Potential financial disaster looming for FedEx?

[HoursHore]

But if you need it over night, whose your daddy? And yes You can Jump on FDX if you're CASS. But you must like arriving at 5:30 AM

 

[FNG_that's me]

Fed Ex's biggest problem is that its service is more expensive and not nearly as good as UPS. Fed Ex has been playing "me too" for a long time now. UPS bought Mail Boxes Etc and now has a grip on those of us with small business accounts. The Kinkos stores are too big and too diversified to make handy shipping centers.

The worst part of Fed Ex is their ground staff. The people at the Fed Ex shipping centers are too focused on their internal procedures to care about customers' needs. The only small business people I know who are still using Fed Ex are those who just have not got the situational awareness to realize that UPS is a better, cheaper, product. For example lets say your Fed Ex shipment gets to the local distribution center early - will they deliver it early like UPS does? NOOOO, they hold it. Can you pick it up? Nooo. Could you pay more and go pick it up, Nooo. Once your stuff is given to Fed Ex for shipment they treat it like it is their stuff. Can we use our discounts with Fed Ex? Nooo. Hey, I just carried a Fed Ex pilot to Memphis - can we jumpseat on Fed Ex? Nooooo! Fed Ex should hire David Spade to do their advertisements.

At least Fed Ex employees make ASA's gate agents in Atlanta look like Dale Carnegie course graduates in comparison.

If Fed Ex loses the Postal contract, I think they might get into trouble. There is nothing so special about Fed Ex to warrant shipping rates 30% to 40% above UPS. Beyond that, did I mention that their service sucks?

I just wanted to be the first to offer my condolences on not getting the job at FedEx, or not getting the interview, or having your girlfriend that works at FedEx break up with you.

 

