Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm with Brian, in fact - i too think it isn't funny.
Just my opinion. NOM.

Sorry to break with the thread but Paul W hit one a sore point with me. Fed Ex have more or less taken over Business Post in the UK and they are terrible. Their next day delivery has so far taken 6 days after they didn't bother leaving a card, twice. Peter Cook's one of the really good Rick dealers in the UK uses them and when I found out I was a bit concerned as I had had bad experience with them in the past (ie everything I have been waiting for has appeared late or not at all)

So my 4003BB is still in their warehouse until tomorrow.

Back to the thread.................

You say tomato....

I hear this about UPS and that about FedEx....
Personally, I haven't had a problem with either one, really(knock on wood). No problems with damage or being late, etc... I do sometimes have to visit the local hub when the delivery guy tries to drop off at a weird time, like NOON when nobody is home and they require a signature...then it becomes a PIA...but that's the extent of it, so far....

You should try DHL...I've had good luck with them so far. But if trying to avoid damage, no matter the carrier, it comes down to how well you pack things. Popcorn doesn't cut it in my book.

I have had the exact opposite experience with FedEx and UPS so it just goes to show that on any given day on any given route strange things can occur.

In both instances where I had damage to my parcels, UPS was the carrier and they did not make good on their insurance obligations. What is worse they purposely ran the "investigations" in both instances beyond the date that they set to limit of their liability. There is a definite pattern of avoidance I am afraid.

So consequently UPS has a bad name in my house. It's USPS or FedEx for me.

I recently had a nightmare shipment via UPS. I ended up writing a registered letter to their CEO, got a refund and had one of their GM's demoted! I still don't think I'll ever use them again!

I've had pretty good luck with both of them too. In the last couple of years, anytime I've bought anything at all from Musician's Friend, it's always gone UPS -- and I force myself to not pay the exhorbitant "next day" fee, and just let it go ground. And when UPS says 3-5 business days, they MEAN it! I've seen things where the ship date will say Nov. 12, est. delivery is Nov. 15, then I see it arrives in Phoenix on Nov. 13 at night, and figure, oh boy, I'm gonna get it early! But by golly, they just let it sit there for the extra day.

Last Saturday I ordered something from M.F. again (actually 4 somethings) using 3-5 business day delivery and they were picked up by FedEx Monday night and I got them today (early Wednesday morning).

So experiences with both have been OK, no damage, nothing lost or misplaced. But it was kinda nice to have FedEx get here a day "early".

Of course, I don't have the large volume of shipping things back & forth like Paul probably does. So maybe I've just been lucky -- so far.

If anyone had been killed or badly injured, I would not have even made the post. I just retired after a 20 year military flying career as an FE and have done the "on the runway" evacuation thing more than once. Also came in on "the fire trucks" more times than I can count with engines shut down, smoke or landing gear problems.

Anyway, the news said 6,000 packages were on board. They are going to cut the airplane open today. They had to keep punching holes in the skin to fight the fire.

One of the guys I know is a UPS pilot. He was on the South America route this week, but will be in Miami tomorrow where he'll get the lowdown.

No worries Gerry, the tongue in cheek came across loud and clear.

However, I would disagree with you if the plane was full of MIM Fenders.

I also knew a couple UPS and Fedex pilots from the Air Force. UPS has a reputation for being very professional. A UPS Co-pilot told me a funny story about being chastized for wearing the wrong socks with his uniform by his new Captain. He smartly answered that he just bought those socks through the proper UPS channels. He did, but they were truck drivers socks with the yellow stripes.

I actually have the highest respect for Military and professional civilian pilots. Most of my Reserve unit pilots were also airline or cargo pilots.

Great.
My sister had a CD shipped to me around christmas and we saw on the news that a FED-EX plane augered in on a golf course,I made a joke about where on the 16th green she could find it.Still haven't got it.
I bought a set of 4003 pups on the bay and haven't seen them yet.Thanks God.
Bill

I guess where so many parcels are sent everyday some are bound to go astray in even the best systems. I've used UPS, FEDEX & DHL. THe first two have been fine. DHL, never again. Interestingly, city-city for business stuff they are all OK as far as we are concerned.

I ship over 2500 packages a year and UPS & Fed Ex are about the same. If either damages anything it is your fault. Advise for all - get an insurance rider.

Mike, good to see you again. I haven't seen you post in a while.