FEDEX destroyed my plants

[shadytrake]

Isn't it terrible that one bad apple can destroy the whole image of the company? Since FedEx is in my hometown and they are responsible for so much community/university investment, I hate to hear stories like this because it paints a black eye on Memphis too.

Even though the ground drivers are independent contractors, the FedEx logo is on the truck and the package which means that FedEx is responsible for their actions and attitude toward the customer.

While I have had no issue with FedEx personally, Fred Smith recently did an interview in which he personally took responsibility for the recent driver delivery "failures" especially the one that went viral on the internet. That driver no longer works for FedEx.

If you have continued problems, I suggest the hidden camera / YouTube route. Sometimes going viral on the internet is the only way for problems to be elevated past the "middle managers."

I hope that you get the orchids. I am proud that FedEx is in my hometown and I hope they improve their service in your area.

[Bud]

My FEDEX lady is nice, amiable and friendly...I am a walk up building and she carries my packages to my door...if I am not at home: she leaves the boxes at the first floor apt. of the "super"...and when I get home...I see them all lined up ready for me to bring it upstairs...
I am surprised that your driver lies and lazy to ring your door...telephones whether landline or cell have caller ID's...if FEDEX calls it will show ...even if you deleted calls for months...records of the call can always be retrieved

[Tsuchibuta]

First, I have to admit the my comments are biased as a former employee of Fedex Ground. However I have to say there are independent contractors that seemingly don't care, but Ground contracts are very strict and it only takes a couple of complaints for them to loose their contracts. Also any lost packages are taken out of their pay as well as a percentage of the damage cost if the package is delivered in a damaged condition.

That being said my express driver always delivered my packages to my neighbors consistently, and actually got into an argument with me, (like I didn't know my own address) when I caught him doing it one day. My ground guy never did this. In my experience UPS is almost impossible to track down if you aren't there to receive your package, not to mention they are prohibitively more expensive due the outrageous wages that the teamsters have negotiated for their drivers. Basically it's having the same effect on UPS that the Auto Unions have had on Detroit.

I have to agree with Ray, with all shippers you will get some bad apples, and If you live on the route of a bad apple of course your treatment isn't going to get any better (unless your driver changes). Overall though Fedex prices are more competitive and reliable.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I currently work at a FedEx hub as security and know for a fact that the issue is not just that the drivers are independent contractors...

Each hub operates slightly differently from one another. Different sets of managers have a slightly different way of running their hub from another one.

However...

Not a single FedEx employee has the authority to destroy a package without proper consent from either management, security, customs, or any other enforcement agency. In order for management to be able to give out such an order, they really shouldn't be taking the word of a driver nor a package handler that anything should be "destroyed".

If there is any reason to believe the package should be destroyed for any reason whatsoever, 2 things can happen...

1.Management can hand the package to security for inspection or have security contact and hand it over to authorities such as customs to handle inspection.

2. Management can send it directly to customs for inspection.

Not a single package handler, driver, or sorter has any authority or right to open a package for inspection whatsoever unless they would like to be or invite the opportunity to be terminated from all FedEx hubs.

I think the more likely cause of this fiasco was that the package got severely crushed or destroyed while it was getting sorted, loaded, or unloaded. I can count on almost having at least 1 package being crushed or destroyed on the warehouse floor everyday.

[RJSquirrel]

thank you for taking your time to chime in.

I realize there are going to be problems on occasion. I dont pick on FEDEX bec I like them messing my orders up. I dont buy that much anymore. So when i spend a few hundred bucks on orchids I want, I expect them to be delivered somehow someway. Just to toss a 300 dollar box of live plants off to the side and not call, not do anything. Let them sit there and rot is a total lack of care and responsibility. FEDEX dropped the ball thats all there is to that and they should have bent over to assist me and they couldnt even find my phone number which by now is all over someones bathroom wall.

I am having my plants shipped directly to the FEDEX shipping center located in the Chase bank building a few blocks away. The lady there told me to put my name & number with their address. She will get the package and call me when it arrives. Problem solved.. .you just have to talk to the right person. One who SEES solutions to a problem and not add to the problem. Very simple fix for this...

But we got plants coming and maybe I can feel like an orchid board member again and have some blooms to show you all ..I need blooms its ll that makes me smile these days are blooms on orchids.

[camille1585]

Glad you found a solution!!! And she sounds like a very helpful lady Hopefully that will limit the problems.

On my side I also have to find a solution. In the past the delivery man would leave packages on the washing machine in the corridor (I'm still in student housing). But now they prefer to leave package with people, and the delivery person does not leave you a note saying who has it. It's now a weekly occurrence for someone to leave a note in the elevator asking "who has my package?" and some never turn up.

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

Another reason I like it here. I can call early( like now) do a quick bank transfer, and have anything I want before eleven to five PM today for a cost of about $3-4. $10-$15 for stuff from Panama city.... a loooooong way away(overnight). I can see Nicaragua from a mountain range nearly across the street.
It comes in the cargo hold of the public bus systems.

[Leafmite]

Let us know when your plants come, RJ. We hope to see Picts!
Camille, maybe the post will hold the packages for pick up? Do you know any professors or U offices that would recieve your packages? Sounds like it definitely isn't a good idea to have them delivered to the student housing.

[Otis226]

In our neck of the woods USPS is by far the most reliable shipper of the big three. I've had FedEx deliveries constantly bypass our home by 90 miles before it turns around and makes it to us, IF it makes it to us. I realize they have hubs and its more efficient for them, but to show a package tracking past its destintion to head 90 miles south is plain bad business. I also realize that many businesses prefer FedEx because they get a deal using them. Whenever I have a choice I'll always use the USPS, which although far from perfect still does a better job than FedEx or UPS any day of the week in my opinion.
Tony

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Camille, maybe the post will hold the packages for pick up? Do you know any professors or U offices that would recieve your packages? Sounds like it definitely isn't a good idea to have them delivered to the student housing.

We're not allowed to recieve personal mail at work, it's against university policy. As for picking up from the post desk, I'd rather not, the people who run the one I depend off of are total jerks. After getting my wallet stolen I had to go pick up my new credit card there, but since I no longer had my french ID I used my US passport. They gave me hell because I didn't have a residence permit with it, then they accused me of having a fake passport, and then threatened to report me to the immigration authorities. And initially they didn't want to return my 'fake' passport. So no, I'm never getting a package there ever again!