Remembering why I don't order livestock online

rachelcb80 · 07/26/2007, 09:46 AM

This morning the FedEx guys calls me saying, "Where the heck is your house? I'm on 540-2 and I don't see no 900's." I asked him if he passed this or that and about how far he had gone as my house is only 1/2 mile or so from the beginning of the road. "Oh I've gone way more than 1/2 mile" he says. Turns out he wasn't even on my road. I get him turned around and headed this way.

When he gets here he's carrying my box by the tape on the side. This is what one of my items looked like when I opened the box;

I'm pretty sure the pump itself is okay. It's amazing how some people can keep a job.

bhdmc · 07/26/2007, 10:02 AM

Sorry to here about your mail order delivery. What vendor did you use? Give them a call. I only purchase from the vendors listed here on Reef Central. Never had any problems.

burton14e7 · 07/26/2007, 10:03 AM

That might have been the guys who processed the boxes and "threw" them into the truck. Not necessarily the driver who clearly needs GPS. http://www.google.com/m/products to get google maps on your windows based cell phone....

HowardW · 07/26/2007, 10:05 AM

Unfortunately some FedEx and UPS guys are very careless with peoples packages. I can't even say how many 48" T5 bulbs those guys have broken, the long boxes come with huge gashes in them and all beat up, even though they clearly say "FRAGILE GLASS" on the boxes........apparently they just dont care

rachelcb80 · 07/26/2007, 10:56 AM

I'm sure the driver wasn't responsible for the beat up package. That's probably several peoples fault along the way. Nothing else was fragile or to breakable in the box so I wasn't that concerned with it. I'm just always amazed at how careless so many delivery companies are with packages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tN94ePhsd4

tkeracer619 · 07/26/2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rachelcb80
I'm sure the driver wasn't responsible for the beat up package.

I once new a DHL worker who said they used to put the boxes on the ground and run them over before delivering them just to get a kick out of the customer reacton. I wouldn't be too sure about that guy not trashing the box.....

FWIW most UPS people can probably read, stickering up something with fragile 20 times only makes them angry for some reason....

tedmc2 · 07/26/2007, 11:39 AM

Nonsense. UPS and Fed-Ex delivery are two of the most stressful jobs out there. These guys drive around all day, in all kinds of weather, delivering stuff. I sincerely doubt they are destroying packages on purpose. If they were, they would not be working very long.

thecoralreefer · 07/26/2007, 11:52 AM

You should not hold the vendor resposible for the actions of the delivery service. You can put in a claim if you have damage.
Be persistant and they will eventually pay up. I have seen first hand how the drivers and handlers treat our products. One friend
that works there say the do do it on purpose just out of spite.
And if it is labled fragile they do it more so. it is like an invitation to them.
We should get Chris Hansen or someone from Dateline to do a story on this. You know Hidden cameras

darkcirca · 07/26/2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tedmc2
Nonsense. UPS and Fed-Ex delivery are two of the most stressful jobs out there. These guys drive around all day, in all kinds of weather, delivering stuff. I sincerely doubt they are destroying packages on purpose. If they were, they would not be working very long.

The warehouse people do. I've spoke with multiple people that used to work at the warehouse and hold the same stories over and over about destroying packages and dropping things that say fragile. These are the people that have to load the truck and so on.

I'm not a fan of UPS anymore. Our driver is awesome, but the warehouse is horrible, and they lie to you. I ordered 60lbs of live sand from premiumaquatics in Jan. UPS destroyed the box and the items inside. I called to see what was up (seeing how it said item was undeliverable) and they said that it was leaking and they threw it in the trash. Well a day later it was on its way back to the sender. Little did they know they just destroyed $80 worth of stuff. I was going to pick it up from the warehouse as I didn't really care, but they don't want to deal with people at all. Heck, we ordered another heavy large item and they told us to come pick it up, yet we paid $80 for shipping. Yea that ****ed me off. At least FedEx's packages here come in one piece. The lady that brought my fish held the box all nicely and handed it slowly, guess the "live fish" on it made her be nice.

