I wish you guys would post whether it's FedEx Express or FedEx Ground when you have an issue. Nobody realizes the difference and there is a REMARKABLE difference in the service and in the personnel. They are actually two different companies if you didn't know, both owned by the same guy though.
FedEx Ground has a green "Ex" in the logo, the drivers are contractors, standards are severely lacking, and if you call for a package retrieval it could take up to two weeks- IF it ever happens. Express has an orange "Ex" and are paid by the hour, quite well as a matter of fact. Express has security, locks, package cages, ID badges, camera, forms to sign, and TSA agents sniffing around every other day to test the response. And most, if not all, Express couriers have a TWIC card which means they've had a really thorough background check.
You may have guessed by now that I'm with Express. I have been for 27 years now and it's in my best interest to keep my customers happy about the service I give them. If I ever leave a package on your door, it will be hidden to the best of my ability and it won't require a signature. If it does need a signature, don't be mad when I don't leave it the next day because you signed the door tag. the shipper paid extra to have proof of who signed for it and for me to watch you sign it and correctly enter your name into the powerpad. Some of the new couriers don't realize what this implies and I try to educate them as best as I can. I have left rfiles on a customer's front porch before. I didn't like it and told him I wasn't comfortable doing it, but that was what he asked me to do.
I have left packages on top of car hoods because dogs wouldn't let me out of the truck. Sometimes it wasn't even the recipient's dog! And I have misdelivered packages before. Pisses me off like you wouldn't believe too! My OCD kicks in and I can't sleep until I've fixed it. I've never stolen a package before but have been accused of it. I was forced to walk over to the guys grill, and open it up to show him I left it where the wife's note told me to leave it. I've even had one guy tell me I never came to his door and knocked, while holding the doortag that I left and telling me that he was sitting next to the window when I walked up. The fact that his car wasn't there when I came by (and he lived alone!) didn't make a bit of difference to him. Do FedEx guys steal stuff? Sure. But as far as Express goes, you'll be hard pressed to find a thief. We have waaaaay too much security to risk it. I am the face of FedEx that my customers deal with and I have the responsibility to make it worthwhile to use FedEx. I'm sorry some of ya'll have had a hard time. I try hard not to let my folks feel that way. Here's some hints to help your courier get your stuff to you.
Don't decorate your mailbox! We hate that and people look at us weird when we look in the mailbox to see the address on the mail.
Put your address on the mailbox AND the house, especially if the neighborhood mailboxes are all up by the street and there are a bunch of houses back in the woods or culdesac or whatever.
Put the numbers up in a contrasting (but complimentary!) color. Silver or gold metallic numbers suck!
Just because your dog doesn't bite doesn't mean your dog doesn't bite us.
I got ripped by a rotty AFTER the kid said he didn't bite and I'd petted him.
Most of us carry dog treats. PLEASE let us know if your dog has allergies!
Most important of all! Get to know your usual courier! I'll tell you when I'm on vacation, who the replacement courier will be and how he is to work with. We're usually pretty nice, probably a little over caffeinated, and could really use just a couple minutes of talking to another human about whatever. We also make GREAT neighborhood watch guys. After we've run the route for a while, we know who's who and where they are and who isn't supposed to be there. You're getting a package today, but I delivered airline tickets to you yesterday? I'll scan the package with a code that says nobody home (dex08) and then indirect it (dex04) to your mother at her house. She's not there? I'll take it up to your brother's office. I'm probably heading his way anyway. His secretary is hot afterall. Yeah, I know your brother is "dating" her. No. I'm not telling his wife. That part of it isn't my business. I just don't want to take the package back to the station and walk it (and others!) 100 yards from the warehouse (I'm in a LARGE station) into the check-in area to give it to the CSA to scan it and place it on a shelf so I can bring it back tomorrow.
Use LOT'S of padding when shipping something fragile. Don't let it roll around the box or it WILL break and come out. Our boxes are sorted using a laser to scan the barcode and metal diverters that push it off the conveyor belt to the next belt. It's usually only touched by the person unloading the can and the person loading the can it goes into. Then the unloading/sorting handlers and courier at the destination station.
Oh! If you are shipping a package to a business, don't bother checking the SIGNATURE REQUIRED box. We get sigs at most of our businesses unless it's just a small shop that we know well and go to every day. Save some cash and only check that box if you're shipping to a residence.
Hope I've helped ease your fears a bit and not ruffeled any feathers. It just bugs me when I hear about FedEx screwing up EVERY day. Especially when it's Ground and a hundred people post it to me on Facebook for a laugh.
