Who's Worse - FedEx or UPS

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Notice I ain't asking who's better. They seem to be trying to "one-up" each other in my book. I just got the ultimate FedEx fuck-up today.

Get this, I get my driveway re-paved this morning to the tune of $3000... which wasn't very easy to come by at this point in my life. When I left for work, I put two garbage barrels weighted down with rocks across the end of the driveway. This lazy-ass FedEx driver gets out of his truck, MOVES THE BARRELS and DRIVES up my driveway!! What a.... I just can't even come up with a word to describe what I think of this scum. I now have tire tracks up my driveway. I may sue the bastards. I really might... Hey, isn't JMJ a lawyer? Maybe he's licensed in NH?

Later,
A very, very pissed-off Kevin

[Brian Olewnick]

"Will you lookit that! Some damn kids put rocks in this guy's garbage cans then blocked his driveway with 'em! Think I'll just help him out...."

[GregM]

Crap! That's unbelievable. I thought this was going to be the typical "i got my package and it seems like it was used in a freefall contest from the top of Sears Tower". Where do they find these drivers?!

[Monte Smith]

I love UPS. I have been shipping with them exclusively for a couple of years now. Only once did they fuck up, losing a whole box of books for me in Memphis and not bothering to let me know. But they found the books and I forgave them. I ship using their website and it's a good deal.

However, calling their company "Brown" is ridiculous.

But Kevin, you need to beat that $3000 out of FedEx. Seriously.

[stonemonkts]

FedEx sucks, period.

End of story.

UPS is a wonderful company with a very reliable, friendly service.

Of course, I'll never forgive the UPS driver who ran over my beloved cat, Mickey, when I was a teen. But that's another story.

Oh, he got his (believe me). But even so, I'll never forgive him.

What is even worse than FedEx? FedEx GROUND! My goodness, they really should be sent to bankruptcy court, tout de suite.

[Al in NYC]

When I lived in California I once glimpsed the FedEx man having sex with our next door neighbor. I'm not sure what this means as to who's worse, but I never saw the UPS guy getting any.

[MRS]

. . .that's because he likes it brown.

[tippy]

I *used* to like UPS, but I think their NY services sucks. "Brown" the way UPS uses it just reminds me of crap--I know that's gross, but it's a godawful moniker. It doesn't have that association for me as a surname or as a color but "Brown" is so nebulous--it's got nothing to do with their company, except as the color of their uniforms, which I think are nice uniforms. Plus I think it's presumptuous of UPS to think they have the right to own a color like that as a brand. No. No. NO.

USPS is my favorite...they have never lost anything and their priority service can't be beat for price and reliability. Now if you are talking business documents and not personal crap--then I'm *for* FedEx, spendy but reliable.

I'm sorry about your driveway. When people are doing things on a time limit, they go on autopilot and logical thinking sometimes goes out the window...

[tippy]

Oh and absolutely should FedEx fix your driveway. Such situations should be included in their driver training.

[Salvador Dali Lama]

I used to work for UPS. Its worse, trust me.

[Al in NYC]

I agree with Tippy. UPS service in NYC sucks. We had to stop using them and use only FedEx. FedEx has offices all over the place in Manhattan (3 within 2 blocks of my office), so its easy to drop stuff off, speak to an actual human, and watch to make sure your package is being processed properly. UPS has no intake offices, may or may not pick up your package when they say they will, and wants to charge you extra for the privilege. No thanks.

[Enforcer]

I wonder whose drivers more dogs attack.

When I was a young guy working a part time job at a convenience store, I used to run the stockroom and order the beer and stuff. I used to see the UPS guy every day. He was pretty nice, but I once committed a grievous error in the name of making a joke and our relationship never recovered. It seemed so innocuous, just a cheesy pun. I asked him one morning, "So, what's UPS? Hahaha." I laughed after I said it, waiting for him to laugh or let out a groan or something to acknowledge that it was a stupid joke.

The motherf**ker went off on me.

He uncorked a week's worth of frustration on me, telling me stuff like, "That's real f**king funny, man. Yeah, real funny. You know what? F**k you. You want my job? No, you don't. Let me tell you why, smart ass." Etc.

So if I was gonna hand out advice about UPS, I would recommend that you don't try to make a pun of their company name. The guys just don't think it's very funny, I guess.

Larry

[tippy]

Plus, they don't deliver on Saturdays. Al, my employer stopped shipping with them awhile back too. Before I moved to NY, I shipped UPS all the time and thought very well of the company...but now they mess up more often than they get it right. That's unacceptable, especially in the business world.

[stonemonkts]

Originally posted by tippy
Plus, they don't deliver on Saturdays. Al, my employer stopped shipping with them awhile back too. Before I moved to NY, I shipped UPS all the time and thought very well of the company...but now they mess up more often than they get it right. That's unacceptable, especially in the business world.

When I lived near people, and worked in the corporate world, FedEx was the bomb. If they gave out frequent sender awards, I'd have a plaque, or something. They never messed up a shipment, cost was never an object for discussion (wasn'y really my money, and results counted a whole lot more than saving petty cash).

