Tell me your FedEx horror stories

[Rick Lee]

My tenants in my VA condo always pay rent a day or two after the first of the month, which is technically late. I haven't made a big deal about it, but am now getting concerned. Mrs. Tenant responded to my email yesterday that Mr. Tenant had FedEx'ed me a check on Tues. when they belatedly realized they had left for Labor Day weekend and forgotten to mail a check beforehand. Well, I've gotten nothing from FedEx. Mrs. Tenant told me by phone today that she had looked it up by tracking #, it was listed as delivered and so she thought all was well. She was not in front of her computer when we spoke, so she said she'd get me the tracking # later. I called FedEx and they are able to track shipments by address withough a tracking #. They had nothing in process for me. I just left a vm for Mrs. Tenant telling her she needs to stop payment on that check and go deposit a new one in my bank tomorrow morning, which is five miles from them.

I have a hard time thinking my tenants are lying, as they have super credit scores, are a very clean-cut, nice couple and have been at their good jobs for a long time. Does FedEx really lose track of stuff like this? I'd think if my tenants were lying, they'd not use FedEx as an excuse, since they'd know I'd immediately ask for a tracking #. Am I getting played here?

[red-beard]

No

Break stuff? Yes

Lose Stuff? Yes

Deliver late? Yes

Not be able to track? No

[gassy]

I had a client send me a fed ex envelope that never came the next day. No record of it at Fed Ex. It showed up 4 months later--half torn open with tread marks all over it.

[Rick Lee]

I'm getting concerned here. If they're trying to stall for time, that's one thing. But why say that they FedEx'ed it overnight when they know that story can't buy them more than 2-3 days? I'd be fine if they just said they needed a few more days. Now I'm wondering if they're lying to me or FedEx dropped the ball and how long to wait before I start getting more insistent. I'm already peeved that she hasn't called me back tonight to confirm that she'll depsit a new check at my bank tomorrow. I know, if I were in this situation, I'd drop what I was doing and get it straightened out before doing anything else that day.

[javadog]

Sounds like a big fat lie to me. I FEDEX crap all the time, with no issues. If you've ever received a FEDEX package at your address, you're in their system. The wife sent off a package today and wasn't sure of the delivery address. No problem, they knew what it was. I send stuff to an architect in Chicago all the time and can get confirmation that a package got delivered, before their mail guy can get on the elevator and carry it upstairs. Their tracking is pretty real time.

Works for me.

JR

[onlycafe]

back in 1984 i had an orange 914. i was on my way to work in the city, waiting in the right lane on east 91st st. to turn right onto madison avenue. a fed ex truck comes up alongside my port side in the left lane, and as the light changes makes a right turn over my left fender forcing me into the curb. a very unpleasant time all around.
and that is why to this day i always try to never use fed ex.

[DasBoot]

Did they give YOU the FedEx tracking # so you can view the package history directly? That should clear things up, no?

[Don Plumley]

There's this guy on an island for years. He'll bring your package with the check in it...



Wilson!

[Rick Lee]

Just sent another very firm email and will call again first thing in the morning. I know plenty of landlords let rent get backed up for quite a while, as eviction is no picnic. At what point do I decide they're totally lying to me and may never pay again? I just don't get the point of lying about it. They can't think I'm gonna let this slide indefinitely, at least not after my last email.

[BeyGon]

We ship $250k a year with FedEx and I have never had that problem with them. UPS yes, they told me for two days something was on time and it was already two days late. Never got there.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Just sent another very firm email and will call again first thing in the morning. I know plenty of landlords let rent get backed up for quite a while, as eviction is no picnic. At what point do I decide they're totally lying to me and may never pay again? I just don't get the point of lying about it. They can't think I'm gonna let this slide indefinitely, at least not after my last email.

I concur that it sounds like a fairy tale. You should really stand firm, and start the eviction process shortly after a missed payment. Leave the 30 day grace period to the actual mortgage companies. Otherwise, you will become a doormat, and your tenant will do it again, guaranteed.

That is why I advocate steep late-payment penalties for landlords. If there are none, or they are small, your tenant will invariably get in the habit of paying late. If they are good tenants, getting stung once by a steep late payment will usually condition them to never be late again. Or, they will end up not paying it, in which case it exposes them as deadbeats, or just folks who really can't afford to rent in that price range.

If it turns out to be an honest mistake, maybe insist on electronic bill pay/direct deposit for future payments? You might even set up a dedicated account at THEIR bank, just to make it easier to receive rent payment deposits each month. Depending on the bank, they may even be able to go online and quickly transfer funds. No "check's in the mail" excuses or delays.

