iPad 2 shipped via FedEx - why is "hold at FedEx location" not available?

[AVR2]

Now that my iPad 2 has finally shipped with an estimated delivery date of 26th April, I've discovered that there will be nobody to receive it at its destination until the 27th April. FedEx will attempt to deliver 3 times before returning to shipper.

If the first attempt is on the 26th that shouldn't be a problem, but what if it gets through the system faster, the first attempt is actually the 25th and the third and final attempt on the 27th happens before anyone's arrived back home?

After a month-long wait I really don't want to have to go through the hassle of the damn thing being sent back to Apple...

I've tried choosing the "Hold at FedEx Location" option, but it says that it's "not available for this shipment". Anyone know why? The FedEx website isn't exactly helpful about this particular issue.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Apple likely doesn't permit the hold. Did you call fedex and ask?

 

[cavemonkey50]

If you miss the delivery, you can specify on the slip for them to leave it or for you to pick it up at their warehouse. If no one will be home at all on those days, just watch the tracking for when they attempt to deliver it. Give FedEx a call with your tracking number after the first delivery attempt and arrange a time to pick it up at their warehouse.

 

[AVR2]

@cavemonkey50, thanks for that. So they'll hold the package if you call them after a failed delivery, but you can't specify that they hold it before they try and deliver it - yeah, I can understand the logic there

 

[XXFirefighter]

@cavemonkey50, thanks for that. So they'll hold the package if you call them after a failed delivery, but you can't specify that they hold it before they try and deliver it - yeah, I can understand the logic there

That's EXACTLY right...
Trust me. I know the frustration. Being a firefighter and my messed up schedule... it's not easy for me to get something from fedex.

 

[Pipper99]

Yeah, Apple requires that they make a delivery attempt. I tried to pick up mine at my fedex distribution center before the truck left the facility, but they wouldn't pull it off of the truck and give it to me: they said that they had to make an attempt and then I could pick it up when the driver returned. It's frustrating when you're there at the counter, the truck hasn't left, you're saving the driver a failed delivery attempt, etc.

 

[steadysignal]

Yeah, Apple requires that they make a delivery attempt. I tried to pick up mine at my fedex distribution center before the truck left the facility, but they wouldn't pull it off of the truck and give it to me: they said that they had to make an attempt and then I could pick it up when the driver returned. It's frustrating when you're there at the counter, the truck hasn't left, you're saving the driver a failed delivery attempt, etc.

the situation you just described is EXTREMELY frustrating. its that robotic behavior that infuriates people - if you are there at the station, why not just give you the package???!!!

 

[XXFirefighter]

the situation you just described is EXTREMELY frustrating. its that robotic behavior that infuriates people - if you are there at the station, why not just give you the package???!!!

Oh I can take it to the next level of frustration.
I'll try to make this a painless read...
I'm @ work, call to hold, they can't hold until attempted delivery.
I call that night, they said ok sure.. We'll hold.
I go to fedex the next morning to pick up the package, they say oh it's on a truck for delivery. I said why id that, I clearly called for a hold They said they get hold notices at 9 AM. Well the trucks leave at 8 AM already loaded. So back home I go, and what's on my door? A missed shipment slip. I call them to re-place a hold, they said oh, there's already a hold.. I said clearly there's a hold since last night, but that doesn't explain why it's out for delivery today. So needs to say it took me 3 days to get my next day package.

 

[billhelm]

you can take your chances with the waiver as well. they will put it in a spot you designate and can deliver it to a neighbor as well.

that waiver is available in the apple order confirmation screens.

I ended up doing that versus waiting.

There's also this that I've seen pointed to by a couple of other people on this site but haven't tried to use it myself.

http://abs.apple.com/cst/

 

[XXFirefighter]

you can take your chances with the waiver as well. they will put it in a spot you designate and can deliver it to a neighbor as well.

that waiver is available in the apple order confirmation screens.

I ended up doing that versus waiting.

There's also this that I've seen pointed to by a couple of other people on this site but haven't tried to use it myself.

http://abs.apple.com/cst/

Ya... about that...
I"m not letting 800 bucks sit on my doorstep.

 

[Pipper99]

Oh I can take it to the next level of frustration.
I'll try to make this a painless read...
I'm @ work, call to hold, they can't hold until attempted delivery.
I call that night, they said ok sure.. We'll hold.
I go to fedex the next morning to pick up the package, they say oh it's on a truck for delivery. I said why id that, I clearly called for a hold They said they get hold notices at 9 AM. Well the trucks leave at 8 AM already loaded. So back home I go, and what's on my door? A missed shipment slip. I call them to re-place a hold, they said oh, there's already a hold.. I said clearly there's a hold since last night, but that doesn't explain why it's out for delivery today. So needs to say it took me 3 days to get my next day package.

