Fed Ex Shipping Issues

[TomJ]

I wanted to post my Fed Ex shipping experience so hopefully no one else experiences this. I ordered powder and primers online and was not going to be able to take a day off of work to wait for the shipment. In Illinois they need to be shipped to the address on your FOID or held by the shipper for pick up. I opted to have Fed Ex hold it and called them to ask which of their locations I should have it shipped to. I was explicit in explaining what was being shipped and that they were hazmat materials, and they gave me the address of a local location that could hold hazmat shipments. My package wound up bouncing around for 3 days, as that location could only hold a hazmat package if it was shipped Express, not Ground so they refused delivery of it twice. No one told me of this requirement. I figured out what was going on the day of their third delivery attempt and had them re-route it to another location.

The misinformation I received from Fed Ex was disappointing. I spoke with customer service reps, reps from local offices, managers and supervisors and received different answers from all of them. What I learned was you need to specify what's being shipped, how it's being shipped (Ground, Express, etc) and whether the location you want it shipped to will hold it for you based on these combinations. I'm not sure if UPS is better, and if anyone has had better experiences with them I'd like to know so I can avoid this next time as I wasted too much time on this.

 

[Grumulkin]

I believe the location and the particular driver has something to do with what service you get. Around here, UPS has been great. The FEDEX guys leave stuff out where it can be rained on despite the fact we have a 50 foot porch with easy access to the driveway.

I don't remember who has delivered HAZMAT stuff to me but when I shipped ammunition, I went with UPS because they were a lot more user friendly.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

The Air Force wasted billions of dollars developing the Stealth Bomber, they could simply have UPS or FedEx "deliver" the bombs and no one would know.

FedEx will leave packages out in the rain instead of under the roof overhand 3 feet away, and most of the time neither company will ring the doorbell 3 feet away. We usually do a "UPS/FedEx check" every evening before bedtime- inspect both doorways for packages left earlier in the day while we were home but no knock or doorbell.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

My powder, primer & gun shipments have been via Fedex. I do not tell them I won't be home. Let the driver attempt delivery and return for hold. Then I go pick up where they specify. I think you can go online after the first attempt and specify to hold for pickup.

 

[Hondo 60]

The Air Force wasted billions of dollars developing the Stealth Bomber, they could simply have UPS or FedEx "deliver" the bombs and no one would know.

The problem with that idea is that you don't know when. It might bounce around for days.

I use UPS. They seem to be much friendlier about firearms, ammo & reloading supplies.
(cheaper too)

 

[Walkalong]

I believe the location and the particular driver has something to do with what service you get

Yep, the Fed Ex driver for my area is horrible. It's all him, the local branch is great.

 

[Buckeye357]

FedEx is horrible in my area also. I always ask for UPS shipping.

 

[ljnowell]

I wanted to post my Fed Ex shipping experience so hopefully no one else experiences this. I ordered powder and primers online and was not going to be able to take a day off of work to wait for the shipment. In Illinois they need to be shipped to the address on your FOID or held by the shipper for pick up. I opted to have Fed Ex hold it and called them to ask which of their locations I should have it shipped to. I was explicit in explaining what was being shipped and that they were hazmat materials, and they gave me the address of a local location that could hold hazmat shipments. My package wound up bouncing around for 3 days, as that location could only hold a hazmat package if it was shipped Express, not Ground so they refused delivery of it twice. No one told me of this requirement. I figured out what was going on the day of their third delivery attempt and had them re-route it to another location.



The misinformation I received from Fed Ex was disappointing. I spoke with customer service reps, reps from local offices, managers and supervisors and received different answers from all of them. What I learned was you need to specify what's being shipped, how it's being shipped (Ground, Express, etc) and whether the location you want it shipped to will hold it for you based on these combinations. I'm not sure if UPS is better, and if anyone has had better experiences with them I'd like to know so I can avoid this next time as I wasted too much time on this.

Whoever have you that info gave you bunk info. FOID isn't required to purchase primers or powder, only loaded ammunition. The address doesn't matter at all.

I order from powder valley at least three times per year, I have never supplied them FOID info. As I know that I'm rarely home during the day I put my info in the bill to portion and my parents in the ship to portion and have them receive it for me. They never see my FOID and couldn't care less.

