FedEx/UPS shipping problems

[GunnyGene]

Some of the folks here in MS are experiencing recent significant delays and/or non-delivery of ammo from various on-line dealers such as SGAmmo/Lucky Gunner and others.

Anyone here having trouble like this?

Nobody really knows why, but this may be part of the problem:

Excerpt:

https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/money/industries/logistics/2020/06/18/fedex-ups-on-time-delivery-coronavirus/3198171001/

Ground shipping services for FedEx and UPS delivered a lower rate of packages on time in May, new data shows, as the two companies handle an unprecedented surge in packages amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

FedEx Ground delivered 93.3% of April packages on time and 91.4% of May packages on time, according to ShipMatrix, a firm analyzing shipping data. In 2019, its on-time performance was at 98.5% and 94.6% for April and May, respectively.

UPS fared better, as UPS Ground’s on-time performance stayed above 98% in April, per ShipMatrix. But it faltered in May, as UPS Ground delivered 95.4% of packages on time, versus 98.5% in May 2019.

The on-time performance percentages come from ShipMatrix’s database that has recorded “millions of actual parcels.” FedEx and UPS both made changes to their delivery commitment times amid COVID-19, ShipMatrix founder Satish Jindel said, which is factored into the data.

 

[Mobuck]

According to my local UPS driver, the slowdown is caused by "health measures" in transfer hubs. I've noticed that there are delays in places like the Earth City hub that weren't happening previously.
USPS letter mail volume seems to be down but package volume way up. My regular mail man is back on the job after hip surgery. He says he saw a BIG change in amount and type of mail between March and June when he went back to work post surgery.

 

[gunzo]

I've never had really good service from Fed X, & after my last shipment by them I'll not use them again if given a choice. In my experience, the post office out performs Fed X, that isn't high marks.

I realize things are still messed up. I take that into account & don't expect quick shipping right now. But this got ridiculous.

33 days from Chattanooga Tn. to the Lex. Ky. area. It went to Columbus O. & stayed 2 days, left, came back, & stayed 2 more. Then to Indy. It left Indy 9 times! I finally called the seller & they said they'd take care of it. A day later my package was able to break the grip of Indy & started moving.

 

[Kevin]

I just ordered a magazine from Midway. It came UPS, but once it gets to Dallas, they switch to the USPS to deliver it to my house.

The switch from UPS to USPS took an extra 5 days. I watched it with the tracking number. I wasn’t very pleased with the shipping method.

PLUS! Midway is NOT taking any phone calls right now. I’m not sure why. Maybe the customer service dept. is working from home?

 

[Ruger Packer]

Personally, I think its getting ridiculous.

I regularly order a couple items off Amazon that I can't find locally. I live in NE Oklahoma... 75 miles NE of Tulsa and 50 miles south of Joplin, MO.

These two items always ship out of Ft Worth, TX. Takes 2 days. Ships FTW to OKC (Okla City) in 3 hours and then within 3-4 hours its on its way to my UPS hub (40 mi from my house) and takes 3 hours to get there and they get it sorted and on their truck within 2-3 hrs. And then I get it some time that same day.

Now it takes them TWO weeks to get those same two items to me!! That's why its so d@*# ridiculous!!! For all the flack people give the USPS they get it to me faster. I ordered a new belt just last week... the kind that hold your britches up... from Hank's Belts (gun belt) out of New York and USPS had it to me in 3 days.... again all the way from New Yawk!!!!!!

 

[GunnyGene]

Thanks guys. Seems like it's a pretty wide spread problem with shipping generally, not just ammo. I have a flat trigger kit coming for my new Sig that's supposed to get here by the 27th via FedEx. Been sitting in NH for the last 3 days. :roll: I'm keeping my fingers crossed. :wink:

 

[Fox Mike]

Never a problem with UPS or the USPS. One Fedex problem years ago. Guess I am one of the lucky ones. I did have a bulk shipment of ammo problem but that was at the sellers location not the delivery. They were just so overwhelmed by orders that they were behind in shipping.

 

[rimmer1]

I never have a problem with any of the carriers. I just ordered a frame for my archery bag and it will be here tomorrow.
When I see a package transfer to the USPS I just go down there ans pick it up. It saves me a day and it's less for the postman to deliver.
Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery and UPS and Fedx and you can track all your packages and also what mail you have coming.

 

[Montelores]

For those who don't get out much - retired, stay-at-home, non-working - the "functioning" world is a very different place than it was just 6 months ago.

For many people in businesses of all manner, life has changed immensely.

