fedex SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ryan Jarosek]

It just goes to reason that if you are violating the terms of use for a company (and even if you have a certificate from Fed Ex, it does not cover shipping to a private residence) you will be unable to make any claims. However, if you have followed the rules and the package is lost (something that has nothing to do with the "perishable" nature of the animal) UPS has a standard guarantee.

Nothing in the package will ever be covered if its alive. No matter what shipper you use. Maybe you will get your shipping cost back but thats it. FedEx will honor that guarantee as well even to a residence.

The shipper of the animal will recover no cost other than shipping and that will go back to the buyer. The purchaser typically pays for that so you will be out an animal at the very least either way. But you can ship the replacement with the funds you get back. I guess thats a plus.

 

[theresaintucson]

i ordered a chameleon from scremeleons and it had a RI so i sent it back yesterday and they seem to have lost the package with the chameleon in it they said the package never even left california...and they dont know were the pakage is...man im soooooo pissed...

Just wanted to know if the poor chameleon ever showed up?

 

[Dawniegirl]

Fed Ex does not accept live animals except under special circumstances.

From the Fed Ex site:


Using Fed Ex for live animals is inherently risky simply because it's not what they do. UPS is really the shipper of choice for live animals.

I'm not saying you don't have a right to be upset, but I do think it's a bit disingenuous to hate them for failing to do something they said the don't do.

I sooo have to add to this... I think both Fed Ex & UPS Suck!!! I've received damaged stuff from both. I had to have 3 cages sent out because the first & second sent came damaged, I received my Cham on the porch on it side when the box was clearly marked "this side up" & that wasn't the side. So I could only imagine how many times that box was turned around!!! I recently order a Exo-Terra stand which came damaged from shipment. The back board from the stand was broke about 5-6 inches, cracked & pushed apart, one of the wood panels where heavily dented in. I however keep the damaged product this time beacause who knows how much more damaged the next one would have come! I email that company about the shipment & that I was keeping the damaged product, I'm hoping that they at least reported it. Now I'm anxiously awaiting my mist king with fingers AND toes all crossed! I think both companies suck if you ask me & they need to find better employees who care about what they are doing & get the packages to the party UNDAMAGED & as stated on the boxes!!!!! This could be a blog... bad deliveries!!!
Also soooo sorry to hear about the other cham deliveries, in this thread, gone wrong

 

[theresaintucson]

I'm going to thank my UPS guys the next time I see them. I've always gotten great service and care from them. The last UPS man was interested in my package since it was marked "LIVE HARMLESS LIZARD".
Now just watch-my next delivery will be all shot to hell just because....

 

[Olimpia]

I've ordered live animals through UPS many, many times, and I haven't had a single problem with any of those times. I highly agree with Summoner, shipping to a hub instead of to your door is much better. I've done it a few times and it's much better, you get to pick up the animal at 7:30-8am (if you can drive over that early) and your chameleon is in his new cage, feeding and drinking that much sooner. He doesn't have to ride around in the truck for an extra 2-3 hours bumping around in the heat or cold.

Poor chameleon though, I hope someone locates him.

 

[summoner12]

I sooo have to add to this... I think both Fed Ex & UPS Suck!!! I've received damaged stuff from both. I had to have 3 cages sent out because the first & second sent came damaged, I received my Cham on the porch on it side when the box was clearly marked "this side up" & that wasn't the side. So I could only imagine how many times that box was turned around!!! I recently order a Exo-Terra stand which came damaged from shipment. The back board from the stand was broke about 5-6 inches, cracked & pushed apart, one of the wood panels where heavily dented in. I however keep the damaged product this time beacause who knows how much more damaged the next one would have come! I email that company about the shipment & that I was keeping the damaged product, I'm hoping that they at least reported it. Now I'm anxiously awaiting my mist king with fingers AND toes all crossed! I think both companies suck if you ask me & they need to find better employees who care about what they are doing & get the packages to the party UNDAMAGED & as stated on the boxes!!!!! This could be a blog... bad deliveries!!!
Also soooo sorry to hear about the other cham deliveries, in this thread, gone wrong

I really think this might be worth reading: https://www.chameleonforums.com/fedex-sucks-50388/#post472440

 

[Dawniegirl]

I really think this might be worth reading: https://www.chameleonforums.com/fedex-sucks-50388/#post472440

Huh? Not sure what you meant.

