FedEx problems

We scheduled our pick up last Tuesday and FedEx called today saying that they had to reschedule our pick up for tomorrow. We called our regional director and she told us to call team support. Is there anything else we can do to get our robot shipped on time?

[RoboMom]

FRCTeams will issue you instructions on what you need to do. Basically it will involve signing something saying your robot was crated.
You will not be penalized if FedEx is rescheduling.

[Mark McLeod]

I just spent 8 hours waiting for a 10 minute pickup.
I hate shipping...

FIRST works with you though, just work with them.

[Trying to Help]

We waited, FedEx called and they eventually arrived after 5 without a lift gate truck. (We'd confirmed that need when we originally scheduled and when I called them this afternoon.)

It's been rescheduled to tomorrow and an email has been sent to FIRST. I figured that since it was after hours for FIRST, an email would work better than a phone call. FRC Support had said that an email was fine or a phone call.

I hope tonight's snow doesn't cause any difficulties. And apparently, there's been shipping problems all over the country.

Trying to Help

[Matt C]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

I just spent 8 hours waiting for a 10 minute pickup.
I hate shipping...

FIRST works with you though, just work with them.

1468 delivered their crate to the drayage site, there were 4 other crates there (at 4:30). They are expecting 40.

[NOV8R]

FedEx showed up when they said they would with all the right stuff. The crate was loaded and on its way in less than 10 minutes. Their driver couldn't have been nicer. In fact the last thing he did befors he got in to drive off was to wish us well in the competition.

[scottydoh]

Originally Posted by Matt C

1468 delivered their crate to the drayage site, there were 4 other crates there (at 4:30). They are expecting 40.

Did you deliver to FESTO in Hauppauge? Because when 810 delivered at 5:00 there were 8 crates delivered...

[Richard McClellan]

2158 and 2881 are both shipping from the same place this year, and have both crates closed and ready to go. Fedex showed up around 5:15 today, loaded the 2881 robot in the truck, but while trying to lower the lift gate the second time to pick up the 2158 crate, the lift wouldn't go down! We're currently waiting for the Fedex mechanic to come fix it.

[dtengineering]

Ah, shipping. Perhaps before getting too wrung up over the minor frustrations, you might want to talk to an overseas team.

It's not too bad going Canada/USA and back (although a few important parts did spend ten days sitting in a Canada Customs warehouse before arriving on the 22nd....) but just enough of a pain that I'm glad I'm not shipping from overseas.

Jason

[Jon Stratis]

Fed ex was a little too prompt for my tastes... they told us 3-5, and he was there at 3:10, meaning i had to go back to work! We were the 6th crate in the truck, and by far the most colorful

[DonRotolo]

This just goes to show you that FRC is NOT a trivial issue for FedEx. They know what we're up to, they expend significant effort to donate a lot of shipping to us, they work hard for free - for us.

That's one reason FedEx gets virtually ALL of the $40 million we (where I work) spend in shipping each year. No matter what, they come through, time after time, after time.

I think I'm going to send Mr. Ex (or whoever their CEO is) a nice thank you letter.

[BrendanB]

Our truck was supposed to come between 2-3. It was 3:15 and there was a Fedex ground truck driving up and down the street several times. Kinda wanted to go up there and double check where he was supposed to go. "A mister Feded dude, our crate is bigger than your van!"

The real truck was rerouted but Fedex is really generous to FIRST teams and no one should complain about that!

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by Matt C

1468 delivered their crate to the drayage site, there were 4 other crates there (at 4:30). They are expecting 40.

Don't make me kill you...

We had two robots in the shop. One went in it's own good time over to Festo two miles away in a racing trailer, while I had to wait around for 358's to ship to WPI. What a way to spend my vacation...

Originally Posted by scottydoh

Did you deliver to FESTO in Hauppauge? Because when 810 delivered at 5:00 there were 8 crates delivered...

The FedEx driver told me the FedEx trucks were loaded with Island robots today. They all go back to West Babylon before arriving at Festo tomorrow.

[Chuck Glick]

321 didn't get picked up today because the front desk of the high school wouldn't let him in! We had told the school that FedEx was coming for pickup today several times but apparently someone didn't get the message.

Thank goodness the FedEx driver was nice enough to come back and get it for us!

[Trying to Help]

I wasn't trying to complain; sorry if it sounded like that! I was just trying to describe what happened and to end with the reassurance that those of us who may have had a moment or two of panic during the day aren't alone.

I know FedEx goes the extra mile for us! I'm certainly grateful for all the sponsors, especially the extra effort that Festo put into to get us our solenoids.

This is only our second year shipping a robot; I don't have years of experience to draw upon. Someday....

Trying to Help