I'm not writing this to be snarky, but face-to-face, person-to-person interactions have been made much more cumbersome with the mask and distancing requirements.

And every business has been impacted, so do not expect the customary efficiency.

Essentially, we have thrown sand into the gearbox we call the "economy."

As an offset to the slowed "production" of our economy, we have an attendant reduction in "demand," so the situation is not as bad as it could be.

Again, not commenting on the "correctness" of all this, but it is unreasonable to have expectations of normal transactions right now.

Monty

 

[Kevin]

I'm not writing this to be snarky, but face-to-face, person-to-person interactions have been made much more cumbersome with the mask and distancing requirements

I do agree with you. Customer service has changed a great deal.

However, so much of the shipping process for UPS and USPS is (almost) fully automated. The volume of mail being sent requires machines to process it. At the warehouse locations, there aren’t many people involved compared to the number of packages.

 

[Ruger Packer]

Hell, you're lucky if they even ring/knock on your door any more!!!! They just throw it on your porch and run!!!!

 

[Montelores]

I'm not writing this to be snarky, but face-to-face, person-to-person interactions have been made much more cumbersome with the mask and distancing requirements

I do agree with you. Customer service has changed a great deal.

However, so much of the shipping process for UPS and USPS is (almost) fully automated. The volume of mail being sent requires machines to process it. At the warehouse locations, there aren’t many people involved compared to the number of packages.

That's a great point.

I received a postcard from the same zip code 1 month late, so I think that we're seeing that the human element of our infrastructure is irreplaceable.

If we look behind the scenes at any operation - P.O., manufacturing, transportation - the new CV-19 Rules of Engagement (ROE) have added an incredible amount of drag. Customer Service is just the "face" of any operation, but CS delivers on what is provided behind the counter.

Actually, the very fact that our economy is doing this well is, IMO, a HUGE testament to the drive of the American people.

I recall reading in the early stages of CV-19 (before the recognized worldwide spread) that China could throw all the money at their problem that they wanted, but, if there are no humans to implement that fiscal supercharging (because of lockdown), nothing could come of it.

A bulldozer can be purchased, but without the operator, it's just a fancy lawn ornament.

Monty

ETA: P.S. I realize that I was unclear in my first post -"face-to-face, person-to-person interactions" include those of behind-the-scenes, non-customer-facing employees.

 

[Jeepnik]

Quite interestingly here UPS is hiring a lot of temporary help. Here's the kicker all they wear is a vest with UPS on it and they are driving their own vehicles.

I had a bed mat for my new truck delivered the other day. A young woman made the delivery in her hatchback. Poor thing could barely lift it (like what 30#'s) So I carried it. But it gave me a chance to talk to here and find out what UPS was doing.

 

[Dave P.]

My business gets anywhere between 3 to 5 packages a day up to about 12 to 15
at busy times. About 75 percent are UPS and the rest FedEx. On average I'd
say stuff is mostly one day behind "normal" sometimes two.
Some of our vendors have also lost a day or so getting stuff out to
ship.
Really not bad considering the volume of freight being moved.
What we have seen is more damaged stuff, mostly from UPS.
Lots of boxes, all beat to hell, maybe 25-30 percent more than
what they usually manage to kill.
Dave

 

[Fox Mike]

Hell, you're lucky if they even ring/knock on your door any more!!!! They just throw it on your porch and run!!!!

Must be again that I am lucky. The UPS, FedEx, Amazon, and the USPS knock on the door when they deliver. They don't stay and wait for someone to come and have whatever they are delivering handed to me or the wife but they knock nonetheless.

 

[Ruger Packer]

Hell, you're lucky if they even ring/knock on your door any more!!!! They just throw it on your porch and run!!!!

Must be again that I am lucky. The UPS, FedEx, Amazon, and the USPS knock on the door when they deliver. They don't stay and wait for someone to come and have whatever they are delivering handed to me or the wife but they knock nonetheless.

Its about 50/50 for me these days. The old UPS guy that used to ring and hand me the package, retired. Now I have a different guy.... or should say "guys". Mostly younger fellas. They put the package on the porch next to the door and knock/ring and run. My old UPS guy would hand me the package and ask, "How ya doin'?" or "Damn cold/hot day, huh?!?!" Or, "How's the fishing with Rocky (my nephew that is a fishing guide) this week?"

Being retired like I am its just nice to have a simple brief conversation for a 1/2 a minute.

 

[Bull Barrel]

Unfortunately UPS won't let the drivers take time to have even a short conversation. They are on a strict schedule and are held to it.