a couple of weeks later.

--
"Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be
operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although
it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge
of audio." - John Watkinson

http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com - useful and
interesting audio stuff

[Mike Rivers]

On 11/19/2010 11:06 PM, Dar wrote:

> I do
> almost all my domestic shipping through their online service, and I
> get documentation
> when I print the labels and don't have to wait in line at the p.o.,
> just drop them at the
> counter. We save probably close to $2k a year over UPS .

Whenever I have something to ship that's heavier than a
letter, I always shop USPS, UPS, and FedEx on line and pick
the cheapest one. For small things (an IC, or a single CD,
for example) USPS First Class always used to be cheapest and
quickest but now that they charge extra for something that
isn't a plain letter, FedEx Ground is often cheaper. You
can't send a disk for half a buck any more.

When shipping something that's 10 pounds or more, something
that won't fit in a flat rate box, or something of
significant value like a microphone, I don't use USPS.
Partial Post is almost always dreadfully slow and the longer
the time between drop-off and receipt, the better the chance
that something will go astray.


--
"Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be
operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although
it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge
of audio." - John Watkinson

http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com - useful and
interesting audio stuff

[Dar]

On Nov 20, 5:21*am, Mike Rivers > wrote:
> On 11/19/2010 11:06 PM, Dar wrote:
>
> > I do
> > almost all my domestic shipping through their online service, and I
> > get documentation
> > when I print the labels and don't have to wait in line at the p.o.,
> > just drop them at the
> > counter. We save probably close to $2k a year over UPS .
>
> Whenever I have something to ship that's heavier than a
> letter, I always shop USPS, UPS, and FedEx on line and pick
> the cheapest one. For small things (an IC, or a single CD,
> for example) USPS First Class always used to be cheapest and
> quickest but now that they charge extra for something that
> isn't a plain letter, FedEx Ground is often cheaper. You
> can't send a disk for half a buck any more.
>
> When shipping something that's 10 pounds or more, something
> that won't fit in a flat rate box, or something of
> significant value like a microphone, I don't use USPS.
> Partial Post is almost always dreadfully slow and the longer
> the time between drop-off and receipt, the better the chance
> that something will go astray.
>
> --
> "Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be
> operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although
> it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge
> of audio." - John Watkinson
>
> http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com- useful and
> interesting audio stuff

good plan. I almost always send small, heavy items (aforementioned
metal parts and/or tools) that fit into the flat rate boxes . One of
the
main reasons I used UPS for so long before we moved was accountability
and their insurance is cheaper than the p.o. . They are stubborn about
paying
claims but hardly ever lost anything . I do not miss getting the UPS
bill
every month, with fuel surcharges, resedential surcharges, out-of-our-
way
surcharges ; ******s charged me $8 apiece extra for plastic cat
litter tubs ('crapped' with
scrap copper, all taped up nicely) because they weren't "in a
cardboard container" , and I
thought "bite me; my driver liked the idea of leaving the handles on,
but some prick
in an office says that the book says '$8 extra' ". Oh well, they
are good for certain things ,
like the 30" cube box next week that's too big for the p.o. .

D

[Geezer51]

FEDEX just delivered a VAOM-04 to my door about a half hour ago.
Not even a dent on the box!

I haven't used UPS for years because of what they did to a guitar that I'd
bought...
and refused to honor their responsibility for the broken neck.

The jury's still out on USPS. I shipped my son a package for his birthday
via Priority
Mail...shipped it two days before his birthday...took FIVE days to get to MO
from RI!

Geezer

[Mark]

*I watched a
> CEO in a meeting about customer service once invite a manager out of the
> meeting for a private conversation, which resuilted in the dismissal of the
> manager and an escort out of the building. *What I also hear in meetings
> over and over is that it is far more expensive to add new customers than it
> is to retain current customers. *I do hear about failures on the part of
> employees "do the right thing", failures of systems and processes, and
> failures of (mostly) lower level managers to effectively supervise and train
> their employees. *Believe what you want, but be careful of generalizing..
> About FedEx... I have no direct knowlege of their policies. *I use FedEx to
> ship. *I specify FedEx as a shipper of purchases, when I can. *They've never
> lost one of my packages. *Luck, I guess.
>
> Steve King

in more and more jobs the work flow is "designed" so that people don't
have to use their brain so that lower cost employees can be used to
boost profit.......but then they don't know how to handle the
exception cases...

it's actually pretty easy to pilot a jet plane, when all the equipment
is working right


Mark

[Les Cargill]

