Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

UPS Shipping vs. FedEx

J

jaybagley

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 11, 2008
16
8
I bought a 13" Macbook Pro in June and it shipped from Shanghai on a Thursday and I had it Monday morning.

Flash forward to present day and I've ordered a 15" and it shipped from Shanghai on the 6th. This is the UPS tracking report:

LOUISVILLE, KY, US 11/11/2009 12:44 P.M. IMPORT SCAN
ANCHORAGE, AK, US 11/10/2009 4:40 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
LOUISVILLE, KY, US 11/10/2009 5:27 P.M. UPS HAS OBTAINED DOCUMENTATION AND SUBMITTED TO FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND/OR DEPARTMENT OF AG/PPQ;AWAITING RESPONSE / BROKERAGE RELEASED SHIPMENT. SHIPMENT IS SUBMITTED TO CLEARING AGENCY FOR FURTHER CLEARANCE
ANCHORAGE, AK, US 11/10/2009 12:43 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
SHANGHAI, CN 11/11/2009 12:28 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
LOUISVILLE, KY, US 11/09/2009 12:09 P.M. UPS HAS OBTAINED DOCUMENTATION AND SUBMITTED TO FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND/OR DEPARTMENT OF AG/PPQ;AWAITING RESPONSE
SHANGHAI, CN 11/08/2009 8:36 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
11/08/2009 12:51 A.M. EXPORT SCAN
11/08/2009 12:39 A.M. HUB SCAN
SHANGHAI, CN 11/06/2009 4:09 P.M. ORIGIN SCAN
CN 11/06/2009 2:47 A.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

Why does Apple use UPS, if this is the kind of service they are providing?
 
I bet you can find FedEx, DHL, USPS whoever dropping the ball like that often as well. It always sucks when you are on the end of bad service but I promise you there aren't any better options. Some people get lucky and never have trouble thus think a company is perfect and great...those of us who get screwed have a different view. You just have to cross your fingers you are on the good luck side.

I have lost a lot of productive time and money to bad service/quality and in the end unless you want to go sue them or something that will make you more stressed and poor you kind of have to take it.
 
What are you complaining about? This happens with all Carriers.

Plus, if anything, I'd be happy that they provide the extra details of what is going on.
 
What's the problem? It shipped Friday and you got it Wednesday, and it came all the way from China. Unless you paid for express shipping, that's very reasonable. It's hard ship anything across the US that fast without paying for express shipping. If they had put it on a boat, it would be several weeks, and your package would probably look like it was tossed around on a boat for several weeks.

I do agree FedEx is usually better than UPS, though.
 
m85476585 said:
What's the problem? It shipped Friday and you got it Wednesday, and it came all the way from China. Unless you paid for express shipping, that's very reasonable. It's hard ship anything across the US that fast without paying for express shipping. If they had put it on a boat, it would be several weeks, and your package would probably look like it was tossed around on a boat for several weeks.

I do agree FedEx is usually better than UPS, though.
Click to expand...

Screw Fed Ex their stuff ends up on islands with Tom Hanks. I mean you MIGHT be the lucky one whose package he returns at the end but still ;)
 
l.a.rossmann said:
They both suck equally. USPS priority mail is one class above fedex and UPS
Click to expand...

Cheaper but they have just as many late/lost/problem packages. They also don't track internationally or guarantee anything unless you upgrade to Express that costs just as much. Trying to get USPS to give refunds or insurance takes forever...UPS/FedEx get a higher mark in that regard.
 
Apple's web site indicates a 6 day delivery commitment for the free standard shipping. According to that, your shipment is still on schedule. If you want it sooner, then pay for expedited delivery.

(I am no fan of UPS, but I am not particularly fond of gratuitous complaining either)
 
harperjones99 said:
Screw Fed Ex their stuff ends up on islands with Tom Hanks. I mean you MIGHT be the lucky one whose package he returns at the end but still ;)
Click to expand...

I only have limited experience shipping (and receiving) packages within the continental US by FedEx, but that experience has been positive overall. I have an account with them that makes shipping significantly cheaper than their or UPS's list prices. The tracking information tends to be more detailed, and their service is a it faster and a bit more reliable.

One time I shipped a large but light package from the west coast to upstate New York. It was expected to take 5 days, but it was delivered 2 days early.

