WARNING about FedEx in Vermont

Discussion in 'Trade Talk' started by chippo33, Dec 30, 2013.

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  1. chippo33

    chippo33 Pooh-Bah (1,993) Feb 29, 2012 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    This past month I have had 3 boxes go missing from fedex. According to them, the driver "misdelivered, and was unable to re-locate the boxes." So far all claims have been DENIED, even though they were insured for up to $300. The reason for denial was that "Driver confirmed accurate delivery." This was after I have asked the driver - in person- if he delivered a box to my door the day before, and he said no. This was after fedex said it was a misdelivery and the drivers fault the whole time through the trace process.

    I have also had two boxes I was expecting sent back to the sender due to "improper shipment." When I called, they transfered me to the VT Fedex HUB manager, who said they are "cracking down on all beer being sent through the mail." They are either x-raying packages and opening them to see what the contents are, and sending back to the shipper, or just "trashing" the boxes and saying the package can't be delivered.

    This past week, I have heard of multiple friends in VT having the same exact things happening to them.

    I have been using fedex for 3 years now sending many boxes through them, but now I am forced to go through ups. This is a warning to anyone shipping out of - or into VT.
     
    linnymtu likes this.
  2. brownswisscow

    brownswisscow Crusader (476) Feb 9, 2012 Vermont

    Sounds like your account or address is known? Have you tried escalating with FedEx beyond the local guy?

    Just shipped a 12 shipper via FedEx on Tuesday and it made it out of VT without issue.
     
  3. chippo33

    chippo33 Pooh-Bah (1,993) Feb 29, 2012 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    It seems like it is more of an issue with incoming packages. I agree with the address being known, but it was the reports of multiple friends who trade throughout the state that have had the same thing happening to them recently with the return to sender situation that made me post this.

    The claims that I have in for the "missing packages" went through fedex corp. office.
     
  4. duchessedubourg

    duchessedubourg Savant (1,181) Nov 2, 2007 Vermont

    Could smell this coming. Way too much press & chatter on beers coming & going around here. Such a small market, figured it was only a matter of time before they either started cracking down, or even stealing shipments. Too tempting for some to ignore, I'm thinking. Maybe once the holiday bubble pops, things will resume more normally, but wouldn't be surprised if your shipment(s) turned into someone at FedEx's Christmas bonus.
     
  5. MyIronLung

    MyIronLung Initiate (0) Oct 28, 2011 Massachusetts

    Try shipping through your business/work address.
     
    bluewolf17 likes this.
  6. Jbrews

    Jbrews Pooh-Bah (2,214) Aug 6, 2013 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah

    I completely agree and sucks to no end for your losses on the shipments. But in reality.....

    It's not legal, in the grand scheme of things you have no leg to stand on.
     
  7. franklinn

    franklinn Initiate (0) May 29, 2012 Vermont

    FedEx in VT sucks. A while back I had three boxes returned to sender (undamaged) and one of them was missing a vintage Upland Kiwi and Gilgamesh when it got back to my trading partner. I don't get fedex packages to my house anymore, but know several traders in the area who have had no problems as of late.

    I've also, thankfully, had no problems with outgoing boxes.
     
    Czar_chasm likes this.
  8. youbrewidrink

    youbrewidrink Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2009 Vermont

    That's why in have a dummy business account with UPS. I have never had a single problem since switching to them. If you do any kind of volume their price is much better.
     
  9. dennho

    dennho Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2006 New York

    I sent a few poorly packaged bottles to a friend via UPS. One of the bottles broke. UPS repackaged the remaining two and returned them to me with a letter apologizing for the damage and suggestions on how to better package bottles in the future. I still have the letter.

    I shipped them from work. We have 80 locations in New England and are a large UPS customer. Maybe that's why they acted they way they did.
     
    Immortale25 and jsled like this.
  10. SupremePie

    SupremePie Initiate (0) Sep 30, 2012 Vermont

    Have never had anything but heartache dealing with FEdex up here.. This doesn't surprise me in the least.
     
  11. youbrewidrink

    youbrewidrink Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2009 Vermont

    Someone at FEDEX in Williston is really trying to make a name for himself. Not one of packages that they refused to deliver to me had any breakage or was poorly packaged. When the sender gets notification that the package is being returned I run over to the office to pick it up and the answer is always, we need to return it as it is improper.

