Shipping Problems

Squishie89 · Mar 15, 2013

I ordered fish and inverts last week to be delivered today. They were shipped last night from California and coming to Maryland using FedEx. Once it got past the guaranteed arrival of 10:30am, I started growing concerned. The tracking was lacking to say the least (times are off/not updated correctly). I talked to FedEx he said he would track the package further, make a note it was live fish, and get back to me. I called back about 10 minutes later to say I would come pick it up (even though its last known location was over an hour from me) but of course they were not sure where the package was, so could not say it was at that location. Around 11 something there was an update the package was in my city. Then there was an update it was still at the depot as it arrived too late for the courier. I said fine, I will come get it, keep it there. Luckily it is only a 7min drive. I get there and they say, "It left to be delivered" so I rush back home and that was about an hour ago, and with no sign from fedex. I did get a call saying, "That package you wanted to be held? Well it had already gone out for delivery." Yes, real helpful.
I am beyond frustrated and exhausted with all of this. If I cannot get money back from the seller I am at least going to try and get something from FedEx. The worst part about this, it is not just my stuff, I also ordered stuff for an acquaintance.
Anyone else have similar stories? Or have anything to add to help?

KJAG · Mar 15, 2013

Sorry to hear. Have had a couple similar experiences with FedEx. They're notorious for tweaking the fine print in order to bail out on any sort of refund or admittance of fault on their part. Maybe you'll have better luck!

ritter6788 · Mar 15, 2013

I don't get mine until 3pm some days. No losses from it yet.

Squishie89 · Mar 15, 2013

Just wanted to say the package finally arrived at 5pm. All creatures are alive. St. Francis must have been looking out for them.

Scoly · Mar 15, 2013

I had fed ex leave a box of corals I was waiting on in Memphis for an extra day cause they said the airplane was overloaded! Everything died!

FishLipz · Mar 15, 2013

I had a Live Aquaria order get stuck an extra day in transit. I let them know and they extended the guarantee on the fish for an extra couple days. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts the fish didn't make it.

dankreef · Mar 15, 2013

Ordered 3-4 shipments of coral they all came. I ordered some crabs and snails the next day and it got lost or "misplaced" and delayed for an extra day half of them were dead. Luckily it wasn't the first 3-4 boxes

Fedex.

KatyEnochs · Mar 17, 2013

i have had fedex's shipment "miss a flight" as they said, arrived at 7pm as opposed to 10:30 and I had to go pick it up, instead of delivered... but at least it was the same day (50/50% on live versus deaths), and even worse yet, I had a gecko shipped to me overnight from the united states postal service, and it arrived 2 days later.... gecko lived somehow

...but will NEVER use united states postal service for live animals again!!! At least the fedex and ups facilities are open later, so you have a chance of getting your stuff the same day if it doesn't make it out for delivery, united states postal service could care less.

Squishie89 · Mar 17, 2013

KatyEnochs said:
At least the fedex and ups facilities are open later, so you have a chance of getting your stuff the same day if it doesn't make it out for delivery, united states postal service could care less.

That is a good point about UPS+FedEx VS USPS. I still would have been as concerned as I was, but there was the added element of having a friend's fish in the shipment too.

grumpy-crab · Mar 17, 2013

I hear horror storys all the time... glad i have a awesome aqua culture store 8min from my house

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Zack · Mar 17, 2013

I've been lucky so far myself. One time plane couldn't land due to fog and had to land a few hours away and wait till fog cleared. Luckily I got my package later that day. I do get nervous everytime I order coral though, always scared it will be the one time a package doesn't make it. Would hate to lose hundreds of dollars due to shipping issues.

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hationen · Jun 18, 2013

Ugh! FedEx! I’ve had a bad experience with them and I’d like to avoid transacting with them again as much as possible. Glad to know your package arrived safe and sound.

Tphill · Aug 2, 2013

I avoid fedex and ups as much as possible also. Hate them. Very bad experiences with both. USPS, on the other hand, is usually great around here. We do have a new carrier on our route that sometimes gets lazy and will not get out of their vehicle, but the local post office has let me come in after hours to get packages many times, and just this morning called me to let me know there was an issue with a package, and for me to come take care of it then instead of letting the carrier ride it around all day. Much rather use USPS! It's fedex and ups that done care, at all!!