Fedex Nightmare Brewing

[twertsy]

So, thanks to a member here, I was able to procure a Proto Flying Lady Rotomart tool display from the '50's. It was local pickup only and he picked it up and packed it for me. Here is a link to the video of the idiot driver picking up the package and ROLLING it down the driveway to his van. See those huge white signs on every side of the package? They all say "FRAGILE!" Plus, I personally called to arrange shipping and stressed "fragile" and "antique."

I just sent the video, along with the tracking number to my Fedex "account manager" so that dude better get canned!

 

[Thumper68]

Well at least he closed the gate.

 

[Strouty]

I can never see your videos.

 

[bradley8795]

That is why I never use FedEx, I have seen videos of them tossing boxes that were clearly marked as TV's over a fence just so they didn't have to take it to the door.

 

[LB-1911]

So, thanks to a member here, I was able to procure a Proto Flying Lady Rotomart tool display from the '50's. It was local pickup only and he picked it up and packed it for me.

Here is a link to the video of the idiot driver picking up the package and ROLLING it down the driveway to his van.

See those huge white signs on every side of the package? They all say "FRAGILE!" Plus, I personally called to arrange shipping and stressed "fragile" and "antique."

I just sent the video, along with the tracking number to my Fedex "account manager" so that dude better get canned!

Estimated arrival?

 

[Skin]

Its not right but if your package couldn't take some rolling you weren't going to get an intact item anyway. Hubs are amazingly busy places and hardly anyone has time to stop and read whats on the packages. No such thing as white glove service from FedEx or UPS.

Also instead of holding a camera might of been nice to run out and offer to help lift that huge box.

 

[Leoruiz]

Make it personal. That overpaid punk needs an *** whippin'.
I HATE Fedex. If you're selling and I'm buying you best find another method of delivery.

 

[PelicanPines]

Fedex is not a problem for me... or UPS either... USPS on the other hand, breaks my stuff before it even arrives. They apparently like to hear the rattle of broken glass.

 

[twertsy]

Its not right but if your package couldn't take some rolling you weren't going to get an intact item anyway. Hubs are amazingly busy places and hardly anyone has time to stop and read whats on the packages. No such thing as white glove service from FedEx or UPS.

Also instead of holding a camera might of been nice to run out and offer to help lift that huge box.

It's a camera mounted on his house with motion detection...............

 

[mikeb27]

The item was packed pretty well, so hopefully there's no issues. I added extra cardboard to all sides to make a double wall box, and packed it pretty tight on all 6 sides, so the item shouldn't be moving around in there.

But, I did also put fragile signs all 4 sides with an arrow pointing up to indicate top of the box. Also, I moved it from my garage to inside the gate in the morning before I left for work, and although slightly bulky and a little heavy, I had no issues moving it without having to flip it from end to end.

Finally, both my wife and I were working yesterday when the item was picked up, so it was indicated to the FedEx driver that it would be just inside the gate to the backyard. I am sure he had a wheeled dolly inside his van to help move the item, but was too lazy to even take it off the back of the van. He knew size of the package an estimated weight the day before, so it shouldn't have been an issue.

Also, the video is from my security camera system. When I got home yesterday evening, I played back the footage to make sure it was FedEx who picked it up. When I saw what the driver did to get the package to the van, I took a video of it to send to Todd. So no one was home to help the driver.

 

[Skin]

It's a camera mounted on his house with motion detection...............

thought I saw a thumb.


Regardless not condoning it, just saying im not overly surprised either. You have to package things to be bomb proof regardless of the carrier.

 

[mikeb27]

That was me, while taking a video of the playback. Have a TV in the office with the security system on it, took a video of the playback with my iPhone. Was the quickest way of getting the capture to Todd.

 

[Davefr]

I watched your video and I don't think what he did looked that bad. If the contents couldn't survive that, then they were not packed well enough. (ie double boxed with 3-4" of cushioning around all sides)

What goes on inside the hub is probably far worse!!

 

[twertsy]

thought I saw a thumb.

Hey Mike, go catch that leprechaun and get your pot o' gold!

