FedEx - Pretty good most of the time just watch out for this

[humanshield]

I have mostly praise for FedEx.  Good shipping prices and good service.

But, beware if you have a FedEx account.  Here's why.

I recently shipped a package weighing 20 lbs from the actual FedEx shipping location near me.

I had weighed the package and carefully measured it before taking it.   When I got there the clerk also weighed it and measured it and got the SAME weight and measurements I did.   All was well....or so I thought.

I approved the shipping amount on my "On-File" credit card, paid, got my receipt reflecting the total and was on my way.

A few days later, the charge shows up on my bank statement, but was 25% more than the the amount on the receipt.

I went back to the FedEx office (time and fuel) to see what happened.   I ended up speaking with the unit Manager and was basically told "sorry pal, you have to call customer service".  So they would do nothing at the FedEx location.

I then called customer service and what I got was a very lengthy explanation that if I had read all the fine print, it clearly states that FedEx reserves the right to adjust the charges.  Looking around the shipping location, there was absolutely no such sign that indicated this could happen.  I explained to the clerk that that was a bit deceptive since people do not have the time to read all the fine print every time they do a transaction everywhere.....

Imagine if Walmart had that fine print buried somewhere and every time you made a purchase, they could tack on a few dollars here and there.  Imagine if Gas stations started dong that.
Imagine if the Post Office dido that.   The point being that if they have trained representatives taking your packages at their corporate locations, they should be professional enough to get it right at the counter and not need to "up adjust" the price after the fact.

I'm taking a WAG that the occurrences up UP charges vastly outweighs the "Down" charge adjustments.

Bottom line....I removed ALL credit cards from my account and will not use them again at FedEx.  CASH ONLY from now on. Something you might consider if you have a FedEx account as well.

When their professionally trained shipping clerk gives me a rate, I expect them to know what they are doing.

[90GTVert]

I'm pretty sure at least UPS also has fine print about adjusting the cost, but so far no issues with them or USPS. I never use FedEx to ship. They're the least reliable of the 3 big dogs around here and most unprofessional. UPS doesn't have beat up box trucks or vans with drivers lacking uniforms showing up to deliver things like FedEx does here.

[Cincikid]

I use a lot of usps priority mail. All my transactions have been smooth so far.
I print my labels and get a $ or two off.
They also ship you all the priority boxes you want for free.

[humanshield]

Nov 13, 2016 11:33:10 GMT -5 90GTVert said:

I'm pretty sure at least UPS also has fine print about adjusting the cost, but so far no issues with them or USPS. I never use FedEx to ship. They're the least reliable of the 3 big dogs around here and most unprofessional. UPS doesn't have beat up box trucks or vans with drivers lacking uniforms showing up to deliver things like FedEx does here.

This is the first time I've actually ever had this happen.  It may be a "new" thing to increase profits?

I'm sure they all do.   But I don't have time to read 20 pages of fine print every time I spend a dollar.  You know?
I mean, they "could" put surcharges and fees in anything at any time in the "fine print"...but really, who reads all that every time?

They just need to up front, and stick with what they charge you at the counter.

I haven't had bad luck with UPS or FedEx here....as far as deliveries go.

I guess different locations have different management and QC ?

[90GTVert]

Nov 13, 2016 12:00:52 GMT -5 humanshield said:

I haven't had bad luck with UPS or FedEx here....as far as deliveries go.

I guess different locations have different management and QC ?

It's likely because FedEx hasn't expanded enough where I am. The nearest location is about 30 minutes from me and a larger hub is 50 minutes, where UPS is 15 away and the post office is under 5 minutes from me. I would see that packages were out to be delivered and then they wouldn't show up. The next day they'd go out again, and usually get to me on the 2nd try. Sucked on a Friday when they couldn't make their rounds properly and then I'd wait till Monday for the next try. It hasn't happened very recently, but it was common for a while.

FedEx can be here any time from 8AM to 6PM and who knows which driver or what vehicle they'll have. UPS is here at 11AM daily +/-30min with the same driver for many years in a UPS truck. Even the post office has someone show up in their own vehicle at times and it's also usually 10AM-5PM delivery. UPS beats them all for professionalism here.

I also called FedEx for a freight pickup once because I was shipping for a friend that requested it. They couldn't even tell me when they'd be able to pick up a pallet on the phone. I said forget it. I told my friend who was in Kansas that if he needed it FedEx, he can deal with them. He didn't want to either after what I told him, so I called UPS who gave me a time when they'd have someone here with no hassle, and did what they said.

[humanshield]

You'd think smaller towns would be more efficient

Where I live you can watch the FedEx and UPS trucks coming out of the hub in streams like a bee hive.

Gawd I miss the quiet life.....gotta get the frack outta here and move back to the country.

I'd trade lightning fast deliveries for peace of mind and sanity.

[FrankenMech]

In Kansas City all of the services are professional and reliable EXCEPT USPS.

USPS has professional trucks and some professional personnel. Unfortunately the substitutes on my route can't seem to deliver accurately or on time. USPS has a bad habit of delivering my mail and packages to a house with the same address number but two blocks south of me. I get some of their mail also. Sometimes they have a package for me but fail to deliver it when they deliver my regular mail. I have had to chase down the mail truck several times. I have not had any problems when the regular driver is on the route. Some of my mail just disappears...

[jeff84]

now you know to pay with cash

[Deleted]

UPS is the devil in my book, haven't had a lot of problems with Fedex or the postal service, and my post man is building a bobber so sometimes he ends up in my shop watching me open boxes ")

[humanshield]

Nov 14, 2016 0:03:36 GMT -5 jeff84 said:

now you know to pay with cash

Called them and had them remove ALL credit cards from my account.    CASH only from now on.