 

[Dawniegirl]

I'm going to thank my UPS guys the next time I see them. I've always gotten great service and care from them. The last UPS man was interested in my package since it was marked "LIVE HARMLESS LIZARD".
Now just watch-my next delivery will be all shot to hell just because....

That's for sure, send your UPS guy my way

 

[summoner12]

Huh? Not sure what you meant.

My point is that UPS and FedEx are a logistics systems...They move stuff from point A to point B. They are HUGE... they can't and won't change the method of how they handle packages because they can't. I don't think the general public has any real idea how these operations work. They want you to think some friendly face handles the package from start to finish.... but it is a total fallacy. The UPS guy picks up the package from you, it goes into his truck. the truck goes to the hub and then the package is touched again by someone (most likely) throwing or tossing or pushing the package onto a conveyor where the package doesn't see another person until MILES and MILES later of conveyors and sorters and weight scales until the package goes into another truck, again, tossed or pushed and stacked by some person, and most likely the package is on it's side. then the package goes to another building or airplane or truck and is moved around and stacked and pushed.... it goes on and on like this until it is put into a truck headed to your house where the UPS guy carries it to your door step.... he has a LOT more packages to deliver, so he may not care too much about how every package is placed on every door step he goes to.

I forget what university it is.... but they did a study recently for the holidays... They found that packages shipped with labels indicating that the package was fragile or needed to be a certain end up, were far more likely to arrive damaged vs. a none marked box. Think about it..... you see a door in a hallway with no sign... you never think anything of it. Now there is a sign that says 'authorized personnel only' or 'keep out' and you then wonder 'hmmm whats on the other side of that door I shouldn't see?'. So one day you go through that door to look... The same goes for packages.... The people that handle boxes all day see the same thing all day and don't think much of the bare boxes... but the 'fragile' box... thats entertainment....

So the point is... if you are going to use a system, you need to understand how it works and how to get through the system with the least amount of damage.

Why do you think FedEx and UPS don't have any sort of guaranty on live animals through their system? They know there is a high likely hood that the item could die in transit. They know trucks are cold in winter and HOT in summer. They know packages get crushed when a conveyor jams or when a disgruntled employee decides to practice his field goal kick with your package. It is a fact of life, and it is why people need to take great care when packing a live animal and to accept that it may not make it out alive on the other side. It is just the cold hard truth of shipping.

At least FedEx takes some initiative to certify or teach people how they'd like a live animal packed. This shows they care enough to say 'well if your gonna do it, lets make sure you have the knowledge to do it right.' Plus if gives the breeder or person or company shipping, some clout.

My point? stuff happens and there isn't much we can do about it

 

[nicholas]

My point is that UPS and FedEx are a logistics systems...They move stuff from point A to point B. They are HUGE... they can't and won't change the method of how they handle packages because they can't. I don't think the general public has any real idea how these operations work. They want you to think some friendly face handles the package from start to finish.... but it is a total fallacy. The UPS guy picks up the package from you, it goes into his truck. the truck goes to the hub and then the package is touched again by someone (most likely) throwing or tossing or pushing the package onto a conveyor where the package doesn't see another person until MILES and MILES later of conveyors and sorters and weight scales until the package goes into another truck, again, tossed or pushed and stacked by some person, and most likely the package is on it's side. then the package goes to another building or airplane or truck and is moved around and stacked and pushed.... it goes on and on like this until it is put into a truck headed to your house where the UPS guy carries it to your door step.... he has a LOT more packages to deliver, so he may not care too much about how every package is placed on every door step he goes to.

I forget what university it is.... but they did a study recently for the holidays... They found that packages shipped with labels indicating that the package was fragile or needed to be a certain end up, were far more likely to arrive damaged vs. a none marked box. Think about it..... you see a door in a hallway with no sign... you never think anything of it. Now there is a sign that says 'authorized personnel only' or 'keep out' and you then wonder 'hmmm whats on the other side of that door I shouldn't see?'. So one day you go through that door to look... The same goes for packages.... The people that handle boxes all day see the same thing all day and don't think much of the bare boxes... but the 'fragile' box... thats entertainment....

