Whatever you do, don't use FedEx Smartpost to ship anything

[Rich C]

One of my recent plasma lamp purchases, here's the tracking (and it isn't even here yet!), from CA to NE.  Didn't help that the seller took two full days to physically get it in the shipping system.  Who knows when it will actually show up here, it was closer to me when it was in Lenexa than it is now being in Des Moines:

Date/Time	Activity		Location
-    7/31/2014  -  Thursday
5:33 pm	In transit		DES MOINES, IA
	In transit to local Post Office - Allow two to three additional days for delivery
-    7/29/2014  -  Tuesday
3:02 pm	In transit		DES MOINES, IA
	In transit to U.S. Postal Service
12:00 pm	Shipment information sent to U.S. Postal Service
10:43 am	Departed FedEx location		FEDEX SMARTPOST KANSAS CITY, KS
-    7/28/2014  -  Monday
4:22 pm	Arrived at FedEx location		FEDEX SMARTPOST KANSAS CITY, KS
-    7/26/2014  -  Saturday
7:35 am	Departed FedEx location		LENEXA, KS
-    7/25/2014  -  Friday
6:25 pm	Arrived at FedEx location		LENEXA, KS
-    7/24/2014  -  Thursday
10:32 am	Departed FedEx location		CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA
5:02 am	Arrived at FedEx location		CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA
-    7/23/2014  -  Wednesday
7:49 pm	Left FedEx origin facility		VENTURA, CA
6:57 pm	Arrived at FedEx location		VENTURA, CA
6:01 pm	Picked up		VENTURA, CA
2:30 pm	In FedEx possession		THOUSAND OAKS, CA
	Tendered at FedEx location
-    7/21/2014  -  Monday
2:22 pm	Shipment information sent to FedEx

[Carol]

That's insane!!!  I've ordered things and they went farther away from me before they got closer.  I guess it depends on where the FedEx offices are or something.  Who knows how they do things.  I have to order a gookit from Callie!!  I hope it doesn't take forever.......oh well, I guess I can start cleaning out my globes, lol!!! 

[Rich C]

FedEx Smartpost is half FedEx and half USPS.  The problem is the hand off is slow and the locations where the USPS can take over are limited.  Would have been here a week ago if it had been straight FedEx Ground or USPS.  It is the combo that is the killer.  Says it is in Lincoln now, might actually get it tomorrow.... (I live just outside of Lincoln).

[Carol]

Well if one can avoid that its good to know. So if an ebay seller ships that way maybe one can message them for an alternate shipping method.

[Rich C]

I've been talking to the seller and he said he wasn't even aware of what service was used, he just used the ebay shipping set up service.  I'm not sure I believe him though since I can't see ebay being interested in using a service that is so slow.  Even on FedEx's website they say that Smartpost is for non-time critical packages that can afford to take a while to arrive so this is an expected result not a fluke.  Shipping was pretty normal in cost so I can't see it being a huge cost savings tool either.

 

[Carol]

Um, we're talking collector's lamps here people!!!! This is DEF not a NON  TIME CRITICAL item here, lol!!!  I almost attacked my mail lady for my ebay scores!!!!  lol!!!

[Carol]

Rich, was that the new one in your recent pic you posted???   You finally got it 2day?  Don't you luv that, when you think it's gonna be another day and it comes on the day you don't expect??!!!

[Rich C]

Yep, the Larry Albright plasma globe is the one that was delayed.  Very happy it arrived today.

[Carol]

That has gorgeous coloring to it.  I bet pictures don't even do it justice.  It's prob awesome up close and personal!!!  I don't think I've ever saw a plasma with that type of coloring in it.  Enjoy!!

[Keith]

Ordered a few things off of Amazon lately that were shipped Smartpost.  Left the shipping facility within 24 hours, shipped by Fedex and delivered to USPS drop-off within 48 hours, sat at drop-off facility for a week, shipped from facility and arrived at my door within 48 hours.  Makes NO sense at all!!

[Rich C]

Must be a super cheap option otherwise I can't see even one small advantage to using this option.  Smartpost my ass......

[Tim Gill]

Smart post more like stupid post, I understand that things often go through a fue depots and not always go direct as it's often more efficient with bulk amounts, but this is crazy. It also means there is much more chance of loss and damage.
Use USPS or UPS - I get various things from US to UK and haven't had a issue with them