Fedex "Smartpost", Wish me luck.

[carlsbad]

I've seen people complaining about some of the Brownells shipments from IA to some adjacent state that should take a day or 2, go round in circles on Fedex "Smartpost" as they seemed to throw it on any truck that had room in hopes that it would eventually get closer to the destination.

While I read these posts, I noted that Brownells continued to send my orders by UPS ground and it seemed they were making it all the way to CA faster than Smartpost can go 100 miles (via the 800 mile route).

So I ordered some rings for a fellow who was hoping to shoot this weekend but didn't want to pay for 2 day delivery. I checked on Friday and OOPS. They sent them via Fexex Smartpost. I thought it appropriate they were in Rifle, CO. But I really was concerned it might take another entire week or more.

So I checked back in today and in one day they went from CO, to UT, and then to Rialto, CA--only about 80 miles away. So if they don't ride around Southern California for a week on trucks bound for random terminals, I should have them Monday or Tuesday.

Wish me luck.

--Jerry

 

[Ray B]

There seems to be a theory that it is faster to send all "1 or 2 day" delivery items to a central clearinghouse then out to the recipients address. What is interesting is I get some small packets shipped to me from Seattle, which is 135 miles away. It can be shipped regular UPS ground or USPS regular priority. Sent on Monday and I get it on Wednesday. Or they can send it guaranteed 2nd day delivery on Monday, the packet goes by air to Tennessee or a similar state (UPS or USPS), then back to a spoke airport, then truck, and it is also delivered on Wednesday. I'm not sure how moving a packet about 5,000 miles is any better than the 135 mile method, but they seem to think it is.

 

[Dans40X]

A SMARTPOST package leaves the vendor by FedEx or UPS & is transferred to the USPService for final delivery.

A UPS package from a CA address to a CA address,travels to Nashville TN,then back to CA.
ALL UPS parcels travel through the main terminal in Nashville,TN as it's been their procedure for 30+ years.

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

Dans40X,

which is why I do not use UPS.

 

[dolek]

A SMARTPOST package leaves the vendor by FedEx or UPS & is transferred to the USPService for final delivery.

A UPS package from a CA address to a CA address,travels to Nashville TN,then back to CA.
ALL UPS parcels travel through the main terminal in Nashville,TN as it's been their procedure for 30+ years.

ALL UPS parcels go through TN ?

 

[Just Dave]

A SMARTPOST package leaves the vendor by FedEx or UPS & is transferred to the USPService for final delivery.

A UPS package from a CA address to a CA address,travels to Nashville TN,then back to CA.
ALL UPS parcels travel through the main terminal in Nashville,TN as it's been their procedure for 30+ years.

You mean Fed Ex, not UPS.. Fed ex uses their TN hub to sort and send just about everything, where as UPS uses multiple, smaller hubs to sort, and avoid extra mileage on packages.

 

[Linko]

As long as I don't order from optics planet my deliveries are usually 3 - 4 days to Florida from most anywhere. I had optics take 2 weeks. They are no longer one of preferred suppliers. Amazon delivers prime to me before I order it. They are freaky fast.

 

[walker2713]

I like the way Midway is making decent options available depending on when you want something and how much you're willing to pay. Smartpost, in my humble opinion, is stupid.

 

[swadiver]

when shipping to California or Seattle, there are delays because packages have to go through customs.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I like the way Midway is making decent options available depending on when you want something and how much you're willing to pay. Smartpost, in my humble opinion, is stupid.

Thats a little different than it was 10yrs ago. I think i paid $16 to ship a remington ejector the last time i ordered from them.

 

[nmkid]

Lately I've been noticing that packages coming from neighboring states take a while longer then say, mid west or west coast. None of my orders are, "emergency" orders so I don't mind the wait. As long as I get the item I ordered! I worked for the USPS for 34 years and I remember when Priority Mail started. Delivery times were great at first, then more and more people started using the service and here we are.

 

[Willie]

I ordered 7 items from Brownells 9 days ago, they are delayed somewhere in Smart post hell.

 

[jepp2]

Here is one I have coming from Brownells. Monday will be 9 days. It has been so close I can almost "smell" it for 3 days.

 

[rckendall]

A package I have coming from Georgia via USPS Priority traveled to Guam and has now been shipped somewhere else, not sure where. In all fairness, this is the first problem I've had lately with USPS.

 

[50bmg1979]

A SMARTPOST package leaves the vendor by FedEx or UPS & is transferred to the USPService for final delivery.

A UPS package from a CA address to a CA address,travels to Nashville TN,then back to CA.
ALL UPS parcels travel through the main terminal in Nashville,TN as it's been their procedure for 30+ years.

That's Fed Ex. UPS sends it's air packages thru it's Louisville Ky hub.

 

[walker2713]

Thats a little different than it was 10yrs ago. I think i paid $16 to ship a remington ejector the last time i ordered from them.

You're absolutely right...I use to get on the phone and rant with those guys about their lousy shipping policies and prices....not that I think I had anything to do with the current ways of doing business.

 

[carlsbad]

Sunday it didn't move. Today it moved 3.7 miles from Rialto CA to Bloomington CA. Still 76 miles away.

This could take a while.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I dont think USPS is ever in too big of a hurry to move a pkg that somebody tried to use fedex for to start with.

 

[carlsbad]

I dont think USPS is ever in too big of a hurry to move a pkg that somebody tried to use fedex for to start with.

It is still with Fedex. If they give it to USPS, it will be at the local (Carlsbad) PO. Since mine is a business address, they don't usually give it to the USPS. --Jerry

 

[JaoeyP]

Oh man that Smart Post can be a pain. It's best to just not watch. I bought something from my former employer located 35 miles from me in the St. Louis area. It went smart post from St. Louis to Kansas City, back to the post office in St. Louis where it sat for several days before the post office delivered. It was something like 6 business days. Had it been sent USPS First Class it would have been here the next day. I reached out to one of my old co-workers and shared the experience with him. I'm pretty patient with waiting for packages but a lot of people would be irritated with that and rightfully so. I refer to that service as Dumb Post. UPS has a similar service that is equally awful.