Just last week I jumped on the primer special at cabelas, same thing. No FOID involved and had it shipped to my parents.

Next time do that and save yourself the hassle.

 

[cwall64]

I order from several online places and most seem to use UPS. Nice thing with USP is that you can signup for their "UPS Choice" (I think that is the name) and automatically get updated tracking information and sign online for packages with where to leave directions. It works for me in that i get an email almost instantly when they leave it and i can run home or call the neighbor and ask them to pull it off the doorstep. When Powder Valley creates the label I get the notification from UPS and tracking info - seems to work for me... Other thing is i normally give the UPS driver a nice Christmas tip, and he seems to take good care of me! He has my cell phone number and normally calls me if he can't leave a package and tries to come by later in the day (Wife's wine shipments have to have an adult signature).

I normally do not get much with FedEx anymore.

 

[FROGO207]

So a couple years ago (before the big shortage and SH) I ordered a fully loaded Has-Mat box from PV. Propellant and primers to the max poundage I was allowed. It was shipped by Fed-X with adult signature required. It had not arrived on Fri afternoon when the shop I work at closed. I used that address for shipping due to need for a daytime adult signature. I happened back to work Sat morning for something for a home project and found my package on the front step of the shop--all wet from the 3/4 inch of rain that had fallen throughout the night before. I called the shipper and complained and they said not their problem as I had signed for them and apparently had left it there myself.:banghead: Never seen such poor service before and never was compensated. I complained to PV though but it was the shippers problem I was told. Incidentally I found that if 20K primers are water soaked overnight and dried out completely they will all still go bang. Every one of them did. But I did not trust them for critical loads though. I now will ask for UPS or go somewhere else that will do it. YMMV

 

[ReloaderFred]

It seems that FedEx only hires drivers who fail the personality test for the DMV...

I get great service from both the USPS and UPS, but never get even a smile from any of the FedEx drivers, if they actually deliver the package, rather than marking that the "address doesn't exist", or something similar.

They're my last choice for shipping.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Walkalong]

My experience exactly Fred. I never choose Fed Ex, although sometimes I get stuck with it.

 

[rbernie]

FedEx is horrible in my area also. I always ask for UPS shipping.

Ditto.

 

[Dudedog]

I had a package with powder that required someone to sign for it.
They missed the first try. I contacted them and they said sometime the afternoon the next days so I made sure someone was home. No package.
Called and they said no one was home in the afternoon. They said the afternoon for the next day. Got home a 5 PM no package. Called to see what was up on the phone to Fedex for an hour. While on the phone to them tracking showed they tried to deliver it and no one was home. I was home on the phone to Fedex with them trying to figure out where I could pick it up. (they were confused because it was hazmat, and were saying I had to get it from the hub 30 miles away) After all the time on the phone to them they sent the driver back out with it. and I got it. No way We could have missed the driver because my dogs let me know anytime a Fedex/UPS truck is at my house or any of the neighbors.
Other times I have had better luck with the,

I think it all comes down to the driver.

 

[jrdolall]

I think that Fedex drivers are actually owners of their routes? UPS drivers drive the route assigned to them. I have a good friend that is a UPS driver and he is very happy with the company.

I see different UPS drivers every week and they are all generally very good. I know they hate me when I order 3-4 bags of dog food though. My Fedex driver has zero personality.

I had a USPS delivery that was not made this week because "driver could not access delivery location". Seriously? Circular drive, wrap around porch, no closed gate, no fence in front, no dogs in front. It's the Post Office so what did I expect.

 

[konertjm]

I must be blessed. UPS usually arrives at my house between 2 and 3 in the afternoon. Fed-Ex sometime between 1:30 and 3. Except for Christmas of course, when they run about 1 to 2 hours late.

If I am home when they arrive, I will usually meet them at the door fro most packages. If it is a heavy package, I will meet them in the yard and carry it into the house myself, and make a comment about helping with the heavy packages.

If I don't notice they have arrived, they will ring the doorbell every time.

If I am not home, they will leave packages on the front porch, unless it is adult signature required.

Full disclosure: I do not order powder and primers (HAZ MAT), too easy to get those locally at good prices. I have ordered completed cartridges (ORM-D) without issue.