One time I shipped a package to the wrong address, and FedEx still figured it out, but one time I shipped a UPS package to the right address and they still got confused (though they delivered it eventually)-- there were 2 labels over the original label when it arrived trying to "correct" the address (which was originally correct), the top label had the wrong address even though it ended up in the right place.

I've noticed FedEx packages seem to arrive in better condition than ones shipped by UPS. They are extra careful with the ones marked 1.4c Explosives.:D

Finally, the UPS store is a huge ripoff, while FedEx retail locations don't charge more than list prices for shipping and don't add hidden fees.
 
I haven't received it yet. Trying to track it between Shanghai, Louisville, back to Shanghai back to Louisvile then to Anchorage is frustrating.
 
online_package_tracking.png
 
apple overnighted me a replacement MPB...should get it tommorow before 1030... FedEx FTW
 
How about this for Fedex?

Dying to get my new MBP and they had it 15km from my house (Don Mills) this morning and then instead of putting it on a truck and delivering it, they sent it 5 hours away by plane to Vancouver... Killing me... I also paid $20 for priority shipping (for the last time)


Details
Nov 11, 2009 8:31 AM
At local FedEx facility
VANCOUVER, BC
Nov 11, 2009 8:12 AM
At local FedEx facility
DON MILLS, ON
Nov 11, 2009 1:18 AM
At dest sort facility
MISSISSAUGA, ON
Nov 10, 2009 9:35 AM
In transit
CALGARY, AB
Paperwork available for non-FedEx broker
Nov 10, 2009 4:15 AM
In transit
MEMPHIS, TN
Nov 10, 2009 3:57 AM
Departed FedEx location
MEMPHIS, TN
Nov 10, 2009 12:45 AM
Arrived at FedEx location
MEMPHIS, TN
Nov 9, 2009 5:11 PM
Left FedEx origin facility
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA
Nov 9, 2009 1:03 PM
Picked up
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA
 
Darth.Titan said:
FedEx handles most of the USPS Priority Mail these days actually.
Click to expand...

Hence the FedEx boxes out in front of most post offices these days.

To the OP
You make it sound like Apple is shipping this thing from California. It is coming from the OTHER side of the world, and as such there are Government agencies that get involved in this trade, and if UPS doesnt do the right paperwork or something is not right things get delayed.

Was it a BTO machine? That adds time. If you wanted it the next day, you could have ordered from Amazon, no tax and joined Amazon Prime for free next day shipping.
 
jaybagley said:
I haven't received it yet. Trying to track it between Shanghai, Louisville, back to Shanghai back to Louisvile then to Anchorage is frustrating.
Click to expand...

It's not going back and forth between Louisville and Shanghai, I hope you're aware.

Here's what's happening:

Your Mac starts in Shanghai. It gets put on a pallet with boxes of other Macs going all across the US. UPS files customs paperwork on behalf of Apple/Foxconn. They file this paperwork ahead of time so that US Customs knows that the pallet of Macs will be arriving and can process them in an expeditious manner. When this paperwork is filed, you see the appropriate scan at Louisville, which is UPS's massive air freight sort facility. This is where your Mac will clear customs and be separated from it's pallet and begin its journey as an individual package in the UPS system.

Back in Shanghai, the pallet of Macs is loaded onto one of UPS's planes, which takes off for Anchorage, AK. In my understanding, the plane basically refuels and recrews here for the flight to Louisville. There may also be pallets taken on and off the plane at this point. Your pallet, however, continues on to Louisville, where it clears customs (see "Import Scan"). From there the pallet is broken up and your package enters the UPS system as a standard air package.

This is basically the same way FedEx works, also. I just ordered a MB and it seems like UPS does take a little longer to get stuff off the ground from China. I don't know whether that's because they fly less flights, move more volume, or something else. I read elsewhere that Apple basically pays for shipping on a space available basis, so if there's not room on the flight, UPS holds the pallet till the next plane. If this is something you don't want, then I'd suggest upgrading to expedited shipping next time.

But all in all, UPS is, at worst, just providing you a bit more detail about the customs status of your package. I don't think they're providing any less quality of service than FedEx does. IMHO, FedEx is superior in air, and UPS is vastly superior in ground. But that's more a result of me having an understanding of the back end of some of their systems, and everyone has their own opinion on the issue.

Hopefully this clarifies things a bit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back