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I've been shipping with FEDEX for many years. I have an account number, I write it on my shipment paperwork and they charge my CC.
Lately they've been saying the amount on the receipt I get from the FEDEX store is 'just an estimate' and they can charge me anything they want.
This is PISSING ME OFF NO END.
So, who ships with UPS?
"The problem with quotes from the internet is that many of them just are just made up."
-Abraham Lincoln
Follow Ups:
I stopped using UPS for audio equipment when the UPS guy push my 2 subs off the back of the truck in my driveway. Didn't seem to care when I talked to him about it.
With a FedEx account it is cheaper than UPS. Only had one problem with FedEx when they stuck a fork lift fork through the boxes into the CDP inside. It took a couple of weeks but they paid the $3500 claim.
I've used both services a lot over recent years & agree with the poster who suggested that it's the staff at the local depot & your local driver that makes the big difference - that's certainly been true in my case.
I've not had billing problems with UPS but drivers from both companies have left "delivery attempted" notes when I was at home precisely to meet the delivery. One driver I became friendly with admitted that this is a tactic drivers sometimes use when they're behind schedule or have an unusually large number of deliveries to make (leaving a note is much quicker than making a delivery) - or if the package is heavy or unwieldy.
I've developed a strong preference for UPS but think it was largely because I have a great driver on my route.
I think most people will find either FEDEX or UPS is better based on the personnel working out of the local distribution center and the driver and his/her attitude toward their work.I have had both a FEDEX and a UPS account for years, as it is much easier to do this work at home, put your own label on the box, seal at home and then drop it off at either place. My UPS driver has always been courteous and has gone out of his way to put our packages on our back porch where it's out of sight of people passing by on the street, instead of just dumping it at the garage door. (Of course I tip him several times a year, because my wife and I do get a couple of packages a week.)
On the other hand our FEDEX driver is different fro every delivery. I have had packages hung on our mailbox across the street (we're rural delivery zone) instead of being brought up the 200 ft. driveway, as they should be. I have also had FEDEX delivery guy hang 15 pound bowling balls off my driveway light. In both cases, I've had to call the FEDEX hot line to complain. Since then, most deliveries have been much safer.
Edits: 03/23/14
I've run into this varying charge with FedEx lately myself and I also have an account with them. They gave me the same answer.
Yesterday I sent an over night, early AM delivery (extra cost for that) letter to my daughter.
My daughter got up at 8AM so as not to miss it.
At 10 AM she heard a truck driving away from the house and ran to the door, where she found a "delivery attempted - no one home notice".
The guy never rang the bell, never knocked, just put the notice on the door and drove away.
Not a FedEx fan today.
Dean.
reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
Regarding the Fedex delivery where the sticker was on the door "no one home", I had the same thing happen when I purposely stayed home from work one day to get my package (that had to be signed for). Luckily I saw the truck pulling out of my driveway as I was walking by the front door. I hopped in my car and chased him down. When I asked what's the deal? he replied I rang the bell but no one answered. BS. I was sitting no more than 10 feet from my bell, and I checked it when I got back.
I'm sure this happens a lot when the drivers are over loaded and a signature is required. The stop is faster taking this approach rather than waiting for someone to answer the door.
Hi, I voiced my opinion about Fed Ex and was thrown off the site by the moderator.Okay,no big deal. Just read the NY paper Daily News.UPS fired 250 workers in Queens for sticking up for an employee who was treated unfairly....New workers, less benefits...management wins.....you can block this if you want, but I like to tell the truth, not squelch it....Mark Korda
The original employee was fired for falsifying his timecard. Then in protest 250 drivers walked off the job during their shift, not delivering packages as guaranteed by the company. These drivers make about $70,000 a year, with paid benefits and pension with only a HS degree. Any new replacements will get the same salary and benefits within years. I have no sympathy for any of them. On the other hand Fed X is ripping off their ground delivery people by not paying them a fail wage, benefits or pensions, they classify them as contractors...
