Issues with FedEx

[Alphasud40]

I wanted to share some recent shipping issues with FedEx and to ask others to investigate as well. Recently on 2 occasions I received a tracking number from the merchant stating the part has shipped but it takes 2-3 days before FedEx reports having received the package. This has happened in the past but in those cases there was not a time constraint so I never followed up with the merchant to verify the package was picked up.

Last week I was waiting for a rear driveshaft from a VW dealer to repair a vehicle. Item was said to be shipped on Monday. Not seeing any tracking updates on Tuesday I called the dealer and the guy in the parts department said it shipped out. So the following day (Wednesday) FedEx stated they were still waiting for the package. So I called the dealer and this time the parts manager assured me it was picked up Monday. Now the same thing is happening all over again where another merchant stated the item shipped on Monday but as of Wednesday FedEx reports still waiting for the package. The merchant reached out to FedEx today to try and get some answers.

I believe this to be a pattern with this company and I’m wondering if any of you have experienced this issue. A while back I had issues with FedEx stating they could not deliver due to a weather delay when it was on the truck for delivery and we had dry roads and sunny skies. Obviously that was a local issue most likely with a driver unable to deliver all the parcels on his route for the day but I’m tired of the lies. They scan the package when they receive it so whats going on?

 

[2phast]

Many times shippers will print a label but sometimes it may take a day or two for them to actually drop it off at FedEx or for FedEx to pick up the package, that is why it does not shop up in their system.

I have also noticed that sometimes if the package is not scanned when it is picked up, then any further scans don't show up. Have mainly seen this with USPS though.

 

[Alphasud40]

Many times shippers will print a label but sometimes it may take a day or two for them to actually drop it off at FedEx or for FedEx to pick up the package, that is why it does not shop up in their system.

I have also noticed that sometimes if the package is not scanned when it is picked up, then any further scans don't show up. Have mainly seen this with USPS though.

yes this is often times the reason and when I was told by the parts guy at VW that FedEx had the package I took it with a grain of salt. Like being told what I wanted to hear but it has happened again with another vendor so no I’m not so sure.

 

[daantjie]

UPS and FedEx are equally shite because they both know that there is really only 1 other game in town. What you are seeing is a package being manifested (label prints) but not yet "in scanned" into their hub. It's a way for carriers to fudge their "time in transit" numbers. To the customer (shipper) it shows "shipped" but the clock for total transit time starts with the hub scan. I'm in the industry and let me tell you I can write a book on how carriers f their customers out of $$$$...

 

[Alphasud40]

UPS and FedEx are equally shite because they both know that there is really only 1 other game in town. What you are seeing is a package being manifested (label prints) but not yet "in scanned" into their hub. It's a way for carriers to fudge their "time in transit" numbers. To the customer (shipper) it shows "shipped" but the clock for total transit time starts with the hub scan. I'm in the industry and let me tell you I can write a book on how carriers f their customers out of $$$$...

Thank you! I thought I was crazy!

 

[ace10]

FedEx or FedEx Ground?
They're not the same...

 

[Alphasud40]

FedEx ground. Not express.

 

[ace10]

I find that Ground is hit or miss. But no major issues, at all.
I'm currently having a significant paperwork problems with Fedex on some wheels I bought from Europe. Shipped from Poland, and the two boxes became separated at some point.

They're all desperate for good staff. My Fedex guy had been on the route for years and years. He's been with the company since 1990. Compare and contrast with Ground, where there's a new driver every couple of weeks. And because of that, the level of last mile care seems to vary wildly.

The "label created" thing is truly annoying. I'd prefer to just know when the carrier has accepted the package.

 

[nocfn]

Some are union, some are employees and some show up with an old ryder or uhaul truck and they have on fedex uni....they are contractors. But I agree, as a corporate account holder on UPS I blast the crap out of them about shipped verses label created. GRRRR it is maddening.

 

[svhamelly]

Its as everyone else is saying... label printed by shipper means "shipped" to FedEx AND the shipper. It's the same thing with the airlines.
You ever been pushed back from the gate at the designated time and then sat on the tarmac for 20 minutes, hour, two hours? Well its because if you push back from the gate on-time, they call it an on-time departure.

 

[nocfn]

As for the airline - funny discussion.... I worked for CO for about 11 years and the vernacular changed from "Passengers to Customers". One old Texas International Airline Supervisor chimed up and called bullshite! In your best Texas twang, ..."when the plane crashed they never burried survivors or customers, only the passengers..." PFFFTT And I am sure Trey and others here will attest to the fact that plenty of ACARS actions made for on time departures. May have been 87 or so, but we shut the door and released the breaks for the ontime departure, then pulled the circuit breaker and opened the door so I could get off while we finished the MX paperwork.