I hate you, Fed Ex!

[ACP]

We settled on the name “Better Than Roses” but we discussed “Delayed in Atlanta” for quite a while. Shipping from La Grange, KY, to La Grange, NC, has to go through Atlanta. Pickup on Sunday, right? Over 20 flights from Atlanta to NC on Sunday from noon to early morning. We met every flight and kept getting “Sorry, the shipment is delayed in Atlanta.” from the people. We got a motel room, didn’t get to bed good before they called.

When we went to puck up the semen, the idiot behind the counter told my daughter she could wait until everyone had their stuff. She reached across the counter, took him by the shirt front, and shook him just a bit. “YOU. WILL. GET. IT. NOW. THE. MARE. HAS. OVULATED. BRING. ME. THE. CONTAINER. OF. SEMEN.” People stood back and said, “Oh, please, go ahead, no problem. You’re getting what delivered?”

Mare in question is getting high 60’s to low 70’s in Training and First right now.

We never got any reason for why the container didn’t get put on the plane in a timely fashion.

[silveroats]

I’ll add my vote to the “I hate you, FedEx” camp. Last July, stallion owner in Ontario tries to ship semen to me in Michigan… 300 miles. I’m tracking the shipment religiously. FedEx held the semen on their sweltering dock in Indianapolis for 36 hours waiting to clear US customs. It was during the week and there was no holiday for either country.
When I attempted to inquire about the shipment, I got caught up in FedEx’s voicemail vortex. No HUMAN to call, nada, just endless voicemail. Finally received the semen two days after it was shipped. Semen was weary, mare didn’t catch. The next cycle, I picked up semen at the farm, brought it back thru US customs and we inseminated her that evening.
FedEx’s customer service is hopeless. I hate you, FedEx.

[bizbachfan]

Very sorry Silver Oats, customs releases packages to us, not the other way around. We typically clear the shipment before the plane lands if all the documentation is order, not saying it wasn’t and that FedEx was not at fault but sometimes customs is the issue not us. Next time you call FedEx just say Representative and you will get a person. (I hate the automated system we have and zillions of other companies do, wish we could go back to old school people answering phones) Again anyone needing assistance please feel free to contact me. A good number for international shipments, customs issues, etc is 800-247-4747. Any time you need immediate help, say Representative and then demand they initiate a trace on your package.

[oldernewbie]

It just seems to me that with the volume of horse related shipping that FedEx does…that they would assign a special group to handle the shipments. It takes a bit of specialized knowledge to be able to understand what’s at stake with shipping semen and to help.

I hereby nominate bizbachfan as chief potentate. Give her a suitable number of reps and some resources and I bet she could turn this around.

[baywithchrome2]

While I’ve had my share of Fedex baubles, all in all, they have been very, very reliable. And after doing airport trips at all times of the day and night, I’m VERY grateful that Fedex provides their service.

I really have to praise our local Fedex drivers though. Now, maybe its because we are in Lexington, KY, and everything here revolves around horses, but I recently had fresh semen shipped in that was inadvertently sent Standard Overnight. Driver recognized the shipper, changed his route and delivered the package first. :yes: And the same just happened for a frozen semen delivery we got. While its not a guarantee of smooth sailing and it certainly won’t solve problems that occur elsewhere in the system, knowing “your” Fedex driver helps tremendously. This has been true for the 25 years that I’ve dealt with the organization.

[Molly_Malone]

The only thing I wish is that on the first day you go to work for FedEx they show you a semen container and say - Don’t Open It to satisfy your curiosity. Horse semen looks just like human semen!

Our local FedEx guy is marvelous. he 'phones to tell me he’s picked it up and do I want to meet him to collect it if I need it before his delivery time. My shipments have always arrived on time, but they have come tampered with and Delta Airlines have lost semen. Human error is always going to occur. I just wish it didn’t always happen to me.

[silveroats]

[QUOTE=bizbachfan;6332181]
Again anyone needing assistance please feel free to contact me. A good number for international shipments, customs issues, etc is 800-247-4747. Any time you need immediate help, say Representative and then demand they initiate a trace on your package.[/QUOTE]

Bizbachfan, thanks so much for the “magic word” … and advice. This season we’ll try a FedEx ship/hold from stallion owner to FedEx depot in Sarnia and I’ll pick up there and bring thru customs.

