I got home and FedEx had left 3 boxes of Reef Crystals in my yard. Not on the covered porch where the delivery label had indicated. Looks like they half tried to wrap it in plastic. Boy was I ticked! I called FedEx to complain. The smart a$$ in customer service never said sorry only got a snappy reply. "You have to call Drs. Foster & Smith, they handle their own claims." Way to go Fed Ex Great Customer Service.

I called Drs. Foster & Smith was was immediately given an apology. The lady lady at customer service couldn't believe that a box clearly marked as salt would be left out in the rain. I thanked her for being understanding and told her that it was really FedEx that I was upset with but that I had been told to call Drs. Foster & Smith to file a claim. She again apologized and asked if she could put me on hold for a minute. When she came back to the line she said that they would be sending me out 3 more boxes and they would handle FedEx!!! I asked her if I needed to move the soggy boxes inside or leave them on my porch for FedEx to pick up. She said that I could keep the 3 boxes that were delivered today. Wow I certainly wasn't expecting that!!! I just mainly wanted to make sure that FedEx knew their service today was lacking!

:thumbs:Thumbs up for Drs. Foster & Smith customer service!!:thumbs:

That is pretty cool! Not the fed-ex part.....

That's pretty good considering the bags inside the boxes are likely just fine ;)

Jenn

+1! I've always had great service from DFS when the shipper screws up. I kinda feel bad but I guess they know what they're doing because I keep ordering. Had a problem with a fixture and they sent me another the same day I called with a pre-paid return label and told me to return the other when I was ready.


This varies greatly from another company I dealt with recently that insisted I pay for the replacement part up front, AND cover shipping, and then refunded the price of the part only, I was still out for s/h.

Correct me if i'm wrong but I though there were 4 individual bags inside the box?

Any ways it is good to hear there are some place left with good customer service!

The boxes have four 50 gallon plastic sealed bags inside them, so you got twice as much as you paid for. Rain won't hurt the salt itself, just the box it came in. What a deal.;)
Dave

Now just find a place to neatly store 50g bags of salt :)

I know the salt is fine but the boxes are falling apart. As I said I wasn't really expecting anything because I knew the salt would be fine. It's just easier to stack boxes in the fish room. I just wanted FedEx to know how disappointed I was with their service. I was just expecting DFS to relay the message.

It will go to good use since we use a bag a week for water changes!

If I wasn't so far away I could give you some empty RC boxes... we use a couple a week and I keep the boxes for people buying lots of stuff, so I always have a few around.

Try the supermarket - they might have some boxes that will fit - for free.

Jenn

DFS is a great company. I have always receivedd great service from them.

A couple of years ago, I ordered a pallet of salt from them. I contacted them about pallet pricing & they quoted me retail plus $1200 freight. I ordered online & received the order via ltl frieght for only $17.99 shipping. I still haven't decided if that's great or really stupid!

DFS is a great company. I have always receivedd great service from them.

A couple of years ago, I ordered a pallet of salt from them. I contacted them about pallet pricing & they quoted me retail plus $1200 freight. I ordered online & received the order via ltl frieght for only $17.99 shipping. I still haven't decided if that's great or really stupid!


Well, that wasn't great pricing. Definately a mistake. Bet someone lost their job over that one!

via ltl frieght for only $17.99 shipping.

After my "Transportation Management of Product Flows" class this semester, I understand what that means. Yeah, you got a good deal :eek::eek::eek:

Raj, how much do you have left of that pallet?? If any?

i would check the bags in the wet boxs to see if there was any damage.
if not, call DFS and let them know since there was no damage and they can recall the order they are about to ship to you.
would be the right thing to do.

raj, how much do you have left of that pallet?? If any?


go dawgs!

go dawgs!

Good luck at the SEC championship! Oh wait wrong team.
Good luck at your BCS bowl! Oh wait wrong team.
And hey what's your record??

So we did not beat U[sic]GA! We're 10-2 going to the ACC CHAMPIONSHIP! Then the orange bowl baby!! We'll see ya next. We got bigger things to worry about!

Back to my original question.

Never had a problem with FedEx... except in this case where it's someone else who needs to file the claim... Maybe they've decided to lower the KITN factor?

Good luck at the SEC championship! Oh wait wrong team.
Good luck at your BCS bowl! Oh wait wrong team.
And hey what's your record??

So we did not beat U[sic]GA! We're 10-2 going to the ACC CHAMPIONSHIP! Then the orange bowl baby!! We'll see ya next. We got bigger things to worry about!

Back to my original question.

The team going to the ACC championship game can't even beat an unranked SEC team; worry about that!

Your original question: what's it to you?

FedEx is terrible. UPS hires much higher caliber employees..at least around here they do.

How long did that pallet of salt last? Or did you by it cause you were filling up that monster of a tank you have.

FedEx is terrible. UPS hires much higher caliber employees..at least around here they do.


I'd disagree, I've talked to several of our UPS drivers. They all start out as packers and sorters, then get promoted to drivers after forever and a day. Being a good packer and sorter doesn't mean you're going to be good at being a driver and offer good customer service.... and UPS LTL is the worst company on earth to deal with.

I worked in the courier biz for many years. You can't really determine which drivers/handlers are more careful because everybody is different.

There are some individuals who take great care, there are others that don't give a flying fig. The color of the uniform does not matter.

Jenn

How long did that pallet of salt last? Or did you by it cause you were filling up that monster of a tank you have.

It has lasted a while. I was pretty slack with water changes, so it lasted longer than it should have. This go around I have an automated system, so the water changes will be frequent & regular.

do we not remember the begining of ace ventura pet detective?

