Jtittsworth Loc: Tampa

Here’s what I don’t like about my recent transaction with B&H. On 8/18 I ordered the Sony RX10IV and the online purchase when smoothly. At the time of purchase I was provided with a delivery date of Monday, 8/23. That was fine I wasn’t in a hurry. The following day, 8/19 I received an email from B&H stating they were using “expedited” shipping and I would get the camera on Saturday, 8/21—great. But the email also said that a signature would be required. I didn’t like the idea of having to stay home all day so I began trying to see if I could narrow down the delivery time; not possible. All day Saturday, until around 4:00pm, the status showed “in transit at Orlando.” Then it when to “arrived Orlando 11:52am.” Well is was well, 4pm was it still coming?

Around 5pm I checked and it said the package had been delayed and would be delivered Sunday 8/22 before evening. Just wonderful, now I’m married to the house for a second day. Still no window of delivery time, just Sunday 8/22.

B&H has a great reputation and I have purchased from them before without issue. I didn’t check their competition on this order but I will next time. I don’t know why they use Fedex when it’s common knowledge their service is no where near as reliable as USPS or UPS, at least here in the Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater area. And why the required signature? I have purchased items more expensive than this one from other vendors and no signature was required.

One last mention about Fedex. Several days ago my wife ordered air pods online and the seller selected Fedex as the delivery service. Immediately she got an email saying they would be delivered on 8/17. Late on 8/17 an email changed the delivery day to the next day. They were delivered on 8/18 in the evening, more than 24 hours after the initial delivery date/time. It took Fedex 8 days to get these from Tennessee to Tampa. But no signature was required so we were not MARRIED to the house. It took Fedex 5 days to get my camera from NJ to Tampa. Both my wife and I have agreed that from here on we will pretty much purchase from companies that DO NOT USE Fedex.

Final note: The camera arrived at 12:30pm 8/22. The driver rang the door bell and then departed. No signature was requested.

MDI Mainer

Where I live, UPS wins hands down for customer service and reliability. The delivery window is tighter, and most of the time I can track the delivery truck's progress on a live map. I have two regular drivers who do 90% of the deliveries. FedEx is OK, FedEx Home Delivery is at the bottom. A myriad of drivers.

A possible reason why, from an actual driver and a customer:

"Being a retiree of UPS I would say UPS…I have a decent pension, life time medical and was able to retire at 52. I worked longer and harder days for 30 years but when you’re younger the body gets used to 11–12 hour days. The union in my opinion was there to write our contracts and to protect a majority of the management disputes. Paying your union dues is like paying for attorney representation when it comes to court except you pay a little each month instead of one big lump sum. FedEx has no pension, no union to represent the employees….sorry I don’t know what they have for medical. They do have cooler shorts and pants in my opinion but that’s about it."

"Being the employee that deals with drivers, in my 10+ years, I would say UPS drivers are happier with pay and benefits. Seems to have more overtime though, pro or con I'm not sure.

This is in southern California, where lots of the FedEx drivers work for subcontractors rather than FedEx directly. Might be different elsewhere. I've never worked for either company."

https://www.quora.com/Which-is-better-to-be-a-delivery-driver-for-FedEx-or-UPS

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Well if you didn't sign for it!!!

Bill_de Loc: US

I stopped buying from B&H for one reason "FEDEX". When they used UPS my deliveries to Delaware were next day. Henry P did point out that I could choose the carrier, but only one was free. Amazon, with a warehouse 40 miles from me, gets most of my business.

During the peak of Covid I ordered some things from Walmart. They used FEDEX who delivered boxes that looked like they went through the war.

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rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

You seem to have lost the focus of your issue. It's not BandH. It's FedEx.
--Bob

Bobby123

It IS about B&H. They used to use UPS and switched to Fedex after some bumps at Christmas time a couple of years ago. All the delivery services had trouble that year because online ordering had jumped so much but B&H bailed. I've started ordering from other vendors, Hunt's Photo and Video being my favorite but also Adorama. Hunt's is a smaller chain but they actually seem to care about their customers, not a strong point at B&H.

It's not a problem to get B&H to ship UPS, just call them and ask for UPS. The problem is that what they would have shipped free on Fedex will be charged the market rate on UPS. For me that added $70 to one of my orders. Fedex is the pits where I live- the deliveries from B&H take anywhere from one to five days longer and they throw the box at my front step. UPS delivers it gently and, per my request, rings the doorbell to let me know I have a package because it's the same driver every day. So it is B&H's choice- Fedex always stirs up a lot of negative comments here and UPS usually gets more of the positive ones.

Jtittsworth Loc: Tampa

No lost focus, it's B&H USING Fedex. They have choices and they choose Fedex. I have choices and as stated from now on I will use companies that do not use Fedex. It's still about B&H.

Bill 45

Fedex is the last place I would have handed the shipping of something.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Weather issues? Seems to me the end of last week had a couple large storms in the Florida area. Weather impacts can delay shipping for several days out.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Around here FedEx has a habit of handing off to "SmartPost", adds 3 days as the package has to go through the post office too!

tcthome Loc: NJ

When I know I might not be around for delivery, I contact UPS or FedEx & have them hold the package at the warehouse where it can be picked up. Takes me about 15 minutes one way. Usually in & out in under 5 minutes. Peace of mind & freedom of the day to do what I wish. Well worth the drive.

anotherview Loc: California

Amazon has a solution for this snafu. It's called a "hub." The hub receives the delivery of an item in one of its boxes. The delivery system issues a code that unlocks the door to the delivered item when the customer enters the code on a keypad in the hub.

A delivery van manned by a human physically carries the item from the van to the hub. The item remains available for pickup 24 hours a day for a week. Then it goes to the secondary delivery address.

Meanwhile, the delivery system notifies the buyer that the item remains in the hub ready for pickup.

I've used this hub system several times now without a hitch.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I’m assuming B&H went to FedEx because they’re cheaper? I’ve personally never had an issue with either UPS or FedEx. Since I’m retired, the signature required issue is a mild nuisance, but no big deal. For Amazon, I use the “in garage” delivery feature. Works like a charm. It’s the smaller local carriers that I have no tolerance for. Names escape me right now except for OnTrac (they suck). Probably a mental self protection tactic.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

I too have had a nearly identical experience as the OP, with B&H+FedEx. The delivery date was changed back and forth no less than four times: Sunday to Wednesday to Monday, back to Wednesday, then finally Tuesday. Also a “signature required” delivery.
Just the same, I continue to use B&H for major purchases because the sales tax rebate is compelling.

Bill MN Loc: Western MN

Fedex won't even ring my door bell. they set boxes by the door and leave. I did find out some Fedex trucks are now privately owned and they hire their own drivers.