JD750 Loc: SoCal

I Also have changed vendors because of an undesirable shipper. Because shipping is important.

Andy’s point is good. Sellers can benefit by offering multiple shipping options.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Now if they used coal to cook with instead of electric, that would be cause for alarm.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

My experience with USPS is by far the best. Perhaps that's because I live in a smaller city, but my work experience in a fairly large city has also been far, far better with USPS than any other carrier. My local letter carrier knows my name, knows where on my property to leave anything too big for the mailbox, and asks me questions like, "Is your son still getting some of his mail here? I was so sorry to see that he had passed away.... If your change of address didn't go through, I can bring another one to you tomorrow." I know her name and she knows mine.

UPS is completely dependent on the individual driver. Some are great, some not so much. They do a lot of seasonal hiring, treat their employees poorly, and have the worst tracking software. Amazon is fast and efficient, but some of their people don't seem to care a lot about where they leave your stuff. Again, I think it's all about the individual making the delivery.

But for the last decade, FedEx has been by far the worst. Some of my personal experiences include delivery of expensive packages to the neighbors (fortunately we are friends) without the supposedly required signature, leaving uncovered cardboard boxes on the back deck without any waterproof covering in the pouring rain, and delivering parcels that looked like they'd gone a few rounds with Rocky Marciano. I know that YMMV, but this past winter, they even delivered a small box in the middle of a blizzard, leaving it in the middle of the driveway (probably because my driveway is long and steep). My plow guy had plowed it into a snow pile before I got home. It was several days before I figured out what happened to it, and it was ruined by then. The vendor delivered a refund, but FedEx did not admit any fault. According to them, it's just fine to leave a 2 inch thick package in the middle of a driveway while the snow is coming down at better than an inch per hour.

Businesses are corporations, not people, and it's hard to use the words love or hate in connection with a corporation. But corporate culture does really mean something these days, and it infuses its employees with an attitude. Without exaggeration, I can say that I loathe FedEx beyond all reasonable thought, and hope for their bankruptcy. I'm sure there are good people who work there, but without fail, they don't seem to display any more concern for their customers than the parent organization.

When it comes to efficiency, I just have to cite the facts. It is 1,084 road miles and 17 hours from the KEH warehouse to my door. So far, my package has travelled 4,235 miles since leaving the KEH warehouse, and it's been six full days since KEH generated the shipping label. And it's still about 3,200 miles from my door. That's not what I call customer service; if I used subcontractors that bad in my business, I'd have to fire them, no matter how good their pricing to me might be. As an earlier poster said, "KEH doesn't care, and FedEx cares even less". Well, I hope they won't care if I, and others who are dissatisfied with their monopolistic and overpriced delivery service, don't want to do business with them any more. Maybe FedEx will start to care when their revenue starts to drop, which I hope is sooner rather than later.

As I said in my OP, my experience with KEH has always been quite positive. But as long as they use a vendor that provides the worst possible service on their behalf, I won't be doing any more business with them. There are too many other alternatives.

Andy

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I'm not alarmed. But I don't care whether they use coal, gas, electric or solar to cook with. If all they serve is Spam, I'm not going to be going there any more.

Andy

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

It seems FedEx packages usually get delivered to me a day earlier than scheduled. I can't complain.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

The way I see it is that good customer service "ain't what it used to be" right across the board in many industries- retail, transportation, and many services and merchandise areas- too much automation- we are dealing with bar codes and computerized almost robotic sales instead of PEOPLE! Lately and obviously, the pandemic has exacerbated the situation what with staff shortages, many experienced and efficient employees are out sick with the virus, isolated because they suffer from existing conditions, not to mention fear, anxiety, financial stress and tragically some families are devastated by the death of loved ones or close friends or relatives. I don't even want to mention the political scene and the resulting chaos. It's a wonder that anything is functioning anywhere near normal. Besides, folks who seldom use mail-order retailers and now doing that with a vengeance for lack of local open businesses, in addition, those who buy EVERYTHING from Amazon and all the other online retailers. The freight carriers must be overwhelmed.

Perhaps most folks don't even realize there is this LOGISTICS thing. There is no STORE- the order comes in online and the merchandise is stored, packed, and shipped from a remote warehouse, oftentimes a completely separate business from the retailer. Sometimes, I suspect those places are "maned" by robots.

When there are dead folks in refrigerated trucks and mass unmarked graves a stone's throw from the Statue of Liberty- my ow business issues seem trivial in comparison.

In my own particular case, I try to purchase all my photographic gear from local sources. In some cases, it costs me a few points more but I don't have to deal with transportation services, issues with gear that has been damaged in transit and the accompanying insurance aggravation, porch pyrates, bizarre return policies, and a whole bunch of other stuff that really does not justify the savings that I might garner from the BIG DEALERS.