Mark wrote:
> I watched a
>> CEO in a meeting about customer service once invite a manager out of the
>> meeting for a private conversation, which resuilted in the dismissal of the
>> manager and an escort out of the building. What I also hear in meetings
>> over and over is that it is far more expensive to add new customers than it
>> is to retain current customers. I do hear about failures on the part of
>> employees "do the right thing", failures of systems and processes, and
>> failures of (mostly) lower level managers to effectively supervise and train
>> their employees. Believe what you want, but be careful of generalizing.
>> About FedEx... I have no direct knowlege of their policies. I use FedEx to
>> ship. I specify FedEx as a shipper of purchases, when I can. They've never
>> lost one of my packages. Luck, I guess.
>>
>> Steve King
>
> in more and more jobs the work flow is "designed" so that people don't
> have to use their brain so that lower cost employees can be used to
> boost profit.......

That's part of it, but not all. It's a rare business that has real
labor cost issues. Part of the story is that people simply *want*
consistent results. Designing that is difficult.

> but then they don't know how to handle the
> exception cases...
>
> it's actually pretty easy to pilot a jet plane, when all the equipment
> is working right
>
>
> Mark
>
>

--
Les Cargill
>
>
>

[Dar]

On Nov 20, 10:57*am, "Geezer51" > wrote:
> FEDEX just delivered a VAOM-04 to my door about a half hour ago.
> Not even a dent on the box!
>
> I haven't used UPS for years because of what they did to a guitar that I'd
> bought...
> and refused to honor their responsibility for the broken neck.
>
> The jury's still out on USPS. I shipped my son a package for his birthday
> via Priority
> Mail...shipped it two days before his birthday...took FIVE days to get to MO
> from RI!
>
> Geezer

yeah I've lost things through them and we've all heard stories about
mailpersons being less than dutiful in their treatment of mail .
there are so many
of them, human error and negligence is bound to play a larger role
than with
UPS or FedEx . for me the savings over UPS is a good tradeoff , and I
insure the
expensive boxes, but haven't had to file a claim yet (probably lucky).
UPS did ruin an acrylic bird cage once ; even though there was a clear
boot
print on the side , they said my packaging was deficient . dicks. the
times I've
sent guitars UPS I 'crapped' the cases in layers of bubble wrap
inside the box.

D

D

D

[William Sommerwerck]

> UPS did ruin an acrylic bird cage once. Even though there
> was a clear boot print on the side, they said my packaging
> was deficient.

According to a UPS guy I spoke with, to be "properly" packed, a package has
to be able to withstand being pushed off the conveyor belt and landing on
the floor, several times.

When I've had "critical" stuff to pack, I've paid UPS to do it for me
(which, a few years back, was not terribly expensive). I had no trouble with
those.

[Tony Done]

On Nov 20, 4:41*am, Rick Ruskin > wrote:
> As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
>
> A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
> was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
> its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
> 4:05PM. *It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
> proper address.
>
> 6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
> whereabouts of my stuff. *In addition, I was given a different story
> with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a claim
> could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
> aware of the problem. * I was finally given the name of the trace
> agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
> the business day yesterday. *That call never came.
>
> In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
> hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
> mistake. *She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
> finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next day.
> Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
> shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. *(The tracking department knew
> nothing of this until I called them this morning).
>
> It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
> especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
> eccentric. *What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
> drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
> of their communication both within the company and to their customers.
>
> As a shipper, I will never use them. *As a purchaser, I will request
> any other carrier.
>
> Rick Ruskin
> Lion Dog Music - Seattle WAhttp://liondogmusic.comhttp://www.myspace.com/rickruskin

I'm nervous about using parcel services, especially the way they leave
things on the doorstep, but I haven't had a problem so far. For
fragile stuff like guitars, I always get the driver to look over the
outside of the package with me before he leaves. I assume that if I
buy a guitar from somewhere like Elderly Instruments, they will
protect their reputation and/or use their muscle if there is any
damage or loss. The one occasion when I bought from a small dealer who
didn't have freight contract I used a freight forwarding service. It
was very expensive, but they have a good tracking system don't argue
over insurance issues. You can also insure for a higher value than the
customs declared amount - wink, wink, nod, nod.

