Shipping Problems?
 

Have you ever had problems with FexEx, UPS, DHL or another company? How did they respond? Do you trust them anymore?

I bought a digital camera [for IRI] from FedEx and they lost the package in Houston. Coincidentally this was MY first time using FedEx so I didn't know what to expect. I was wondering if you guys have stories about any companies and how they responded? For me FedEx has been unhelpful and I believe they called me an idiot on the phone. I want to see your experiences so that I know who to trust. USPS and UPS = Gods of Boxes IMO.

Re: Shipping Problems?
 

Much of the time, US mail flies on FedEx planes -- so you've used them a lot more than you think. :)

FedEx "misplaced" our crate in 2006 somewhere between Portland, OR and Atlanta, GA -- but we were as much responsible for that as they were, first sending it there, then asking for its return, then sending it there again.

Do you have a tracking number? You couldn't have purchased your camera from FedEx, so perhaps it'd be wise to contact the retailer that sold you the camera for resolution?

Re: Shipping Problems?
 

This past year, Shipping from LA to Purdue, Fedex changed the shipping number on our crate, as well as a few other team's crate. We got it by the end of Thursday, but it was a real pain as we planned some fixes we needed and were hoping we could use Thursday to work on that as well as fine tune some code.

Re: Shipping Problems?
 

I purchased the camera from Buy.com but they use FedEx to ship it. I called them up (Both companies) and FedEx (after 3 days and at least 5 hours of torture) finally told me they lost my package in Houston.

Re: Shipping Problems?
 

I have used FexEx, UPS and DHL to ship many packages and have never had any issues with any of them. I dont care for the FedEx webpage and tracking as much as I like UPS. The DHL Ez Return program is very nice and worked great when I had to send my IBM laptop back to IBM.

Re: Shipping Problems?
 

I dislike UPS quite a bit. There is a distribution center less than 10 miles from my house and anything I have shipped to me always sits at the distribution center for two days. So frustrating to know it is just sitting there so close but not available. I've had lots of things shipped to me by UPS, a few computers as well. I can recall only a couple packages that had not been dropped. One computer I had shipped to me UPS did not function on arrival. I put in a claim for it, they said they'd call me to have someone inspect the package, never heard another word. Another computer I received shipped UPS had loose components rattling around inside.

USPS is nice, and you can print labels online and say "haha" to all the people waiting inline at the post office, as you walk in front of them and simply place your packages on the counter. However, at all my local post offices, if you need something that requires service, forget about it. The lines are long and the customers are worse than the employees; they are both terribly slow. I once watched a customer and postal employee have about a 5 minute conversation of what kind of oil they put in their cars and how often they change it. The prices are high, but the flat rate boxes are quite useful at times. I once shipped something like 20 lbs in a flat rate box for about eight bucks. And all priority mail boxes are free, and you can order them online for free if you want which is cool.

I've had nothing but success with FedEx Ground, sending and receiving. Boxes always arrive in short time, perfect condition, and it is pretty cheap (compared to USPS). Less than $1 per pound.

Re: Shipping Problems?
 

I live right down the road from a DHL Air recieving office and when I had to have my iPod repaired/replaced twice, it was extremely convenient to just drop it off on my way to work. Some of the stuff that I order for my Vex robot comes in pretty badly damaged boxes, but the components inside are well protected. I don't know which company they use, though.

Re: Shipping Problems?
 

No problems with UPS or Fedex. Sometimes DHL charges more than the quoted prices. I have had quality problems with buy.com. Will buy.com be able to ship another for IRI?