A couple of months ago I paid them $520 to send a nine-pound package from the US to Saudi Arabia. It arrived eleven days later. Let that sink in eleven days for $520.
So I called them to ask them WTF. I got transfered to the Billing Department. They promised me a refund. Great. I told my brother to expect a refund on his credit card. A couple of months went by. No refund.
I called FedEx. They told me to call the local Mailboxes Etc which shipped it. I called them, talked to Jim. Jim called FedEx (the people who told me to call someone else). I just talked to Jim. Jim said FedEx said that the local franchise said the address on the package was wrong. It is the same address I use all the time.
I suspect they simply did not want to deliver the package because it was Ramadan.
FedEx told Jim, who told me that I was ‘Lucky’ they did not return the package to the US, as that would be an extra fee. Luck Me! I thought.
So I am now trying to call FedEx International Customer Support. They are open from 8 to something, Bumfuck, Texas time. Let me repeat that. INTERNATIONAL Customer Service requires I call based on their time zone! I paid them $520 and they cannot man the phones when I am in my office!
I can’t help, but I do feel your pain. Part of my job is to manage the shipping department. I inevitably end up feeling like that old SNL sketch where I’m sitting on the end of the bench at the end of the day saying “And *that’s * how they getcha!”
Only suggestion I know - start off asking to speak to a supervisor. Be polite, but say something like “I’m having this problem . Do you have the authority to issue a refund? No? Ok, could you transfer me to the person that does?” and keep it that way.
Many of those people don’t really work for Fed Ex, it’s just a call center staffed with someone that may or may not be on his/her first day and may or may not plan on being there next week.
Good luck to you man. If I come up with any ideas I’ll post them. The sad thing is, that with all this (I have problems like you describe sometimes), Fed Ex is still the preferred carrier because UPS sucks just as much.
Getting a package delivered is so often a crap shoot. Since Fed Ex is based in Memphis, we tend to get our packages fairly quickly. I’ve also gotten used to the noise the planes make landing.
-Lil
$520? Nine pounds? Really? Can you say why? Hell, for that price you might as well fly the damn thing yourself. Honestly, I don’t get it…could you elaborate?
OK, I ran a quick quote on my account. Granted, I get a volume discount but a 9 pound package from Alabama to Jeddah, SA would cost between $200 and $250, depending on what service I used. There could be fuel surcharges, but not that much. Was it 9 lbs but carried a dim wt. of 90?
Should you have to do this again you could try to find someone that uses a plane service (like Southwest) and it usually comes out cheaper for us. You have to go through a full body cavity search to get certified, but once you are you can “ship” by flying your package.
Still, sorry about the problems. Wish I could help.
Ah- just remmebered. You probably racked up brokerage fees. Don’t know how much they would be. I always make my customers pay theirs independently since I’m not a broker.
OK, I called I called Venus at FedEx. She put me on hold for Billing. They did not answer, The system kicked me to the top menu. Now I am on hold for a manager.
Now Billing (Elizabeth) is telling me no refund because it is over 15 days old. Failing that, no refund, because it was billed to Mail Boxes Etc. 'Hold on let me research this."
Holding. 4 minutes on hold …
Elizabeth says the refund is now In The System. Now Jim from Mailboxes Etc has to call FedEx.
I called Jim to tell him to call FedEx. He said he would but that my brother will not get the money until he does, and that takes some time with FedEx.
How does ANYONE trust these people with anything more valuable than a burnt-out match?
Yeah, you laugh, but when Fedex starts dropping their packages by parachute, I’ll be first in line. 7 miles by car. I’m sure it’s shorter by plane.
-Lil
You are not FedEx’ customer. MBE is FedEx’ customer, so they are the ones that have to initiate any requests for refunds. The phone reps should have told you that within fifteen seconds of “hello”
Even worse, MBE is part of UPS, so it’s no wonder they nailed you with their retail profit.
Doesn’t help you now, but this is why I have a personal FedEx account. If anything gets lost or broken, I can talk to them directly.
UPS took about a month to deliver my friend’s package. Their excuses: wrong address (it wasn’t), recipient’s name not on the building (it was), no one there to accept the package (she was). ALMOST FOUR FUCKING WEEKS. And guess what? I paid for 2-day delivery so it would get there on time. Fuckers.
Earlier this week they sent me an email informing me that my package had arrived and had been placed on my porch. I don’t have a porch–just a second-story balcony. But one time they were able to put a package up there somehow (I guess they have really tall delivery people?) so I just assumed it was there this time.
It was never on the balcony. It was never at my front door (unless someone stole it before I got home). The management office never got it either. Why they can’t leave my shit at the management office like UPS does, I will never know. As far as I’m concerned, it’s FedEx’s fault if someone stole it since they could have easily dropped it off with the front office. That’s what I pay those people big rent money to do all day! The package is nowhere to be seen, and it’s too late to do anything about it in time for Christmas since I’m leaving for home this morning. Oh, did I tell you it was a Christmas present? Actually, multiple Christmas presents. I have presents for my nieces and nephew, but now I don’t have a Christmas gift to give to my aunts or my secret Santa. Now I have to scramble at the last minute, something that brings tears to my eyes. I loved the gifts I had picked out because they were beautiful and unique. Now whatever I get will be crappy and disappointing.
I’m so royally pissed that I couldn’t sleep last night. I want to grab Fedex by the throat and strangle it.
Well, it was a new Mac Mini for my Colonel. A thou for the computer, five large for the shipping. (‘Five large,’ I am so darn hip.) What can I say? That is what Jim at MBE charged my brother. Even then, they could not deliver it in time.