Tony D

[Dar]

On Nov 20, 1:35*pm, "William Sommerwerck" >
wrote:
> > UPS did ruin an acrylic bird cage once. Even though there
> > was a clear boot print on the side, they said my packaging
> > was deficient.
>
> According to a UPS guy I spoke with, to be "properly" packed, a package has
> to be able to withstand being pushed off the conveyor belt and landing on
> the floor, several times.
>
> When I've had "critical" stuff to pack, I've paid UPS to do it for me
> (which, a few years back, was not terribly expensive). I had no trouble with
> those.

do you have to go to a real UPS depot or do
all the "UPS Stores" that do UPS shipping qualify?

D

[Mike Brown]

In article
>,
Tony Done > wrote:

> On Nov 20, 4:41*am, Rick Ruskin > wrote:
> > As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
> >
> > A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
> > was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
> > its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
> > 4:05PM. *It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
> > proper address.
> >
> > 6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
> > whereabouts of my stuff. *In addition, I was given a different story
> > with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a claim
> > could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
> > aware of the problem. * I was finally given the name of the trace
> > agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
> > the business day yesterday. *That call never came.
> >
> > In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
> > hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
> > mistake. *She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
> > finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next day.
> > Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
> > shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. *(The tracking department knew
> > nothing of this until I called them this morning).
> >
> > It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
> > especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
> > eccentric. *What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
> > drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
> > of their communication both within the company and to their customers.
> >
> > As a shipper, I will never use them. *As a purchaser, I will request
> > any other carrier.
> >
> > Rick Ruskin
> > Lion Dog Music - Seattle
> > WAhttp://liondogmusic.comhttp://www.myspace.com/rickruskin
>
> I'm nervous about using parcel services, especially the way they leave
> things on the doorstep, but I haven't had a problem so far. For
> fragile stuff like guitars, I always get the driver to look over the
> outside of the package with me before he leaves. I assume that if I
> buy a guitar from somewhere like Elderly Instruments, they will
> protect their reputation and/or use their muscle if there is any
> damage or loss. The one occasion when I bought from a small dealer who
> didn't have freight contract I used a freight forwarding service. It
> was very expensive, but they have a good tracking system don't argue
> over insurance issues. You can also insure for a higher value than the
> customs declared amount - wink, wink, nod, nod.
>
> Tony D

I have a sign on my front door

"PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE PACKAGES ON THE DOORSTEP"

So far it has worked. Of course it does mean that you have to pick up
the goods from their depot.

MJRB

[Bill Graham]

"Mike Rivers" > wrote in message
...
> On 11/19/2010 8:46 PM, Bill Graham wrote:
>
>> About thirty years ago, I ordered two pair of down filled
>> mittens with leather palms through L.L. Bean (IIRC) They
>> never came. So, I put a tracer on them, and they were sent
>> by UPS. About two weeks later, I got this letter in the mail
>> that had the shipping paperwork in it, and the driver had
>> scribbled on the slip, "Put in bricks on front porch".
>
> I still get a newspaper delivered to my house and every now and then I
> have to hunt for it. If I don't find it, I'll call and get another one
> delivered, then I might find the original one a couple of weeks later.
>
Yeah, its amazing how many places there are to hide a newspaper within 30
feet of your front door, isn't it? And newspaper delivery people seem to
know all of them, for every house on their route...:^)

[William Sommerwerck]

> It's amazing how many places there are to hide
> a newspaper within 30 feet of your front door,
> isn't it? And newspaper delivery people seem to
> know all of them, for every house on their route..:^)

"It's hard to hit the porch from a horse..." -- Ben Franklin to Thomas
Jefferson

[Bill Graham]

"Geezer51" > wrote in message
...
> FEDEX just delivered a VAOM-04 to my door about a half hour ago.
> Not even a dent on the box!
>
> I haven't used UPS for years because of what they did to a guitar that I'd
> bought...
> and refused to honor their responsibility for the broken neck.
>
> The jury's still out on USPS. I shipped my son a package for his birthday
> via Priority
> Mail...shipped it two days before his birthday...took FIVE days to get to
> MO from RI!
>
> Geezer
>

Speaking of wrecked guitars, have you seen the, "United breaks guitars" clip
on utube? go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

[Dar]

On Nov 20, 3:22*pm, Dar > wrote:
> On Nov 20, 1:35*pm, "William Sommerwerck" >
> wrote:
>
> > > UPS did ruin an acrylic bird cage once. Even though there
> > > was a clear boot print on the side, they said my packaging
> > > was deficient.
>
> > According to a UPS guy I spoke with, to be "properly" packed, a package has
> > to be able to withstand being pushed off the conveyor belt and landing on
> > the floor, several times.
>
> > When I've had "critical" stuff to pack, I've paid UPS to do it for me
> > (which, a few years back, was not terribly expensive). I had no trouble with
> > those.
>
> do you have to go to a real UPS *depot or *do
> all the "UPS Stores" *that do UPS shipping qualify?
>
> D

