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Fedex issues

For years, I have made it a standard to use Fedex for shipping of audio equipment and I think most of us have too. I might be changing my mind after a few incidents in the last few weeks.
In our neighborhood, we have had many issues with fedex delivering to the wrong address and more disturbing, been seen throwing small bags/boxes from a distance to the clients front doors. Our neighbors had their Ring cameras record these incidents and when I went out online and did some searching, this is fairly common practice.
Yeaterday, I had a shipment coming to me from an audio vendor that was worth $7,000 and there was a signature required when delivered. There was an issue where the vendor used my old address instead of my current address but I thought the new homeowners would see it was sent to me and tell the fedex guy it wasn’t theirs and he would take it back to the warehouse. That’s not what occurred. Nobody was home, so the fedex guy signed for it himself and left it out on the porch where anybody could have picked it up. The new homeowners called me when they got home to tell me my package was sitting outside. The vendor that shipped the piece asked for the digital signature and it was a line with 2 dots, but fedex indicates that I signed for it, I’m 30 miles from my old house.

What good is having paid for a signature when delivered if the carrier is going to sign for it and leave it out in the open? If somebody would have stolen the box, I bet there would be a fight since fedex claims it was signed for and delivered.
Maybe UPS has fixed their issue with dropping packages up to 5’ from conveyer to conveyer.
rbstehno
oldschool1948's avatar
oldschool1948
488 posts
 
I have these same issues with FedEx and UPS.  While somewhat inconvenient, I have UPS deliver high dollar items to my local UPS store for pickup; I have FedEx hold my delivery at the distribution center for pickup.  

With other things, I take my chances like everyone else.  I have a Nest doorbell and security cameras.  More times than not, the delivery person will place, drop, or throw an item on my stoop; not ring the doorbell; and walk away.  Luckily, I've never had a package stolen and only once received a damaged one.

If there were better alternatives, I think all of would use them.
gadios
94 posts
 
Thanks for the good tips on the adult signature required and pickup at depot options.

Our club recently had 8 speakers companies ship samples to us for an event. I also had them all shipped to my office as a secretary is always present.I had looked at all the boxes for damage when they arrived. Some companies used prudent packing precautions. Others required improvisation to repack them safely.

I had all the boxes back at my home to return ship per each
company's preference. Most chose Fed Ex. One chose ABF, a freight company. ABS was the only prompt and professional company I dealt with. I wonder how much more it cost? They also provide next day delivery albeit to an adjoining state.

Only one speaker company chose UPS and I wondered why. When the UPS guy finally arrived with earbuds still intact and no hand truck-He had "forgotten" it, I explained these 5 boxes where expensive and fragile
electronics. I offered to loan him my hand truck. No thanks I got this
was the reply. He then proceeded to roll the boxes end over end to his
truck. I should have walked out after the first flip and said "Hey Jack,
You are fired. Get out!" As usual I thought of that too late. The MFG
did not say anything about a condition issue when he received them.
It was a Brand New, $16k system, I was very relieved.
 
Seems like a business opportunity for someone to offer a better way
to ship stuff. Or everybody should consider triple boxing.

marklet
7 posts
 
Here in Southern California, Riverside County, I have had great service and relationships with both FedEx and UPS drivers (knock on wood). USPS Postal Service, on the other hand, could not find a bell attached to their backside with both hands tied behind their back. Honestly.
The delivery route supervisor, Adrian, changes drivers on the routes frequently and our mail and many Amazon packages are mis-delivered (delivered to the wrong address). Complaining to the Post Master has brought no improvement to their service and the postal inspector is only interested in theft, not incompetence.
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