So the point is... if you are going to use a system, you need to understand how it works and how to get through the system with the least amount of damage.

Why do you think FedEx and UPS don't have any sort of guaranty on live animals through their system? They know there is a high likely hood that the item could die in transit. They know trucks are cold in winter and HOT in summer. They know packages get crushed when a conveyor jams or when a disgruntled employee decides to practice his field goal kick with your package. It is a fact of life, and it is why people need to take great care when packing a live animal and to accept that it may not make it out alive on the other side. It is just the cold hard truth of shipping.

At least FedEx takes some initiative to certify or teach people how they'd like a live animal packed. This shows they care enough to say 'well if your gonna do it, lets make sure you have the knowledge to do it right.' Plus if gives the breeder or person or company shipping, some clout.

My point? stuff happens and there isn't much we can do about it

I completely agree with everything said. I also think I may have seen that study online when reading about how the systems work or at least something like it. I have only ever had one issue with shipping and it was a driver that was delivering to my house decided that I would like to play catch with my package and threw it to me and I was so caught off gaurd that I did not catch it and it landed smack dab right on the cement from about 6 feet in the air! The cham ended up being fine but a complaint was definitly filed with UPS.

 

[Elizadolots]

My point is that if you are violating the company's policies, you can't really expect anything from them. If they accept a shipment under their terms then you can expect them to abide by those terms. Despite what has been posted, if a package is damaged in travel or lost, UPS has a prescribed system for dealing with that which includes value of the shipment. If you shipped in violation of the companies rules, you cannot get that benefit.

It is never in your best interest to ship a live animal with a service that does not accept live animals for shipment.

I will say that in my time at the Photo Labs I dealt with both Fed Ex and UPS a lot and Fed Ex never ever lost a shipment....some did suffer delays and damage that would have been deadly for a live animal, but every package I'm aware of got delivered. The only "lost" shipments I ever dealt with were with UPS or the USPS.

No shipping service gives a complete guarantee on shipping times because there are simply too many variables. If a shipment is delayed significantly, you can probably expect credit for shipping cost. If the service was "high priority" you might even expect credit for a future shipment. However, your ability to get compensation for their failure is pretty well destroyed if you blatantly disobeyed the companies stated rules. You'll get nothing.

I find that obvious as a concept, but I guess it's not.

I guess I just think respecting the rules a company sets has merit.

Summoner's post is spot on.

I recently saw a news bit on shipping of electronics. Some group did a study, putting sensors in boxes, of the main shipment methods. They measured "drops"...the best shipment method, by their study, is the US Postal Service...

I guess if I were going to "go rogue" and violate all terms of use for my shipment, I might just pick the USPS Next Day service. I'd understand that I was utterly without recourse if the shipment went astray...but that seems to be pretty typical.

 

[summoner12]

This isn't the same episode I saw tonight on 'how do they do it?'. The one I watched was pretty similar, but I think newer. This episode below and the one I saw were both about lobsters being shipped over night, but the one I saw was shipping within the US and went more into the technologies' used at UPS and the amounts of fuel saved by using their computing power to calculate delivery schedules...

This video gives you a good idea of how it works even if it is an older episode.

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/science-channel/34266-how-do-they-do-it-ups-video.htm

 

[bigwigwabbit]

Fed Ex Sux!!! LOL

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

UPS has a prescribed system for dealing with that which includes value of the shipment. If you shipped in violation of the companies rules, you cannot get that benefit.

Not if there is an animal inside. That is the rule. No guarantee on perishables. They do not refund the contents on any perishable items animal or apple. Both will give you money back on your shipping cost. UPS will give you nothing just as FedEx will not. There is no insurance on a package that has perishable items especially animals.

I am not arguing that UPS or FedEx is better , rather my argument is they are the same except for the certification. To fully understand you would need to talk to your rep and have them explain what when and where when it comes to shipping.

Just in case readers are not familiar with the process, when you apply for a waiver to ship animals. You have to send a package to FedEx just as you would to a customer. They drop the box shake it for an extended period of time. Crush test, strength test. All tests to make sure in the event there was some less than ideal handling the animal would be OK. They then open the box and inspect the contents. All the same stuff you would find in a box minus the animal. Only if the package passes can you get a waiver.