Meh. mailing things suck, and it's a pain in the butt when you realize how bad places really treat things.

jnc914 · 07/26/2007, 12:07 PM

I don't know if I would label a delivery person's job as one of the most stressful. At the same time I highly doubt these workers are deliberately damaging boxes. I was told by a friend that works for Fed-ex that if there is not a designated fragile sticker, it is fair game; meaning they don't use the most delicate procedures in sorting these packages, you do the math. I have had my issues with the big two, DHL seems to be more reliable.

darkcirca · 07/26/2007, 12:15 PM

DHL is a pain in the butt to deal with when it comes to setting up package pickup. They don't have a decent place to drop off here. They told me to leave my package under the table by the door, which is a high risk to be stolen. I was returning an item to Dell and I couldn't risk having it stolen, as then I'd be charged, since DHL doesn't take any responsibility. I only deal with UPS and FedEx as I can actually drop off a package and have better pickup times.
Drives don't damage packages, not the ones I've dealt with, its the kids in the warehouse that are a bunch of idiots and realize that all these people are getting things better than they will ever have.

areze · 07/26/2007, 12:30 PM

I dont blame the shipper at all, they have a job to do, and while it would be nice if they were a bit more careful, owell.

it would make way more sense for the shipper to package it better so this cant happen. Ive had a few boxes come in mangled, but the contents are always perfectly fine.

MrSpiffy · 07/26/2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rachelcb80
I'm sure the driver wasn't responsible for the beat up package. That's probably several peoples fault along the way. Nothing else was fragile or to breakable in the box so I wasn't that concerned with it. I'm just always amazed at how careless so many delivery companies are with packages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tN94ePhsd4

LOL!!

That video is priceless! I love it!

tkeracer619 · 07/26/2007, 12:46 PM

UPS did that to some car parts of mine (that were insured) a few years back. Cost them $2500. I bet someone got in trouble..... luckily that was on the way to the race shop and could have been repaired or... they would have been out about twice as much +labor..... if i could only find the insurance pics.....

Edit: cant find them but they would have looked something similar to this...

"So how many times did you guys drop the 100lb fragile box?" ...........reply "about 53"

goldmaniac · 07/26/2007, 01:56 PM

right out of school, i took a job with RPS, which became FedEx Ground.

The drivers try to be careful, we were owner/operators and made money on every delivery, but the gorillas who loaded the trucks from Midnight-0600 were ther problem. but as a driver, i wouldn't deliver any damaged packages.

lots of damages, but people usually just didn't get the package, rather than get a damaged package.

G.

JJ21 · 07/26/2007, 02:49 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r5gZnx4y0c

hehe, sorry it's in german, but this is what goes on daily in UPS and FedEx warehouses everywhere. It starts out a little slow at first, but just bear with me

trigger111 · 07/26/2007, 02:52 PM

I work at UPS and have a pretty good idea where most of the damages occur. Delivery drivers very seldom damage a box because they only have physical contact with the box for a few seconds when they run it up to the door. Loaders also seldom damage a box. I loaded trucks for 2 years and supervised loaders for another two. I only saw one person purposely damage a box and they were fired. The damages occur on conveyor belts, chutes and slides. I don't know how many times I have seen a box come down a slide only to hear it crack, shatter, or see whatever come spilling out of the box. Most of the damages which occur could have been avoided with proper packing, but most fail to associate that with why their item was broken.

snapper1 · 07/26/2007, 03:53 PM

Online orders you never known what you will get.

SPARTAN VI · 07/26/2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tedmc2
Nonsense. UPS and Fed-Ex delivery are two of the most stressful jobs out there. These guys drive around all day, in all kinds of weather, delivering stuff. I sincerely doubt they are destroying packages on purpose. If they were, they would not be working very long.

Erm, a coworker of mine used to work for a FedEx. He wasn't a delivery man, rather he just worked on the conveyor belts sorting packages. He was proud to share his experiences smashing, tossing, and kicking boxes that had the fragile stickers on them.

Too bad you can't really trust any of them. I'm never waiting in line at a USPS again only to talk to a grumpy old lady.

Matt Rise · 07/26/2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by trigger111
I work at UPS and have a pretty good idea where most of the damages occur. Delivery drivers very seldom damage a box because they only have physical contact with the box for a few seconds when they run it up to the door. Loaders also seldom damage a box. I loaded trucks for 2 years and supervised loaders for another two. I only saw one person purposely damage a box and they were fired. The damages occur on conveyor belts, chutes and slides. I don't know how many times I have seen a box come down a slide only to hear it crack, shatter, or see whatever come spilling out of the box. Most of the damages which occur could have been avoided with proper packing, but most fail to associate that with why their item was broken.

Exactly. Thank you for the informative, intelligent response. When I deliver a package that looks a little crushed etc, I ALWAYS ask the customer to check for damage before I leave. I absolutely NEVER drop and run if a package looks damaged. You need to remember that the UPS guy doesn't load his truck, it's already loaded when we arrive. Most of the time when I grab a package and start walking up to the house it's the first time I've seen that package all day.

I find it strange that some people think we have such leisure time as to single out packages and smash them up. 4 days out of 5 I barely have time to take my unpaid lunch.

