Complaint Review: FedEx

I live in Portland, OR, and FedEx is an international business. Their company polices, both nationally and locally suck.

Item 1. Back in September my mother-in-law passed away. My wife's younger sister packed up a number of her mother's items and asked us to have them shipped to her in California by FedEx only. The box was way too large for her take it in her car.

FedEx would not come to my home to pick the box up so we had to drive all the way out to the west end of the Portland airport to drop it off for delivery. This box was so large that it hardly fit in the back of my full sized pickup truck with a canopy over the bed.

I am crippled with arthritis damage to both knees and my wife and I are in our late 60s. Manhandling large heavy boxes is not in our best interest.

When we arrived at the FedEx depot, my wife went inside and asked for help with the box. She was refused. After she came back and told me the decision, I hobbled inside the office and asked what gives.

I could see many men behind a wire fence loading FedEx semi trucks. Why could not one of these guys help an elderly couple with a large, heavy box? The reply? They work in a different department! Some customer service.

As luck would have it, a man drove up with a package and a handtruck. He helped us to get the damned box into the office. Needless to say, I was torqued off and made my thoughts known to the uncaring female clerk safely secured behind her computer.

Item 2. DirecTV sent out new controller cards to its customers. The card came in an unmarked envelope via USPS and looked like the many items of junk mail we receive. For some reason I put it aside unopened instead of just tossing it into the round file. As time passed, I kept seeing these new card messages on the television. New card? What new card? I never got anything from DirecTV that should have been clearly marked.

I went through the pile of unopened mail and found the stupid card. I followed the instructions but the card would not work in the receiver. I called DirecTV and was told that a new card would be sent. I arrived via USPS along with two more! They did not work as well. I called again to inform DirecTV.

On a Sunday about three weeks ago, we left for a week's vacation at the beach. Arriving home the following Thursday, I found that my front yard and doorknob was littered with FedEx delivery notices. I was not expect anything and such notices announce to the world that we are not at home. I called FedEx (call was routed to Texas!) and explained the problem.

I was told that FedEx would be out again and that the envelope was from DirecTV. Friday, no card. Saturday, no card. On Monday we had to be out of town on business and when we got home there was still another delivery notice. I called again and this time I was told that FedEx would make no more attempts to deliver. We had to drive back to the airport to their office to get the envelope! My wife drove out and found the office closed. She did get the attention of someone inside who opened the door and she got the blasted envelope.

Why FedEx could not just leave the envelope like UPS does or at least call us and leave a message, I do not understand. I will never use FedEx at any time and I have told DirecTV that FedEx stinks on ice as far as "customer service"(sic) and their policies are concerned. They should (1) clearly mark envelopes sent via USPS and (2) use a different shipper in the future.

Al
Portland, Oregon