I Hate Mixed Carrier Deliveries

[Pantlandia]

Seems like the last few times I've ordered something it's been a mixed carrier delivery; meaning they use UPS or FedEx to deliver to the USPS (or vice versa) who then finishes the delivery. It usually takes 2 to 3 days longer to deliver and here is one reason why:

January 29, 2015, 1:19 pm, Fedex Smartpost Kent WA US Package arrived at a carrier facility
January 29, 2015, 9:36 am, Kent WA US In transit to pickup location
January 29, 2015, 3:00 am, Troutdale OR US Package has left the carrier facility
January 28, 2015, 6:07 pm, Troutdale OR US Package arrived at a carrier facility
January 27, 2015, 3:16 am, Carson CA US Package has left the carrier facility
January 26, 2015, 11:39 pm, Carson CA US Package arrived at a carrier facility
January 26, 2015, 12:00 am, Los Angeles CA US Package received by carrier
January 26, 2015, 1:23 pm, US Package has left seller facility and is in transit to carrier

At 6:07 PM yesterday and 3:00 AM this morning, they passed within 2 miles of my house, just to send it up to Kent, WA. Kent is about 165 miles away from me, so it will have traveled an extra 330 miles unnecessarily. I could have had my item TODAY. Instead it's estimated to be delivered on February 3rd...

[jandsknight]

I feel the same way. They always seem to take longer.

[val2525]

FED EX SMART POST STINKS!

I've started emailing retailers now after I receive my delivery and complaining about it, and asking that they start offering straight USPS, FedEx or UPS to buyers as an option, even if it means I have to pay more a buyer. Part of the problem is the retailer doesn't tell you what "standard shipping" is, so you don't know if you're getting regular or mixed carriers.

Best example yet….ordered from Macy's, they shipped it from their Goodyear store (Phoenix AZ suburb). USPS from PHX to ABQ is two days PM. Same for UPS and FedEx. Last item I ordered, Macy's shipped it FedEx Smart Post.

Item went from Goodyear AZ to Albuquerque NM, stayed overnight here, then went to Denver. Was handed off to Denver USPS sort center, then sent down here and delivered by USPS. Prior orders from Macy's Goodyear took 3 days - 1 to pack, 1 in transit, delivered on 3rd day.
This shipment? Over a week.

It's getting so bad, I'm considering adding to my shipping section of my listings that I ship DIRECT USPS.

[Deleted]

The only positive about it is if it starts out UPS and finished USPS, you don't have to be home to sign for it, whereas with UPS they often want a signature. For me generally it takes an extra day.

Routes are always crazy. There is a UPS close to me, but that is not the UPS that delivers to me. It goes through there and then goes to a UPS an hour or more away and they bring it out here again.

[val2525]

Fashion, sign up for My UPS. It's free, and sometimes you can request that the package be delivered elsewhere, held for pickup, or delivered a day or two later when you'll be home. If you have the free membership, I think they charge you $5 to change delivery address. It also depends on how the retailer shipped it. One I buy from must be paranoid about deliveries because they've set it so I can't even change delivery date on their stuff (very annoying). Usually though, once it's in the system and moving, I change the delivery date to a day I'm home. Very handy!

I also enter my address in with a second line, "Leave at front door if not home" when I see the retailer ships UPS or FedEx, seems to work about 75% of the time (depends on retailer).