Shipment arriving late

coraal · Dec 13, 2013

So lately I've had a few shipments that were suppose to arrive early around 10:30AM but they never actually arrived before then. Most of the shipments eventually arrive around 1:00-2:00 PM.
Sitting there and following the tracking on FedEx it states that it will arrive by 10:30 but when 10:30 hits, it changes to N/A.

I was wondering what you guys usually do when your shipment arrives late and you're sitting there waiting for the shipment. I always get so antsy and can't sit there without worrying about the shipment. Especially this winter when it's super cold I feel so bad for these corals

Zero Nitrates · Dec 13, 2013

As long as the Fedex guy doesn't shake the box I'm happy.

michaelis88 · Dec 13, 2013

Zero Nitrates said:
As long as the Fedex guy doesn't shake the box I'm happy.

i hope they just dont drop it

JMSKI333 · Dec 13, 2013

There is not a whole lot you can do. I've had a $600 coral shipment scheduled for a 10:30am delivery and not get dilevered until the following day. Luckily, everybody was ok, but talk about being antsy. I took two days off from work!

coraal · Dec 13, 2013

JMSKI333 said:
There is not a whole lot you can do. I've had a $600 coral shipment scheduled for a 10:30am delivery and not get dilevered until the following day. Luckily, everybody was ok, but talk about being antsy. I took two days off from work!

****!! I would not have been able to sleep... Luckily they were all fine!

Greenstreet.1 · Dec 13, 2013

My last two shipment can in after 10:30 I called fed and he came about 15 min after. Happy it was only 15 min I think it's only because of the holidays they are usually at my door at 10:15 this just started to happen.

Usatennisfan · Dec 13, 2013

Whenever I order anything I always have the company hold for pick up and take the day off. That way I can pick it up at like 8 am.

coraal · Dec 13, 2013

Usatennisfan said:
Whenever I order anything I always have the company hold for pick up and take the day off. That way I can pick it up at like 8 am.

That's a smart idea. Maybe I should try that next time.

ronnie · Dec 13, 2013

Yup. I do a hold for pickup and get them at 9am when the door opens. They know me now and always have the live coral boxes up front for me.

JMSKI333 · Dec 13, 2013

Usatennisfan said:
Whenever I order anything I always have the company hold for pick up and take the day off. That way I can pick it up at like 8 am.

Can you do that for all FedEx's and UPS's? Is there ever a time where they done have it ready for you?

ronnie · Dec 13, 2013

I always do it with FedEx. I stay away from UPS from personal experience.

Never had any issues from FedEx, though.

coraal · Dec 13, 2013

I had ordered a frag tank and it was shipped with UPS and online it showed that I had signed for the package and it was dropped off at a Dock (I dont live anywhere near the water) and I freaked out for about 1 hour before the UPS guy came and said he had signed it for me x_x

JMSKI333 · Dec 13, 2013

coraal said:
****!! I would not have been able to sleep... Luckily they were all fine!

Yeah I was a wreck! Thankfully the shipper knew how to pack corals like a pro!

Usatennisfan · Dec 16, 2013

Yes, I have done this with UPS too but I also stay away from them whenever I can.

socal619 · Dec 16, 2013

i placed a order with a vendor on here, he recommended i wait until after the holidays. its cool with me more time for the frag to heal and make sure its nice and healthy. better safe then sorry

gtbarsi · Dec 16, 2013

With out a doubt, deliveries are all later than normal, and many of the standard delivery guarantees are suspended by the carriers from black Friday till after Christmas. After that the volume is still high and the service levels are not generally back to 100% till after the new year.

Both UPS and FedEx treat boxes like crap unless they are insured over 1000.00 or require signature and are marked fragile, live animal, etc. The way I know I have a package is the thud of the package hitting my garage floor. By the time I hear the that thud the driver is already walking away, and by the time I get up and walk the 15 feet to my garage, the drive is usually 30+ feet away in his truck and getting on to the next stop.

I have yet to purchase any livestock online for this one major reason. If my drivers who are not a ***** are this pressed for time what happens the entire reset of the trip?

Clearly most packages get to their destination safely and I may eventually order some livestock online, but I really like knowing the person I am buying from and to see the state of everything they have before making a purchase and bringing it home. There has been more than a time or two I have gone home with out the livestock I checked to make sure was in before I left my house because I did not like the way it looked and it had not been in the store for more than a couple of days. I'd rather it die, or get sick on them than on me.

sexycorals · Dec 16, 2013

socal619 said:
i placed a order with a vendor on here, he recommended i wait until after the holidays. its cool with me more time for the frag to heal and make sure its nice and healthy. better safe then sorry

Thats the way to go bro. I always tell ny customer to wait. Ita not like us vendor benefit from anything keeping your corals longer in our system .. get me? We just want whats best for you guys. Amd some people still get mad. I dont get it. But 9 out of 10 customer agree like u and in the end there's no risk and they get their corals happy and healthy.

k2parkstar · Dec 17, 2013

sexycorals said:
Thats the way to go bro. I always tell ny customer to wait. Ita not like us vendor benefit from anything keeping your corals longer in our system .. get me? We just want whats best for you guys. Amd some people still get mad. I dont get it. But 9 out of 10 customer agree like u and in the end there's no risk and they get their corals happy and healthy.

Well I work for one of the two major shipping companies, I personally would not have any coral shipped till the week after Christmas. The volume moving through right now would blow your mind, you may think you have an idea but your way off. We are talking millions of boxes per day. Just wait, let that coral grow!

TJ's Reef · Dec 17, 2013

+1 for holding at Customer Center UPS or FedEx, leaves a lot less room for mis-handling and can pick it up much earlier. Have one coming in UPS tomorrow from Your Reef.............. fingers crossed

Cheers, Todd

gtbarsi · Dec 17, 2013

I know exactly what you are talking about, I design, install, and support shipping and Warehouse control systems. My customers are moving insane volume this time of year. One customer in particular is moving between 100,000 - 200,000 packages every day this time of year from one location, it is truly insane.