Beware FedEx Ground users

billbillw

If you're like me, and have a FedEx account, and you send gear by printing labels yourself, you might want to reconsider how you send packages.

I found out that if you send a package to a residence by normal FedEx Ground, they will back charge you for the Home Delivery fee after the fact. I recently sent 4 packages and was back-charged $2.44 for each package because I send them by normal FedEx Ground and they happened to be residential addresses.

If you don't use FedEx often, you may not understand what I mean.
Lemme explain. FedEx used to only offer Ground service. They were/are delivered by the big step vans M-F. This service had a very good reputation for careful handling of packages and on time deliveries. Then they started offering Ground Home, (now called Home Delivery) which uses the smaller vans and delivers Tue-Sat (no Monday delivery). I've seen many people complain that the Home Delivery drivers are rougher with packages and have had more damaged packages from this service. Also, more frequent lost packages, and late arrivals started happening.. (I myself had a couple problems) The good reputation that FedEx Ground had was/is being ruined by the Home Delivery service. Plus, FedEx started charging a premium for the service which adds up to $2.44 per package!

I am one that has been recently avoiding the use of Home Delivery service when I ship packages, not because I am trying to cheat FedEx out of money, but because I WANT my packages sent using FedEx Ground, not Home Delivery. I've never deceived anyone by quoting shipping by Home Delivery and then sending by Ground. I quote for Ground and send Ground. Not anymore I guess. I'll have to do Home Delivery in most cases.

So, anyway, just be aware of this when you send packages by FedEx.

danger boy

I only ship using FedEx. very happy about it. in fact later today i'll be there again shipping out some speakers.

they have better shipping prices i've found over the rest. Plus my packages get there on average 1 to 2 days faster then with the brown truck guys.

polktiger

I don't ship much, but I have no idea if I am shipping to a residence or not. Then again, I don't have an account so, I suspect their ability to back charge me is zilch. What about the people that use "Home" and ship to an office? I don't use home, and I don't like to get stuff via "Home" they do tend to lose packages more. I also find they do a lot of "not available" will re deliver in their tracking when with no incidation of an attempted delivery. (ie, the driver knocks off work early).

BaggedLancer

I will never, ever, never, ever ever again use FedEx Home Delivery after my last experience with them. Fedex Ground is fine and I will pay the extra $2.44 to use that service and pass the expense onto the buyer. Either that or it's UPS or USPS......no matter what service you choose, eventually you will have issues with each and every one of them.

WilliamM2

They have always charged extra for residential delivery. The forms at the FedEx station, and online, have had the residential check box for as long as I can remember.

As far as delivery trucks, in my area, the same trucks that deliver ground also deliver home, but I know in some areas they use sub-contractors for home deliveries.

Early B.

danger boy wrote: »

I only ship using FedEx. very happy about it.

they have better shipping prices i've found over the rest. Plus my packages get there on average 1 to 2 days faster then with the brown truck guys.

Yep, that's been my experience, too. I save a few dollars by taking my packages directly to a local FedEx facility.

shack

UPS or USPS here. NEVER FedEx unless someone is sending me stuff and paying for it.

danger boy

i tend to ship a lot of larger packages for some reason latley. and USPS changes an arm and a leg for oversize packages.. I mean it can add about another 50% to the price for shipping. so for small and lightweight packages.. I do use USPS quite a bit. but for larges packages. I have no qualms with FedEx.

Early B.

I've been dealing with a USPS claim since November '07 and they have not been very cooperative. I was shocked at how badly they tore up an amp I shipped. The box looked like it had gone through a war zone. Needless to say I'll never use USPS again.

Here's a sample pic:

billbillw

WilliamM2 wrote: »

They have always charged extra for residential delivery. The forms at the FedEx station, and online, have had the residential check box for as long as I can remember.

As far as delivery trucks, in my area, the same trucks that deliver ground also deliver home, but I know in some areas they use sub-contractors for home deliveries.

There wasn't a residential surcharge until about a year ago. Honestly, I don't expect to be shipping much over the next year, but I though I'd pass this on anyway. I'm out of upgrade mode and have likely made all the changes I'm going to make for awhile.

F1nut

FedEx Home Delivery is by far the worst. WTH was FedEx thinking???

SKsolutions

Another deal with Home Delivery and Kinkos. Called seller, and had him drop to nearest location, Kinkos. Told Kinkos dude to ship to my home, fully insured and gave him the accnt#. Unit arrived with sheared off screws holding the output stages/heat sinks, and the box was a wreck. Called Fed-Ex, which stated it wasn't insured. Called Kinkos, which stated they have no record after Fed-Ex picks it up. No detail was included in the online account shipment logs, so I can't point the finger at either party. I doubt this is an isolated incident. After a heated discussion, and a faxed formal demand, I received a small compensation 100$, plus shipping 32$. If you can get packages at work, have them shipped there to avoid the Home part of Fed-ex. I will be avoiding Fed-ex altogether, except for signed docs.

obieone

THEY all SUCK!!!

tbyrne

Agreed - I won't use DHL and UPS has gotten to be too expensive for me. It's bleak when USPS is the best.

hearingimpared

I always use the USPS. I use insurance not so much for a damaged package because that is a true rarity with USPS but for a lost package which they must pay the insured amount.

I've never had a problem with USPS delivery even to Canada.

kingtut

In SoCal, packages delivered via Fed Ex Home Delivery are done by independent contractors, wearing Fed Ex's uniform and driving their own small trucks with FedEx logo on them. They get pay by the pieces delivered, so they have to work fast. It's called "piece-work" in California Labor Law terminology. That's why they're so rough w/the packages.

Gadabout

I agree that FedEx Home delivery is miserable. I also second the suggestion to get stuff delivered to your work to avoid that problem. I try not to use FedEx Ground because I have had packages rerouted to Home Delivery with out my knowing about it or authorizing it.

In my work I routinely ship electronics and have electronics sent to me. They range from small parts and boards to 60 Lb calibration cases. In my experieance, FedEx is superior to UPS for getting things there, on time and having them arrive safely.

I just purchased a DAC. I sent the guy a FedEx shipping label, so he could just attach it to the box. That way I know it is insured and has the correct contact information.

If I have a choice I always ship FedEx