Options
UPS, FedEx delays
messydesk
Posts: 20,294 ✭✭✭✭✭
I went to our hosts site just now to check on my order that has been in QA for about 5 weeks, only to see this notice:
"Due to severe weather, FedEx and UPS have requested that outbound shipments be temporarily halted."
Sure enough, FedEx has updated their website today saying there are substantial interruptions at their Memphis hub, and UPS posted something similar yesterday. Apologies if this is old news.
John
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
0
Comments
Was supposed to receive an iPad today via FedEx, shipped from Arkansas. It’s still 1200 miles away.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Basically nothing is moving at their hub in Memphis at the moment. Last I heard it's expected to start back up this weekend, but even then there will be a big backlog to work through.
Best to sit on the sidelines until Spring then start buying and selling again. All shipping services are extremely backed up. I am still buying but would not be a seller in this mess.
Most people buy online now that is massive amounts of people compared to one year ago. I doubt it will change they will have to hire more hands.
I received two notices of shipment (non-coins) delays due to the weather conditions. Cheers, RickO
That explains the mint fulfullment delay. I am glad they no longer ship smartpost (FEDEX), but I've had shipments arrive at USPS Memphis and sit for 10 days. They likely told mint fullfillment to stop /hold shipments (2021 W ASE's).
(l8-)>>
Everything I am tracking, inbound and outbound, is running late. This includes UPS and USPS.
If you can get a guaranteed time on a usps overnight sometimes that is the way to go; at least you will get your money back and since usps express rides on FedEx planes from what I have heard, there may be an advantage over FedEx if they are not guarantying times. It all depends on the corridor and hub; some are as they were before the pandemic, others are completely unreliable.
I recently had registered mail sent from Loveland, CO to Washington, DC (thanks MM), go from Denver to Dulles in one day, then sit for 3 days. I called and demanded that they send it to the distribution hub. Then it sat at The hub for a week. I went and "took delivery over-counter". I was told that some large facilities are "refusing" inbound containers because they have no space to stage them ... And the Post Master General announced an upcoming rate increase.
(l8-)>>
The rate increase may shift demand, which may in turn partially alleviate the volume challenges.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Doubtful... you may see FedEx and UPS creep up a few cents in directly competitive products so as to keep the same relative spread.
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
For those who haven't heard, the USPS has suspended guarantees on express as well as refunds into March. My local postmaster used the term "banning" for not offering refunds now. They must have had too many claims; they are blaming the airlines.
I can confirm this...I was at my local PO yesterday checking on a delayed shipment and I overheard one clerk tell another the Express guarantee “ban” had been extended to March 2nd.
This is an excellent and informative thread! Really helpful. Kind of like Dragnet, just the facts.
I too am no doubt waiting longer than usual for my silver proofs.
Of 10 FedEx packages sent/received in the last 19 days, only one delayed. It was delayed one day due to snow.
Had one incoming USPS package, and it was delayed by a week.
Why go to work if the government will pay you to stay home ?
Is it getting worse for anyone, or did I just hit a streak of bad luck? I have two inbounds and one outbound that shipped as long as a week ago, and all have got hung up at their respective origin facilities with no sign of movement. May have picked a bad time to send my first PCGS submission on a cross-country adventure... (this is USPS)
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
I'm told by someone involved with the trucking industry that certain USPS distribution centers, including Cleveland, are having a hard time getting outbound trucks to show up there because the unions are slowing down their work, keeping trucks waiting for hours. If your package goes through such a hub, you'll get delayed.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
My local post office person stated that the new hire help can’t handle the work and people are quitting left and right. And with the health crisis the volume has dramatically increased. Thus, it has caused massive delays in shipping and employee dissatisfaction. If a person wants reliable , secure( some will disagree) and on time delivery ( dependent on weather ) I would only use UPS or FedEx. I purchased a coin last week from Great Collections and had it the next day (UPS). I will add that I have not had any problems with shipping or receiving from the USPS, possibly due to my location in the Midwest.
I figured you would have replied with...”gutter metal, lots of gutter metal”.