mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I guess it's the luck of the draw. I get multiple deliveries from FedEx almost every single week for at least he last 10 years. The only problem I ever recall having was around 3 or 4 years ago when a small package was inadvertently left at my next door neighbor's front door instead of mine. If things are occasionally later than I expected, It's only by a day or two at most. Even during this pandemic I haven't had any issues with any delivery service, except briefly during Christmas when all delivery services were overwhelmed. After over a thousand successful deliveries through FedEx I can honestly say their service, for me at least, can't really get any better. Of course, I realize my location in New Jersey which is a central hub for deliveries from UPS, FedEx, and Amazon might be a major factor.

Photocraig

Aren't you micromanaging early AM movement?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, that happens. You just have to have confidence that it will arrive some day.

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

I can remember a time when there were no really fast nation-wide and international currier services. Parcel post was "snail-mail" at its worst! There were no tracking numbers or signatures required except for registered mail and that was costly! You just waited and prayed that your stuff would come- SOMEDAY! Shipping a parcel 1st-class could cost more than merchandise. Air Cargo was extremely expensive. UPS was the only competition for the post office and even within a city, they required a few days for delivery. I recall having the same driver on the route for many years. I lived in a 4-family brownstone in Brooklyn. The driver smoked cigars so I could smell the smoke when he was in the hallway- he would shout the name of the recipient and we would go into the hall to retrieve our parcels. Other currier services were expensive and were only used in an emergency situation or to deliver important legal or business documents and medical supplies.

Nowadays, it seems that folks need everything they order "yesterday" and become very upset if there are delays. There are more complex currier services utilizing hub systems, aircraft, rail and highway transport. Dealers like B&H are not like the little local camera shop with a moderate volume of mail-order business where someone would go the P.O. every afternoon and mail a few parcels. I can't even imagine the scope of the warehousing and logistics systems at places like B&H and Adorama.

So, you have multiple complex logistics. Add to that Covid-19, lockdowns, employees out on sick leave- perhaps some too sick to ever come back to work and sadly many have died. What about the Christmas Season Rush? How about climate change and disastrous weather conditions? Folks are ordering everything from Amazon, the big box stores and online E-business is booming. During the last U.S. election, the politicians were messing around with the U.S.P.S- big time. Even when the mail flowed properly, those mail-in ballots had to put extra pressure on the system.

Add all of this up and put things in perspective. We are lucky to get anythg within reasonable time frames and in good condition.

I try to buy cameras and lenses locally whenever possible, however, I import all kinds of picture-frames and custom-made leather-bound albums. I fined Fed-X and UPS are usually prompt, even considering the deliveries need to go through customs (up to here in Canada). Clearing stuff through customs used to be an incredible headache. Nowadays, the courier services take care of the brokerage and everything flows relatively smoothly.

The trick for me is to order what I need well in advance and not wait until the last minute and allow additional time for shipping and the possibility of delays. If there's a glitch, we get after the tracking number and that usually clears up the issue. It ain't blood, medication, a life-supporting medical device and if it's late, nobody's gonna die!

Cheer up, folks! Maybe someday we won't have to mail-order anythg. Oneof those newfangled 3-D printer will make or replicate all of our gear!

Capn_Dave

I continually have problems with FedUp shipping and it cost B&H a 6K sale. I ended up buying from Adorama for the same items and they shipped it UPS. That was the only reason. UPS here is more reliable. I like B&H and the items they had were in stock but the shipping was the deal breaker, so much that even though Adoramahad the main item on backorder I waited until it was in stock. All because of the shipper. Sorry B&H you are a great company, honest and reliable and go beyond to help with questions. In the end I like to get my items when promised and not worry about when they are going to show up

ernman111

short story (well, maybe)... my bleeding edge PC's motherboard went paws up a couple of weeks ago. I could not find one locally, so I went to amazon, ordered one, paid a ransom amount for 2-day shipping (third party vendor). five days later still no mobo. anyway, wash rinse, and repeat with two others - another from amazon, the other a big box store, trying to get my system back up. I do have a backup, but it is painfully slow for some of what I do (intensive multimedia and code work). now, two weeks later, still, nothing has been delivered. I have lost money. this has been nothing but a goat rope!