Moot point. I just spent an hour and a half packing up a delicate wire
sculpture
in the 30" cube. I made internal cross braces in 'all 3 directions
' (6, I guess, actually)
made from 1" pvc pipe , held in place by cardboard and styrofoam
receptacles glued to
the box sides, and 2" styrofoam corner braces .Nobody in the world at
any UPS joint
would do that extensive a job . I hope the people who get it have to
spend at least
an hour taking it out of the box (^8

D

[Mike Rivers]

On 11/20/2010 5:22 PM, Dar wrote:

> do you have to go to a real UPS depot or do
> all the "UPS Stores" that do UPS shipping qualify?

The UPS Store (tm) is owned by UPS. Whether or not they
guarantee safe arrival (or their packing makes it easier to
collect for damage) is doubtful.



--
"Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be
operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although
it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge
of audio." - John Watkinson

http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com - useful and
interesting audio stuff

[Mike Rivers]

On 11/20/2010 5:16 PM, Tony Done wrote:

> I'm nervous about using parcel services, especially the way they leave
> things on the doorstep, but I haven't had a problem so far.For
> fragile stuff like guitars, I always get the driver to look over the
> outside of the package with me before he leaves.

The FedEx driver always rings the doorbell whether he needs
a signature or not. The UPS driver never rings the doorbell
unless he needs a signature. I've had both left on my porch
for upwards of a week when I've been out of town and they've
been safe, but I guess I live in a pretty safe neighborhood
and my porch isn't visible from the street. And they always
leave packages well under the overhang so they don't get
rained on.

Fortunately, everything I have shipped here (and there
really isn't all that much) is in nondescript cartons that
don't look like guitars. The only thing that I ever received
damaged was a consignment shipment of a 50 pound tape deck
that was packed and shipped by the seller, not the shop that
brokered the deal. It was incredibly poorly packed, circuit
boards inside were cracked, and motor mounts were broken.
When I contacted the broker about it and asked what to do,
he canceled the credit card charge, sent me a UPS call tag
and just told me to send it back to the sender.



--
"Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be
operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although
it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge
of audio." - John Watkinson

http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com - useful and
interesting audio stuff

[darrelld]

On Nov 19, 12:41*pm, Rick Ruskin > wrote:
> As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
>
> A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
> was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
> its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
> 4:05PM. *It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
> proper address.
>
> 6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
> whereabouts of my stuff. *In addition, I was given a different story
> with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a claim
> could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
> aware of the problem. * I was finally given the name of the trace
> agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
> the business day yesterday. *That call never came.
>
> In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
> hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
> mistake. *She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
> finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next day.
> Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
> shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. *(The tracking department knew
> nothing of this until I called them this morning).
>
> It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
> especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
> eccentric. *What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
> drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
> of their communication both within the company and to their customers.
>
> As a shipper, I will never use them. *As a purchaser, I will request
> any other carrier.
>
> Rick Ruskin
> Lion Dog Music - Seattle WAhttp://liondogmusic.comhttp://www.myspace.com/rickruskin

I think it might vary depending where you live. Talking only about my
experience *receiving* shipped items, here in Lincoln, NE, UPS breaks
a little more than half the things shipped here (and always blames the
shipper's packaging), Fed Ex breaks some things and the USPS packages
always fare the best. None of this is hyperbole. I will pay more when
receiving things for the shipper to avoid UPS and I never, ever use
them when I am sending things.

I guess our local delivery company for Fed Ex ground has some pride in
their work while the UPS guys have unresolved issues from childhood or
birth trauma.

[Bill Graham]

