Vendors that are still using FedEX....

[jeffyang]

Most online vendors which I bought from delivered packages by UPS last year. They were always on time!
I purchased from the vendors that still are using FedEx only two times, and every single time it got delayed.
Now if I see the vendors deliver by FedEx, I will have a second thought or just avoid buying, at least for a while.

 

[dank reefer]

I have never had an issue with FedEx deliveries when it comes to live stock.

I have had issues with UPS when it comes to livestock in the past (2 times). 1 delivered to the wrong address, and one that was left in their facility that never got scanned so it did not make the Next Day Shipping time (10:30-11am in my area). Package finally arrived at 4pm. Livestock was still alive, but you can tell they laid something heavy on it as 1 bag had lost almost all its water. Good thing the coral was in a small cup and some water was still in it.

 

[Gedxin]

I think it's really a toss up. I've had success and failures with both carriers. I feel like you're really just rolling the dice.

 

[Big Smelly fish]

I’ve had issues with both, I stopped riding livestock from online vendors

 

[jeffyang]

Well. It probably depends on the areas. I have the worst FedEx service here.

 

[CryptoNautical]

I live in Alaska and that's the only shipping company that can go from Florida to Alaska in less than 14 hours. My last shipment had a delay in anchorage at 30 degrees and still arrived alive the next day. They must have moved the box into a temp regulated room for the sps to survive that long. Hats off to TSA for the packaging.

 

[billyocean]

If only Amazon could just deliver corals

 

[albano]

My next door neighbor is still working from home and FedEx is here everyday without fail! … today when I had a livestock shipment due, they misplaced it, and now I have to hope it’s still alive tomorrow

 

[AJsReef]

Location has a ton to do with this, IME FedEx has a superior overnight network

 

[Cell]

I love both my UPS and FedEx guys here in MN. Many orders, zero delays ever. Both always arrive before noon for me and more often than not before 10:30am.

 

[Lyss]

I just pulled this thread b/c I’m expecting an urchin today that was shipped FedEx Priority Overnight and was searching for other experiences. Just checked the tracking on my package and my heart sunk b/c it hasn’t been scanned since it arrived at a hub in Indianapolis at 1:30 am.

I know it can depend on location, but I absolutely have only ever had issues w/FedEx overnight shipments. UPS has delivered overnight on time 100% of the time for me. I’m feeling the same way now about avoiding vendors who ship the animals with FedEx, and I wish more vendors would take notice and stop using them for livestock.

 

[piranhaman00]

If only Amazon could just deliver corals

@jeffbezos

 

[LeftyReefer]

UPS will not insure/reimburse for late livestock deliveries at the moment. But Fedex will.
That is why most vendors are using Fedex right now. UPS stopped reimbursing for late shipments when COVID hit. When UPS starts reimbursing for late packages again, more vendors will go back to using them.... until then, you can't blame a vendor for using Fedex right now.

I've had good luck with Fedex. They have only failed on one of my livestock shipments, when it got stuck in the Memphis hub for a couple extra days during a storm. But because Fedex will reimburse for late deliveries unlike UPS, the vendor was willing to fully replaced the order, a few weeks later.

As always, your best bet is to have your Fedex package shipped and held at your local Fedex hub for pickup. preferably one at/near the airport that fedex uses for sorting their air shipments in your area. Since I started doing that, I have not had any losses and I've been able to pick up my livestock orders early in the morning giving me the best chance at acclimating the new livestock.

 

[Lyss]

UPS will not insure/reimburse for late livestock deliveries at the moment. But Fedex will.
That is why most vendors are using Fedex right now. UPS stopped reimbursing for late shipments when COVID hit. When UPS starts reimbursing for late packages again, more vendors will go back to using them.... until then, you can't blame a vendor for using Fedex right now.

I've had good luck with Fedex. They have only failed on one of my livestock shipments, when it got stuck in the Memphis hub for a couple extra days during a storm. But because Fedex will reimburse for late deliveries unlike UPS, the vendor was willing to fully replaced the order, a few weeks later.

As always, your best bet is to have your Fedex package shipped and held at your local Fedex hub for pickup. preferably one at/near the airport that fedex uses for sorting their air shipments in your area. Since I started doing that, I have not had any losses and I've been able to pick up my livestock orders early in the morning giving me the best chance at acclimating the new livestock.

That’s actually not correct — see attached screen shot from UPS website. Both vendors have reinstated guarantee for overnight service.

 

[AJsReef]

There's no form of shipment that actually covers livestock delays beyond the price of shippage. The other often overlooked piece is that timeframe guarantees are almost always guaranteed to commercial addresses. Once you select to ship to residential the guarantee is often much later or none existent.

It's always best to be as proactive as possible, check the weather beforehand and select pickup at air terminal if you can.

 

[Lyss]

There's no form of shipment that actually covers livestock delays beyond the price of shippage. The other often overlooked piece is that timeframe guarantees are almost always guaranteed to commercial addresses. Once you select to ship to residential the guarantee is often much later or none existent.

I don't believe anyone said they covered livestock delays beyond the shipping cost? The point is that both carriers have reinstated their time guarantees, so saying companies are using FedEx as a priority b/c UPS still won't guarantee delivery times on an overnight shipment isn't a possible argument. I posted a screenshot of the updated information from UPS there, so it's right there. FedEx has a similar statement on their website as well, guarantee for overnight deliveries has been reinstated. The guarantee is the guarantee, not a guarantee for businesses but not residential.

Edit: the advice to be proactive, check weather, pick up is good advice but that assumes folks like me on here have not been proactive. The problem comes in when we have and still cannot rely on the company. Not sure how I can pick up a package stuck in Indianapolis (w/out any weather delays as the cause) when I'm in NYC, for example... They didn't get it out in time to get to my local hub on time for pickup or delivery.