Ordered from DFS three times (sand, pumps, etc.) and they are yet to get an order correct. Always great customer to resolve the issue but just shocked out of the three tries and they still couldnt get an order right. Regardless, ill prob still order from them at some point but just noting...

I worked in the courier biz for many years. You can't really determine which drivers/handlers are more careful because everybody is different.

There are some individuals who take great care, there are others that don't give a flying fig. The color of the uniform does not matter.

Jenn


Of late, UPS has had so many cut-backs, it just seems much worse than it used to be. We have UPS come in every day, yet we aren't on any one driver's dedicated route as our whole area is handled by anyone who might have time to copme by that day. Many times recently, they haven't gotten here until 5:30, and we close at 5pm (and aren't paid overtime for waiting).

UPS LTL is the only company I can find that services lower Mississippi (that we have an account with), but everytime I ship with them, I end up having to credit the customer as the full shipment never makes it.

We have a good friend who works as a driver for UPS (~15 years). Right now he's working every day because it's the busy season - but in recent months he's been off as often as he's been on. Not enough work to go around, so he has the option of bumping a junior driver off his route, or going home. Sometimes he bumps, sometimes he doesn't - he has seniority so it is his decision.

Of course right now it's busy season for all carriers - holiday purchases/gifts etc. and they hire extra helpers from now til the end of the year. Once the holidays are over, business drops dramatically.

LTL is a bit different of course. Have you tried Southeastern Freight Lines? They are pretty good IME...

To steer somewhat back on track... I get deliveries via UPS, FedEx, company truck and small independent courier service (Executive at this end, but it goes to another small company at its point of origin and they network with Executive)... never have any real issues, unless the freight isn't packed properly - have had a few broken light bulbs but that was a packing issue. Most shippers who pack light bulbs pack them such that short of running the package over, most abuse won't harm them.

But yeah, any driver leaving cardboard boxes in the rain is just stupid (back to the original post)... the company I used to work for (small independent local company) would have dismissed a driver for that move.

Jenn

BTW... I do have to give kudos to my own regular UPS and FedEx drivers... I live very near to my shop, and on more than one occasion, if a delivery arrived when the shop was closed, the drivers would actually bring it to my house. That impressed me, because when I worked with in that industry, there were some drivers who felt they weren't paid to think. If a package was addressed to "suite 108" and the business was in "suite 110" they wouldn't deliver it, mark it "wrong address" or "unknown" or try to charge the customer for an "extra stop", even though the correct business had a huge sign and was obvious to everyone. Common sense and logic weren't in the job description. Just thought I'd give a bit of credit where it's due :)

Jenn

Ordered from DFS three times (sand, pumps, etc.) and they are yet to get an order correct. Always great customer to resolve the issue but just shocked out of the three tries and they still couldnt get an order right. Regardless, ill prob still order from them at some point but just noting...

For the record,we have never had a problem with DFS,just this time,we had a problem with Fed Ex.The boxes clearly stated to leave them on the back porch like they always do,and they left them in the yard when we got almost 4" of rain.Also, in the past,we have never had any problems with them either.Maybe this was just a fluke and it won't happen again.
We know the salt wasn't damaged,but DFS insisted on sending us new salt anyway.I think it has something to do with there 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back or the fact that we order from them all the time.IDK

I have to say that DFS have great service and I only had 1 issue with their shipping. I ordered something from LA divers den and scheduled shipping for a specific day. When it didn't arrive by mid day I called to see what the hold up was and was told they would have to see. They called me back and told me there was an error in the system and it didn't ship! I was MAD! I was mad because I had to work the next day and I specifically took that day off to receive that fish! I told them that and they said the could hold for an additional week or ship for the next available time. I was able to go in late the next day so I told them I had to be in by 2PM and they not only shipped for arrival by 10am but also refunded me the shipping!!! Def will do more business with them.

As for UPS I love them. More so for the delivery hit we have. He's always polite, on time, and very helpful. Over the years we have become friends and whenever I am receiving a shipment of live fish he asks me to call and let him know. Once its on board I get a call and he takes very good care of the package not just for me but all his destinations. Jack even helps me acclimate sometimes and loves stoping by to see the tank. Very cool guy.

I work for one of the largest volume shippers in the ATL area. We use UPS but that is not our most favorite carrier by far. I am really surprised to hear FedEx gave you a hard time. UPS customer service is by far fails in comparision. Anytime there is a damaged delivery due to carrier fault, the shipper can file a claim and replace your package. If it were UPS the process would not be quite so easy. Don't give up on FedEx yet!

:doh:

Here's my company pitch....The Unted States Postal Service...We Deliver... Large Priority Flat Rate box...any weight , just $13.95

I am really surprised to hear FedEx gave you a hard time. UPS customer service is by far fails in comparision. Anytime there is a damaged delivery due to carrier fault, the shipper can file a claim and replace your package. If it were UPS the process would not be quite so easy. Don't give up on FedEx yet!

:doh:
I guess this depends on were you live. Once I sent 3 250 watt tar ballast to Cali. It was inspected, measured, and weighed here in Columbus and shipped. It fell off the radar half way to Cali and was gone for the better part of a week. When it reappeared it was one third the weight and in a different box. (only one ballast left) I went round and round with Fedex and after a month gave up the fight. Even with the proof in their own database they said nothing happened to the original package.

hey skriz, when you say "retail" what does a pallet of salt get you? is that just like a pallet of boxes filled with the 50g bags and retail price is just whatever that amount of individual boxes would be without any volume discount? or is it undivided in a huge bag at a seperate "retail" price?