 

[mikeb27]

I watched your video and I don't think what he did looked that bad. If the contents couldn't survive that, then they were not packed well enough. (ie double boxed with 3-4" of cushioning around all sides)

Old dishwasher box, extra cardboard cut up and placed around all sides to create a double wall, bunch of packing down first before placing the item in, then a bunch of packing on the remaining 5 sides before closing up the box. Used almost 2 rolls of clear packing tape to secure both ends. We should be ok.

 

[Skin]

I don't think twertsy is going to be okay. Poor fellow is on track to blow his ticker early from stress.

 

[twertsy]

Old dishwasher box, extra cardboard cut up and placed around all sides to create a double wall, bunch of packing down first before placing the item in, then a bunch of packing on the remaining 5 sides before closing up the box. Used almost 2 rolls of clear packing tape to secure both ends. We should be ok.

Absolutely can't thank you enough! Even if it's damaged, not your fault and I greatly appreciate the help getting this sucker!

 

[mikeb27]

Again, glad I could help out. Just looked back at the old thread, can't believe it's been almost 3 months since I picked it up to get it out to you. Sorry again about that.

 

[twertsy]

Here you go Strouty..........on youtube

 

[txvwnut]

The biggest thing I've found with fedex is that some of their drivers are contracted owner operators. Some of them care and some of them couldn't give a rats *** how a package gets to and from the truck or where it gets left.
Whenever I'm available to catch a delivery driver I always ask them if they want/need something to drink, it works great when you see the same driver as it kind of sets a basic relationship with them and they seem to take a little more care with your stuff.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Fedex is not a problem for me... or UPS either... USPS on the other hand, breaks my stuff before it even arrives. They apparently like to hear the rattle of broken glass.

When you use USPS Priority Mail, they often actually contract with Fedex in the background. It goes from USPS to Fedex and back to USPS for delivery. Fedex typically has airplane capacity for cargo and USPS purchases that space.

So, you might actually be getting Fedex and not even knowing it .

 

[balane]

The absolute worst thing about FedEx and their insurance (I assume UPS as well.) is that no matter how well you package it and it gets damaged, if the item is fragile, they'll say they don't cover sensitive items. Shipping companies do everything they can to avoid paying claims due to damage. I've had issues with both but fortunately overall things have been OK for the most part.

 

[jd_1138]

Sadly that *** clown driver will probably not be fired. 99% of people in this country only care about price and not quality, so as a result, these drivers are rushed and hurried. I am sure GJ members wouldn't mind paying 10% more for s/h to get quality service, but the average consumer doesn't care (and doesn't get antiques/collectibles shipped to them).

That idiot driver should've brought his hand dolly up to the house to get the package. What a *****. Would've been easier on his back AND protected your parcel.

 

[truckdriver]

Wow, walking back to the van to get the hand truck must have been too much work for this *******.

 

[PelicanPines]

When you use USPS Priority Mail, they often actually contract with Fedex in the background. It goes from USPS to Fedex and back to USPS for delivery. Fedex typically has airplane capacity for cargo and USPS purchases that space.

So, you might actually be getting Fedex and not even knowing it .

From the stories I am getting from my USPS carrier... it's the "in post office" sorting crew that likes to toss packages without concern for their contents. So for me... using Fedex is the only way to make sure the package never touches USPS.

A lot of my UPS packages are being drop shipped to my local post office and delivered the next day by my carrier... however they are SORTED by the wonderful men and women doing packages inside the post office, who are members of the zero to 9 IQ club.

 

[Evan(CA)]

LOL you guys would lose your minds if you saw the security footage from a hub. What happened to this package is nothing compared to what went through afterward. Like others have said if it couldn't survive that it had no chance of making it to it's final destination.

 

[Strouty]

Fedex is not a problem for me... or UPS either... USPS on the other hand, breaks my stuff before it even arrives. They apparently like to hear the rattle of broken glass.

I actually pay them extra just to mess with all your shipments.

 

[Spn1025]

From the stories I am getting from my USPS carrier... it's the "in post office" sorting crew that likes to toss packages without concern for their contents. So for me... using Fedex is the only way to make sure the package never touches USPS.