Now that I live in the "country", I have to say that FedEx not only fucked up every delivery to me, but the boxes looked like the drivers took out their rage for having to drive to my house out on them. That's when they made it here at all. I recall waiting over one week for an overnight shipment to me...calling them about it, and hearing that my address did not exist.

Point is they don't service rural areas well at all, at least not mine. UPS, on the other hand, gets to know me personally, gives my dog biscuits, and is always on time. Granted these areas are probably not high profit centers for FedEx, but for some reason that doesn't prevent UPS from doing a fine job.

I agree with your assessment of USPS. Funny thing my local post office is faster than any other in my lifetime. If I send anything home, it gets to my mother in 2 days, 3 tops, without fail. Locally, they deliver mail within 24 hours. Now that's what I call fast!

[Al in NYC]

Having dealt with the post office in the City of Detroit, where on many days we would get no delivery at all and postal employees themselves stole checks out of my mail (and their supervisor laughed and called me a fool when I went to the post office to complain about it, since no one, ever, answered the telephone there, and there was no answering machine), I have just a little problem trusting the USPS.

[jesus marion joseph]

Originally posted by Kevin Bresnahan
Hey, isn't JMJ a lawyer? Maybe he's licensed in NH?

Later,
A very, very pissed-off Kevin

Sorry, Mass. only.

[patricia]

I used to use FedEx all the time and recommended them to people who were looking for a shipping company.
What changed my opinion of the company was a shipment to my daughter, who lives in central B.C. in Canda. I had bought a desktop computer, with all the add-ons for her and shipped it to her, via FedEx. It was packed so well, bubblepacked each piece separately, then bubblepacked the inside of the box, tons of tape, that it could have been me in the boxes and it should have gotten to my daughter with no problems. I was living in CA at the time.
Well, it turns out that if the company is shipping to a less than huge metropolitan area, they contract part of the trip to, in this case, some guy with a pick-up truck who doesn't give a damn.
The box which held the monitor was smashed and the monitor was totally trashed. The program CD's were gone. The manuals were gone. The rest of the boxes, according to my daughter looked like they had been mamboed on.
When she called me, in tears, I called the FedEx place and was referred, after fifteen minutes of hemming and hawing, to an 800 number, which I called.
The people I talked to, including the manager, couldn't have cared less.
The upshot was that they offered NO compensation.
I had to buy a new monitor, replace the CD's and I'm still pissed at them, even though this was five years ago.
I am tempted to flip the bird at any FedEx truck I see.
I'm absolutely sure that none of their parents were ever married.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

You wanna know who is worse? Dallas County Schools bus drivers, that's who!

[GoodSpeak]

UPS?

Yeah.

Just TRY to get wine shipped to your house without all the obligatory "adult sign" and be home while you frickin' WORK bullshit. THEN go find your wine in an over heated wherehouse ruined and worthless.

FedEx will deliver, on YOUR schedule...period.


UPS just plain sucks.

[Monte Smith]

Ground FedEx sucks. they'll deliver your goods anywhere they want to, any time they want to, to whoever they want to. And try tracking that shit.

Or try tracking ANYTHING with the US Post Office. USPS has two modes in their tracking system: "Entered into our system" and "Delivered." Thanks. That means either I have been paid or the check is in the mail. Good tracking! Responsible!

UPS will leave a package on your door without a signature if you write that you want that done on the box. I write that all the time. They are completely trackable and all your info is well stored on their website. They ship internationally. They are a beautiful, beautiful company.

[Cem]

Originally posted by Monte Smith
UPS will leave a package on your door without a signature if you write that you want that done on the box. I write that all the time.

Where do you exactly live again, Monte?

Kevin, I'm very sorry to hear about your small disaster.

I work for the post office and observe many stupid acts daily, much of it to do with apathy. Yet, there's a shitload of extra stuff people do, that rarely get noticed. The source of all these issues is the faster, cheaper, more type mentality we live with, which all contribute to the work becoming so impersonal on all levels.

In your case, if you don't get fully reimbursed for the damage, I'd be very surprised. Take some photos, obviously, and if they quibble, go to the press. (I think BC is closer to Cali than New Hampshire... )

Just curious, how long is your driveway?

Originally posted by patricia
I'm absolutely sure that none of their parents were ever married.

LOL! How's Canada Post treating you?

[Monte Smith]

Originally posted by Cem
Where do you exactly live again, Monte?

Good point, Cem. It won't work in New York or many urban areas (there you need a door man or at least a Mailboxes Etc to receive your packages). But in huge swaths of America, it works great.

I'm not surprised that opinions on service is localized. But from my desk in Western Washington to any of my clients or vendors in NYC, DC, Miami, Chicago, San Diego, Toronto, London, Paris, Frankfurt, or Hong Kong: UPS always gets the job done.

I'd happily film this as a commercial for them.