UPS and FedEx both have their problems but the only difference in policy is that you cannot send animals with FedEx until they have tested your method. UPS will allow anyone who wants to throw an animal in a box.

Personally if I could do it without using either of them I would. Although I respect the fact FedEx certifies its animal shippers. UPS allows everyone and anyone to ship an animal it could be a big hit to the community if they decide they will not ship animals anymore. People will poke holes in a box and drop an animal in with no lining or proper packaging. I see it on the BOI all the time. It is never a FedEx shipper. They would lose their ability to ship via FedEx. It would be great if UPS would certify people to make sure they at least know what to do even if they won't.

 

[Dawniegirl]

My point is that UPS and FedEx are a logistics systems...They move stuff from point A to point B. They are HUGE... they can't and won't change the method of how they handle packages because they can't. I don't think the general public has any real idea how these operations work. They want you to think some friendly face handles the package from start to finish.... but it is a total fallacy. The UPS guy picks up the package from you, it goes into his truck. the truck goes to the hub and then the package is touched again by someone (most likely) throwing or tossing or pushing the package onto a conveyor where the package doesn't see another person until MILES and MILES later of conveyors and sorters and weight scales until the package goes into another truck, again, tossed or pushed and stacked by some person, and most likely the package is on it's side. then the package goes to another building or airplane or truck and is moved around and stacked and pushed.... it goes on and on like this until it is put into a truck headed to your house where the UPS guy carries it to your door step.... he has a LOT more packages to deliver, so he may not care too much about how every package is placed on every door step he goes to.

I forget what university it is.... but they did a study recently for the holidays... They found that packages shipped with labels indicating that the package was fragile or needed to be a certain end up, were far more likely to arrive damaged vs. a none marked box. Think about it..... you see a door in a hallway with no sign... you never think anything of it. Now there is a sign that says 'authorized personnel only' or 'keep out' and you then wonder 'hmmm whats on the other side of that door I shouldn't see?'. So one day you go through that door to look... The same goes for packages.... The people that handle boxes all day see the same thing all day and don't think much of the bare boxes... but the 'fragile' box... thats entertainment....

So the point is... if you are going to use a system, you need to understand how it works and how to get through the system with the least amount of damage.

Why do you think FedEx and UPS don't have any sort of guaranty on live animals through their system? They know there is a high likely hood that the item could die in transit. They know trucks are cold in winter and HOT in summer. They know packages get crushed when a conveyor jams or when a disgruntled employee decides to practice his field goal kick with your package. It is a fact of life, and it is why people need to take great care when packing a live animal and to accept that it may not make it out alive on the other side. It is just the cold hard truth of shipping.

At least FedEx takes some initiative to certify or teach people how they'd like a live animal packed. This shows they care enough to say 'well if your gonna do it, lets make sure you have the knowledge to do it right.' Plus if gives the breeder or person or company shipping, some clout.

My point? stuff happens and there isn't much we can do about it

I do agree with you & you made some good points. Your field goal point was pretty funny too. I just wish more people would take pride in there job & care about the product. Maybe an employee who throws a box in there air, in front of the customer of all things, or toss it over a gate to hit the ground be held responsable or there actions. They get away with it so it keeps happening. When my box with my exo-terra stand came I heard the truck & ran out to look it over & I mean RAN, by the time I get to the front door he was already in his truck (damage side of box was down) I saw it and tried to get his attention... I know he had to hear me but he did respond & drove away. When you receive 6 packages all wrapped in some sort of foam or air bubble stuff & only "1" comes undamaged & I don't mean just the box but the product, there this is a bigger issue that should be looked at w/ carriers. I do however understand the volumn of boxes shipped but could you image if you have that about of damage thoughout all the shipments. That if the same percentage of packages I got were damage thoughout... for example 6,000,000 shiped & 5,000,000 of that were damaged... come on the need to kick it up a notch & find a way to better handle the merchanidise!!! They are also losing money with all the stuff they need to replace due to mishandling. Or like me the custmers might just give up & keep damaged merchandise, so they at least win there... or do they. Now I won't order online unless I can't get it at a near by store or it is harder for the product to get damaged in delivery... meaning clothing or pillows However I will be sending out emails to both companies to make them aware of my recent experiences.
I feel for those who had the horrible handling of there animals

 

[Dawniegirl]

Just wanted to know if the poor chameleon ever showed up?

