Observer-Reporter forum

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

A thread where we should collect all our rants. I shall accept the honor of inaugurating it by railing on FedEx.

So I bought something on ebay. What it is is not important (it was a blowup doll. Don't judge me). Anyway, the seller is all like, "I only use FedEx," and I'm like okay whatever. So he ships it last week and it comes on Saturday and I'm home for most of the day but at some point I have to get out and run some errands so I just go and when I come back I have a slip on my door. Apparently I had to sign for the damn thing but nobody told me that. So I call them back and I'm all polite and I ask if they can bring it back and at first they give me a spiel about not allowing their drivers to talk on the phone while they drive (they said it was "illegal" but last I checked those are state or even city ordinances, and I don't think we have those laws here yet). I insisted, still polite, and got transferred to the local office. THEY told me that they would call and ask the driver. I called back later and they told me he wasn't answering his phone. I have to say that I think they were lying because if you were a driver and your boss called you, would you answer or ignore it? But I was till polite.

Now, I had to wait til Tuesday for my second chance because they aren't open for delivery on Monday. Here's where my rant begins. First, if I miss the package three times, they mail it back to the shipper. Just as a rule. Second, they refuse to give you a time when they will deliver it (just "between 8 am and 8 pm"). Third, the office is in sewickley so its ridiculously far for me to try and pick up in rush hour traffic (cause they only do pickups when I would be at work; why would you offer hours convenient to other people?). Fourth, I tried to call and ask if they would deliver it to my work and they were like, "no, we only allow shippers to make changes," which I understand in principal but it still pisses me off.

So here's my observation: FedEx places their own convenience above that of their customers. They charge more than USPS and still make you jump through hoops to get your package. If I want to receive a package from FedEx, I have to take a day off from work and spend 12 hours sitting by my front door! What if I have to pee and the package comes? Too bad for me I guess. Apparently, and I've luckily not experienced this yet, they sometimes come up and just put the slip on your door without even knocking or ringing the doorbell. That means you have to keep like a hawk eye on the door so you can catch the guy before he flees without leaving your package. I also don't enjoy their ridiculous pickup hours of 8 to 4 during work days. Please explain to me why I pay for FedEx shipping and then I have to alter my schedule to accommodate them? I'm sorry, but here's how it should work: pickup hours should be 6 am to 8 am and 5 pm to 8 pm. Delivery times should be estimated within 2 hours at request of the receiver. Change of delivery address should be allowed by request of receiver as long as they can confirm the package's tracking number, the original delivery address and show a driver's license upon receiving the package at the changed destination. And the package should frankly be brought back at least 10 times before being returned to the sender. If it gets shipped and comes on a Tuesday, Wednesday and then Thursday and I'm at work LIKE MOST ****ING PEOPLE ARE, then I'm screwed. And build a pickup facility that's closer to me than an hour's drive! Damn.
_________________
The end is nigh! OR forums die APRIL 1. Don't lose contact! Join the forums at bogsource.com now!

amom · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 10:37 am Post subject:

I had the same problem dealing with FedEx and eBay. You can change your eBay shipping address to your office, but since it won't be "verified" (i.e., the address is different than where you get your credit card bill), some dealers won't ship. It's too late for you on this package, but I usually contact the seller directly and give them my business address. FedEx sucks.

UPS on the other hand I've found to be overly cooperative. Smile

_________________
-amom

"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?"

- Will Rogers

Brant · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 10:39 am Post subject:

I can understand that with the volume of deliveries they have to make, they can't do all of them early in the morning or in the evening. But they absolutely should have someplace closer where you can go and pick it up yourself. I once had to go pick up a package from one of the major carriers, and their place was clear out by Pittsburgh International.
_________________

The priests of the different religious sects dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight.

- Thomas Jefferson

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

Yeah, I've had much fewer problems with UPS. They tried to deliver some equipment (more blow up dolls) to me not long ago and I missed them by 5 minutes. Called them up, asked if they would bring it back. Two hours later, same day, guy's at the door with a smile and my package. UPS > FedEx.
_________________
The end is nigh! OR forums die APRIL 1. Don't lose contact! Join the forums at bogsource.com now!

ellipses · Mod Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 9218 Location: WashPa!