Ugh, that sounds like an Abott and Costello routine.

 

[snebes]

Perhaps you people won't understand FedEx's and UPS's procedures until your iPad is stolen. And to the OP, if Fedex says the 26th, expect the first attempt then. Your package isn't going to magically get there 7 business days faster (so that you miss the 3 attempts and 5 day hold).

 

[diegosilang]

@cavemonkey50, thanks for that. So they'll hold the package if you call them after a failed delivery, but you can't specify that they hold it before they try and deliver it - yeah, I can understand the logic there

I had the same dilemma. They attempted delivery yesterday but no one was around to receive the package. So after the 1st missed delivery attempt, i called Fedex and did a "hold at fedex facility" request. They accomodated me and I plan on picking it up today before they close at 7:30 pm (Ontario, CA). Make sure you have your Door tag number and name of recipient available when you call them to make this request to speed up the process of your request.

 

[rworne]

I had the same dilemma. They attempted delivery yesterday but no one was around to receive the package. So after the 1st missed delivery attempt, i called Fedex and did a "hold at fedex facility" request. They accomodated me and I plan on picking it up today before they close at 7:30 pm (Ontario, CA). Make sure you have your Door tag number and name of recipient available when you call them to make this request to speed up the process of your request.

Why call? You can do this right from the FedEx tracking page.

 

[crazycanucks]

Why not have it shipped to work?

 

[rworne]

Yeah, Apple requires that they make a delivery attempt. I tried to pick up mine at my fedex distribution center before the truck left the facility, but they wouldn't pull it off of the truck and give it to me: they said that they had to make an attempt and then I could pick it up when the driver returned. It's frustrating when you're there at the counter, the truck hasn't left, you're saving the driver a failed delivery attempt, etc.

If they do, then why do I have this? Note that it never went out for delivery:

Date/Time Activity Location Details
Apr 21, 2011 9:04 AM At local FedEx facility NORTH HILLS, CA
Apr 21, 2011 9:03 AMHeld at FedEx location for recipient pickupNORTH HILLS, CA
Package available for pickup at FedEx World Service Center: 16633 SCHOENBORN STREET
Apr 21, 2011 7:40 AMAt local FedEx facilityNORTH HILLS, CA
Apr 21, 2011 6:40 AMIn transitLOS ANGELES, CA
Apr 21, 2011 2:19 AMDeparted FedEx locationOAKLAND, CA
Apr 20, 2011 9:49 PMArrived at FedEx locationOAKLAND, CA
Apr 20, 2011 4:46 PMDeparted FedEx locationANCHORAGE, AK
Apr 21, 2011 12:18 AMHold at FedEx location request receivedNORTH HILLS, CACheck back later for shipment status
Apr 19, 2011 5:29 PMIn transitANCHORAGE, AK
Apr 19, 2011 2:47 PMInt'l shipment releaseANCHORAGE, AK
Apr 19, 2011 12:10 PMArrived at FedEx locationANCHORAGE, AK
Apr 19, 2011 6:44 PMIn transitCHEK LAP KOK HK
Apr 18, 2011 11:13 PMAt local FedEx facilityLANTAU ISLAND HK
Apr 18, 2011 12:31 PMIn transitLANTAU ISLAND HK
Apr 17, 2011 8:46 PMPicked upSHENZHEN CNPackage received after FedEx cutoff
Apr 17, 2011 1:28 AMShipment information sent to FedEx

 

[diegosilang]

Why call? You can do this right from the FedEx tracking page.

Thank you for the suggestion.

Yes, I did try that first since it stated that as an option on the tracking page and it was posted right smack in the middle of the page so no one would miss it. You open the link and it tells you that the option to request a hold online is not available for this delivery and instructs you to instead call FedEx to make that request. Hence the phone call.........

 

[rworne]

Thank you for the suggestion.

Yes, I did try that first since it stated that as an option on the tracking page and it was posted right smack in the middle of the page so no one would miss it. You open the link and it tells you that the option to request a hold online is not available for this delivery and instructs you to instead call FedEx to make that request. Hence the phone call.........

I have had it do that to me as well, but usually it does that once the package reached the hub. If you try to request beforehand, it may go through. I made my request while the iPad was still shaking off jet lag in Alaska.

 

[AVR2]

Your package isn't going to magically get there 7 business days faster (so that you miss the 3 attempts and 5 day hold).

So after the third attempt they hold it for a further 5 days before returning it to Apple? I didn't know that, the impression given was that after the third failed attempt it goes straight back to Apple.

