Posted on 12/12/2015 9:12:24 AM PST by PROCON
An unexpected surge in online purchases is putting pressure on UPS and FedEx to get packages out on time this holiday season, and that could result in extra costs for retailers.
Retailers like Target broke online-sales records on Thanksgiving Day and the following Monday this year after luring shoppers with discounts.
Broadly, online sales from the long weekend totaled $11 billion this year, according to Adobe Digital Index.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Atlanta, south and central Florida area malls have been - well, not “empty” but a very, very long way from being “filled up”. That was true on Black Friday, Monday, Wednesday, and the past weekend.
It avoids the hassle of driving to a mall, dealing with gaggles of teens, long walks to hunt for what you want.
This would be a good signal for these companies to maybe INVEST in a more robust operation.
Unless they want to leave that open for a new competitor?
I have a package that’s a day late, but it’ll get here in plenty of time, I’m sure.
I’m getting ready to order some hand soaps from Bath and Body Works, and it doesn’t matter how long they take to get here.
One problem with the business insider blog (I call it the bi-blog) is their habitual hyperbole. I would hardly describe getting packages delivered a few days late around Christmastime due to a reasonably successful shopping season as a “disaster.”
But I guess it sells papers (or gets clicks).
Fried fish is not a disaster. :-)
Still trying to figure out how this all adds up to a “holiday disaster”.
Some vendors guarantee delivery by a certain date, like ‘zon Prime.
If Amazon misses a delivery deadline ...they have to endure a penalty. Since they are working a small margin, to begin with,...it is costly to their bottom line.
Traffic, Parking, Crowds, Time...
Lot more options, more items, quick searches online.
Hopefully your company is compensating you appropriately for putting your CDL on the line for them.
That's not what the discussions are saying on browncafe.com
They do this every year.
I’ll look into that. THX for the heads-up !
Snoot ;o)
Wow! You certainly have had some bad weather.
Here in MA we have had delightful weather.(fingers crossed)
.
Yes, we are in NJ too. Hubby is always telling me “it’s one day from X”.
Last year in MD my daughter had some problems with stuff she ordered, but knowing her she may well have ordered at the very last minute.
Paternal Mineral and I have remarked about the lack of any kind of “holiday” crowd at the local WalMart this year. The store is very “decked out”, but there seems to be no more customers than usual. Maybe everyone is going when we’re not there.
I ordered a item from Amazon on Decemember 5th, and was told I would get it by the tenth. Nothing on the tenth, nothing on the eleventh. I got it today via the Postal Service. The “handoff” between Federal Express and the Postal Service was not very fast.
I’ve been noticing UPS and FedEx using rental vans in December for five years or more. Sometimes they slap a magnetic company logo placard on the driver’s door, but not always. Makes sense to take on the expanded fleet only when needed. I guess they hire seasonal delivery drivers, too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.