FedEx changing their name

FedEx stands for Federal Express, but, I am here to convince you that their name should be changed to FedSlo (Federal Sloth).

Let me first start off by saying that I hate posting anything negative. It generally does not serve anyone in any way.

With this post though, I hope to serve people by warning them off using this company, AND, I hope to serve the company by giving them the opportunity to improve.

The back story ...

I am based in South Africa, and as such, there are many things I cannot order directly online. I found a company in Sarasota, Florida, USA, which allows you to shop online, ship to them, and they will repackage everything into a single package and ship it to South Africa using a courier company.

I have been doing this for several years and it works great. The courier costs are not cheap, but, it is generally worth the money.

The story ...

As we are nearing Christmas time, I have been doing a fair amount of shopping online and sending it all to this company in Florida.

Knowing that is may take a little longer than usual because of the crazy busy holiday season, I shipped the whole package on 28 November at a cost of US$ 312.99, which roughly translates to ZAR 4,428.80. Yeah, that is an eye-watering cost for shipping a package, but, as I said, I am willing to pay it, and it is worth it in the end.

This was ECONOMY shipping mind you.

The scheduled delivery date was 6 December, but I knew it would be a few days late as is always the case with FedEx.

On Thursday, 29 November, the package arrived at Memphis, Tennesee. This is one of the major hubs in the US and it normally stays there for a day before leaving the US.

By Wednesday 5 December, the package was STILL at Memphis.

I phoned FedEx south Africa to find out what on earth is going on as there is now no way that they would meet their scheduled delivery date.

As is usual, I spoke to a totally clueless person who promised to find out what is going on and get back to me.

I provided my telephone number, my email address as well as my ID number so they can process the package through customs as soon as it arrives.

I never heard back from this person, but, miraculously, the next day the package arrived in the UK, now well on it's way to South Africa.

The package arrived in South Africa on Saturday, 8 December.

I was very happy at this point as it now looked like it should clear custom on Monday, and I should receive the package on Tuesday, well in advance of Christmas.

Monday 10 December though, the status changed to: "Goods are subject to regulatory review."

I have no idea why this would happen as there is nothing in the package that would warrant such an action.

BUT, at the end of the day, we are dealing with the South African government here and as we all know, ANYTHING is possible with these jokers!

I have been phoning and emailing FedEx South Africa non-stop to get updates and get this moving, and the ONLY response I EVER get is that are waiting for customs clearance.

Yeah, not helpful in the LEAST!

Today is Monday 17 December, which is a public holiday, so, AGAIN nothing will happen.

This then leaves 4 days to get this package out of customs and delivered to my house.

I highly doubt this will happen, which then means a LOT of Christmas presents will NOT be given on Christmas day!

Oh, and for the privilege of this fantastic service, I will probably still have to cough up an additional ZAR 4,000 or so for import duties!

THANKS FedSlo!

Now, just QUICKLY, let me tell you my experience with DHL, shipping from the same place in the US ...

The SAME day I ship something from this place in Florida using DHL, I get an SMS telling me there is a package incoming.

The next day I get an email with an invoice for customs duties to be paid, and which I can pay online. At this point, the package has just left the US.

DHL ALWAYS delivers the day BEFORE the scheduled delivery. ALWAYS!

So, if I know all this, why did I not just use DHL for this shipment as I always do?

Well, there is ONE negative with DHL ... They do not ship anything which contains a lithium-ion battery.

This package had 2 small devices with lithium-ion batteries, so, I was forced to use FedSlo for this one.

If it wasn't for the batteries, I would 100% ALWAYS use DHL!

So, reader be warned ... STAY AWAY FROM FEDSLO if you want anything delivered on time!