darrelld wrote:
> On Nov 19, 12:41 pm, Rick Ruskin > wrote:
>> As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
>>
>> A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
>> was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
>> its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
>> 4:05PM. It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
>> proper address.
>>
>> 6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
>> whereabouts of my stuff. In addition, I was given a different story
>> with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a
>> claim
>> could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
>> aware of the problem. I was finally given the name of the trace
>> agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
>> the business day yesterday. That call never came.
>>
>> In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
>> hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
>> mistake. She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
>> finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next
>> day.
>> Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
>> shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. (The tracking department knew
>> nothing of this until I called them this morning).
>>
>> It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
>> especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
>> eccentric. What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
>> drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the
>> inconsistency
>> of their communication both within the company and to their
>> customers.
>>
>> As a shipper, I will never use them. As a purchaser, I will request
>> any other carrier.
>>
>> Rick Ruskin
>> Lion Dog Music - Seattle
>> WAhttp://liondogmusic.comhttp://www.myspace.com/rickruskin
>
> I think it might vary depending where you live. Talking only about my
> experience *receiving* shipped items, here in Lincoln, NE, UPS breaks
> a little more than half the things shipped here (and always blames the
> shipper's packaging), Fed Ex breaks some things and the USPS packages
> always fare the best. None of this is hyperbole. I will pay more when
> receiving things for the shipper to avoid UPS and I never, ever use
> them when I am sending things.
>
> I guess our local delivery company for Fed Ex ground has some pride in
> their work while the UPS guys have unresolved issues from childhood or
> birth trauma.

Maybe their fathers liked to throw them in the air and catch them when they
were babies....:^)

[Rick Ruskin]

On Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:06:03 -0800, "Bill Graham" >
wrote:

>darrelld wrote:
>> On Nov 19, 12:41 pm, Rick Ruskin > wrote:
>>> As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
>>>
>>> A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
>>> was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
>>> its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
>>> 4:05PM. It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
>>> proper address.
>>>
>>> 6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
>>> whereabouts of my stuff. In addition, I was given a different story
>>> with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a
>>> claim
>>> could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
>>> aware of the problem. I was finally given the name of the trace
>>> agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
>>> the business day yesterday. That call never came.
>>>
>>> In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
>>> hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
>>> mistake. She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
>>> finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next
>>> day.
>>> Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
>>> shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. (The tracking department knew
>>> nothing of this until I called them this morning).
>>>
>>> It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
>>> especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
>>> eccentric. What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
>>> drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the
>>> inconsistency
>>> of their communication both within the company and to their
>>> customers.
>>>
>>> As a shipper, I will never use them. As a purchaser, I will request
>>> any other carrier.
>>>
>>> Rick Ruskin
>>> Lion Dog Music - Seattle
>>> WAhttp://liondogmusic.comhttp://www.myspace.com/rickruskin
>>
>> I think it might vary depending where you live. Talking only about my
>> experience *receiving* shipped items, here in Lincoln, NE, UPS breaks
>> a little more than half the things shipped here (and always blames the
>> shipper's packaging), Fed Ex breaks some things and the USPS packages
>> always fare the best. None of this is hyperbole. I will pay more when
>> receiving things for the shipper to avoid UPS and I never, ever use
>> them when I am sending things.
>>
>> I guess our local delivery company for Fed Ex ground has some pride in
>> their work while the UPS guys have unresolved issues from childhood or
>> birth trauma.
>
>Maybe their fathers liked to throw them in the air and catch them when they
>were babies....:^)


Or not catch them, perhaps?
Rick Ruskin
Lion Dog Music - Seattle WA
http://liondogmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/rickruskin

[Dar]

On Nov 21, 8:30*pm, Rick Ruskin > wrote:
> On Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:06:03 -0800, "Bill Graham" >
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> >darrelld wrote:
> >> On Nov 19, 12:41 pm, Rick Ruskin > wrote:
> >>> As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
>
> >>> A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
> >>> was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
> >>> its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
> >>> 4:05PM. It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
> >>> proper address.
>
> >>> 6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
> >>> whereabouts of my stuff. In addition, I was given a different story
> >>> with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a
> >>> claim
> >>> could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
> >>> aware of the problem. I was finally given the name of the trace
> >>> agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
> >>> the business day yesterday. That call never came.
>
> >>> In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
> >>> hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
> >>> mistake. She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
> >>> finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next
> >>> day.
> >>> Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
> >>> shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. (The tracking department knew
> >>> nothing of this until I called them this morning).
>
> >>> It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
> >>> especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
> >>> eccentric. What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
> >>> drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the
> >>> inconsistency
> >>> of their communication both within the company and to their
> >>> customers.
>
> >>> As a shipper, I will never use them. As a purchaser, I will request
> >>> any other carrier.
>
> >>> Rick Ruskin
> >>> Lion Dog Music - Seattle
> >>> WAhttp://liondogmusic.comhttp://www.myspace.com/rickruskin
>
> >> I think it might vary depending where you live. Talking only about my
> >> experience *receiving* shipped items, here in Lincoln, NE, UPS breaks
> >> a little more than half the things shipped here (and always blames the
> >> shipper's packaging), Fed Ex breaks some things and the USPS packages
> >> always fare the best. None of this is hyperbole. I will pay more when
> >> receiving things for the shipper to avoid UPS and I never, ever use
> >> them when I am sending things.
>
> >> I guess our local delivery company for Fed Ex ground has some pride in
> >> their work while the UPS guys have unresolved issues from childhood or
> >> birth trauma.
>
> >Maybe their fathers liked to throw them in the air and catch them when they
> >were babies....:^)
>
> Or not catch them, perhaps?
> Rick Ruskin
> Lion Dog Music - Seattle WAhttp://liondogmusic.comhttp://www.myspace.com/rickruskin- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Yeah I thought of that , but the fun is over with pretty quickly using
that method .
No, I never had kids , and they will thank me for it someday.

