Posted by SharonMN on 9/20/11 3:40pm
Msg #397999

FedEx pickup policy

I never have FedEx or UPS pick up at my house, however, I had my previous night's loan package all ready to go when the FedEx guy showed up at my door with another delivery. I asked him if I could give him my outgoing piece and he grudgingly accepted, saying that I should have called it in so he could "get credit for it" and also informing me that a pickup charge would be assessed.

I thought a pickup charge only applied if they were making a special trip for you, not if they were already there. Can't you just hand your package to a FedEx guy anytime you see one? Was this just a grumpy independent contractor that gets paid by the stop? What have you guys experienced?

Reply by jnew on 9/20/11 3:49pm
Msg #398003

I think that both of the big services, UPS and Fedex have guys that pick up and guys that deliver and normally will not separate the duties. They are both so big on customer service that they won't refuse to pick up at the time of delivery, so as to keep the customer satisfied.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 9/20/11 3:56pm
Msg #398004

I had something similar in CT once...

Get to FedEx box, guy is there ready to empty box, I hand it to him and he tells me if I do that it's going to cost more..

Reply by Lee/AR on 9/20/11 4:46pm
Msg #398008

Hmmmm... apparently Arkansas has the best drivers! I have handed packages to them at the box and at my home when they are delivering something, stopped them along the road, pulled into a gas station where they were getting gas or just some nearby parking lot where they are waiting for the exact pickup time or flashed my lights and they pull over.

Both FedEx and UPS have always cheerfully accepted it no matter where we are at the moment. Have never had a package go missing, tho' about once a year I have one hiding somewhere for an extra day.

Reply by topflyt on 9/20/11 5:43pm
Msg #398014

Never really encountered that type of problem but I do know that UPS will charge for a pickup of you are an infrequent pick up. I do believe that one time a fedex driver told me that I had to call to have a pkg picked up and that he would circle the block and then come back.

Reply by Jack/AL on 9/20/11 6:58pm
Msg #398032

Same for me as for Linda and Lee...........

but that was in Alabama. Maybe it's a "southern politeness" thing, y'all.

Reply by NJDiva on 9/20/11 7:37pm
Msg #398037

I thought I read on their website (don't remember...

which one) that you can put in box, drop at the store or hand to a driver. I'm going to check into that.

Reply by jgh/ca on 9/20/11 7:48pm
Msg #398038

Re: I thought I read on their website (don't remember...

They need a pick-up # to scan it into the system...so if you just hand them the package they have to have dispatch create a pick-up...that will generate the extra fee...or they could put it in their truck and do nothing til they get to their drop box...if they have a drop box pick up and scan it in then...like they got it from the box. But with that they could forget about it and find it the next day in the truck and oops! But as for them not just taking it from you when they are at the box without a pick-up charge...that is ridiculous and a courier in a bad mood.

Reply by Blueink_TN on 9/20/11 9:00pm
Msg #398046

Re: I thought I read on their website (don't remember...

I think it depends on the driver... I've handed over packages at red lights and they have accepted with a wink and a nod.

Reply by Virginia/PA on 9/20/11 11:19pm
Msg #398069

In my town, any UPS driver will take a package anywhere, anytime (even at a red light - and I've done it), but I've never flagged down a FedEx person. Their main drop is just closer, so the need to flag down a driver is moot for me. But UPS is a farther drive and I'll chase a brown truck rather than pay the gasoline to drive to the main drop. UPS drivers just say thank you. Guess they're glad for the business. Don't know if there ends up being an extra charge but never had anyone on the other end complain either.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 9/21/11 5:22am
Msg #398085

I drop my packages at my local pack-n-ship store, which accepts both Fedex and UPS packages. The owner of the store has told me that the FedEx drivers are independent contractors - they own their own trucks and all that jazz. Green logo is ground and orange logo is express. Even so, it sounds crazy that you can't just hand a package to a driver without getting an extra charge.

Reply by HARRY_PA on 9/21/11 7:04am
Msg #398087

Fedex

FedEx Express drivers are employees. FedEx Ground and Home Delivery are independent contractors. Express drivers handle express only and ground theirs only.

Harry

Reply by CopperheadVA on 9/21/11 8:13am
Msg #398095

Thanks for the clarification! :-) n/m

Reply by Notarysigner on 9/21/11 9:12am
Msg #398097

tHAT is NOT the case here in the S.F. Bay Area

..I have given Pkgs to express drivers and Ground drivers no matter what color the pkg. It may be a regional thing, FedEx and UPS drivers here are very accommodating! I have NEVER paid a fee for pickup or handing to a driver.

Reply by HARRY_PA on 9/21/11 10:03am
Msg #398112

Re: tHAT is NOT the case here in the S.F. Bay Area

Because fedex express scanners cannot scan ground and vice versa, the package will be scanned when it gets to the intended carrier. Ordinarily the driver takes the package back to his/her terminal and it is sent to the appropriate terminal and the end of the day or the following day. This can slow down scanning and delivery of the package. Sometimes my fedex drivers leave a package here for the intended fedex carrier because they all pick up her daily.

Harry