A lot of my UPS packages are being drop shipped to my local post office and delivered the next day by my carrier... however they are SORTED by the wonderful men and women doing packages inside the post office, who are members of the zero to 9 IQ club.

hence why I have no hard feelings about putting 50 to 70 pounds worth of nails in a small flat rate box.

 

[Loscaldazar]

Unfortunately for so many of those workers, it's no sweat off their back. Product gets damaged? FedEx pays out for insurance (if the shipper payed for it). It's not like it gets taken out of their paycheck, as it's quite hard to prove who broke it!

 

[2oolhound]

I shipped a 20" hi def crt monitor to a guy one time. When he got it he bitched at me saying what's the matter, couldn't you find a bigger box? That thing could have been pushed out of the cargo door of the airplane and landed on the tarmac 20 feet below and not broken" I guess he wasn't happy with the cost of shipping which he knew in advance of his purchase. I wrote back to him "they probably did" (push it from the cargo door to the tarmac).
This was a 100 lb $7000 monitor so yeah, it was packed solidly in a heavy walled cardboard box that was placed in another heavy walled cardboard box with 3 -4" of styro peanuts packed tightly around all 6 sides.

What ever complaints people give for packing and shipping costs they are 20 fold worse if something arrives broken.

Hopefully the video will make that driver think about the importance of his job to the owners of the items he's handling in the future.

 

[jd_1138]

Wow, walking back to the van to get the hand truck must have been too much work for this *******.

Or heck he should've brought the hand truck WITH him up to the house. He knew he was doing a pickup and probably even knew ahead of time how heavy it was.

 

[schmelpboy]

I swear they purposely damage things marked "fragile." In the 20 years I've been shipping stuff, last week was the first time I marked a box, "fragile." Customer messaged me....Totally destroyed upon delivery.

 

[paranoid56]

its also fedex home/ground which is totally different then normal fedex.

 

[Davefr]

Or heck he should've brought the hand truck WITH him up to the house. He knew he was doing a pickup and probably even knew ahead of time how heavy it was.

I would have taken it directly to the nearest FedEx store as prepaid. I almost never schedule carrier pickups. It's one less thing that can get screwed up.

 

[nickleone]

There is no UP in the shipping world. You cannot ship a bucket of water with a this side up arrow and expect the water to get there.
I am a professional packer and shipper in business since 1997.
The average person has no idea what is needed to pack and ship an item.

Nick

 

[hangfirew8]

I swear they purposely damage things marked "fragile." In the 20 years I've been shipping stuff, last week was the first time I marked a box, "fragile." Customer messaged me....Totally destroyed upon delivery.

Exactly! I think they want to condition, er, educate people not to ship fragile stuff.

 

[2oolhound]

Here's one in favour of fedex. I had an assignment to shoot a 5 day kayak ocean adventure tour on the west coast and wanted a 2nd video camera that would fit my underwater housing. This meant ebay was my last hope as the model was out of production and there was little time to prepare after receiving confirmation. I won one in Kentucky but the seller was a dud who would only ship fedex ground. It was clear I wouldn't get it in time that way so I called my fedex people in Canada and explained the situation. 8am the next morning fedex was at my door with the camera. I called my fedex guy who told me they intercepted the truck on the hwy in Kentucky that had a 100 mile road trip from the small town it left from with another van who rushed it to the airport and so on down the line. The cost wasn't bad either. After that experience fedex is in my good books.

 

[JonDick13926]

What an idiot. I wouldn't have done that even if it WASN'T fragile, it weighed 100 pounds, and I got paid $2 an hour. Not only does it make him look like a fool given that the entire box says "fragile", I would also think that flipping it like that would be SLOWER than just carrying it to the van. I had the UPS guy hand me a Hobart welder in a box about that size and I just carried it into the garage. No flipping required.

 

[CJM8515]

Guy didnt realize anyone would notice, didnt know there was a camera and just didnt care either way.

 

[twertsy]

I actually pay them extra just to mess with all your shipments.

I knew it!