D

[Mr Soul]

> FedEx's customer service is basically oriented around their tracking system,
> and when a package isn't in the tracking system, they get all confused and
> don't know what to do.
>
> If you think this is bad, though, UPS is even worse. *FedEx loses things
> and they break things, but they pay on the insurance when they do. *UPS
> has to be taken to court to get them to pay.
I totally agree with Scott here. I used to use UPS until they
destroyed and lost a vintage amp that I was shipping. I started using
Fedex about 6 years and for the most part, I've been very happy with
them. They do pay on the insurance, whereas you have to fight with
UPS. Also, at the time I switched, Fedex ground was about 30% cheaper
to ship for the same package. The pricing schedule may have become
more competitive - I don't know because I haven't used UPS since then.

Fedex invested in their online system and it is very easy to use. I
can prepare a package and just drop it off at the Fedex place.

Every shipping company will break packages if you don't package them
correcly - it's the nature of the business. You've got to pad
everything and double-box it. If you don't do that, then fragile
contents will get broken.

Mike C.

[William Sommerwerck]

> Every shipping company will break packages if you don't
> package them correcly - it's the nature of the business.
> You've got to pad everything and double-box it. If you don't
> do that, then fragile contents will get broken.

Several years ago I sold my Nakamichi Dragon. It had been purchased in 1992,
and safely shipped via UPS in its sales carton -- nothing else. This time,
UPS absolutely, positively refused to accept it unless it was double-boxed.
I'd agreed to pick up the shipping charges, and this greatly increased them.

[Keith W. Blackwell]

I only have one shipment-damage story, and it dates back to 1985,
and it happens to be audio-related, sort of.

I shipped my turntable [actually it belonged to my brother and I
was borrowing it] to my temporary address in another state (summer
job). The box itself arrived *punctured* somehow, and whatever
punctured it proceded right through the back of the shell and
hit the tonearm and broke it off. After a phone call, a driver
stopped by to verify the damage, confirmed it, and then it was
up to me to supply documentation for the value. I got a receipt
from my brother for, I dunno, maybe less than $200, and the
company paid it back -- full value of the item brand new, though
by this time it was several years old. I sent the check to my
brother, who was quite pleased :-). I'm almost certain that was
UPS. That was also a long time ago.

I only ship a few boxes per year, receive maybe 2 dozen, but I
haven't had shipping damage since then. Most recently, when I
needed to return a new (refurbished) camera with a DOA viewfinder,
I discovered that the USPS flat-rate can be an excellent value.
I also like the idea of using USPS when dealing with strangers
selling something to me, since there are stronger laws against
carrying out illegal acts (like fraud) through the US Mail.


--
Keith W. Blackwell
(my employer certainly has nothing to do with this)

[Mr Soul]

> Several years ago I sold my Nakamichi Dragon. It had been purchased in 1992,
> and safely shipped via UPS in its sales carton -- nothing else. This time,
> UPS absolutely, positively refused to accept it unless it was double-boxed.
> I'd agreed to pick up the shipping charges, and this greatly increased them.
Interesting - usually they could care less how it was packaged. So
you are saying that UPS explicity told you that it needed to be double-
boxed after you identified it's contents, or they could see from the
original box?

Mike C

[Arny Krueger]

"William Sommerwerck" > wrote in
message
>> Every shipping company will break packages if you don't
>> package them correcly - it's the nature of the business.
>> You've got to pad everything and double-box it. If you
>> don't do that, then fragile contents will get broken.
>
> Several years ago I sold my Nakamichi Dragon. It had been
> purchased in 1992, and safely shipped via UPS in its
> sales carton -- nothing else. This time, UPS absolutely,
> positively refused to accept it unless it was
> double-boxed. I'd agreed to pick up the shipping charges,
> and this greatly increased them.

