What's up with this shipping? :P

[danyo]

I ordered off the Apple.ca website.
I'm located in Toronto, Ontario (CANADA), and the item shipped out from Middletown, Pennsylvania (US), which is actually fairly close.

Here is the Google Maps of our physical distance:
http://g.co/maps/m7unw

But I'm following along the Fedex shipment travel activity and it's taking a route that makes little sense to me, haha.

Here is the Google Maps of the Fedex route:
http://g.co/maps/g5vsv

I understand that it's probably shipped by air, but I still think that's a very unnecessary and silly route to take, don't you think? Wish they had better routes... maybe my order would be here already.

 

[BreakGuy]

As nice as it would be for it to be delivered directly to you door, it will get tossed around between depots as it gets sorted.

 

[HippieMagic]

I am in WV and it isn't unusual for a package to come from Pennsylvania and move to Louisville before coming back up to me. It generally only takes 2 hops though. I just ordered one that shipped from the same exact spot and got to me within a day.

 

[thundersteele]

Probably has to clear customs in calgary.

 

[danyo]

I am in WV and it isn't unusual for a package to come from Pennsylvania and move to Louisville before coming back up to me. It generally only takes 2 hops though. I just ordered one that shipped from the same exact spot and got to me within a day.

You're making me sad. I'm refreshing my Fedex shipment tracker repeatedly.

 

[jlc1978]

I understand that it's probably shipped by air, but I still think that's a very unnecessary and silly route to take, don't you think? Wish they had better routes... maybe my order would be here already.

FedEX routes packages via a hub and spoke model for overall efficiency of their system; and probably load balances as well (i.e. if they have space on planes doing two hops they'll use that rather than add a plane if they've already filled up one).

As a result, individual packages may follow a very odd route.

 

[aristobrat]

I understand that it's probably shipped by air, but I still think that's a very unnecessary and silly route to take, don't you think? Wish they had better routes... maybe my order would be here already.

IIRC, the routes are different, depending on the delivery method.

Did you pick "Next Day Shipping", or did you go with the free shipping?

 

[o.neill.kid]

Most likely because of customs, and they may have a distribution center there. I know when I have ordered things from even Ottawa (an hour away from me) they will take it to Calgary, odd and for whatever reason. Just think, in a few days you will have your new product.

*When I ordered my juice pack reserve it took the exact same route as your product is taking.

 

[danyo]

IIRC, the routes are different, depending on the delivery method.

Did you pick "Next Day Shipping", or did you go with the free shipping?

I went with expedited shipping which is quoted as 1-3 days, but they've missed their mark. It's already been 3 full business days since it shipped and over a week since I ordered (not counting Saturday, Christmas, or Boxing day as business days).

 

[aristobrat]

Give Apple a call (or online chat) and have them refund the fee you paid for the expedited shipping.

 

[takeshi74]

FedEX routes packages via a hub and spoke model for overall efficiency of their system; and probably load balances as well (i.e. if they have space on planes doing two hops they'll use that rather than add a plane if they've already filled up one).

As a result, individual packages may follow a very odd route.

^This. They're not going to make a special delivery to run the package from the point of origin to the OP.

That said, the shipping companies do make mistakes in routing and I've had at least one package leave the US for no good reason for a domestic shipment.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Interesting that it goes to Calgary (presumably to clear customs) just to enter the US again to go to Toronto. I would have expected FedEx to have a relatively large center in the Toronto metro area to clear US packages heading into Ontario, Québec, etc. Perhaps there was a shipping error; it does happen occasionally.

 

[shyam09]

Interesting that it goes to Calgary (presumably to clear customs) just to enter the US again to go to Toronto. I would have expected FedEx to have a relatively large center in the Toronto metro area to clear US packages heading into Ontario, Québec, etc. Perhaps there was a shipping error; it does happen occasionally.

actually i don't know if it is going to be entering the US again. We don't know the details, and a google's map just shows the shortest way possible. I'm assuming it will stay in Canada after Calgary.

 

[mobilehaathi]

actually i don't know if it is going to be entering the US again. We don't know the details, and a google's map just shows the shortest way possible. I'm assuming it will stay in Canada after Calgary.

Oh you're right, I thought there was a waypoint in Chicago, but it just gave the shortest driving distance.

 

[HippieMagic]

I love when you pay for next day air just to realize they ship the item less than 3 hours from your house and you could have gotten free ground for the same result. I think that is worse than waiting a few more days as frustrating as that may be.

 

[snazzyiphoneguy]

LOL it will come

 

[saberahul]

Shipments through major carriers are "optimized" to reduce their costs while serving majority of the customers to meet their deadlines. In fact, these deadlines are created due to this optimization. With that said, your package is probably placed with packages within a certain vicinity of your location. The shipment has to clear the packages which have the sooner deadline; hence, yours will travel with those until those are delivered. Yes, in locations where package delivery is abnormally high - specific trucks are sent out to clear just those locations; however, this may not be the case in your situation.