FedEx or UPS

Discussion in 'Trade Talk' started by ILOVESTOUTS, Dec 11, 2012.

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  1. ILOVESTOUTS

    ILOVESTOUTS Zealot (570) Apr 13, 2006 Connecticut
    Trader

    I have always shipped FedEx and never have had an issue. Although, after reading Alpine/HF/Lost Abbey debacle with FedEx, I am open to hear what others thoughts are.
     
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  2. robinsmv

    robinsmv Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2010 Florida

    What debacle do you speak of? I've never had any issues with FedEx.
     
  3. davey101

    davey101 Pooh-Bah (2,360) Apr 14, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    UPS store is 15 minutes away. FedEx is 20 minutes away. Plus the woman at UPS sees me so often she stopped asking what I'm sending and doesn't question me if a box sloshes around a bit.
     
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  4. ILOVESTOUTS

    ILOVESTOUTS Zealot (570) Apr 13, 2006 Connecticut
    Trader

    Long story condensed.... Alpine got charged shipping when they shouldn't. Alpine shipped to HF making it to New Hampshire, only to get sent back by FEdEx. Lost Abbey had the same problem when shipping to HF. FedEx pretty much told all 3 breweries to screw, all 3 breweries implored their customers to use alternative shipping methods than FedEx.

    http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/alpine-vs-fedex.53781/page-2#post-706790
     
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  5. robinsmv

    robinsmv Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2010 Florida

    Thanks for the low down
     
  6. sleuthdog

    sleuthdog Savant (1,218) Oct 21, 2008 Illinois
    Trader

    My local FedEX store has one particular employee that always seems to be there when I go in and he just asks a few too many questions and seems like the shipping police. My local UPS store has employees that are not too interested in my contents and are just much more pleasant so that makes me go back to UPS.
     
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  7. sandiego67

    sandiego67 Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2008 California

    I hope that FedEx isn't too damaged economically by losing that 1/1000 of a percent of their total shipping business.

    Did all 3 breweries have the proper licenses to ship the beer? Is they did, they have a legitimate beef. If not, too bad.

    On a lighter note:

    A Redwood City, California man stupidly tried to ship methamphetamine and cocaine through the mail, then, got himself arrested after he called FedEx to ask why his packages hadn’t been delivered to their destination in the Philippines!
    That would be because the packages containing three kilograms of meth and 100 grams of coke had been intercepted at Customs. But until Gabriel Uribe-Bautista gave FedEx a call, they had no idea who sent them. Guess you can say he delivered himself! Hi-Yo!
    Bautista was arrested on charges related to the sale and transport of illegal drugs. Bond was set at one million dollars, although as of this posting Gabriel hasn’t been able to make bail. Aww, man. If only he had, say, three kilos of meth and 100 grams of coke he could sell.
     
  8. loony4lambic

    loony4lambic Initiate (0) Nov 26, 2012 California

    In my experience Fedex is Cheaper, But Im not really POSITIVE. Plus, the only Time ive had Damaged bottles was through UPS, broken bottles on both ends
     
  9. ILOVESTOUTS

    ILOVESTOUTS Zealot (570) Apr 13, 2006 Connecticut
    Trader

    1/1000? I think you are being rather generous of all 3 breweries shipping practices. It's not a question about loss of business, but a major corporation saying FU to 3 rather small, independent business owners.

    My reading comprehension is rather low, but I took away that the 1st 2 shipments had grey areas, however the Lost Abbey to HF was completely legit and FedEx just said "tough".
     
  10. TheBishopco

    TheBishopco Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2011 Tennessee

    I have sent and received from both, no problems. Granted, I am only 10ish trades in to this. I find FedEx to be a few cents cheaper though.
     
  11. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    100+ boxes sent, 100+ boxes received. UPS perfect record coming and going. FedEx 3 boxes badly damaged coming. UPS only and always for me. The few extra dollars is worth the peace of mind.
     
  12. sandiego67

    sandiego67 Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2008 California

    I just shipped out my first 2 boxes last week. I took the time to reinforce the boxes with duct tape and wrapped them in brown paper. When I took them to FedEx, the guy at the counter made me take off the wrapper and the duct tape. Unfortunately, I was shipping in wine boxes. The counter guy made the comment, "I hope that there is no wine in those boxes because you need the correct license to ship it". I calmly responded that there is no wine in the boxes.

    They have made it to Chicago and New Jersey so far. We'll see if they show up intact tomorrow at their destination.
     
  13. fortsambo

    fortsambo Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2011 Colorado

    I've always used Fed Ex, no complaints...
     
  14. hooliganlife

    hooliganlife Pooh-Bah (1,783) Apr 12, 2007 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah

    Both are solid but UPS is slower, sometimes way slower.
     
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  15. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    I used FedEx because it was cheaper in my neck of the woods.
     
  16. forgetfu

    forgetfu Initiate (0) Jul 27, 2007 Colorado

    My story is the same if you switch the companies around. When packages from UPS go out for delivery to me, they mysteriously end up "Damaged - Destroyed". I don't trust my local UPS driver. I think he knows i'm receiving beer and either damages it or keeps it.

    I advise anyone sending to use UPS at their own risk. Overall, i have no problems with the company, but I will default to Fedex largely because of my local UPS issue.
     
  17. NotACommunist

    NotACommunist Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2011 South Carolina

    I use UPS and have never had any problems with them. I think the guy at the UPS store knows what's up but he doesn't seem to care. Just be friendly with folks the usually let things slide. It also helps to have a cleanly packed box (all labels removed doesn't look like shit), although sloshing doesn't help the situation, contents shifting is much worse in my opinion. Use more bubble wrap and newspaper/packing nuts.

    On the converse, one of my frequent trading partners uses FedEx and I have never had any problems (but he packs bomb-proof boxes as well...).
     
  18. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    I know for a fact that in Pa. there is a route that the driver routinely looks for and steals certain items that are not supposed to be shipped and which he is able identify in box. Not gonna mention the company as I am sure both shippers have some bad apples, as do all companies.

    All I can say is one of the "damaged" boxes from FedEx that came my way were cleaned out of all 6 bottles also supposed to be inside, had one growler in it, and there was no residue of beer on the growler. YMMV
     
  19. shebby

    shebby Initiate (0) Feb 29, 2012 Utah

    Sounds like both companies screw things up on occasion. I used UPS faithfully for my trades. The shipping store was five minutes from my house and I didn't see much of a cost difference when printing labels online. However, I shipped once again with UPS on my last trade and got the dreaded "Damaged/Destroyed" notification. I packed as well as I ever do, but I guess it happens. So I switched to FedEx and I guess I'll use them at least in the short-term future. They don't have the convenient stores but I'll go a little out of my way to ensure my boxes arrive safely. I've also heard more about FedEx returning damaged packages, whereas UPS seems content to trash everything. That can get pretty expensive, even if it only happens once.
     
  20. evilc

    evilc Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2012 California

    UPS is raising prices 5% starting Jan 1 btw guys.
     
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