 

[AJsReef]

I don't believe anyone said they covered livestock delays beyond the shipping cost? The point is that both carriers have reinstated their time guarantees, so saying companies are using FedEx as a priority b/c UPS still won't guarantee delivery times on an overnight shipment isn't a possible argument. I posted a screenshot of the updated information from UPS there, so it's right there. FedEx has a similar statement on their website as well, guarantee for overnight deliveries has been reinstated. The guarantee is the guarantee, not a guarantee for businesses but not residential.

Edit: the advice to be proactive, check weather, pick up is good advice but that assumes folks like me on here have not been proactive. The problem comes in when we have and still cannot rely on the company. Not sure how I can pick up a package stuck in Indianapolis when I'm in NYC, for example... They didn't get it out in time to get to my local hub on time for pickup or delivery.

I was just offering perspective to all on what guarantees actually mean. It reality the guarantee holds little to no liability on the side of the carrier. Making judgements based on it, is definitely flawed logic. Shipping fees are nominal vs goods expense when it comes to livestock. If one reads the fine print for UPS express services including livestock to residential, they'd likely be surprised what they find. FedEx for example is verbiage is a "should" arrive overnight for residential overnight. I'd go as far as to say, very few people successfully collect on the guarantee.

The unfortunate part about logistics is sheer magnitude of variables that impact shipping speeds and delivery dates. Especially in our 2022 world, you are glancing over the monumental task that is overnight shipping. With the volumes these companies move there's a defect rate that in actual consideration is pretty stunning (~98% for both FedEx/UPS). Given FedEx delivers ~12 million daily and UPS ~16 million that's half a million late packages a day.

Then you have to consider that they estimate demand and prioritize businesses. Statistically, residential addresses are more likely to have delayed shipments. The recommendation to pick up at your local air terminal is to reduce touches and variables. You're essentially removing the "last mile" variability, which in turn would lead to higher success.

We as hobbyists have the responsibility to understand the risks and minimize the variables in regards to shipping livestock. I'd argue that some sellers should be tighter on their end as well. The fact remains, the issue isn't exclusive to either of the shipping options. If I had to wager on why FedEx? FedEx is the main express service with higher delivery success rates. Likely as they are equipped to handle express volume better than any other company out there (Fleet size ~700 vs UPS 300).

 

[Bob Weigant]

exact opposite for me. UPS not so good while Fed Ex has always been here before 10:30

 

[Lyss]

I was just offering perspective to all on what guarantees actually mean. It reality the guarantee holds little to no liability on the side of the carrier. Making judgements based on it, is definitely flawed logic. Shipping fees are nominal vs goods expense when it comes to livestock. If one reads the fine print for UPS express services including livestock to residential, they'd likely be surprised what they find. FedEx for example is verbiage is a "should" arrive overnight for residential overnight. I'd go as far as to say, very few people successfully collect on the guarantee.

The unfortunate part about logistics is sheer magnitude of variables that impact shipping speeds and delivery dates. Especially in our 2022 world, you are glancing over the monumental task that is overnight shipping. With the volumes these companies move there's a defect rate that in actual consideration is pretty stunning (~98% for both FedEx/UPS). Given FedEx delivers ~12 million daily and UPS ~16 million that's half a million late packages a day.

Then you have to consider that they estimate demand and prioritize businesses. Statistically, residential addresses are more likely to have delayed shipments. The recommendation to pick up at your local air terminal is to reduce touches and variables. You're essentially removing the "last mile" variability, which in turn would lead to higher success.

We as hobbyists have the responsibility to understand the risks and minimize the variables in regards to shipping livestock. I'd argue that some sellers should be tighter on their end as well. The fact remains, the issue isn't exclusive to either of the shipping options. If I had to wager on why FedEx? FedEx is the main express service with higher delivery success rates. Likely as they are equipped to handle express volume better than any other company out there (Fleet size ~700 vs UPS 300).

I get what you're saying, and don't disagree. But as I stated above, "the advice to be proactive, check weather, pick up is good advice but that assumes folks like me on here have not been proactive. The problem comes in when we have and still cannot rely on the company. Not sure how I can pick up a package stuck in Indianapolis (w/out any weather delays as the cause) when I'm in NYC, for example... They didn't get it out in time to get to my local hub on time for pickup or delivery."

I am saying that it has been my experience that any time I have a shipment coming from FedEx, this has been the case. I average a bunch from both carriers, and statistically I have received overnight packages from UPS on time 100% of the time. I cannot say the same for FedEx, which has now gotten to the point where I can't ignore it or excuse it. Bad weather is totally understandable, etc -- this is not that.

 

[AJsReef]

I get what you're saying, and don't disagree. But as I stated above, "the advice to be proactive, check weather, pick up is good advice but that assumes folks like me on here have not been proactive. The problem comes in when we have and still cannot rely on the company. Not sure how I can pick up a package stuck in Indianapolis (w/out any weather delays as the cause) when I'm in NYC, for example... They didn't get it out in time to get to my local hub on time for pickup or delivery."

I am saying that it has been my experience that any time I have a shipment coming from FedEx, this has been the case. I average a bunch from both carriers, and statistically I have received overnight packages from UPS on time 100% of the time. I cannot say the same for FedEx, which has now gotten to the point where I can't ignore it or excuse it. Bad weather is totally understandable, etc -- this is not that.

In your use case UPS may very well be better, as above there are just as many people who have issues with FedEx. Another consideration, would be contacting the shipper and requesting your preferred form of shipping. Saying broadly "X shipper bad, Y shipper good" is just a fallacy if you have customers across the country as the two major players here have nearly identical delivery success rates.