F%@#! FedEx Follies

I almost never use this blog to complain about a commercial business or service… there’s too much of that on the interwebs as it is. However this complaint is wrapped up in an apology and a relevant update to readers, so…

A few weeks ago I announced a revised version of my Doctor Who print which added the marvelous Jodie Whittaker to the existing lineup, and offered to replace any of the previously purchased prints via a print “regeneration” program. I went against my better judgement and made this announcement while the print was in production and not once I had it in my hands.

There was some production problems on the print end which delayed the original delivery by a week or so, but the 45 lb, 41″x30″x3″ box was shipped FedEx ground and scheduled to be delivered on 12/11. A delivery was attempted on that day but I was in Florida and our housesitters happened to be away when the attempt was made. In accordance with FedEx policy, a second attempt was supposed to happen the next day.

That never happened, and no one has any idea where the package is. FedEx officially threw up their hands yesterday and just said “sorry”.

I get that it’s the holidays. UPS, USPS and FedEx have several times their usual volume of packages to deliver this time of year. I can understand how a small package can get kicked under a sorting chute or sandwiched between a couple of other packages or accidentally get put on the wrong transfer container enroute and end up in Timbuktu instead of St. Paul. Things happen in the frenzied package delivery world. I worked at UPS sorting deliveries on the night shift back in college. I stood at the end of a sorting chute with a big crayon taped to my finger and caught speeding packages, checked and circled their destination zipcodes, and placed them in the proper outgoing trailer. Mixups happen.

This package was sitting right on my doorstep, inches from my front door last week Wednesday. It was taken away and now no one can tell me where it is? FedEx required me to wait a full week before they’d really do anything about it, despite the fact that a second delivery was never attempted when it was THEIR USUAL PRACTICE to attempt it. Now this 45 lb big box is “lost”. I guess it got kicked under a sorting chute?

So, I have to apologize to all the people who ordered one of these prints as a Christmas gift. You won’t be getting it by the holiday. The printer is doing yet another run of the print and they say it will arrive on Dec 23rd, but of course that’s too late to get it to anyone.

The incompetence of FedEx is really staggering, in particular their total unconcern for solving the issue in a timely enough manner to make a difference. I have had a number of problems with FedEx over the years, enough so I no longer use them for shipping my books or anything else if I can help it. I use the USPS for most stuff and UPS for expedited delivery. FedEx Ground shipping is terrible. Amazon apparently agrees.

So, ironically my limited edition prints featuring characters who travel though time won’t be under any Christmas trees next week because it is late.

I have a bad feeling that these “lost” prints are going to start showing up on eBay soon. If anyone spots that please let me know. I’d love to take FedEx to task legally for that.