 

[cyberpuddy]

iPad2 Delivery -- Experience with Apple & FedEx

For what it's worth, here are my take-aways from my experience trying to get my iPad2:
- Is "expedited/express" delivery available? Who knows? Apple site indicates "no". However, I called Apple, requested it (before iPad left Hong Kong), was granted it, paid for it ($8.99), and saw that my Apple order was updated to reflect it. (Was going to cut 2 days off of estimated delivery date. Yippee! Hoped to get it in time for a special occasion. Lucky me!) But, saw that FedEx tracking did not reflect any change to delivery timeframe. FedEx rep confirmed that FedEx was never informed by Apple of the upgrade to express delivery. So, I called Apple, they apologized, gave me a free iPad accessory (nice gesture!) since, by that point, nothing could be done.
- Is "Hold at FedEx location" option available without there first having to be a failed delivery attempt (for those of us who have to be at work during delivery hours and have no alternative drop-off site)? Who knows? FedEx site indicates "no", that shipper does not permit this option. However, feeling lucky (prior to learning of snafu above), called FedEx to request the hold, was granted it, and saw that my FedEx tracking record was updated to reflect it. However, on the iPad arrived in Houston (wee hours of the morning), FedEx loaded the iPad onto the truck for delivery despite their records' reflecting the "hold". So, either their was a snafu at FedEx or the "hold, but only after one failed delivery attempt" is a hard, fast rule.
- Morals of the story - (1) Customers, despite what Apple reps or FedEx reps tell you, don't get your hopes up that you'll have any ability to impact how or when your iPad2 gets delivered (those delivery options may be hard-coded, despite what the customer service reps may see in their systems); (2) Apple needs to devote a modicum of PR energy to this issue (specifically, explain to customers why Apple requires the one failed delivery attempt; this requirement is apparently not imposed by FedEx since FedEx offers the "hold" (without first requiring a failed delivery attempt) for its non-Apple shipments)

 

[birdbaby]

Apple likely doesn't permit the hold. Did you call fedex and ask?

FedEx is NOT user friendly. Even if you call, and confirm your package is being held at the location, it often is returned the next morning to the shipper because FedEx considers that a "refused delivery". FedEx lies. Use UPS, you'll be a whole lot happier. Boycott FedEx

----------

For what it's worth, here are my take-aways from my experience trying to get my iPad2:
- Is "expedited/express" delivery available? Who knows? Apple site indicates "no". However, I called Apple, requested it (before iPad left Hong Kong), was granted it, paid for it ($8.99), and saw that my Apple order was updated to reflect it. (Was going to cut 2 days off of estimated delivery date. Yippee! Hoped to get it in time for a special occasion. Lucky me!) But, saw that FedEx tracking did not reflect any change to delivery timeframe. FedEx rep confirmed that FedEx was never informed by Apple of the upgrade to express delivery. So, I called Apple, they apologized, gave me a free iPad accessory (nice gesture!) since, by that point, nothing could be done.
- Is "Hold at FedEx location" option available without there first having to be a failed delivery attempt (for those of us who have to be at work during delivery hours and have no alternative drop-off site)? Who knows? FedEx site indicates "no", that shipper does not permit this option. However, feeling lucky (prior to learning of snafu above), called FedEx to request the hold, was granted it, and saw that my FedEx tracking record was updated to reflect it. However, on the iPad arrived in Houston (wee hours of the morning), FedEx loaded the iPad onto the truck for delivery despite their records' reflecting the "hold". So, either their was a snafu at FedEx or the "hold, but only after one failed delivery attempt" is a hard, fast rule.
- Morals of the story - (1) Customers, despite what Apple reps or FedEx reps tell you, don't get your hopes up that you'll have any ability to impact how or when your iPad2 gets delivered (those delivery options may be hard-coded, despite what the customer service reps may see in their systems); (2) Apple needs to devote a modicum of PR energy to this issue (specifically, explain to customers why Apple requires the one failed delivery attempt; this requirement is apparently not imposed by FedEx since FedEx offers the "hold" (without first requiring a failed delivery attempt) for its non-Apple shipments)

or be really smart and get away from any company that refuses to use any delivery option that FedEx. FedEx is basically a clueless company consisting of morons.

 

[Medic311]

even UPS has started to allow package holds at the local hub PRIOR to even the 1st delivery attempt

why FedEx still doesn't allow this is clueless.

 

[ramram55]

even UPS has started to allow package holds at the local hub PRIOR to even the 1st delivery attempt

why FedEx still doesn't allow this is clueless.

Fed ex hold usually with the shipper notifying them to hold for pick up, once I managed to do that with my seller, yet entering Fed Ex facility to pick up is liked entering super secret site, you have to be buzzed in and cameras are everywhere.

 

[djransom]

Why not have it shipped to work?

I've learned to follow this strategy.

 

[takeshi74]

yet entering Fed Ex facility to pick up is liked entering super secret site, you have to be buzzed in and cameras are everywhere.

None of the ones I frequent are like that.