I'm wondering too! I hate to think the worst. Hopefully if not he's in someone elses home being care for properly!!!

 

[ChameleonAlley]

sorry didn't go through this whole thread, but Fed Ex does suck! Every time I've gotten a cham through UPS, it's right there at the door in the early AM. The one time I received one shipped through Fed Ex, I didn't get it until almost 4 in the afternoon. They couldn't find where it was...blah blah blah.. it was really worrying. Sorry to hear your troubles with them, too.

 

[Elizadolots]

Not if there is an animal inside. That is the rule. No guarantee on perishables. They do not refund the contents on any perishable items animal or apple. Both will give you money back on your shipping cost. UPS will give you nothing just as FedEx will not. There is no insurance on a package that has perishable items especially animals.

I am not arguing that UPS or FedEx is better , rather my argument is they are the same except for the certification. To fully understand you would need to talk to your rep and have them explain what when and where when it comes to shipping.

Just in case readers are not familiar with the process, when you apply for a waiver to ship animals. You have to send a package to FedEx just as you would to a customer. They drop the box shake it for an extended period of time. Crush test, strength test. All tests to make sure in the event there was some less than ideal handling the animal would be OK. They then open the box and inspect the contents. All the same stuff you would find in a box minus the animal. Only if the package passes can you get a waiver.

UPS and FedEx both have their problems but the only difference in policy is that you cannot send animals with FedEx until they have tested your method. UPS will allow anyone who wants to throw an animal in a box.

Personally if I could do it without using either of them I would. Although I respect the fact FedEx certifies its animal shippers. UPS allows everyone and anyone to ship an animal it could be a big hit to the community if they decide they will not ship animals anymore. People will poke holes in a box and drop an animal in with no lining or proper packaging. I see it on the BOI all the time. It is never a FedEx shipper. They would lose their ability to ship via FedEx. It would be great if UPS would certify people to make sure they at least know what to do even if they won't.

The UPS rule is that they will not provide any guarantee based on the perishable nature of the shipment. However, if you witness the driver bouncing the box around, or the box is thrown over your fence, then that's not about the perishable nature of the animal, it about abuse by the driver. If you shipped by Fed Ex, they do not accept live animals so such treatment would not qualify for compensation. If you shipped with UPS, then the carrier mistreated the animal that the company agreed to ship. You would have a claim. UPS sets the maximum dollar value without insurance at $100.

One difference between Fed Ex and UPS is Fed Ex does not allow shipment of animals to residences. From everything I know, certification (which you have to pay to get, it's not a freebie) is for shipment to a business, not a residence.

That it's possible to do it without Fed Ex knowing is not a reason to do it.

If you look back at the original story in this thread, the person who got the shipment by Fed Ex then attempted to return the animal by Fed Ex.

There is no way that person has the certification Fed Ex requires for breeders to ship to retailers. However, because that's how he got his chameleon, that's how he attempted to return it.

You can say it's the same, but this story proves it is not. Had the animal been shipped by UPS, properly labeled as a live, non-harmful reptile, it would most likely have been returned the same way and, hopefully, would have made it back to the breeder.

Again, I guess what I think of as "common sense" just isn't that common. If you cannot label the box "live animal" (because you aren't allowed to ship a live animal that way) then the people transporting it cannot treat it with the extra care that most humans (not all, I grant that) will give a live animal.

If you read through the posts in this thread, there's a theme....UPS is pretty good....Fed Ex sucks.

Fed Ex sucks because we aren't supposed to use it this way. For the things they actually say they do, such as ship from a certified breeder to a retail store, Fed Ex is very good. I'm actually a huge fan of Fed Ex and currently use them exclusively for all my company's priority shipments.

I agree that it would be better if UPS refused shipments that did not meet their stated requirements for shipment of live animals.

 

[summoner12]

I guess we need to stop shipping animals.

From now on, hand delivery only!

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

One difference between Fed Ex and UPS is Fed Ex does not allow shipment of animals to residences. From everything I know, certification (which you have to pay to get, it's not a freebie) is for shipment to a business, not a residence.

The certification is free.