[bizbachfan]

SilverOats feel free to send me the tracking number when you do

[mlcoursin]

So just when I was thinking “Hmm I haven’t had any problems with FedEx”…sigh, I jinxed myself. But fortunately it worked out in the end due to an honest ranch owner. My dose of Furstenball was sent out from WA to OK. It was supposed to go directly to the vet where the mare is at waiting. Nope…FedEx delivered it to some random ranch instead. Thankfully the person who is inseminating the mare, her phone number was on there. So they called and were able to work it out. But seriously?? They send it to the completely wrong and no where near close to address??? And just drop it off.:eek: WOW! Not impressed.

[Fred]

[QUOTE=bizbachfan;6332181]
Very sorry Silver Oats, customs releases packages to us, not the other way around. We typically clear the shipment before the plane lands if all the documentation is order, not saying it wasn’t and that FedEx was not at fault but sometimes customs is the issue not us. Next time you call FedEx just say Representative and you will get a person. (I hate the automated system we have and zillions of other companies do, wish we could go back to old school people answering phones) Again anyone needing assistance please feel free to contact me. A good number for international shipments, customs issues, etc is 800-247-4747. Any time you need immediate help, say Representative and then demand they initiate a trace on your package.[/QUOTE]

Thank you again bizbachfan!
I hate the new voice ‘recognition’ system too - I was really comfortable with the old system,knew all the numbers to press without listening to the prompts…now?
I’d like to think I enunciate clearly - but when I say “track a package” and the voice says “ok, cancel a shipment”… arrrrgggghhh

Still and all, I have to say again that I am impressed with FedEx.
Mistakes do sometimes happen, and it is not necessarily FedEx’s fault - but a flight delay or a hold up at Customs… but overall -it still amazes me that I can collect the stallion, make a simple phone call and the next morning that semen is in VA…
and when the equitaner comes back, the driver says hi, hands it to me and has a milk bone for my GSD…
easy peasy.

On the other hand - I am STILL boycotting UPS!!! a package arrived for me yesterday (I bought something in an online auction to raise funds for horse rescues) - and UPS -once again - charged a ‘brokerage’ fee.
More than the value of the item!!
Shame on them. Maybe they should donate some of their ‘brokerage’ fees to horse rescues…

[crestline]

I am convinced even more than ever that FEDEX has something going on in Memphis this year. Earlier this month we shipped to client in PA, shipment got held up in Memphis “missed connection”. Mare seemed to be holding on so they ordered a replacement shipment to get her covered… FEDEX had that one “missed connection” too!! UGH! To lose the first one was bad enough but the second one to the same client also! Geez…

[bizbachfan]

[QUOTE=crestline;6334887]
I am convinced even more than ever that FEDEX has something going on in Memphis this year. Earlier this month we shipped to client in PA, shipment got held up in Memphis “missed connection”. Mare seemed to be holding on so they ordered a replacement shipment to get her covered… FEDEX had that one “missed connection” too!! UGH! To lose the first one was bad enough but the second one to the same client also! Geez…[/QUOTE]

Crestline that is terrible! I am so sorry. Very unusual. I will look into something beyond the Priority Alert program for single horse semen shipments to be handled with special care.

[Fairview_Horse_Cente]

Are you guys that have been missing shipments, insuring them for the cost of the cycle if missed ($750+), and then tracking the shipment to see immediately if it gets held up?

Is there a need for a tracking service to monitor them all night, for those that don’t want to do that? or do you just trust your vets to track it once it is not delivered ontime?

[IrishWillow]

Waiting on one… shouldnt have read this thread! LOL

Waiting on shipment from California, left this afternoon, supposed to be at my vet’s office by 10:30am tomorrow… after reading this thread, I may throw up! LOL

May 24, 2012 8:35 PM
Departed FedEx location
OAKLAND, CA

Hopefully that translates to “will be in Texas by 10:30am tomorrow…”

[Hilltopfarmva]

I’ve been lucky this year 4 Fed ex shipments and all here when they were supposed to be. Saturday deliveries I had sent to the farm and weekday deliveries I had sent to the vet clinic. The drivers who come here always know it’s horse semen, some even want to see the mare we are breeding and if I have pictures of the stallion and ask the breeds. Maybe it’s because in my area there re a lot of people that do AI.
Sorry you had these issues.