I love this thread... I don't have a rant right now... but undoubtedly I will have one by the end of the week. Chit just happens like that Smile

LoL

Maybe I will schedule an eye doctor appointment... that always results in a rant that would make Dennis Miller blush
_________________
The end is nigh! OR forums die APRIL 1. Don't lose contact! Join the forums at bogsource.com now!

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

Lulz. Wife said the FedEx guy showed up, delivered package, and then asked why someone would ship with them. He said it "didn't make sense."
_________________
The end is nigh! OR forums die APRIL 1. Don't lose contact! Join the forums at bogsource.com now!

amom · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:56 pm Post subject:

I have received packages at work mailed from the federal government (you know, the United States) that are mailed FedEx, not through the United States Postal Service! Tell me that makes sense. And I did have a package shipped back to the sender since the stupid delivery man came every day when I was out to lunch and the office was closed.
_________________
-amom

"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?"

- Will Rogers

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

Yeah, USPS actually hires FedUp themselves sometimes to take care of extra stuff.
_________________
The end is nigh! OR forums die APRIL 1. Don't lose contact! Join the forums at bogsource.com now!

Professor · Apprentice Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 358

We have been in our home for over 25 years and I can honestly say that UPS in a pain in the arse!

Depending on the driver, they have been known to drive right past our home and take our packages to the "local" post office for final delivery! Unfortunately that post office has no clue where we live because we don't have a mailbox in front of our home and apparently they can't read house numbers!

We wanted a post office box and the "local" post office is 6 miles away. Its also in a location we rarely visit. The one we use is 3 miles away and I drive past it every day! Unfortunately its in a different zip code. Now you would think that with all of the high tech gear the US Postal Service has it could make the connection, but NOOOOOO!

amom · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:29 am Post subject:

Don't get me started on our local post offices. I can see where people go "postal" but in these cases, it's the people who have to deal with the post office employees!
_________________
-amom

"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?"

- Will Rogers

Brant · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:42 am Post subject:

I rarely get to an actual post office, but my rural letter carrier is the best.
_________________

The priests of the different religious sects dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight.

- Thomas Jefferson

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

Today's rant: Christians who think that its their job to make me subscribe to their personal morals. If you use a Christian angle to argue evolution, prayer in school, sex ed, gay marriage, or any other of a number of strictly moral tenants with me, you have automatically lost the argument in my eyes. Please feel free to enforce your Christian morals within the walls of your church and over the members of your congregation. However, the nation does not need legal counsel from the church. Let it go.
_________________
The end is nigh! OR forums die APRIL 1. Don't lose contact! Join the forums at bogsource.com now!

Brant · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:21 am Post subject:

We need protection FROM religion a lot more than we need protection of religion. No one really cares how someone wants to worship, provided they're not harming others. Yet militant Christians think it's their mission to make sure that everyone follows their "special" path to salvation.
_________________

The priests of the different religious sects dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight.

- Thomas Jefferson

Amphikalein · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:46 pm Post subject:

Honestly i don't even consider those folks to BE Christians. Instead they're people who are worshiping the idol of their own understanding of the faith. When i engage one of those folks in conversation it always amazes me how little they know about the Bible, theology or the history of the Church. The ones that REALLY crack me up are the ones who make the claim that Christians are this persecuted group in need of special protections. Yeah, right. Christianity is the majority religion in this country. Stop yer whining!

Call me when Diocletian shows up at your door. Shocked

_________________
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." ~Martin Luther King Jr.

"May we, in our dealings with all the peoples of the earth, ever speak the truth and serve justice." ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

Amphy's blog | Proud Member NDA

dazes · Professional Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 1422

OK, I am not really getting your point about Christians. Extremists whether Christian, Muslim or sophomoric blog-posters, who believe that they are holier and superior to the rest of the normal population really need to come out and do some real good and not have to talk about it.