Return shipment of robot?
 

Hello,

I was wondering about how long it takes to get the robot back from the championships? I have tried to put the tracking number in for FedEx, but nothing is popping up yet. Do they start shipping them out immediately? Do they go in numerical order?

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Monday would have been the earliest day they could ship. I imagine Sheppard also handles all the fields, translates into lots of stuff. They probably will not enter the stuff into the fedex system until it get on the truck. Just moderately informed guessing though.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

If I recall correctly, it's usually a couple of weeks before the crates start showing up at their various homes.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

It usually takes a few weeks... but I just got a call from FedEx that our robot was in Austin and ready for delivery!

-David

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Last year I found that it had a lot to do with where you were in the pit. We were very close to the loading dock and had our robot within the week. This year we were in Newton (the far side of the pit from the loading dock) and our pro number hasn't even registered yet.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

It's a little late now to ask this, but did we have to use FedEx to send the robot back? We were quite alarmed with the return shipping cost. Especially since it isn't particularly quick.

-- Len

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

We were in Archimedes as close to the Dome as you could get basically, our pro number has not registered yet in FedEx tracking either.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Didn't you receive a FedEx voucher to use for shipping the robot home?

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Every team got 1 in the registration packet.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Do you put the pro number in as the tracking number? If so, mine hasn't shipped and I was in Newton. But, I'm not totally sure I'm putting the number in the right spot either.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

We just got a phone call indicating we would receive our robot back this Friday.
May 4th. This is very quick.
We are in Seattle... usually it takes 2 weeks to get it back.

thanks Fed Ex!!

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

We were in Newton and we packed our crate much later than most teams. I got a call today from FedEx to schedule a delivery this Friday. It is much faster than I expected.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Amy from FIRST indicated that the Boxes would ship out this week
The Pro Number is the tracking number to track through FEDEX

The Shepard Services booth in back should have reviewed your FEDEX documents as well as the Shepard document (same information but inlcuded was how to pay if you box exceed the limits).

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Just checked with the boss, and yes, we got that, and used it for return shipping. Just found out the big bill was getting the robot to St. Louis.

We didn't plan on going, and didn't budget for the championship. We won the RCA in Las Vegas, and had two weeks to fundraise. The last three weeks have been a blur.

-- Len

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

A couple of groups asked us to demonstrate our robot at their events pretty soon, and I think we agreed. This may be awkward.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

For some reason,
our Fedex tracking number was never inputted from Houston week 6 to CMP, but yet, it got there.
Hope that's the case this time around also as nothing appears when we enter the Pro number for shipment.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

You still should have received free shipping to CMP, though perhaps your crate was overweight and resulted in fees from Shepard.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Just got called by Fed-Ex and ours will be returned tomorrow(Fri). :)

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Just got our robot crate back. The FedEx driver told me he was watching the robotics competition online and asked how our team did. He knew about Team 27 and 469. We must be doing a great job in Michigan promoting FIRST if a FedEx driver watch FRC matches online and was excited talking about it.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

I'm in Newport RI and my crates are finally in the system, having left yesterday, with an estimated delivery date for next Monday. Good thing, since Battlecry is coming up soon!

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Great to hear Ed!!
We just got ours back too... FedEx driver waited while I opened it and showed him the robot.... his wife just graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and is going to work for Boeing....

Thanks for all of your work all season long with the stats!!!

Good luck next year!

Bob

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Not to derail the thread, but just thought I'd mention that your student that gave the talk at PTC's booth did and awesome job. I was very impressed.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Thank you. He is one of my seniors. He does have great presentation skill. He prepared that presentation all by himself. I did not even have to review it. Yes he can talk. He has his own hour long radio talk show at our high school radio station.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Our robot made it home today too!! Almost didn't get it because they didn't put it on a lift truck, but they fixed it right away for us and he is safely home now! :)

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

We got ours back on Thursday, so almost a week.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Aah the classic sequence of events for Fed Ex:

1. Tell them you want a lift truck a week in advance
2. Call them the day before to remind them you want a lift truck
3. FedEx shows up without a lift truck. They return to base.
4. They have to come back with a lift truck.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Still no call from FedEx, and the tracking number is still turning up no listing. Is anyone else experiencing this? Should I call FIRST?

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

I e-mailed Shepard to ask and I got this e-mail in response on Friday.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Thanks!

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Ours came today, and we knew at least a few days in advance. If it doesn't show up soon, then I would worry.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Anyone else still waiting for their tracking number to show up with FedEx? I emailed Shepard to see if all robots have been shipped yet and I'm waiting to hear back.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Yuck!! Hope you get it home safely soon!!!

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Same here.
We called Shepard directly, spoke with a gal for a while, said she would call back, never did, two days and counting.
We just had our biggest fundraiser event last night.

Problem was................................no robot.:confused:
**I'm more disappointed that I didnt win any silent auction items, didnt get to eat since 1 was running the event/program, and had to pay the bill!**:p

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Same here, pro number is not showing up. We haven't had any big scheduled events, but we do have our school board recognition meeting on Monday and no robot. Will be the first time ever we haven't had it back for the meeting.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

I just got off the phone with Jackie Jacoby (Shepard Customer Service) from the email in Michael Gard's post above. She told me that the last of the crates were delivered to FedEx sometime yesterday (Thursday), so tracking information should be available sometime today (which ours isn't yet) or Monday. Hopefully it show's up soon...I miss our robot :(

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Still waiting, but it is a little comforting that we are not alone.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Our tracking information showed up last night (Friday)...I would say that if you don't see anything by Monday afternoon to call Shepard and see if they can help.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Ours showed up Friday afternoon. Just got off the phone with FedEX. Since we work out of a local mall, vs a school we have to schedule deliveries. I am scheduled for tomorrow before noon. Driver is supposed to call me when he is 1 hour away from drop off.

Unfortunately our school board presentation is tonight.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Robot returned today...Thanks FED-EX! Another year of excellent support.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Our robot left St. Louis today.
Finally showed up on FedEx tracking.

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Did you get it back yet?

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Ouch!

We just got ours back yesterday :o

Re: Return shipment of robot?
 

Just arrived today - sitting in my room safe and sound! :D

Now to put it to work on some demos (we have one on Saturday already), and get ready for MARC.