FedEx SmartPost Sucks

"Jcarr" (jcarr) 11/10/2015 at 09:14 • Filed to: Rant

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For those of you unfamiliar with this service, it is a joint venture between FedEx and the USPS aimed at providing low-cost shipping service for lightweight items. Packages are transported by FedEx for the majority of their journey, then delivered to your local USPS office for final delivery.

This seems all well and good in theory, but in practice it sucks. I’ve had the misfortune of having packages shipped via this service a few times now and, without fail, it ends up taking much longer than it should.

For example, my wife and I decided to spend a little money on ourselves at the end of this year since we rarely do so. She decided to get a fancy espresso machine, I decided to get an Xbox. I ordered both items Friday morning, with hers coming from Wayfair and mine coming from Target. I went with the standard free shipping that was offered with each item.

Hers shipped from New York via UPS Friday afternoon. It will arrive at our home in Iowa today. Mine shipped from Missouri (about a 9-hour drive from where we live) Saturday morning via FedEx SmartPost and it’s scheduled to arrive this coming Saturday.

TL;DR - Avoid SmartPost if at all possible.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Jcarr 11/10/2015 at 09:28

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I’ve used this service as well with similar results. I try to avoid it if at all possible and much prefer UPS over FedEx or USPS.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Jcarr 11/10/2015 at 09:29

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+ eleventybillion11!!1!

Both Smartpost and UPS Surepost (pretty much the same thing) are awful. Why even give me a tracking number? And, I don't trust the USPS to deliver anything to me, honestly. Every time I've ever had a package that was lost, it was always by USPS. Or you just have the lazy delivery drivers who won't get out of their truck to deliver the package, and just leave a note saying pick up at the post office. Even if they fucking see you in your front yard.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > Jcarr 11/10/2015 at 09:44

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Shipping and waiting for connecting flights at Dallas Fort Worth are two things that I’ve felt I could drive (to pick up the package, or from DFW to Tulsa) faster than they could (deliver the package, fly me there after the delay.)

lunr > Snuze: Needs another Swede 11/10/2015 at 09:48

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I just wish online stores would be a bit more open about the shipping methods they use for free or low cost shipping. Many times its not until I get the item-has-shipped email that I find out its coming via SmartPost. I will gladly pay an extra $5-10 just to make sure UPS, and only UPS, delivers it.

Justin Hughes > Jcarr 11/10/2015 at 09:56

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Agree! Same goes for the UPS version of this service. My last order shipped promptly, then disappeared off the radar for over a week before magically appearing on my doorstep without warning.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Jcarr 11/10/2015 at 10:05

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I know this pain currently, something that was an hours drive away was taken to my post office 15 minutes away yesterday via Smartpost. The tracking says I won't see it until Thursday, I'm thinkin more like Friday. This post office has surprised me before though.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Jcarr 11/10/2015 at 13:06

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Wait until the mailperson decides they want whatever you ordered. I was on the lookout for a package and kept watching the delivery status. My wife was home all day, with our two dogs who hate the USPS, FedEx, and UPS folks and go crazy whenever the truck is in front of our house. When the status updated with “delivered,” I called my wife to confirm. Not only had the USPS employee not rang the doorbell, s/he never even approached the door or got out of the truck when putting the mail in our box because my wife happened to be standing in the living room shutting the dogs up and watched. I immediately called the regional USPS office and they did absolutely nothing, then submitted one of their stupid forms and, again, nothing.

Jcarr > haveacarortwoorthree2 11/10/2015 at 13:07

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Ouch, that’s terrible.