Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck Moreland
I've used both, extensively.
Fedex always hits you with a surcharge that shows up on the invoice, often significant. Here is the part that gets really shady:
They often put surcharges on subsequent invoices. In other words you get billed for the shipment on invoice A, then a couple weeks later an upcharge appears on invoice B. The upcharge might look small, say $7, so it doesn't flag your attention. But add it back to the original charge and you might be getting hosed.
I've actually had them hit me with charges spread over 3 (yes 3!) invoices for the same waybill number. This is usually for oversize packages, but the correct package dimensions and weight were always entered at the time of shipment. I'm sure big companies pay these charges without question, because the accounting dept issuing the check has no idea about the box size or package contained.
It smells like a scam to me, it makes it very challenging to figure out what you actually got charged for a package. Each of several small charges slides through without raising your attention.
There is no excuse for anything other than putting all charges for a given package on 1 invoice. Period.
They also frequently mis-bill for dimensional weight - small boxes get reported as oversize packages. They explain that two boxes must have been scanned together on their conveyor. Fine excuse but it happens way to frequently, and if you don't catch it, you get hosed.
Basically you need to carefully inspect every charge on every invoice, or you are going to get hosed. This is painfull and time consuming.
Final gripe - they don't send credit memos or any other documentation advising you have a refund or credit to your account. How the hell are you supposed to keep your books straight? Failing to provide the customer a document advising of a credit is the same as not issuing a credit. They don't send statements, so you never know your running balance. They just keep sending new invoices, and you keep paying, unaware that you are carrying a credit balance.
These three practices smell of scam to me. While perhaps not illegal, they appear to be crafted to make it difficult for you the customer to detect billing errors (always in fedex favor), overcharges, and recognition of account credits.
WTF!
My primary gripe with UPS is they don't pay out on damage claims. Their standard answer on damaged shipments - "not packed adequately". I've had them give this reply without even inspecting the product and packaging.
|
Chuck, you've EXACTLY stated what I've been feeling, and seeing on our CC billing, for some time. I just wrote to my rep and said that we are no longer shipping FedEx for anything, including all our overseas stuff. We'll see what she says in the morning. I don't think she'll be down on her knees, but I feel better already.
thanks for confirming what I've been feeling and seeing all along.