Are the Fed Ex regulations the same as UPS, in that you have to packaging things to withstand a drop from waist-height?
Do the delivery van drivers receive any training? Commercial driver’s license, perhaps? Because the FedEx driver who almost hit me the other day didn’t know that a bicycle is a vehicle. He overtook me from the right while I was turning and blocked the lane I was turning into. After I shouted, he stopped and told me I shouldn’t have been using the left-turn lane at all. He explicitely said “This (his van) is a vehicle, that (my bike) isn’t.”
The main difference between us and UPS is that we are independent owners(contractors), and UPS are unionized hourly employees. DHL is (was?)subsidized by the German government and have very deep pockets. They are hemmoraging money here in the States right now. And the USPS is, well, the USPS. A lot of their overnight mail goes on our planes.
It should be noted that almost all of us get along well and there is not rampant animosity among the guys on the streets. We’re all just trying to get home at the end of the day. I say “hi” to the UPS guy, the mailman talks to me, and we all think the DHL guys look like clowns. (I kid.)
Let me tell you, those inanimate little scanners can turn a fully functioning adult into a complete dullard. It’s usually my fault, I’m so used to everyone knowing to scribble their name in the touch screen, that when I hand it to someone who has never used it before they look at me like I just handed them a warm dog turd. My bad.
They just save up the bananas for special packages, like the laptop I shipped last week. :mad:
This brings up a real question:
Do the disgruntled staff at the hubs look for boxes with the DV in the corner of the label so they know which ones to throw against the wall harder, knowing that there’s something expensive inside, with the hopes that the company will have to pay out a claim?
I know this is a little bit of hyperbole, but honestly, hub managers (as well as terminal mgrs) are held so accountable for damages it is astounding. It has a direct, tangible effect to their paycheck. My point is, if a handler actually threw a package against a wall, he would be escorted out and “de-hired”.
I deliver so many packages that are very poorly packed. People need to know that the cardboard box is only there to hold in the insane amounts of quality packing material. The box in and of itself is useless for damage protection.
Maybe you don’t know this, but I submitted a claim and FedEx never really got back to me except to say “Well, we didn’t find your package, so send us your stuff.” No matter how many times I e-mail or call, they won’t tell me how to submit my documentation! 
I really like FedEx, they’ve served me well in the past, I’m just bummed out that the presents I got for my friend never made it to her.
It was a FedExKinko’s. They apologized for me for not offering it. I think the kid who didn’t may have gotten into trouble. I feel bad about that, actually.
Mostly I’m just venting, since the people on the phone with FedEx aren’t that compassionate about venting. 
Understandably, so, I might add.
~Tasha
It’s not really obvious as an add-on for Home service, nor is it obvious that the default for Home service is no signature required, even when using the online Ship Manager. Actually, it’s pretty well hidden - you have to check a small Options button in the bottom corner of the screen to get the choice of requiring it.