USPS & FedEx

[mulkeyOWNS]

I'm kinda new to this forum, and I've seen a lot of people disputing the need for USPS when Volcano has FedEx. Here's the pros, and cons, to USPS and FedEx, along with reasons why Volcano probably sticks with both shipping companies, along with some experiences at the end for all you skeptics.

I'm going to start with a brief history on both of the companies, then get in to the nitty gritty about why Volcano probably uses both shipping companies.

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FedEx

FedEx was founded in 2000, with the headquarters being in Memphis, Tennessee. At the moment, they have more than 12,500 employees and in FY10, made 1.8 billion in revenue. They've recently received awards such as: CIO Magazine - "CIO 100", Computerworld - “100 Best Places to Work in IT”, and Information Week 500 - Top Ten, “Most Innovative Business Technology Organizations”.

PROS:
They are almost always cheaper.
They almost always ship faster.
Contractors that work for FedEx can get paid up to $100,000 a year, which would motivate them to do better and ship products faster.

CON(s):
FedEx does not ship to P.O. boxes or APO/FPO addresses.


This doesn't seem like a very big issue, being only one bad point to about 4 good points, but let's see what USPS is working with.

USPS

USPS has been around since 1775, when Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first Postmaster General by the Continental Congress. It was more than 50 years after that in 1847 that postage stamps were issued. Being that USPS has been around since longer than our generation, the generation before us, or even the generation before that can remember, it's one of the most renowned shipping companies out there.

PROS
They do ship to P.O. boxes and APO/FPO addresses.
It's easier to work with USPS's claims department if a shipment is lost or damaged.
They are more careful, from customer reviews, with packages shipped out, even internationally.

CON(s)
Once somebody sees a bad review on a company, they instantly become skeptical, and unfortunately USPS has a lot of bad reviews.
They have higher prices than FedEx, and longer shipping times.

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I've gone over some of the pro's and con's of both USPS and FedEx, but what do they really mean?

Basically, if you want your order shipped to a P.O. box or an APO/FPO address, you have to go with USPS. They take longer to ship but all in all, you're forced to go with them. FedEx doesn't do that shizznit. However, if you don't want your order shipped to a P.O. box or an APO/FPO address, go with FedEx. They ship faster, they're a bit cheaper, and more people seem to like FedEx overall. USPS is famous for making sure your packages are just the way they're shipped out, but nomatter where you're shipping the package to, you will always have a chance of your package getting damaged or lost in the mail, nomatter what company you ship with.

Fortunately, I haven't had any bad experiences with either. I've placed an order using both USPS and FedEx for the shipping method in the past week, and both my items were shipped out within hours of placing the order. I understand that USPS will have longer shipping times, and it happens, but at the same time I know my things will get here safe and sound, and if not, one of their customer service reps can help me with that. I know FedEx will get to its destination sooner, and at the same time, I reckognize the risk of the package being damaged or lost some way, and it happens, so no biggie. I've also gotten every single one of my packages that were sent from family through USPS. Actually, during Christmas time, my wife sent my Xbox 360 in a package from the states (Maryland to be exact), to Afghanistan, and it got to me in less than 4 full working days. If anything I'd say that's amazing service.

If anyone has anything to comment on, please, feel free. I'd love to hear peoples various input on both companies. Maybe it will "enlighten" me that one of them suck and the other is better. I won't call either company better at the moment - they're both good in my eyes. One ships fast as sh** within the U.S., and one ships decent to AFGHANISTAN.

Thanks - Thats my schpeal for the day...Kinda felt like making something like this so everyone can see my opinion - along with several other peoples opinions (read about 100 reviews on both companies).

[Juicy D. Links]

Fed EX was founded in 1971

[Juicy D. Links]

As a preference also since my business does alot of shipments through FedEx and have used USPS in the past FedEx is more reliable IMO...

Just a preference

[Juicy D. Links]

FedEx "Express" are FedEx employes...

FedEx Ground and Home Delivery are the contractors also the Orange n Purple drivers work for FedEx directly

[Old Hippie]

For Volcano...I use fed ex exclusively....works really well..in a year and 4 months..I only had one issue..it was accidently marked signature required...I called and they said the driver could not be reached...he drove right in front of my office...after the call lol..but that's the only issue I've had...I get juices and power mod boxes from two other places...both of them are regular members in here and friends...they use usps..so far other than a few extra days..no probs with them either...guess its just a matter of choice:). I'm not new to this stuff lol...I'm the resident nutcase in here....I have heard of peeps going Postal lol....never Fed Exal...so that's the only difference as far as I can tell lol ) Peace and. Welcome to the forum:)

[sjdesilets]

I live in Seattle. FedEx is much better, the recommended option, ONLY if I order before Wednesday. otherwise my shipment is faster and cheaper with USPS, since my package stays in the FedEx Warehouse even if they receive it early Saturday Morning. They charge 15 bucks to deliver on Saturday. I even called them, and they would not allow me to drive a mile to pick it up. Just policy. I think that aspect is a ripoff. Volcano should make a note of that. FedEx is recommended for at least west coast customers if ordered early in the week. I receive other items via USPS from Hawaii. Usually 2 day, since my package comes directly to Seattle rather than to Memphis and then back..

So it's a mixed review.

[bellasdaddy666]

The reason FedEx won't let you pick a package up (besides being policy) is because it probably got to the fedex sort facility in one day and if they let you pick up a 2day 8 dollar package as soon as it arrived (usually all fedex packages make it very close to final dest in one day) you'd be avoiding the cost of the overnight fee. My package made it from Hawaii to a facility 30 miles from me overnight. I got the old "Package not due for delivery" message. Wonder why? lol. Because it got here overnight along with a ton of packages that were actually PAID FOR for overnight.

Anyway, dats my theory.

USPS, they annoy me as well because lately every single package that is getting delivered to us gets misrouted at the facility before final dest. Always the same facility and I even googled it and I'm not the only one who has probs with that happening at that facility in particular. Go figure.

No matter who you choose, always order early. And order extra if you can afford it. It's a lesson I'm learning myself.

Bill

[MarkEgan]

I'd rather order my liquids on Monday and get them Friday from usps and delivered in my mailbox not on my doorstep. Plus for the price of FedEx two day I can wait an extra two days and get an extra bottle of juice. And I hate FedEx too lol. More problems than not with them.

[jscott1]

GRRRR!
Davej sent me some juice reg. USPS. It was sent March 22nd. I just now got an update, and now I know why, no updates when it took 5 (FIVE) days to go 41.9 miles.

At this rate, I could have it in 240 days. (approx. 8.38 miles per day / 2055 miles between here and there - the 5 days it has already been out)

[davej]

Unfortunately the local PO that I now deal with is, for lack of a better term, an 'out to pasture' office.

It has occurred to me that, as near as I can tell, this is where USPS sends employees where they can 'do the least damage'.

Packages sent in will sometimes take up to 3 days, just to show up in the USPS system. If this happened over a weekend, I could understand this, but sometimes it happens mid week as well.

I've recently begun taking at least half of my outgoing packages to an office that is farther away, but only a little out of the way when I am headed home for the evening.

One interesting thing to note however concerning USPS.

I make orders one Wed nights from Volcano a lot of times, and since I am one of those who are located in a FedEx 'dead zone', aka no Sat delivery/pickup, I typically pick USPS Priority Mail, since it always arrives at the same time a FedEx delivery would arrive.

This past week's order was very small, and since I was in no hurry, I just picked USPS First Class delivery for this one.

It arrived at the exact same time it would have if I had chosen the Priority Mail or FedEx shipping !!!

Go figure!