Fed Ex vs. UPS

In the interest of variety, I’m going to complain about someone other than signature solar…

Got a new Quattro, cerbo, linx, etc on the way. Finally.

Got a text a few days ago, Signature required. No problem. Delivery today between 10 and 2. Cool. Pretty tight window. That’s nice.

I change my plans and travel about 2 hours back to Austin for this delivery. I’m outside cleaning up waiting for the truck. He shows up. Goes to the back of the truck. Then gets back in the driver’s seat like he’s going to take off. I walk up to the truck door and say hello. “Your package isn’t on the truck. Maybe tomorrow.”

It was only noon. Plenty of time to fix this f-up. Nope. I call. The customer service is automated. Find another number, the rep is not helpful. Get a supervisor. No joy.

All part of the new FU customer service that seems pretty common these days. Fed Ex used to be absolutely awesome and reliable.

It’s going to be really good when they don’t show up again tomorrow.

Since our vendors have choices about who they ship with, who do you prefer for reliability and safe shipping?

Im more curious as to why a signature is required in the first place. Is this a vendor decision or carrier decision to avoid “ I never received it“ complaints.

I’ve always tried to divert to a local pick up center, then once I know it’s there I make my arrangements.

Ditto on what @740GLE said: Hold at local facility for me to pick up.

I decided quite a while ago that - at least for me and in my area - FedEx is the worst, and UPS is much better. I think they both struggled with the pandemic, but UPS remained at least somewhat better.

One time the FedEx tracking showed that a package of mine had gotten to somewhere in Pennsylvania, and then just sat there. I actually managed to get to a customer service rep. After a few minutes she said there was a problem with the package label. I asked what I could do to get it moving again to my address in Colorado, to which she said: "Well, do you think you can go pick it up?" I asked where, and she told me where the Pennsylvania shipping center was where it was stuck. Obviously I wasn't driving from Denver to get it.

One winter, the FedEx driver picked up all his packages for delivery and decided on his own not to finish until early the next morning because he had something to do, so he drove home with the truck and parked in his driveway. That night, the case of wine I was having delivered all froze. About half of the corks popped out of the bottles. He delivered it, but it was a mess.

Seems to me they ought to make some effort to set it right. At the moment, I’m pissed and complaining to the internet. Nobody benefits.

Where I used to live, the FedEx guy waa great. UPS guy was nice too but someone at the terminal seemed to love drop kicking everything.

Where I live now, got an awesome UPS guy, Fedex is mixed bag. Sometimes we have one driver who just does his job, sometimes we get the one guy who literally shoves the box out the back of his truck in the middle of my driveway

I've always favored UPS. But the main hub is 10 minutes away from my house.
So, damage or loss is less likely.
Their tracking is also much better.

I tracked a UPS shipment going back and forth between two centers for 3 days. I finally got a notice of delay, even then it didn't make the new scheduled date.
Of course we won't even talk about the weather delays this year

It completely depends on your area which one is better.

Likely your discussing FedEx ground which isn't Fedex, its a network of subcontractors for FedEx ( anything that ship's Not by plane ). If you look at the trucks, there is always the small print that says whom they actually are.

Solar Guppy said:

Likely your discussing FedEx ground which isn't Fedex, its a network of subcontractors for FedEx ( anything that ship's Not by plane ). If you look at the trucks, there is always the small print that says whom they actually are.

BuildAGroundBiz: Contracting with FedEx Ground -> Types of Opportunities

www.buildagroundbiz.com

Click to expand...

Ours drives an unmarked white van, hah.

I find both to be very reliable. I don't worry about the package until an actual "delivered" message.
I will also speak highly of USPS that most love to bag on. Last tracked package was a day early.
Amazon is unusually fast. Now with some overnight delivery. Click at 9pm and by 6am it has been at the door for over an hour.

Fedex has been horrible throughout the years for me.
UPS is way better, IMO.

Ups is still the real deal

Fed ex trucks are always dirty. They have unqualified staff and I haven seen TWO of their delivery vans tooling down the road with the inner dually flat.

On their worst day FedEx and UPS are way better than USPS on their very best day, 29 not delivered packages in 2 years.

Louis DeJoy must GO.....Cant deliver to an open business in a business park that has been there for 50 years not 2000 feet from the local postoffice....incompetence never seen in any private delivery company.

Amazon deserves a shout out.....always delivers....always on time...too bad they only do their own..

Bluedog225 said:

Fed Ex used to be absolutely awesome and reliable.

Click to expand...

Tom Hanks may have something to say about that...

I'm just excited about my USPS driver retiring at the end of the month and getting one of the good drivers again. I get enthusiastic waves from both the Fedex driver (Kerry), and the UPS driver (Eli) when about town. They always seem to go out of their way to help.

...then there is LTL package delivery.

Alkaline said:

Tom Hanks may have something to say about that...

Click to expand...

Maybe I'll send a basketball for the new guy.

UPS in my area is much more consistent than FedEx. I always get the same UPS guy and he's always pretty good. With FedEx, I never see the same guy twice. One time when my regular UPS guy was off, his replacement couldn't find my house, which to me is impossible. House number is painted on the curb, reflective numbers on my mail box which you can see 100 ft away, and large numbers above the garage door. Instead, this UPS guy decides to drop off my package on the grass lawn between my house and my neighbor's house where there is nothing but grass. You can go 25 ft in either direction and get to my front door or my neighbor's front door.