Zpacks-Fast order processing, very slow shipping partners

It’s a FedEx thing.

You know, I can order something from RSBTR, have it shipped via USPS, and it will arrive in Maryland next day only to have move around Maryland multiple times before being delivered a few days later.  FedEx has always been slow in Maryland and as far as size goes, Maryland is a small State.  What is even more baffling is that I can order something from The Rain Shed or Strapworks on the same day as I order something from RSBTR and the items from the West Coast always arrives first.

This seems to be a new development, though.  My guess is that as more and more people buy online instead of through brick-and-morter the delivery services are revamping the logistics of moving larger quantities of parcels.

Another reason to ship UPS.

I had the same experience ordering  from a vendor on Amazon.  I think it’s just a FedEx thing.

I don’t think I can select how a item is sent from ZPacks, maybe when paying by PP, add a note.  ?  FedEx tracking did state arrival date of 04/20, thought that was off by a week.  Guess not now.  Did not want to question ZPacks, sure they are busy now, same as when I ordered my Springbar tent out of SLC, UT.

Duane

They don’t want to drive to Quincy. USPS has to go.

Seems to be one of the surepost type things where fedex sits on it for a few days, then fly it across the country and hands it to USPS.

Edit: Larger packages seem to go that way. Small ones still going USPS.

Ken, they do come to my road, a neighbor gets weekly deliveries here 9 miles from town.  May have my tent tomorrow.  I guess receipt time would be the same when ZPacks had long shipping times before they got bigger.

Duane

I experienced the same thing when I ordered their new rain gear… It shipped fast, but FedEx took their sweet time getting it to me… When ordering from Zpacks in the past (if it met the free shipping amount) I always went with the free shipping option and IIRC it was usually via USPS Priority. But there has been some behind the scene changes lately with the way their system works, and even some small update’s to the site itself. I can only guess that within those changes, one change was the free delivery option… the FedEx Surepost option sucks, I would prefer the UPS Surepost (Smartpost?) or just first class USPS. So, when I recently ordered a new Arc Haul I paid more attention at the shipping screen. The free delivery option is still there and is listed as either USPS First Class or SmartPost (2-8 days), I don’t know how they decide what gets shipped how between those 2. Then of course for $5 there is USPS Priority or FedEx Home Delivery. I chose to go with USPS Priority for $5 as that generally gets it to my house in 2-3 days. So, to bypass the horrible FedEx SurePost I now just add the $5 and select USPS Priority… It’s worth $5 to me to get my items much faster! For example, I ordered my Arc Haul on Tuesday morning, and it was on my doorstep Friday afternoon (yeah, the same week!)

You’re right, I recall that now.  I’m in no hurry, so all is fine.  Taking my new pup out this coming weekend, should be good to go.

Duane

Another unhappy Fedex/UPS customer here. It’s weird how it gets close to my house and then stalls for days.

Does your neighbor see FedEx or FedEx Ground? Not the same.

Most importantly, enjoy your pup. My 12yo puppy is asleep on the sofa. Prefers it to camping.

Don’t know Ken, may be why I see two delivery vehicles some days in the area.

Duane

Happened to me last week with my Solplex. Shipped via FedEx, stalled in multiple cities, passed off to USPS. My anxiety was through the roof haha.

Not related to Zpacks but I have had a number of  problems with FedEx. They’ll leave a note in my mailbox at the bottom of the driveway without even attempting to deliver or they’ll leave a package with fabric against a poison oak bush at the bottom of the road. That last one was the worst. If possible I always pick UPS as my preferred shipping. USPS has been good but this past year they have lost half a dozen packages I have shipped out and even with tracking they do not do anything about it all for first class shipping.

Good luck and enjoy the new toy when you get it!

Each time I’ve received parcels from Zpacks in less than 7 days, and we are a long way from the US in New Zealand… funny thing is sometimes it can take longer to get things from domestic online shops…

I’m pretty sure that USPS, and it’s relationship with FedEx (and possibly other shippers) is changing rapidly.  It started with Sunday deliver of packages!!!  Then I started getting my monthly amazon shipment of three 30 lb bags of dog food via USPS…I’ll let you imagine how thrilled the postal workers were about this.  Now almost every Amazon Prime package I get is via USPS. Clearly this is a case of adapt or disappear and whatever the current level (and quality) of service, I expect it will continue to change for some time before it stabilizes.

The explosive growth of online commerce has impacted the various delivery services and resulted in a lot of “innovation”. Also USPS has lost a lot of their traditional mail business with the shift to fewer people using the mail to send letters etc.

Makes perfect sense to use the idle capacity in the USPS mail delivery system to supplement Fedex, UPS etc.

Also, from what I’ve heard USPS Priority mail uses USPS for acceptance and delivery; once USPS picks up or accepts the packages, they are sent to Fedex who then hand it off to USPS for delivery close to the destination. Apparently Fedex has (had?) excess capacity on their long haul aircraft.

I haven’t had any issue, yet… I ordered some stuff from zPacks recently, received via USPS in a couple of days as usual.

I’m a big fan of USPS, it’s the only way I ship stuff. Have yet to have an issue, though a recent shipment to Canada took much longer than I expected, but no issues for domestic stuff.

Update, just received another tracking # from ZPacks, usps, different than my original order.   Hmm?  Not looking for freebies.  Maybe part of my order was shipped separately.

Duane