[Rick Lee]

Well, the current late payment penalty is $50 and it's in the lease. I don't think I can change it. However, if this thing works out, there will be late penalties going forward for any kind of lateness. I don't know if my tenants know how much they have me over a barrell. I'm pretty far away and I need to know what's really going on before starting eviction actions. And then I'd still be stuck, worrying about finding new tenants from cross country, not being there to show the place and just generally screwed, having to cough up $1600 a month until someone else does it for me.

[Eric Coffey]

Yeah, sounds like you might need to tread lightly if you are concerned about finding another tenant, or extended vacancy. Just remember, if they tried to pull that crap at an apartment complex of the same caliber, they would probably have a notice on their door within 3-5 days. At the very least, you might "start the clock" and send them a certified letter, warning of the possibility of eviction.

For absentee landlords, it's usually worth looking into local property management as well. Not only will they handle rent/debt collection, maintenance issues, etc. but it keeps you at an "arm's length" from the tenants. In other words, the property managment co. can be the "bad guy" for you. Good luck, and hope you get it resolved quickly!

[Rick Lee]

My nextdoor neighbor in Fairfax is a landlord with several properties and was very helpful with everything. Another neighbor/bike/gun buddy offered to be the prop. mgr., but wanted to be paid quarterly in advance, I forget how much, but it was around 5%. I didn't think it would be necessary. Now I'm wondering. The nextdoor neighbor ain't gonna muscle them just because he said he'd help out. But the other neighbor ain't gonna lift a finger unless we make a deal for an entire year. And even then, there's no guarantee that he can fix the problems for me. He'd just be able to tell me better what's actually going on there.

[Normy]

Well, I work for Fedex.

-first of all, I want to appologize if we haven't gotten your package to you in time. Our overnight service is there before 10 AM or it is FREE. I hope you weren't charged.

They put a GIGANTIC amount of pressure on us to get the airplane moved. I'm standing in an ice storm in Memphis at 3 am... pointing to something to a mechanic. Within 30 seconds, a decision is made and I am suddenly packed into the maintenance truck and I'm being driven to another airplane. I do my 27 minute preflight over again, and begin preparing for the flight. The captain and first officer arrive at the new plane with paperwork for the old [sick] airplane; no problem- the new paperwork is sitting on the captain's seat already! This place has its' ACT TOGETHER!

-You've got to realize that we move millions of packages every night. Some mistakes will be made, though that isn't an excuse.

I have forwarded a link to this particular thread to Orlando Rosado, the System Chief Pilot of Fedex. He will read your complaint. I take my job, and my great income seriously, and so does he!

N!

[Rick Lee]

I'd be overjoyed if FedEx were really the problem here, as that would mean my tenants have not lied and have sent payment. But I fear FedEx is nothing more than their stalling excuse and has nothing to do with this in reality.

[RANDY P]

It seems to be reigonal- around Seattle I've had decent luck with FedEX overnight.

FedEX ground "Home Delivery"is absolutely garbage. The few times I've had the misfortune of counting on them they have

1) claim my address is bad so I either get the item a day late (funny since the Nigerians who deliver my Pizzas always find the place) or just on the doorstep even though the signature is required.

2) they left my $1K Wood blind I had ordered and shipped to the house ON MY LAWN IN THE RAIN. Signature required.

They suck ass around here. UPS rocks.

rjp

[Britwrench]

Don't forget that there is the real Fedex and then Fedex Ground, which is franchise operation.
The quality does tend to be different.

[vonsmog]

I just had my second problem with Fedex this year! Shipped some Unimog parts in a wooden crate which weighs 52lbs. And they loose it! (here is the tracking # 458548710000994) As you can see it made it as far as MISSISSAUGA, ON in Canada. Should still be there someplace right! Well I start the claim process to get the $750 back and they delay wanting the part #s and maker of the parts. (I already gave them the info and photos of the parts) So now a few days ago my customer emails that the parts just showed up after 7 weeks! But if you check the tracking #, they have no record of it being delivered! If I was dishonest I could still file my claim!(I wouldn't) I just wish They could get their sheet together and quit loosing my shipments.

[Rick Lee]

UPDATE

Good news. I just got Mr. Tenant on the phone. I was kinda nervous when he said he was gonna have to call me back in 10 min. once he located the tracking number. But he just called back, read it off to me, I typed it in and FedEx's site said it was waiting at a FedEx facility. Turns out he'd had the address off by one digit. His wife usually mails them, so this might be understandable. So I just called FedEx to confirm it was there and will hop on the bike as soon as they open to go get it. Not 100% out of the weeds yet, but it's looking a lot better now. Whew!

I had left Mrs. Tenant a firm voicemail a few moment before I tried Mr. Tenant's phone. I hope they get the picture now that they need to return calls or call when they say they will. Late fees will be imposed after this one. Lease says so if three days late. Had FedEx delivered it to me or made some effort to find me, then the check would have made it within those three days. So I'll let this one slide.