Edits: 04/03/14
Hi Fin1bxn, I'm not going to argue, I want to stick to audio things. I was kind of mad because I expressed my opinion on this and the moderator took it off. I never worked for UPS, I worked for FedEx,from 1984 to 91.I find it hard to believe 250 people walked off the high paying job you told of because of 1 person screwing around with their time card. Here's what happened at FedEx. There was one courier who was really liked by everyone and hustled his butt off like every UPS worker I have ever known. In the morning package sort management had different times you could clock in trying to get every minute saved for the company.Even though we had a mechanic that checked every vehicle,every day, there was a time card that was very lengthy to complete.One box that you had to check was that you checked the oil. The managers would clap in your face to move faster,just like Tom Hanks portraits in the (Castaway) movie. This gave no one any time to check anything on their truck,all in the effort to get there before 10:30 AM. This one guy's truck was right beside mine in the morning sort. The managers were right in his face doing the clapping routine instead of maybe....helping him with his giant load of packages. He took off and the manager was waiting for him at one of his stops.He had his trucks dip stick in his hand,waving it around. His timecard had a quick dash next to it for a oil check.They fired him even though not one driver ever had time to check their oil.He was with FedEx since the start of the company,was a master sergeant in the Navy,doing 3 stints in Vietnam.The manager sabotaged his truck and the worker got fired after 15 years of service with lots of accrued bennys.I found out a week ago he is homeless and living in a box on the street some where in western Mass. Now maybe I didn't get all the facts but what I just told you is fact. What I do know from observing UPS drivers is that no one works harder than them and every one of them I've known is first class! If you are a manager and the workers heard how you portrayed them as I read in your e-mail,even though they might have not attended college,as you might have,your jealousy of their wages and statis,from a low education stand point will cause a division in the company. A good manager is one who rolls up his sleeves and helps, not one cracking a whip.I'm not mad,and I'm not going to rebut...but when 250 crack couriers quit, there is something rotten in Denmark!.....Mark Korda
Sorry you are so hurt. Sorry that I pointed out that you don't have to spend $100,000 or more and 4 years of your life to get a good job at UPS. Sorry I pointed out facts that were relevant to your post. Sorry that the union contract at UPS says management is not allowed to do driver work. Sorry that I make more than a UPS or fed –x driver. Sorry that I do not have a college education either. Sorry about that homeless man. Sorry that you worked at Fed X and were not paid a fair wage. Sorry that you didn't want to have a conversation or argument but made sure you had condescending remarks directed at me.
Good job putting in that sad story for your cause. Alinsky 101!!!
After several phone calls, it was delivered at 1:30.
The driver admitted to not knocking "because it looked like no one was home".
Brilliant.
Dean.
reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
Tenacious. That's what ya gotta be. Tenacious.Hopefully, the driver now has the opportunity to pursue his art or writing ambitions while he looks for a better paying job.
:)
Edits: 03/21/14
I hardly ever hear the doorbell when:
1. It didn't work.
2. I'm wearing earbuds and listening to Nirvana.
3. I've just flushed the toilet.
4. I'm in the back yard.
5. I'm having sex.
Although, I might hear the low loud-ish rumble of a truck engine revving up.
:)
nt.
I've shipped a lot of audio gear over the last 20+ years, and UPS sucks, end of story. They break stuff on a regular basis. Fed-Ex does so only occasionally. Hint: I recently started using Fed-Ex Ground, Home Delivery. It costs a few bucks more but it includes Saturday delivery, and they don't seem to trash my packages. UPS customer service is not available 24/7, Fed-Ex is always available. It's a snap to have a package with Fed-Ex delivery location changed, UPS, not so easy.
No matter who you ship with, ALWAYS take photos of your packing in stages to be able to dispute the common claim, it's the shipper's fault because of inadequate packing. Pictures are worth a thousand phone calls to get your claim adjudicated.
Well my favorites is still the USPS. But if I had to choose, I would choose UPS over FedEx if we are discussing ground services.
my company ships very expensive and very fragile equipment. We ship via whatever method our customers request but suggest fedex air. In the past we had a lot of problems with UPS ground, but since fedex ground started, we have had way more problems with them. They are a completely separate company from the air service or air freight and they are especially rough on packages. A lot worse than UPS is these days.
We have a machine that makes a foam mold around our products and it protects the boxes from getting too bashed up so we have only had a few damaged products but have seen some boxes get pretty beat up.
Fedex ground would be my last choice for shipping any audio equipment.
.
I've been using Fedex ever since UPS gave my $900 Heart 6000 cdp to a wino on the street when I was not home to sign for it. Fortunately, the wino signed for the package which sealed his doom and from the driver's description, I was able to find the guy, called the police on my cell phone and watched them cart his ass off to jail. The dealer sent me a replacement and UPS made good on his insurance. I had to go to court to testify and send the perp off to the big house. That was over 10 years ago when we had a sign on the corner stating that the street was a prostitution free zone. The neighborhood is much improved and now I have to drive several blocks to find a prostitute :).
I have been using FedEx for the savings over UPS and have had good luck with the exception of them damaging a pair of Martin Logan Summits. They did however in time take care of the claim. Denied at first, but persistence paid off in the end. For smaller packages I use the USPS flat rate boxes as it is very fast,relatively cheap and so far no problems. Hope that helps,
Lance
Bringing Music & Movies Home
.
