last month Hoosier's sent out a notice to the people who had requested auction email updates that they still had a bunch of plants left. they stated that aos affiliated orchid clubs that would like a box of plants for auctions and/or raffles could contact them and pay for shipping, and they would receive the plants (free except for shipping). I received a notice that plants would be shipping via fedex ground and received a tracking number. I checked out the tracking number this afternoon since the last notice said the package was in kentucky (last night). I was pretty surprised to see from the notice that supposedly the package had been left at the front door downstairs (not my apartment and not the same address) at 10:30am (!). I went down and sure enough the box was there with a prominent sticker on it saying 'Plants - keep from heat and cold!'. obviously the driver couldn't read english or didn't care.
I called Hoosier's, thanked them for the shipment (they weren't even going to charge for shipping, totally free) but informed them that fedex had left the box at the front downstairs apartment door and had been outside for six hours at approx. 29˚F, did they want me to contact fedex and file some sort of claim? they said fedex doesn't insure for perishables and unfortunately they must not care...... they told me that the plants may make it, and they would send more if they didn't, but I feel bad that they were being very generous and the shipper basically just dumped the box because they could, and wouldn't be liable for it.
I called fedex customer service, and the representative basically told me the driver was authorized to drop the box (no matter what it said on it) at the front door, even though it wasn't the recipient's address, because the little box stating 'hold for signature' hadn't been checked. so, the driver was completely within their authority to dump the box and go on their way! I told them that was absolutely terrible service, and that there are two fedex service centers within 10 miles of my apartment and if they had left a note for pickup (since no-one was even home at the address they went to) I would have come for the box and everything would have been fine. the rep told me 'the driver was completely justified in doing exactly what they did'.... they asked if I wanted to file a formal complaint, but I didn't think anything beneficial would happen, other than any other packages sent to me by fedex (not by my choice) would probably be trashed.
what a bunch of crap! I would hesitate a lot if I were anyone who was thinking about receiving any plants via fedex or were going to ship some that way. I was told that plants were not covered by insurance or anything like that since they are perishable, and it seems that because of that they can do anything to the package and not be liable for it, so basically you are rolling the dice. I hope some of the plants make it, what a waste. you would think that a company and it's employees would be concerned about the public image that this lack of attention reflects back on to them! I'll never send anything anywhere via fedex if I can help it at all.
I called Hoosier's, thanked them for the shipment (they weren't even going to charge for shipping, totally free) but informed them that fedex had left the box at the front downstairs apartment door and had been outside for six hours at approx. 29˚F, did they want me to contact fedex and file some sort of claim? they said fedex doesn't insure for perishables and unfortunately they must not care...... they told me that the plants may make it, and they would send more if they didn't, but I feel bad that they were being very generous and the shipper basically just dumped the box because they could, and wouldn't be liable for it.
I called fedex customer service, and the representative basically told me the driver was authorized to drop the box (no matter what it said on it) at the front door, even though it wasn't the recipient's address, because the little box stating 'hold for signature' hadn't been checked. so, the driver was completely within their authority to dump the box and go on their way! I told them that was absolutely terrible service, and that there are two fedex service centers within 10 miles of my apartment and if they had left a note for pickup (since no-one was even home at the address they went to) I would have come for the box and everything would have been fine. the rep told me 'the driver was completely justified in doing exactly what they did'.... they asked if I wanted to file a formal complaint, but I didn't think anything beneficial would happen, other than any other packages sent to me by fedex (not by my choice) would probably be trashed.
what a bunch of crap! I would hesitate a lot if I were anyone who was thinking about receiving any plants via fedex or were going to ship some that way. I was told that plants were not covered by insurance or anything like that since they are perishable, and it seems that because of that they can do anything to the package and not be liable for it, so basically you are rolling the dice. I hope some of the plants make it, what a waste. you would think that a company and it's employees would be concerned about the public image that this lack of attention reflects back on to them! I'll never send anything anywhere via fedex if I can help it at all.