[bugsynskeeter]

[QUOTE=IrishWillow;6336165]
Waiting on shipment from California, left this afternoon, supposed to be at my vet’s office by 10:30am tomorrow… after reading this thread, I may throw up! LOL

May 24, 2012 8:35 PM
Departed FedEx location
OAKLAND, CA

Hopefully that translates to “will be in Texas by 10:30am tomorrow…”[/QUOTE]

It will…That is pretty normal as far as FedEx scans go. Here is a shipment we sent last month from KY to CA…

Apr 10, 2012 10:17 AM
Delivered
PETALUMA, CA
Left at front door. Package delivered to recipient address - release authorized

Apr 10, 2012 8:26 AM
On FedEx vehicle for delivery
PETALUMA, CA

Apr 10, 2012 8:24 AM
At local FedEx facility
PETALUMA, CA

Apr 10, 2012 6:25 AM
Departed FedEx location
OAKLAND, CA

Apr 10, 2012 5:28 AM
Arrived at FedEx location
OAKLAND, CA

Apr 10, 2012 3:31 AM
Departed FedEx location
MEMPHIS, TN

Apr 10, 2012 12:06 AM
Arrived at FedEx location
MEMPHIS, TN

Apr 9, 2012 8:03 PM
Left FedEx origin facility
EVANSVILLE, IN

Apr 9, 2012 2:36 PM
Picked up
EVANSVILLE, IN

I know FedEx has problems at times, but the vast amount of shipments they have that get there on time greatly outweigh the number of shipments they have problems with. If anyone has problem with the customer service person they have on the other end…ask to speak with their manager. Persistence can pay off when things go wrong.

[Hilltopfarmva]

My 5th on time Fed Ex delivery from TX today :). waiting for the vet who’s coming at 4

[Sunnydays]

My shipment from California (departing Thursday) with guaranteed delivery by noon Friday, made it to Canada today (Saturday) but snaffus at customs means no semen, dead or alive.

[Hocus_Focus]

I have a slightly nonrelated comment. As I live in Nova Scotia, somewhat off the beaten world trail, I have made a few personall purchases through Ebay… home purchases mostly… delivery charges very good and efficient via regular mail system without added fees. In fact very happy with results and costs.

In trots Purolator…

I purchased a small hand knotted rug from California, and shipping was done with Purolator. I pay upfront for goods and shipping. two weeks later, I get my delivery. Now in Canada…debit card is usually how I pay…but unlike the US debit is not a credit card… delivery guys says… Credit Card or Money Order and added fees of $45. Perhaps not a lot but added to my original shipping cost, I am paying more in shipping than for goods.

Add to that arrrogant attitude . Unfortunately they hit me on the wrong day and my answer was “send it back”.

Petty perhaps but I had had enough of their “high brow” drama.

Probably a very different scenario to your situation but my complaint is why do mail systems get packages delivered at reasonable prices and no add ons and Purolator says extra fees are border costs. I think the postal system crosses the same border…don’t they???

USPS International delivers directly door to door and no add on fees on arrival. I will for my purposes stay with USPS.

Perhaps the whole world would find me odd that I do not own nor have I ever wanted to own a credit card, and I don’t live beyond my means, but at the end of the day, I can sleep rather well because I have no debt.

[ThirdCharm]

I had a shipment go awry this week… Collected Friday, sent for Saturday delivery… Called at 10:30 am to check tracking and got “en route to the station that handles your zipcode”. Silly me assumed that meant it was in NC and somewhere between the airport and the shipping center 20 minutes from my house. At 1:00 I called and was told it was in MEMPHIS and delayed due to mechanical problems. Seriously???

Filing a claim of course but not sure if VA Tech insured it for more than the minimum and not sure how to check… Fedex’s online system SUCKS

Jennifer