UPS, FedEx snags delay Santa's sleigh

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 12/25/2013 | Scott Mayerowitz

[Colonel Kangaroo]

NEW YORK -- Santa's sleigh didn't make it in time for Christmas for some this year due to shipping problems at UPS and FedEx.

The delays were blamed on poor weather earlier this week in parts of the country as well as overloaded systems. The holiday shopping period this year was shorter than usual, and Americans' tendency to wait until the last possible second to shop probably didn't help either.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Maybe the FedEx guy will let their customers into their facilities and let them sort their own packages.

This sort of incompetence is why I'm glad we still have the USPS as an alternative.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Yep. The problem is, is people are ordering the next-day or 2nd-day air shipping right up to Christmas and expecting miracles. They don't take into account the weather or the volume. Too many people are procrastinating and then bitching when they don't get their stuff.

I never go by the website's guarantee delivery dates and if the product is on backorder but will be released right before Christmas and guaranteed to delivery before then, then I'll just wait to buy it in January. Also, I never use rush shipping. Always use Priority Mail.

[smokingfrog]

Bush’s fault?

[montanajoe]

I had a package FedExed from Dallas at 1:00pm Monday and received it last night at 6:00pm it was a couple hours late but I sure as hell wasn't complaining...

[ReaganÜberAlles]

I worked at UPS in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It is ALWAYS like this at Christmas. I don’t know why they are making a big story about this now.

I would work 14-16 hour shifts in the days leading up to Christmas, including up until 9pm Christmas Eve unitl Ijust about dropped. I would always come back with about half the truck still full. Just could not physically do any more.

Made a TON of money those two weeks though. They had a production bonus which amounted to piece work which was fantastic!

Lost 10 pounds too.

[zipper]

HAHAHHAHAHAH

you forgot the sarcasm tag

[dfwgator]

That’s why they tell people if you want it before Christmas, send it at least two weeks before, beyond that, all bets are off.

[ncfool]

Actually you can’t blame them. they deliver 99.5% on time. Weather is not their problem. Waiting until the day before is not a smart thing for folks wanting their gifts to arrive on Christmas day.

[Salamander]

DHL wrecked my Christmas.

A camera ordered *weeks* ago made it to DC and then “disappeared”.

Given the return address on the box, I would imagine somebody made an educated guess and had a really nice Christmas at my expense.

Now they’re jerking me around with telling the seller it’s ‘gone’ so he’ll send a replacement.

DHL’s business is miniscule compared to UPS and FedEx and they don’t have anywhere near the holiday volume so I’d almost bet it was jacked by an employee.

Several months, USPS blew my mind.

I ordered 2 Logitech mice and the package arrived *neatly sliced opened and resealed with tape* with one of the mice gone.

An investigation proved that somebody in the system had to have cut it open, taken the mouse, resealed it and sent it on its way again.

Amazing.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

FedEx along with the USPS and UPS are a mix of efficiency and incompetence, the diligent and those just looking to get a paycheck.

[Salamander]

UPS and FedEx [with whom we have business accounts] have always been exemplary.

Our UPS driver gave his personal cell number so hubby could get stuff early in the day ‘off route’ when he needed parts for a rush bike job.

He always gets a Christmas bonus.

:)

[Swanks]

Son in law order two Iphones, came UPS. Identical packages, but one just happened to be missing the phone. But all else was in place. He proved it was taken somewhere in the system cause of the weight. I.4 Lbs one package, 0.8 Lbs, the other. Good thing they weigh to that level of detail.

[OrioleFan]

In the spirit of Obamacare (Affordable Delivery Act of 2013), UPS and FEDEx have pushed Christmas to December 30th. You will be sent an invoice for the increased rates at a later date when the backend software is written. For now just estimate what you owe and the IRS will adjust with penalties.

[Salamander]

Wow.

I do not understand how someone can take somebody else’s stuff.

You never really know how much that simple item might mean to somebody.

[ReaganÜberAlles]

Yeah, try getting that kind of service with our government run mail service employees.

They’d tell us to stick it and ship our mail to Nome, AK!

[Jack Hydrazine]

I just saw a FedEx guy (actually a girl) about thirty minutes ago out on the streets making deliveries.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

I've had better experiences with privately run UPS and government run USPS than I have with privately run FedEx. Delivery experiences depend more on the quality of the individual than on the organization he works for and FedEx, UPS and the USPS all have their fair share of the good and the bad.

[Spktyr]

USPS is worse at the moment. I am still waiting for some priority mail packages sent early last week.

[spokeshave]

Yeah....me to....I was a driver assistant for 10 days....and lost 10 lbs....still have my souvenir UPS Brown Beanie.

[Empireoftheatom48]

I was lucky I had to order some last minute items one day shipping on Monday all arrived on Tuesday, the carrier was UPS!