I would also like to point out that most damage comes from poor shipping and packing methods. Very little tape, or zero packing material inside.

unda_da_see · 08/01/2007, 08:59 AM

why do think foster/smith uses fed-ex? non union. i know a UPS dope who got drunk, ran his car through the UPS truck wash, almost hit a supervisor, drove into the hub telling the mechanic to do an oil change on his car and all he got was some "counseling". you just can't get fired from union jobs no matter how much of an idiot you are, kinda like congress.

Matt Rise · 08/01/2007, 06:04 PM

Quote:

[i] you just can't get fired from union jobs no matter how much of an idiot you are [/B]

Wanna place a wager on that?

down and outman · 08/01/2007, 06:16 PM

When I order livestock, I ask them to hold it at the fed ex depot and I pick it up. I don't want my fish to sit in a hot truck all day. Other than that, have had no problem with any online shipping.

reef2 · 08/01/2007, 06:17 PM

in the union u just about have to kill someone to get fired.
if these guys at the wharehouse hate their job so much as to crush packages why not just get another job?

BryanM · 08/01/2007, 07:17 PM

I have made many orders from Foster and Smith. Dry goods and multiple live orders. Delivered by fed ex. Only one time i had a damaged box of live rock. It looked like it had been dropped from a second story window onto concrete. Foster and Smith didnt even hesitate. I had another 45lbs in the mail the next day. Ive ordered many corals, snails, shrimp, etc. from them and have never lost a one.

07/26/2007, 09:46 AM	#1
rachelcb80 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Jackson, MS Posts: 468	Remembering why I don't order livestock online This morning the FedEx guys calls me saying, "Where the heck is your house? I'm on 540-2 and I don't see no 900's." I asked him if he passed this or that and about how far he had gone as my house is only 1/2 mile or so from the beginning of the road. "Oh I've gone way more than 1/2 mile" he says. Turns out he wasn't even on my road. I get him turned around and headed this way. When he gets here he's carrying my box by the tape on the side. This is what one of my items looked like when I opened the box; I'm pretty sure the pump itself is okay. It's amazing how some people can keep a job.

07/26/2007, 10:03 AM	#3
burton14e7 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Keller, Tx Posts: 2,009	That might have been the guys who processed the boxes and "threw" them into the truck. Not necessarily the driver who clearly needs GPS. http://www.google.com/m/products to get google maps on your windows based cell phone.... __________________ Go Lakers! Current Tank Info: Currently awaiting relapse.

07/26/2007, 10:05 AM	#4
HowardW Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 1,763	Unfortunately some FedEx and UPS guys are very careless with peoples packages. I can't even say how many 48" T5 bulbs those guys have broken, the long boxes come with huge gashes in them and all beat up, even though they clearly say "FRAGILE GLASS" on the boxes........apparently they just dont care __________________ Florida live rock addict

07/26/2007, 11:39 AM	#7
tedmc2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 384	Nonsense. UPS and Fed-Ex delivery are two of the most stressful jobs out there. These guys drive around all day, in all kinds of weather, delivering stuff. I sincerely doubt they are destroying packages on purpose. If they were, they would not be working very long. __________________ In a world gone mad, only a lunatic’s truly insane - Homer Simpson Current Tank Info: 18" cube, 12" cube, ADA MINI-S

07/26/2007, 11:52 AM	#8
thecoralreefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: west palm beach.fl Posts: 440	You should not hold the vendor resposible for the actions of the delivery service. You can put in a claim if you have damage. Be persistant and they will eventually pay up. I have seen first hand how the drivers and handlers treat our products. One friend that works there say the do do it on purpose just out of spite. And if it is labled fragile they do it more so. it is like an invitation to them. We should get Chris Hansen or someone from Dateline to do a story on this. You know Hidden cameras __________________ If it can be done I will try. If you say it can't I try harder. Current Tank Info: 29 bioreef

07/26/2007, 10:02 AM	#2
bhdmc Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New York Posts: 956	Sorry to here about your mail order delivery. What vendor did you use? Give them a call. I only purchase from the vendors listed here on Reef Central. Never had any problems.

07/26/2007, 10:56 AM	#5
rachelcb80 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Jackson, MS Posts: 468	I'm sure the driver wasn't responsible for the beat up package. That's probably several peoples fault along the way. Nothing else was fragile or to breakable in the box so I wasn't that concerned with it. I'm just always amazed at how careless so many delivery companies are with packages. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tN94ePhsd4

07/26/2007, 12:07 PM	#10
jnc914 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,008	I don't know if I would label a delivery person's job as one of the most stressful. At the same time I highly doubt these workers are deliberately damaging boxes. I was told by a friend that works for Fed-ex that if there is not a designated fragile sticker, it is fair game; meaning they don't use the most delicate procedures in sorting these packages, you do the math. I have had my issues with the big two, DHL seems to be more reliable. __________________ "Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion." -Jack Kerouac 13 years strictly salty Current Tank Info: 180 gallon FOWLR Angel dedicated tank