 

[RPegram]

We have a great UPS driver. He actually went to high school with my wife. He has put packages inside a vehicle in our front yard because he was afraid if he left it on our steps under a roof it might would still get wet in a hard rain. FedEx, not real impressed with them. I try to shop with companies that use UPS or have it as an option.

 

[Wis-Harpo]

UPS NO Problems

When I lived in Wisconsin before I retired, I would receive a signature required ammo shipment when I was not home and get a failure to deliver note. I went to the routing hub about 5 miles away and explained my problem. I was told when the driver would be back from his route, and could sign and receive my box. This went on for years, and the woman who answered the phone recognized my address and my name, and told me over the phone when to come to the hub.
Fast forward several years. I moved to South Carolina and received a package to my old address in Wisconsin. The same woman called my cell phone and said she knew somehow I had moved, and what was my new address. Now if that is not a reason to use UPS, I do not know one.
I have never used Fed-X. When I lived in Georgia, I received shipments at the Lab I worked for. All of the Fed-X drivers acted is if I had peed in their oatmeal. So I learned early not to use them

 

[Rodentman]

I ordered a pistol which was to be shipped FEDEX from a local distributor to a local dealer. It was delivered to the dealer in 1 day, dealer called me, and I picked up the gun. Tracking on the shipment reads "label created" or something like that and I've had it a month. Guess they don't monitor firearm shipments too closely.

I have done the above several times. Once a gun I had ordered was shipped to the FEDEX Memphis hub and back to MN and still made the 2 day delivery date.

 

[oneounceload]

I like both and also the USPS; Fedex has worked great for me and their tracking is awesome; have NEVER had an issue with them, whether getting deliveries or shipping guns.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I needed a controller unit for my Moultrie Game Feeder. It was shipped FedEx, and I tracked until it was reported delivered -- but it never arrived. I got no joy from FedEx, who claimed it had been left at my door.

I live back in the woods, 3/4 of a mile from the county road. About 3 days after the package was supposedly delivered, I was driving out, and as I was about to turn onto the county road, I saw a strange object in the woods. I got out of my truck, walked through the woods, and found a plastic bag hanging from a limb. Inside was my controller unit.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

I always choose UPS when given the option. Fed-Ex sucks.

Thank goodness Cabelas ships everything UPS....never had a problem.

 

[CLP]

I'm lucky since my local FedEx and UPS delivery folks have never caused me any problems. That said, I have any orders sent to my workplace except for C&R items which I pick up at their hub.

 

[TAG2501]

FedEx is mess internally. Can't tell how many times they've messed up delivering hazmat materials for work. Couldn't get a straight story on where and why the package was delayed. Seems to be a matrix of conflicting rules on what can go on a plane (or truck) all designed to randomly delay packages outside the tracking system. The dispatchers/trackers can't actually direct a package to a flight/truck for delivery. seems they're at the mercy of local warehouse operations folks as to whether or not your package actually gets on the next shipment.

Avoid at all costs if you really need it to arrive.

 

[geo57]

My frustrational grievance mirrors many of yours and mine is currently ongoing ....

I currently have a Belgium Browning A-5 in their possession who the seller demanded that he use FedEx to ship it.

First, FedEx said on the tracking info heading that delivery would be 12-24, then changed to 12-23 but once the tracking # itself was clicked it said 12-22, which it still does even though it was still in PA at noon today. A driver we spoke with has great doubts if it will be here by 12-24. This having an adult signature required means this goat #%@* is a real pain in the butt as someone has to be here just in case.

According to their tracking it didn't move for 30 hours after being picked up. To get here by tomorrow ( one of the dates in their promised delivery date lottery ) they are going to have to use a Saturn 5 rocket to get it to Nebraska.

I do not get this love affair dealers have with FedEx . When I ship a firearm or ammo I always use UPS and knock on wood I've had good luck with them. USPS too for long arms shipped.

If FedEx started using a Ouji board to determine delivery dates it would be a step in the right direction towards accuracy and efficiency.

I'm starting to think that the " Fed " part of their name is a give away that they are a government operation .

Yes, I'm kidding.......sorta.