I double-box everything I ship, and just about everything I get shipped from
vendors comes with a box over the manufacturer's box. Typically, there is
the proverbial 2" of packing between the shipper's box and the
manufacturer's box.

[William Sommerwerck]

>> Several years ago I sold my Nakamichi Dragon. It had been
>> purchased in 1992, and safely shipped via UPS in its sales
>> carton -- nothing else. This time, UPS absolutely, positively
>> refused to accept it unless it was double-boxed. I'd agreed
>> to pick up the shipping charges, and this greatly increased
>> them.

> Interesting - usually they could care less how it was packaged.
> So you are saying that UPS explicity told you that it needed to
> be double-boxed after you identified it's contents, or they could
> see from the original box?

I insisted that they accept the unit in its original carton. The UPS label
was still on it, confirming that it had been shipped without additional
protection. UPS refused to accept it, insisting on double boxing.

[Richard Webb[_3_]]

William Sommerwerck writes:
>> Several years ago I sold my Nakamichi Dragon. It had been
>> purchased in 1992, and safely shipped via UPS in its sales
>> carton -- nothing else. This time, UPS absolutely, positively
>> refused to accept it unless it was double-boxed. I'd agreed
>> to pick up the shipping charges, and this greatly increased
>> them.

> I insisted that they accept the unit in its original carton. The UPS
S> label was still on it, confirming that it had been shipped without
> additional protection. UPS refused to accept it, insisting on double
> boxing.


OF course, since '92 they've really changed things up at
UPS as well as FedEx. Lots more automation, the big sorting centers, etc. Lots more machine handling of your packages.
Anybody who ever wonders why should look at one of those big sorting centers, such as the one for UPS somewhere in
KEntucky, or FEdEx here around MEmphis. THat stuff takes a
beating, is machine scanned, and when it reaches the right
off shooting conveyor for its destination a robot arm bats
it off the main belt onto the one for its destination. THis stuff definitely ain't treated nice anymore.

Regards,
Richard
.... Remote audio in the southland: See www.gatasound.com
--
| Remove .my.foot for email
| via Waldo's Place USA Fidonet<->Internet Gateway Site
| Standard disclaimer: The views of this user are strictly his own.

[hans]

On Nov 19, 12:41*pm, Rick Ruskin > wrote:
> As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
>
> A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
> was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
> its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
> 4:05PM. *It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
> proper address.
>
> 6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
> whereabouts of my stuff. *In addition, I was given a different story
> with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a claim
> could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
> aware of the problem. * I was finally given the name of the trace
> agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
> the business day yesterday. *That call never came.
>
> In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
> hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
> mistake. *She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
> finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next day.
> Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
> shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. *(The tracking department knew
> nothing of this until I called them this morning).
>
> It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
> especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
> eccentric. *What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
> drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
> of their communication both within the company and to their customers.
>
> As a shipper, I will never use them. *As a purchaser, I will request
> any other carrier.
>
> Rick Ruskin
> Lion Dog Music - Seattle WAhttp://liondogmusic.comhttp://www.myspace.com/rickruskin

Ive had them twice over the past 6 mos deliver packages to my house
that were at the right number worng street one block away. The drivers
are just too pushed or too stupid to get the addresses right

hans

[Dar]

On Nov 23, 8:55*pm, hans > wrote:
> On Nov 19, 12:41*pm, Rick Ruskin > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
>
> > A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
> > was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
> > its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
> > 4:05PM. *It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
> > proper address.
>
> > 6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
> > whereabouts of my stuff. *In addition, I was given a different story
> > with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a claim
> > could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
> > aware of the problem. * I was finally given the name of the trace
> > agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
> > the business day yesterday. *That call never came.
>
> > In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
> > hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
> > mistake. *She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
> > finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next day.
> > Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
> > shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. *(The tracking department knew
> > nothing of this until I called them this morning).
>
> > It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
> > especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
> > eccentric. *What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
> > drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
> > of their communication both within the company and to their customers.
>
> > As a shipper, I will never use them. *As a purchaser, I will request
> > any other carrier.
>
> > Rick Ruskin
> > Lion Dog Music - Seattle WAhttp://liondogmusic.comhttp://www.myspace.com/rickruskin
>

