A couple of weeks ago I placed a CD order with Amazon. For some reason two items were shipped via FedEx Smartpost while another was shipped via UPS, both packages sent on the same day. I received the UPS package two days later but I'm still waiting for the other one to arrive over a week later. When I called FedEx to check the status, they explained that Smartpost means they deliver it to my local post office, which then takes a couple of days to process before it's delivered.

It's now ten days since the shipment went out and, according to their website, it hasn't even been delivered to the post office yet. The Amazon delivery estimate was March 11, a week ago today. How long do I wait before contacting Amazon? Or is this the responsibility of FedEx or the post office? The longest an Amazon shipment has ever taken for me is about 3-4 days, and usually it's within 2. I'd love to know who makes the decisions about shipping methods. Has anyone else here had similar issues?

They should change their slogan to "FedEx it, and you WILL forget it!"

So I'm not alone? Whew, that feels better. Now I just want my CDs.

I'm part of Amazon Prime and just recently received my first package from them via Smartpost. I had placed the order on Thursday, expecting a Friday delivery, because that's the way it used to work with the Amazon 2-day. (FedEx and UPS don't typically ship Saturday.) Instead, it arrived via Smartpost sometime on Saturday. I have no complaints because it still happened in the 2-day window. It was just different. I suspect that when you place an order from Amazon with a specific date expectation, you're still going to get that date met. With non-specific dates though, who knows?

How long is it going to be before Amazon starts their own shipping company? They're already moving their warehousing into more and more areas.

Walter, you're like an Amazon First Class passenger. The rest of us in Economy don't get that kind of service.

It's a little strange, though, since once the package is in the FedEx system it should take the same amount of time. If it doesn't arrive today, I'll contact Amazon since their shipment confirmation gave me an estimated arrival date that's been missed by at least a week. Ironically, if they had just sent it via regular first class mail, it would already be here.

The latter. Once the package is out of Amazon's hands there's nothing they can do for us except to apologise for the shipper's lateness, or issue a refund (eating the cost of the package themselves) if it's so late that it's likely gone lost.

But it's good to let Amazon know if their estimated delivery dates are consistently off for where you live. They're just going by the estimates provided to them by FedEx, UPS and the USPS.

I agree with Steve that Amazon doing its own shipping is a possibility in the future. They're already experimenting with "Amazon Locker" pickups in some areas.

The package did not arrive in today's mail, so I contacted Amazon to let them know the status. I will contact FedEx later, since it's still not in the hands of my local post office.

The concept of Amazon doing its own shipping makes a lot of sense. Maybe they'll start once the post office stops Saturday deliveries.

FedEx's slogan should be It'll get there when it gets there.

I once had a component shipped to my house via fedex. I tracked it online and just happened to be home the day it was to be delivered. When it hadn't shown up by 2:00 PM, I decided to check tracking online. To my surprise it said no one was home when delivery was attempted at 9:30. Now mind you I was home all day reading in the living room by a big picture window and can guarantee no one stopped by. I drove to FedEx and had to jump through hoops to get the box.

Brian

FedEx used to be much more reliable, and they're still good when it comes to overnight delivery. Other than that, though, I never use them for my company's shipping needs. I prefer UPS.

Amazon got back to me within an hour and offered a refund or a replacement of my order. I opted for a replacement. If the original shows up, I'll send it back to them. They shouldn't be punished for the incompetence of their chosen shipping method.

FedEx once left a "we were here" notice on the storage closet door at the back end of my carport. I guess that was easier than climbing the stairs to the front door (the one that has a door bell, apartment number, etc.) to see if anyone was home.

I'm surprised so many have issues with FedEx. My experience with them have always been positive. One advantage I have is that there is a FedEx office between my home and workplace...these days I just head to their website and have them leave the package there and I can swing around and pick it up, no having to wait around the house for a delivery man. It's real easy and I love it.

However, this SmartPost thing is worrysome. Never liked the idea of a company handing it off to somebody else. If I'm not mistaken that's the same way DHL (i.e. The Pony Express) works...get it local and then hand it off to the USPS. I've had all sorts of trouble with DHL and generally do not like using them. Hate to think that the FedEx SmartPost will turn into the same thing.

I don't think this process is anything new, is it? I remember some Amazon orders being sent this way to my old address, so that would have been over three years ago. I don't recall there being any significant delay on these. In fact, I was glad they were being handed off to the post office because they could simply leave them in my mail box. I was always afraid with UPS or FedEx that I would not be home when they tried to deliver something and I'd have to go pick it up. I've never lived or worked convenient to any of their locations.

I didn't realize that's the way DHL operated. My worst experience with them came in 1998, when a friend who worked at Universal Music got me a copy of "The Complete Hank Williams" 10-CD box set. She told me that she would be able to send it soon, but after a couple of weeks I asked her if she would be sending it soon and she replied, "I sent it to your apartment via DHL that day." I checked the tracking number and according to DHL, I had signed for it. What probably happened was, the DHL (or UPS?) delivery person saw someone in my lobby and asked if they could sign on my behalf. They "signed" my name and kept it for themselves. That was the last package I ever had shipped to that apartment.

Back to the original reason for this thread: Amazon already shipped my replacement order via Next Day, so I'll have my CDs today. Great customer service, as usual. I will be wary anytime they ship via FedEx Smartpost in the future.

Shouldn't DHL eat the cost of this, since they made the mistake? It wasn't like the guy came out of your apartment, he was just some dude in the lobby.

DHL took no responsibility. According to them, they had "my" signature on file, so that's all the proof of delivery they needed. I ended up getting a used copy shortly after that, but it cost me about $95. Luckily, most of that was a trade-in credit, but it would've been nice to have a free copy and use that credit toward something else.

I got my replacement CDs from Amazon today, and still no sign of the original shipment. I wouldn't be surprised if it shows up eventually.

One of the items I ordered, the new Josh Ritter CD ("The Beast In Its Tracks"), is the full-packaged digipak, but the printing on the disc reads, "Advance Music/Release Date: March 2013" (yet still has a design on the label). I'll contact his record company to let them know, since there are some buyers who would be very upset about this. Not me, though. As long as I have the music & all the packaging elements, I'm pleased.

For anyone who's still curious, the original order that was shipped by Amazon on March 7 via FedEx Smartpost never arrived, and I have to assume it's lost for good. However, I'm happy to report that another order they shipped the same way on Wednesday (two days ago) just showed up at my office. I'll be listening to the new Billy Bragg and Josh Rouse CDs later today. Hopefully that lost shipment was just a fluke.