07/26/2007, 12:15 PM	#11
darkcirca Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Centreville, VA Posts: 491	DHL is a pain in the butt to deal with when it comes to setting up package pickup. They don't have a decent place to drop off here. They told me to leave my package under the table by the door, which is a high risk to be stolen. I was returning an item to Dell and I couldn't risk having it stolen, as then I'd be charged, since DHL doesn't take any responsibility. I only deal with UPS and FedEx as I can actually drop off a package and have better pickup times. Drives don't damage packages, not the ones I've dealt with, its the kids in the warehouse that are a bunch of idiots and realize that all these people are getting things better than they will ever have.

07/26/2007, 12:30 PM	#12
areze Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,048	I dont blame the shipper at all, they have a job to do, and while it would be nice if they were a bit more careful, owell. it would make way more sense for the shipper to package it better so this cant happen. Ive had a few boxes come in mangled, but the contents are always perfectly fine. __________________ current tanks:240g of wallet draining capacity.

07/26/2007, 12:46 PM	#14
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	UPS did that to some car parts of mine (that were insured) a few years back. Cost them $2500. I bet someone got in trouble..... luckily that was on the way to the race shop and could have been repaired or... they would have been out about twice as much +labor..... if i could only find the insurance pics..... Edit: cant find them but they would have looked something similar to this... "So how many times did you guys drop the 100lb fragile box?" ...........reply "about 53" __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. Last edited by tkeracer619; 07/26/2007 at 01:16 PM.

07/26/2007, 01:56 PM	#15
goldmaniac Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Yardley, PA Posts: 1,567	right out of school, i took a job with RPS, which became FedEx Ground. The drivers try to be careful, we were owner/operators and made money on every delivery, but the gorillas who loaded the trucks from Midnight-0600 were ther problem. but as a driver, i wouldn't deliver any damaged packages. lots of damages, but people usually just didn't get the package, rather than get a damaged package. G.

07/26/2007, 02:49 PM	#16
JJ21 Registered Member. Join Date: May 2007 Location: Blue Bell, PA Posts: 533	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r5gZnx4y0c hehe, sorry it's in german, but this is what goes on daily in UPS and FedEx warehouses everywhere. It starts out a little slow at first, but just bear with me

07/26/2007, 02:52 PM	#17
trigger111 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: IA Posts: 105	I work at UPS and have a pretty good idea where most of the damages occur. Delivery drivers very seldom damage a box because they only have physical contact with the box for a few seconds when they run it up to the door. Loaders also seldom damage a box. I loaded trucks for 2 years and supervised loaders for another two. I only saw one person purposely damage a box and they were fired. The damages occur on conveyor belts, chutes and slides. I don't know how many times I have seen a box come down a slide only to hear it crack, shatter, or see whatever come spilling out of the box. Most of the damages which occur could have been avoided with proper packing, but most fail to associate that with why their item was broken.

07/26/2007, 03:53 PM	#18
snapper1 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sanford FL Posts: 282	Online orders you never known what you will get.

08/01/2007, 08:59 AM	#21
unda_da_see Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: St. Petersburg Posts: 516	why do think foster/smith uses fed-ex? non union. i know a UPS dope who got drunk, ran his car through the UPS truck wash, almost hit a supervisor, drove into the hub telling the mechanic to do an oil change on his car and all he got was some "counseling". you just can't get fired from union jobs no matter how much of an idiot you are, kinda like congress.

08/01/2007, 06:16 PM	#23
down and outman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: LaGrange GA Posts: 480	When I order livestock, I ask them to hold it at the fed ex depot and I pick it up. I don't want my fish to sit in a hot truck all day. Other than that, have had no problem with any online shipping. __________________ " There you go, Lad. Keep as cool as you can. Face piles of trials with smiles..." Moody Blues (Thanks Homegrown for keeping me straight!) Current Tank Info: 90Gal AGA, 25 g sump, Mag 7, Koralia 4's

08/01/2007, 06:17 PM	#24
reef2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 639	in the union u just about have to kill someone to get fired. if these guys at the wharehouse hate their job so much as to crush packages why not just get another job?

08/01/2007, 07:17 PM	#25
BryanM Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Shelbyville Il Posts: 267	I have made many orders from Foster and Smith. Dry goods and multiple live orders. Delivered by fed ex. Only one time i had a damaged box of live rock. It looked like it had been dropped from a second story window onto concrete. Foster and Smith didnt even hesitate. I had another 45lbs in the mail the next day. Ive ordered many corals, snails, shrimp, etc. from them and have never lost a one.