Well, it's been interesting , the timing of this thread coinciding
with my shipping
of a delicate sculpture. Turns out FedEx won't pick up for ground
service unless I have an account, which I don't, and the dang 30" cube
box is too big for my cabover Mazda pickup, so UPS it is. They will
pick up , but after reading a few more horror stories I went ahead
and glued folded cardboard braces along all the edges of the outside
of the box, to go with the inner cross braces made of 1" pvc pipe (4
of those , spanning the full 30" in 3 directions. Now it will be able
to withstand being dropped from a roof, maybe a 2-story window, and
being roughed up a bit . Of course I'll be there when the driver
comes, in case my additions violate some obscure , ****ant packaging
guidelines , like ones that are meant to keep packages from being to
sturdy , so they can F me and send it back or not pay if it gets
hurt . Double boxing would have been impractical , as the 30" cube
cost $30 , and the next-up size to go around it would cost even more,
and a bunch more to ship (a bunch more than the $188 I'm already
bending over for ). Sheeesh , I'm glad I ship tiny stuff 95% of the
time.

(and this would be the time to see what's in the box :
http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p219/sheltech/Sculptures/?action=view&current=DoubleStellatedDodeachedron015.jpg
)

have a good one everybody, on both boards

Dar

[MG[_4_]]

"Dar" > wrote in message
...
> On Nov 23, 8:55 pm, hans > wrote:
>> On Nov 19, 12:41 pm, Rick Ruskin > wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > As far as I'm concerned, FedEX service sucks.
>>
>> > A package of audio gear was slated to arrive at my door 2 days ago. I
>> > was home all that day and when it hadn't arrived by 5:00PM, I checked
>> > its status online to find that FedEX had it marked as "delivered" at
>> > 4:05PM. It obviously had been delivered somewhere but not to the
>> > proper address.
>>
>> > 6 calls to Customer Service later, they still did not know the
>> > whereabouts of my stuff. In addition, I was given a different story
>> > with each conversation as to how long a trace would take, when a claim
>> > could be filed, or whether or not the driver responsible was even
>> > aware of the problem. I was finally given the name of the trace
>> > agent in charge of the situation who would contact me by the end of
>> > the business day yesterday. That call never came.
>>
>> > In the meantime, a woman knocks on my door late yesterday afternoon,
>> > hands me my package, and informs me that it went to her address by
>> > mistake. She also states that she called FedEx immediately after
>> > finding it on her doorstep and would redirect it herself the next day.
>> > Whoever she spoke with never passed that info on to either me, the
>> > shipper, or anyone inside of FedEx. (The tracking department knew
>> > nothing of this until I called them this morning).
>>
>> > It's somewhat understandable that delivery mistakes can happen,
>> > especially here in Seattle where the street system is pretty
>> > eccentric. What's not understandable is how a company like FedEx can
>> > drop the ball as many times/as badly as they did and the inconsistency
>> > of their communication both within the company and to their customers.
>>
>> > As a shipper, I will never use them. As a purchaser, I will request
>> > any other carrier.
>>
>> > Rick Ruskin
>> > Lion Dog Music - Seattle
>> > WAhttp://liondogmusic.comhttp://www.myspace.com/rickruskin
>>
>
> Well, it's been interesting , the timing of this thread coinciding
> with my shipping
> of a delicate sculpture. Turns out FedEx won't pick up for ground
> service unless I have an account, which I don't, and the dang 30" cube
> box is too big for my cabover Mazda pickup, so UPS it is. They will
> pick up , but after reading a few more horror stories I went ahead
> and glued folded cardboard braces along all the edges of the outside
> of the box, to go with the inner cross braces made of 1" pvc pipe (4
> of those , spanning the full 30" in 3 directions. Now it will be able
> to withstand being dropped from a roof, maybe a 2-story window, and
> being roughed up a bit . Of course I'll be there when the driver
> comes, in case my additions violate some obscure , ****ant packaging
> guidelines , like ones that are meant to keep packages from being to
> sturdy , so they can F me and send it back or not pay if it gets
> hurt . Double boxing would have been impractical , as the 30" cube
> cost $30 , and the next-up size to go around it would cost even more,
> and a bunch more to ship (a bunch more than the $188 I'm already
> bending over for ). Sheeesh , I'm glad I ship tiny stuff 95% of the
> time.
>
> (and this would be the time to see what's in the box :
> http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p219/sheltech/Sculptures/?action=view&current=DoubleStellatedDodeachedron015.jpg
> )
>
> have a good one everybody, on both boards
>
> Dar

In the pre-merger days of Compaq, I sent a laptop back to them by DHL (their
warranty shipper) and it was returned to my office folded in half, which was
not a good thing. Amazingly, they just covered the nearly-destroyed box
with shipping tape and dumped it on the receptionist. Eventually they paid
the claim. All of them botch it from time to time.