They all used FedEx. Here is my real rub - the lack of communication. I have called the shipper several times to find out something and all it get is someone with an accent I can barely understand telling me that the status is undetermined, due to weather. shipper site keeps repeating that it is stuck in some city (Carlsbad and Ontario) day after day and they have no idea of what is happening. Amazon has refunded my money for one of them. the other (big box with no intelligence in the support dept.) I have done a chargeback against them since they do not even have information about it and I think it is lost. they want me to wait three weeks. the third is actually going to be here in a couple of days now, hopefully.

anyway, I have over $1500 in limbo. My end comment is that I did not create this scenario. I depend upon the reliability of the business sector to do the best they can. it is not like the super-volcano under Yosemite went off. By now most companies have adjusted are doing just fine, or close to it, under the new normal. Some are using the pandemic as an excuse for poor management and adaptation. These are not mom-and-pop operations that are struggling. UPS delivered a package with no problems last week. I'm happy to give a bit of slack under these conditions. but two weeks on 2-day deliveries and no one knows what is going on is not acceptable, pandemic or no.

MDROM Loc: Idaho

I placed an order on 1/17 with order shipping on 1/19. The order has bounced back & forth between NJ and TN twice with expected arrival date of Pending. Unfortunately I have no idea when I'll receive my order.

Webguydave Loc: C'ville, Va.

Since ordering a bunch of stuff from B&H lately ( returning to the darkroom! Yea!!) I've had no issues - stuff is well packed...and it comes Fedx.
But..Fedx ( at least here in Virginia) uses contract drivers, using either rented trucks, Fedx trucks..or their own POV! And I've had deliveries on Sunday - which is quite ok but very unusual for delivery service.
Other notes: USPS finally delivered a film back ordered from Indiana, which according to tracking, sat in Newark for _6 weeks_! And a finder bought on etsy from Israel managed to get here in a week...go figure!
Dave in Charlottesville, VA

Shutterbugger2 Loc: Chicago

I ordered a camera from them some time ago and delivery took 45 days. Have avoided them ever since.

Tonka Loc: Minnesota

I ordered gear from B&H earlier this month and was given a delivery date of Feb 17, 2021. When the package had not arrived by Feb 18, I went on the FedEx website and discovered that the package had not moved from their Florence, NJ facility for over 4 days. The site blamed delays on COVID and the weather. I was concerned that the shipment was lost and phoned FedEx. All I got was a computer response with no further information and no opportunity to speak with a human being. I tried their internet chat option, but that apparently was answered by a computer too; none of my questions received an intelligent answer.

I then called B&H. The woman I spoke with was nice enough, but she said she only had access to the same FedEx tracking site that I used. She had no idea when I could expect delivery to my home in Minnesota. The package finally arrived on 2-24-2021, one week late. About 2 hours after the shipment arrived, B&H sent me an e-mail saying that deliveries were delayed and that I should get my order within the next week!

It is interesting that FedEx says on their website that they are currently not honoring refunds for shipping charges on delayed deliveries. They have had nearly a year to figure out COVID, so that excuse seems weak. The weather was bad for several days, but not so bad that all transportation was halted for a week. I am not impressed with FedEx.

goolgol Loc: Sydney, Australia

I have bought many items over the years from B&H and have never had an issue with items being shipped internationally all the way to Australia. In fact I am amazed at how promptly things have arrived during these nasty Covid times.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I ordered a 128gb micro card for my new tablet 2.18 was supposed to arrive next Wed. It arrived last Saturday, delivered by DHL, What I thought was silly was the box it came in approx.5"X7"X3" really!!!! could have shipped in a padded envelope, and probably save on shipping cost. Oh well its here.

jeffhacker Loc: Dallas, Texas

I ordered some stuff two weeks ago and haven’t received it yet. Not sure why. I hope it comes today or tomorrow.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Yes, this happened to me and my order never came. As soon as I got the same kind of info you have I called B&H and they looked into it by calling FedEx and a couple of days later they resent a brand new order. It delayed things by about a week, but but I finally got it. I got a call from FedEx about a week later asking if I got my stuff.

jeffhacker Loc: Dallas, Texas

my order, which was "shipped" on 2/22, still shows to be in Newark on both B&H and the FedEx websites. So I will call B&H. Good advice!