I refuse to use UPS. They're consistently slow and late.
"It's all fun and games until someone doesn't pick up on the sarcasm"
FEDEX for overnight only.
UPS ground for everything else.
I live very rural in Wyoming so 2 or 3 day just not happen even in USPS
I receive a lot of shipments here in Florida from UPS and never have a problem. The few Fedex deliveries received are also uneventful.
For what it is worth, the only drama I recall was when I still resided in Central Jersey. Just as I went outside to meet the Fedex driver, he pushed my new Velodyne 18" subwoofer off the back of his truck. It crashed to the ground. The massive sub died instantly at the scene. It was not a pretty sight.
For my outgoing shipments, UPS prices are locked in, as usual, at the store or online via my account (no estimates).
I have sold over 50 items between Ebay and Audiogon and used UPS every time with no problem.
If you have an acct,it's way cheaper than UPS and they don't break the stuff up like UPS.
UPS = Unrepentant Package Smashers.
Get the picture?
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
A few years ago Popular Mechanics did a challenge with FedEX, UPS and the USPS. They sent packages with accelerometers in them. The best handler of packages was...........The United States Post Office!
ET
Absolutely it was.I never has issues with USPS and when I do,they pay without hesitation.
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
I get more damaged merchandise from FEDEX than UPS. Just my experience.
Also FEDEX has ripped me off for insurance claims more so than UPS. If claiming insurance from any carrier, be sure:
1. Record your call and get names of the answering agent.
2. follow up promptly.
I made a $900 claim to FedeX and, because of the cost, the phone agent promised to send an inspector. Inspector never came and when I called back after a week and a half, I was informed that the time period for claims had lapsed and they would not honor any claim.
I don't know how Hawaii is but here in the 48,Fedex is cheaper and as far as insurance goes,they both try to screw you but you need to be persistent and I always have Fedex inspect it before I seal the box on a heavy item so there is no confusion..I go right to a main FEDEX office and I take my packing tape and have the manager inspect it and then I seal right it there.This way there is no argument and she gives me a clearance so that FEDEX knows it was inspected and they have to cover it.
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
The best advice I've seen on shipping and insurance. All the big three break stuff. They all do everything possible to not pay claims. I've had good experiences with them all and I have had bad experiences with them all.
-Wendell
Well said Wendell
You have to be persistent but they always pay..They figure if 30% of the people take them at face value that it was packed wrong and don't argue,they are millions of dollars ahead.Many people just leave it that the shipper won't pay and if they insured it and took the money for insurance,they have no choice but to pay if you pursue it.
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
Edits: 03/14/14
The last 3 times I used USPS the packages were trashed. Same with UPS. I havent had an uncrushed package from UPS in some time.
I rebuilt and upgraded a Supratek Cortese preamp for a guy in Alaska..This is a 4000 dollar preamp and then he paid me well to do my stuff to it..I dropped it off to the UPS store and he paid them to pack it and they put it in two boxes..It cost him 285 dollars to send it from Michigan back to Alaska and this is one way..When he received it,the power supply box was fine but the preamp unit was beat up..They sent the unit back to be and I fixed as best as I could but it had control rubbing problems because alignment with the chassis..THey paid 2250 and let him keep the preamp..For what UPS charged to take that preamp from Michigan to Alaska,I could have gotten a plane ticket and flown it there myself. I didn't charge to redo the damage ups caused as it was just a volume control and some broken wires from the damage.We were both pissed tho at UPS and he insured it for 3500 but being it was in two boxes,they only paid the one that was broken and smashed.They sent it back for free tho after I repaired it again.
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
Oh, No doubt FEDEX is cheaper.... My claim was for a delivery received, BTW. Actually, these days I try to use USPS they are cheaper yet, and in a claim where they damaged a pair of quicksilver Mini mite amps, they gave me a choice of replacement parts cost or complete value, and informed that the claim would take one month to process (for full replacement cost). In one month to the day, I received a check including the postage costs too....... 8^), something unexpected.
YMMV of course.
PS: the FEDEX claim was for a Premier CJ DAC which had been slammed down so hard the zip tied large power supply film caps had torn right off the circuit board, pulling right out of the soldered joints, too, and snapping the zip ties. Factory packing too with two inch foam all around.
In different parts of the country you'll hear people swearing by (or at) one shipping carrier, or the other. There seems to be little consensus on which one is the best... or the worst.
This will surely jinx me, but I haven't had an incoming delivery/damage problem in years (metro DC, MD suburbs) and between my wife and I we get half a dozen packages a week. No outgoing problems via FedEx Ground either, using their Rockville terminal.
there is one person in my fedex office who always messes up
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