My local dealers make up for the differential. I get to test and try out some of the cameras and lenses, especially the ones that entail a large investment- BEFORE is had over the credit card or write a check. If an import piece of gear unexpectedly breaks down in the middle of a big project, I can usually get a loaner at no charge while I am waiting for the repair. I buy all my supplies for the same stores- all the expendable stuff, so when it comes to gear, I usually get good deals.

If I can not get something that I require, locally, and have to import it, I usually plan theses purchases ahead of time, for an upcoming project, so I usually don't require overnight delivery.

Perhaps I am impatient with paperwork but since I oftentimes spend hours in front of a computer monitor processing images for clients, I really don't wanna have to spend more screen time with bar codes and tracking numbers only to find out my insanely expensive lens is coming to Canada by way of- who knows- Timbuktu- don't forget that FedEx was founded on a hub system- who knows where the hubs are!

I don't worry about the "Big Brown Truck"- it's the big BLACK van that comes from the funeral home or the medical examiner's office to take away the poor folks that are perishing from Covid-19. My granddaughter is a therapist in a veteran's long term care facility and that is what keeps me and my wife up at night.

I think it's time for everyone to concentrate on staying safe and healthy and not become stressed out by all the other stuff. Aggravation badly affects the immune system. If we all manage to survive and beat the virus, all the other stuff will eventually normalize.

Be well.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I agree with everything you've written. But I still believe that retailers who rob their customers of choice and judgement are hurting themselves. I don't care how FedEx's Hub System works - if it delivers my package days late and beat up, and (quite possibly) to the wrong address, I'm not going to choose them if I have a choice. If I don't have a choice, I won't purchase from vendors who limit me to one incompetent carrier, and charge me a premium to boot.

You or I couldn't survive in business if we treated our customers this way. I think big retailers who do the same will also lose business.

Andy

Bananapuppy Loc: Sunny Tucson, AZ

I find this a very interesting subject due to my recent problem with UPS. By putting a "hold for pick up" on a package I experienced a six day delay in availability, even after the package arrived at my local distribution/pick up center (Tucson AZ). Not a good experience. Bp

dannac Loc: 60 miles SW of New Orleans

They use to be .... but no longer, not in my area.

Does not matter if you are a prime member are not.
Two day delivery probably a thing of the past.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Creating a FedEx acct does not require a credit card. It's quick, easy, and free. If you want to set up a User ID for shipping, then you need a credit card. I have had a free acct for several years now. As long as you use the name and shipping address on your acct you have the choice of several different notices, as well as detailed shipping info, delivery date, etc. I specify only a delivery notice and the phone will ring within minutes of the drop-off. You can also change delivery instructions at any time before delivery. You don't even have to enter a tracking number. Any delivery in their system addressed to you will show automatically.
A number of companies I deal with, including B&H, use FedEx. I'm on a first name basis with my delivery driver. He's excellent. I can't remember the last time I had a problem with FedEx or UPS, and my only issue with USPS is that it often takes longer then the other two.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

A letter from New Hampshire....

Good morning my little rubber prism cover! I hope you're enjoying your stay in scenic Tracy, California today. I'm wondering whether you've won that Hawaiian vacation on The Price is Right? Send me a postcard, okay? You're going to have a trip on a TARDIS in your future, or, err past, because they're saying you're still "on time" for a delivery yesterday up here in the Granite State.

Your friend,
Andy

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Usps is appears to be in financial crisis because of a law passed on 2006. It makes them fund their worker pension and healthcare 75 years up front. I don't disagree with funding corporate pensions and healthcare up front. The problem is the USPS is the only corporation forced to do this. They were profitable until then. Some of our great Congress folks would love to bankrupt them so they can give the failed business to a buddy of two. My usps service is great. Yes occasionally something goes wrong but not for long and not often. Besides I live in the country and it's nice to have a personal relationship with the mailperson. It just feels friendly. 😂

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

There are many variables are involved:
shipper used; originating location; shipper pick-up time; volume, time of day order placed; when the order is pulled in the warehouse & sent to shipping; ...

I just received an item from Staples, next day, free shipping, USPS.
Very surprised.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

pendennis

Amen!!

We've been fortunate in that our UPS drivers have been on their routes for quite a while, and they're as reliable as sunrise in the east. The same goes for our USPS carriers. We live in an older neighborhood, where there are lots of front porches, so carriers have steps to climb, and it's not a popular route. We made it easy, so the carrier drops mail in our box at driveway level.

My wife is surreptitiously attempting to adopt both of them.

Just wish FEDEX was as reliable. A couple of weeks ago FEDEX was supposed to deliver a lens I bought from eBay. Waited for the "magic moment" but only saw the truck's taillights. I went to the porch, discovered that the driver swapped houses with one down the block. Luckily my neighbor and I met halfway.