    Give me fucking break, scold me and tell me not to do again and give me my damn box. Instead waste peoples money, waste your own time and effort when your return ship the box to the sender. I hope someone from FEDEX reads this post, because I do spend a couple of thousand dollars ayear shipping and they get nothing because of a pissantshippingnazi.

    On the other side of the coin, UPS has been trouble free, never refused to deliver a package(even puts them in my shed without even being asked).
     
    flipdog0 likes this.
  12. keysburg

    keysburg Initiate (0) Mar 28, 2012 Massachusetts

    Had a box get on a truck to my house and was returned to sender at the very last minute. My friend who sent it is in MI and he used his work Fedex account, and got a letter from legal. Kind of his own fault for 1) not packing it very well and having something break and 2) using his work account, but it means I don't get any Bell's :slight_frown:

    So maybe they are cracking down all over and not just VT, or maybe they just felt they couldn't ignore beer leaking all over their truck.
     
  13. BigStein88

    BigStein88 Savant (1,059) Nov 5, 2007 New Hampshire
    Trader

    Personally, I don't get it. Their business is to ship stuff. As long as the box is intact I don't see why they should care at all. They are making their money and doing their job. Not their job to go out of their way to find out what is in a box. If it breaks and leaks, OK, I have no issue with returning to sender or even trashing it, we all know that is the chance we take. But otherwise, ship the damn thing.

    I typically go with UPS as they have been a little cheaper but have done a couple by FedEx without issue. After reading this I may just go UPS all the way. Thanks for sharing all the info.
     
    WassailWilly likes this.
  14. JasonR1975

    JasonR1975 Initiate (0) Jun 11, 2013 Michigan
    Trader

    Have one coming back to me today as Improper Shipment - got all the way from MI to CA and now coming all the way back - FED EX.

    Really curious if there's anything actually wrong with it now - haven't had an issue yet but this box will be re-packaged and will go out UPS fo sho.
     
    ECOBOOSTINST likes this.
  15. ilovermont

    ilovermont Initiate (0) Jul 18, 2012 Vermont

    @chippo33: in what area of VT are you located?

    Bummer to hear about all the negative experiences, however, mine have been the complete opposite. (Probably jinxing myself by saying this)

    99% positive experiences with FedEx. Almost half a dozen instances where either a driver or someone at the Williston office went out of their way to save/repackage/etc an incoming box for me.

    The majority of my UPS experiences have been negative. Multiple lost packages, misdelivered packages, personally witnessing a UPS driver park his truck on the side of the road and toss a box (from inside his truck) 20 feet into my yard and then drive away, etc.

    Happy New Year and safe shipping everyone.
     
  16. yeedog

    yeedog Initiate (0) Jul 6, 2011 New Hampshire

    I have a few issues with FedEx recently as well. I had a box from CA get all the way to me only be flagged as improper shipment and get sent all the way back to CA. I should add the box was sent from a FedEx approved alcohol shipping account with the proper stickers and whatnot on the box. So it's strange that it would have been rejected as I've ordered from Cascade online a bunch of times without any issues and they had the same stickers.

    I also have had boxes I was sending out x-rayed at my local distribution center and returned to me calming beer cannot be shipped. I'm pretty sure my FedEx account is flagged and have since then stopped using FedEx in favor of UPS.
     
  17. chippo33

    chippo33 Pooh-Bah (1,993) Feb 29, 2012 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    IloveVT- The past 2-3 years I have felt the same way about Fedex. This just started the past few months. It's the Williston FedEx Ground Hub and the downtown drop off driver.
     
  18. Brad007

    Brad007 Pooh-Bah (2,821) Mar 28, 2007 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    I always stuck with UPS. I've never trusted Fed-Ex.
     
  19. chippo33

    chippo33 Pooh-Bah (1,993) Feb 29, 2012 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just an update, a few of my friends here in Northern VT have received letters in the mail from a lawyer RE: FedEx saying its illegal to ship and receive alcohol through the mail. These were the friends that have had boxes that were sent to them get opened and returned from the Williston Hub the past month. They weren't threatening, just more informative.
     
  20. evilcatfish

    evilcatfish Pooh-Bah (2,116) May 11, 2012 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Damn, FedEx has always been my go to. If shit keeps up I'll be switching to UPS
     
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