When Priority Overnight doesn't mean Priority Overnight

Apparently, that's whenever FedEx doesn't want it to be delivered by 10:30 am. When contacted to find where our shipments of LIVE CORALS was, they said, "Due to thunderstorms at our Memphis Hub, deliveries are running late today". Here's the problem with that. My corals arrived here in St. Louis at 3 am and were put on a truck at 7:11 a.m. for delivery. The thunderstorms that are hitting Memphis can't affect delivery when the boxes are already on the truck here in St. Louis. AAARRRGGHHH That was almost 6 1/2 hours ago and they are already 3 hours late according to their Priority Overnight shipping rules.

 

I have had so many problems with FedEx that I pay online vendors the ACTUAL S&H cost to send UPS. I had FedEx tell me that a package was delivered at 9:03AM when it was only 8:35AM. The package arrived at 11:25 PM with a pissed off driver because I complained. I guess if you're paying for something and expect to get your money's worth nowadays, you (and I) have unreasonable standards.

 

So sad, and unfortunately true.

 

What you need to do is have it held and pick it up. This is the arrangement I have with reefpets. Because I believe FEDEX has a solar clock.

 

Not to sound like I'm taking FedEx's side, but are you sure your address is guaranteed by 1030am? Most metropolitan areas are, but once you get further out into residential suburbs and rural areas the Priority guarantee becomes end of business day instead of 1030am.

As someone who ships a lot I understand the frustration. I've found UPS and FedEx to be about the same overall when it comes to overnight shipments. It seems in some locations one is better than the other...but overall it's a wash.

 

I've come to realize this as well. For me, UPS is great and FedEx is awful. I'd rather have a Carrier Pigeon service deliver my livestock than go through FedEx...however, I know I've read more praise of FedEx and disappointment with UPS/USPS on this forum, and others. It seems this is the reason (along with cost I'm sure) that most vendors use FedEx rather than its competitors.

 

I have order twice recently from Reefpets who ships with FedEx. I really like ordering from Gary so I still do. Whenever I do and track my package it says that it will be delivered by 10:30 am. Then once it gets later than 10:30 they just take that part out in the tracking of the package. Both times they were delivered in the afternoon around 2 pm. All my corals were find I just think it is funny that when it gets later than 10:30 when it was supposed to arrive they just take that out.

Also I live in Akron ohio. In Akron not the burbs so I don't think that is too valid of an arguement. They can't get it to me with priority before 10:30 either.

 

Interesting...I've never noticed that. Like I said, I'm not slicking up for FedEx...I just know that a lot of residential addresses don't actually qualify for 1030am, even when that's what the shipper is paying for.

 

My package arrived 135 miles away in Ohio on Monday. They expect to deliver it on Friday. 10 days from the west coast to Pittsburgh. I told the vendor I won't deal with him again because he uses FedEx.

 

Yes, I'm sure of that. In fact, the last shipment I got from this vendor got here by 10 am.

I really got spoiled. At my old house, I had a FedEx Ground driver. (He didn't work for FedEx...his Ground business was actually a franchise). He knew I worked out of my office in the basement so he would actually come around back and knock on the basement door. Then he would yell, "Curt, I have fishies for you, open the door, give my dogs a milkbone, and leave". I ran into him a couple of years later at a restaurant and he said, "Hey Curt...how's your aquarium doing"? I really wish that my new driver was like him.