[R-390] FedEx

[Don Merz]

Yes, they are contract drivers. So in the first and
last few miles of each delivery, the quality of
service will vary from place to place. Rural areas
suffer because they don't get high quality contractors
to bid (they have to bid) for the routes. 

However, all that being said, for the same quantity
and quality of packaging materials, through years of
experience with both UPS and FedEx, I can safely say
that you will have fewer claims with FedeEx. 

If I had to rank services by claims experience, my
ranking looks like this, best to worst:

FedEx
USPS
UPS

That's my honest experience. I'm not a FedEx
stockholder and have no pecuniary interest other than
a desire to have no--zero--none--nada shipping claims.
FedEx has done that for me over the last 9 years and
2,000 plus shipments. 

73, Don Merz, N3RHT


--- Cecil Acuff <chacuff at cableone.net> wrote:

> I learned something this morning reading the local
> paper that may explain 
> why I've seen such a disparity between the quality
> of service provided by 
> FedEx across the country.  Many of you have
> mentioned your preference for 
> FedEx in the shipping of heavy radio gear and many
> have had less than 
> positive things to say about UPS.  My experience
> here has been for run of 
> the mill items FedEx does a pretty good job....no
> better or worse than UPS 
> or USPS for that matter.  But when large heavy items
> are shipped I have had 
> some real problems with FedEx.  I have mentioned
> before the guy that came 
> down the driveway and sidewalk to my door with a
> packaged boatanchor 
> spilling parts all along the way from a tear in the
> side of the box.  The 
> delivery guy didn't think anything of it...just
> wanted a signature to verify 
> delivery.
> 
> Learned this morning that FedEx drivers are actually
> contract employees. 
> They own the trucks they drive and have them Logo'd
> to the FedEx standard. 
> (sometimes).  I have noticed that at times my
> deliveries are made in 
> unmarked vehicles such as Chevy vans or even SUV's
> at times.  Had one lady 
> pull up in a Honda car and pull a package out of the
> trunk.  Their dress is 
> always varied as well....  All of this points to
> confirm the newspaper 
> articles enlightening info about how FedEx works.
> 
> The article was mainly about a driver that was
> arrested for making a drug 
> delivery on his route.  The delivery was not part of
> the contracted package 
> delivery but was disguised as being official because
> he was on his route and 
> driving a marked truck that also contained FedEx
> packages for delivery, so 
> all looked like business as usual.
> 
> Interesting stuff....might help explain the
> difference in quality of service 
> provided by them....
> 
> I still believe the best defense is the quality of
> your packaging.....get 
> that right and the rest becomes less important.
> 
> Cecil.... 
> 
> 
>
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