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New Apple shipping policy a disaster...

OK, so the result appears to be that they've arranged for me to pick up a monitor at my local Apple Store.

This suggests to me that whatever the shipping issues are, they're pretty deeply rooted. Any guesses as to when they might fix this problem?

-- Mark
 
When Apple sent me my PowerMac G4 933 a long time ago, UPS left it on my door step without a signature or a waiver or anything. And of course, it was in a big, four-color printed box that said "Power Macintosh G4" in big white letters. So I'm lucky some passerby didn't decide they needed a new computer.
 
OK, more info...

Yeah so.

I sent a letter to Steve Jobs' office a week ago and got a call back today.

Apparently, Apple's policy HAS changed and I stated it correctly. The reason they're now refusing to release packages over the counter at FedEx offices is that some offices have been failing to check ID and machines have been going missing.

However, there are two details. First, the Apple shipping department is adamant that a limited or full signature release waiver should apply to their packages, contrary to what the FedEx reps told me, and the rep from Apple promised to confirm with FedEx that this was OK.

Second, they said that in a particular instance, contrary to what Apple's shipping rep told me, Apple WILL provide a waiver permitting me to pick up a package over the counter at the FedEx office. This requires calling Apple's "dispatch" department and requesting that they fax me a form that I then carry to the FedEx office. Apparently not everyone in the dispatch group knows about this form, however.

The number for Apple's dispatch department is 800-320-3728.

So, as I said earlier, this is all a big pain in the ass, however it is not the strict Catch-22 that I described in my first post.

OK, so who's willing to pay an extra $20 for their Apple products so that Apple won't force these requirements on the rest of us? 😀

-- Mark
 
jsd said:
When Apple sent me my PowerMac G4 933 a long time ago, UPS left it on my door step without a signature or a waiver or anything. And of course, it was in a big, four-color printed box that said "Power Macintosh G4" in big white letters. So I'm lucky some passerby didn't decide they needed a new computer.
Click to expand...

This (and the AirPort Base Station one) is just absolutely rude! I figure you should call in at Apple and pretend you didn't receive your order yet. In that case, i hope Apple will start getting on FedEx's Ass. (If not, don't call in 🙂 i don't want to hurt Apple's Business)

I'd be absolutely outrageous if they left my new iBook at my front door. Is that suable material 😉
 
KCK said:
The last item I bought from the Apple online store was an Airport extreme base station. It was shipped via Airborn. The delivery person tossed the box from our lower walkway onto our porch landing ( a good 10 foot + toss). The dirver was short on the first toss and the box fell down and broke a large branch off of one of our plants. The driver hit the landing on the second toss. Of course there was a big sticker on the outside of the box that said signature required but that didn't stop the driver from going off and leaving the box on my porch landing without getting a signature.
Click to expand...

You're lucky you got it. I have about 50% successful delivery rate with stuff shipped to me through Airborne.
 
Err, i hope these issues are US only 😀 I ordered an iBook and expect it to be delivered in a few days, i can't say i look forward to all this hassle
 
iRobert said:
Err, i hope these issues are US only 😀 I ordered an iBook and expect it to be delivered in a few days, i can't say i look forward to all this hassle
Click to expand...

You'd figure they could just put some kind of disclaimer or preference in your profile regarding this kind of thing, and only apply the rule to some shipments. But really the issue sounds like FedEx and AirEx to me more than Apple -- if Apple is having trouble b/c the carriers release packages at their depots without checking ID, then shouldn't the resulting action be to fix the carrier process at the depot rather than this pain-in-the-butt? 🙁
 
My experiences with Fed Ex and Airborne were even more wonderful. My Al PowerBook 15 was two weeks in transit from Airborne on a 3 day delivery. Then, Airborne's iPod shipment to the U.S. from the same order got held up for a month in customs with a large batch. Then, on December 26 I ordered my girlfriend a custom engraved iPod for Christmas. Fed Ex delivered it not only to the wrong address, they delivered it to an address 50 miles from my house. It was a May Company distribution center, and they said they were going to retrieve it. After a week, they decided it was lost. After two more weeks Apple decided it was too. After a month and a half I got my girlfriend xmas present to her. UPS? wonderful. Amazon always ships UPS, and they're always early. If I'm not home for the early delivery they come back in the evening. If I'm not home in the evening, they guy checks for me at the school I work at. That company is the jesus. Plus the online tracking is realistic.
 
I've had great experiences with FedEx over the years, and bad ones with UPS. I think they're all subject to ups and downs.

-- Mark
 
KCK said:
The last item I bought from the Apple online store was an Airport extreme base station. It was shipped via Airborn. The delivery person tossed the box from our lower walkway onto our porch landing ( a good 10 foot + toss). The dirver was short on the first toss and the box fell down and broke a large branch off of one of our plants. The driver hit the landing on the second toss. Of course there was a big sticker on the outside of the box that said signature required but that didn't stop the driver from going off and leaving the box on my porch landing without getting a signature.
Click to expand...

Wanna have some fun? File a report with Airborn; they can track the driver who thought tossing your HW like GWB tosses horshoes was the right thing to do.

Nothing like a little honest feed back to keep 'em on their toes
 
BagelTycoon said:
Wanna have some fun? File a report with Airborn; they can track the driver who thought tossing your HW like GWB tosses horshoes was the right thing to do.

Nothing like a little honest feed back to keep 'em on their toes
Click to expand...

At the time I thought about filing a report and I really should have done so. Now it would be to much of a pain to go back and figure out what day it was delivered etc.

Next time I will file a report.
 
I think that FedEx and UPS should merge and call them selves FED-UP................anyways airborne is my favorite shipper....they allways deliver the nexy day by 10am...never been late(for like 20 packages) but then again they are part of DHL which is german........
 
As far as I know Airborne Express has been dumped by Apple. They are absolutely aweful as far as my experience goes. What else you have left? UPS or FedEx? They both suck, but FedEx sucks less. Good call, Apple!
 
Last year AirBorne deliv. my package, since the shipper requires signatures. The driver even faked my signature and left my package at my door step. I filed an official complain, but never heard from them since.
 
Does Anyone at Apple Understand "Real Life"

I've just gotten off the phone from Apple. Not much else to do while "losing income" waiting for the FedEx delivery. I was advised by Apple my choices are:

* Not be home and have the order returned to them. They would reship (via FedEx) again. Obviously "infinite loop" is not a term they understand.

* Ship to a work address. Ooops--- I'm an independent consultant so have no permanent work address. Also, my current client has a policy forbidding personal deliveries to their address.

* HOWEVER, if I sign a "blanket delivery authorization" with FedEx they can leave the package but they WON'T accept the same signature (on the same door knocker form) for a one-time delivery.

I was also told the web clearly stated their policy but on the web site I found two statements:

* Signature on delivery required --- okay, I'll sign for it by the delivery authorization release or at the depot. No where does it state that I can't request "hold for pickup" or "delivery release unacceptable"

* on the same web page --- we don't advise using a shipping address that is not your billing address as it messes up your credit card.

Customer service got an ear-full but assured me that this is not a common occurence.

GO FIGURE ---

Did I forget to mention that the Apple store also does strange credit card transactions that results in triggering "fraud detection algorithms" on your card that then blocks it. That's another story!
 
Perhaps it's possible to sign a blanket delivery authorization and then revoke it after the package arrives?

-- Mark
 
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