[stonemonkts]

Originally posted by patricia

Well, it turns out that if the company is shipping to a less than huge metropolitan area, they contract part of the trip to, in this case, some guy with a pick-up truck who doesn't give a damn.
The box which held the monitor was smashed and the monitor was totally trashed. The program CD's were gone. The manuals were gone. The rest of the boxes, according to my daughter looked like they had be mamboed on.
When she called me, in tears, I called the FedEx place and was referred, after fifteen minutes of hemming and hawing, to an 800 number, which I called.
The people I talked to, including the manager, couldn't have cared less.
The upshot was that they offered NO compensation.
I had to buy a new monitor, replace the CD's and I'm still pissed at them, even though this was five years ago.
I am tempted to flip the bird at any FedEx truck I see.
I'm absolutely sure that none of their parents were ever married.

Your story sounds like what happened to me repeatedly, only ten times worse (nothing I ever received was pilfered). I will never allow anyone to send me things via FedEx, I now make sure an alternate carrier is used, or none at all. I'll be damned if I contribute another cent to those bastards. It is almost scandalous how FedEx services areas outside major metro centers. You're right! The jobs are done by local schmucks working for some contract delivery company. When I called to complain about the douchebag who finally delivered my stuff, they couldn't care less. Same story.

I couldn't help but empathize upon reading your experience with them.

[Cem]

Originally posted by Monte Smith
Good point, Cem. It won't work in New York or many urban areas (there you need a door man or at least a Mailboxes Etc to receive your packages). But in huge swaths of America, it works great.

That's true but I was also alluding to the fact that "safe drop" ain't always that safe, but it sure is convenient and safer in more rural areas, as you say.

[GoodSpeak]

Originally posted by Monte Smith
UPS will leave a package on your door without a signature if you write that you want that done on the box. I write that all the time. They are completely trackable and all your info is well stored on their website. They ship internationally. They are a beautiful, beautiful company.

In California?

SheeyeahRIGHT.


You apparently don't ship much wine, Monte.


Never happen.





UPS sucks.



Red Tape City, bay-bee.

[Monte Smith]

I ship to San Diego every day. Have done for two years and have not had a single problem. But no, I am not shipping wine. I ship books and book proposals. Are you sure your red tape problems aren't governmental?

[GoodSpeak]

Originally posted by Monte Smith
I ship to San Diego every day. Have done for two years and have not had a single problem. But no, I am not shipping wine. I ship books and book proposals. Are you sure your red tape problems aren't governmental?

Once again...FedEx will work around my schedule.



UPS could give a shit.



Bottom line.

[Monte Smith]

But then, you are a teacher and not a businessman. So all the shipping you do is personal--to your residence. UPS does not specialize in residential shipping. In fact, they charge extra for it. As does Fed Ex, I think. If I were you, I'd use the USPS.

[GoodSpeak]

Originally posted by Monte Smith
So all the shipping you do is personal--to your residence. UPS does not specialize in residential shipping. In fact, they charge extra for it. As does Fed Ex, I think.

UPS specializes in shipping when it is most convenient for THEM.

Screw the customer.

I use FedEx exclusively for ALL my shipping needs because they will work WITH you not with some arbitrary preset schedule.

Originally posted by Monte Smith
If I were you, I'd use the USPS.

What...and pay through the nose?

I don't think so.

Originally posted by Monte Smith
But then, you are a teacher and not a businessman. So all the shipping you do is personal--to your residence.

As a special courtesy...I'll let this one pass.

















Amazing.

[patricia]

Originally posted by stonemonkts
Your story sounds like what happened to me repeatedly, only ten times worse (nothing I ever received was pilfered). I will never allow anyone to send me things via FedEx, I now make sure an alternate carrier is used, or none at all. I'll be damned if I contribute another cent to those bastards. It is almost scandalous how FedEx services areas outside major metro centers. You're right! The jobs are done by local schmucks working for some contract delivery company. When I called to complain about the douchebag who finally delivered my stuff, they couldn't care less. Same story.

I couldn't help but empathize upon reading your experience with them.

Thank you stonemonkts,
I thought I was somehow singled out by these motherless sons of hyenas.
As I said, to all the people who can't believe that this was FedEx, I couldn't believe it either.
But, that ONE experience, out of dozens, over the years, makes me send things that I actually want to get to people, undamaged, with people going there if I can.

You know how you go to seminars and they always say that ONE bad experience with whatever company it is that you work for can cause a customer to leave??? I scoffed at every one of those seminars, attended over years and years. But, it's true.
All the good service they gave me over a long long time was nothing after that one incident. I could even have forgiven them if they had tried to fix the problem, but they didn't.
Like you, I will NEVER use FedEx again.



Oh, Cem. Actually Canada Post is pretty good, except for a few charming eccentricities.
For example. I sent some fun miscellaneous to a friend in New York. Normally, I use a shoebox, with tons of tape and bubblepack around whatever it is. A couple of times ago, instead of using the standard shoebox, I used an Aerosoles shoebox. Those are a little smaller, narrower, shorter than a standard shoebox. So, instead of paying around ten dollars, it cost THIRTY-TWO DOLLARS!!!! I'm pretty sure that I almost had a heart attack, although I sent it anyway, because I couldn't be bothered to go home and find a standard shoebox. They are, though, pretty good, but too expensive to send anything over a couple of pounds. No wonder the private carriers are killing them.