[sandman2122]

```````^``````

BTW, sorry to hear FedEx has been "playing you", really sucks to be you....geez.

 

[Goose17]

you need to run for politics

Fed Ex's biggest problem is that its service is more expensive and not nearly as good as UPS. Fed Ex has been playing "me too" for a long time now. UPS bought Mail Boxes Etc and now has a grip on those of us with small business accounts. The Kinkos stores are too big and too diversified to make handy shipping centers.

The worst part of Fed Ex is their ground staff. The people at the Fed Ex shipping centers are too focused on their internal procedures to care about customers' needs. The only small business people I know who are still using Fed Ex are those who just have not got the situational awareness to realize that UPS is a better, cheaper, product. For example lets say your Fed Ex shipment gets to the local distribution center early - will they deliver it early like UPS does? NOOOO, they hold it. Can you pick it up? Nooo. Could you pay more and go pick it up, Nooo. Once your stuff is given to Fed Ex for shipment they treat it like it is their stuff. Can we use our discounts with Fed Ex? Nooo. Hey, I just carried a Fed Ex pilot to Memphis - can we jumpseat on Fed Ex? Nooooo! Fed Ex should hire David Spade to do their advertisements.

At least Fed Ex employees make ASA's gate agents in Atlanta look like Dale Carnegie course graduates in comparison.

If Fed Ex loses the Postal contract, I think they might get into trouble. There is nothing so special about Fed Ex to warrant shipping rates 30% to 40% above UPS. Beyond that, did I mention that their service sucks?

Your information is a tad off. Yes, you can get a discount shipping with FedEx... it is the same discount I get as an employee - just show your airline ID. Yes, you can jumpseat on FedEx as long as your carrier is CASS'd and also up on digital photos.

As for the price and service, I think it is a close race, but I won't defend either company.

Goose17

 

[PurpleTail]

Nooo. Hey, I just carried a Fed Ex pilot to Memphis - can we jumpseat on Fed Ex? Nooooo!

Jumpseats:
1-866-357-5711. Reserve j/s between 24 and 2 hours prior to travel. CASS member.


Here is the number, now stop that bellyaching.:smash:

 

[PurpleTail]

If Fed Ex loses the Postal contract, I think they might get into trouble. There is nothing so special about Fed Ex to warrant shipping rates 30% to 40% above UPS. Beyond that, did I mention that their service sucks?

Uhh, last time I check the investors and institutions thought differently..but what do I know? I'm just a dumb pilot

FDXOct 1888.09
UPSOct 1869.48

 

[skykid]

Fed Ex's biggest problem is that its service is more expensive and not nearly as good as UPS. Fed Ex has been playing "me too" for a long time now. UPS bought Mail Boxes Etc and now has a grip on those of us with small business accounts. The Kinkos stores are too big and too diversified to make handy shipping centers.

The worst part of Fed Ex is their ground staff. The people at the Fed Ex shipping centers are too focused on their internal procedures to care about customers' needs. The only small business people I know who are still using Fed Ex are those who just have not got the situational awareness to realize that UPS is a better, cheaper, product. For example lets say your Fed Ex shipment gets to the local distribution center early - will they deliver it early like UPS does? NOOOO, they hold it. Can you pick it up? Nooo. Could you pay more and go pick it up, Nooo. Once your stuff is given to Fed Ex for shipment they treat it like it is their stuff. Can we use our discounts with Fed Ex? Nooo. Hey, I just carried a Fed Ex pilot to Memphis - can we jumpseat on Fed Ex? Nooooo! Fed Ex should hire David Spade to do their advertisements.

At least Fed Ex employees make ASA's gate agents in Atlanta look like Dale Carnegie course graduates in comparison.

If Fed Ex loses the Postal contract, I think they might get into trouble. There is nothing so special about Fed Ex to warrant shipping rates 30% to 40% above UPS. Beyond that, did I mention that their service sucks?

Couldn't disagree with you more on who the small business uses. I work at a small business that communicates/interfaces with other small busineses all over the country. There is a reason the FedEx truck is in front of our building 2 or 3 times a day, and its not because we lack situational awareness (we have no problem with UPS either). When you start cracking on the FedEx jumpseat, you really lose credibility. I'm betting you can jumpseat if you are in CASS.

 

[dash8driver]

I just wanted to be the first to offer my condolences on not getting the job at FedEx, or not getting the interview, or having your girlfriend that works at FedEx break up with you.

pwned!





.

 

[RP 04]

Kudos to Fedex and their pilots, not a single hull loss for a looong time...

 

[~~~^~~~]

Hey guys, just my opinion.... Every time I have to go to a Fed Ex shipping location there is a long line, so there are people who disagree with me, or who at least feel that Fed Ex is worth waiting in line for.

Its a great pilot job, glad to learn you are in CASS, FDx stock has performed better than UPS and no, I have not applied to Fed Ex.

 

[Clyde]

I think the whole "who is better, purple or brown?" argument is one not worth debating.

As far as I'm concerned, it is like Coke vs Pepsi. You have hardcore Coke drinkers and you have hardcore Pepsi drinkers, and then you have people who drink both with no rhyme or reason. Either way, both companies are successful and controlling in the market.

I think the same can be said for UPS and FedEx. Both are giants, each has it's own core of followers, and then there are those who use both. I don't see one putting the other out of business anytime soon. However, I do see the two of them making it almost impossible for a third party to enter the market and be just as successful.

 

[Check Essential]

WTF, over? The ups drivers make $70k a year? What's the typical lifestyle? M-F 8 to 5 or are there working 70 hours a week for that?

The guy I did my new-hire ride with told me he never works less than a 12-hour day. He’s paid time-and-a-half after 8 hours, but said it physically impossible to complete his route in less than 12 hours.

CE

 

[Midnight Mike]

Or maybe not so smart. After accepting FedEx contracts, contractor-drivers have filed 28 lawsuits in 22 states, most seeking class action status, covering as many as 7,000 current and former drivers, plaintiff lawyers say. Arguing they're not given full autonomy, they're demanding expense reimbursement, overtime and benefits. "

So much for ethics

 

[BR549]

I think the whole "who is better, purple or brown?" argument is one not worth debating.

As far as I'm concerned, it is like Coke vs Pepsi. You have hardcore Coke drinkers and you have hardcore Pepsi drinkers, and then you have people who drink both with no rhyme or reason. Either way, both companies are successful and controlling in the market.

I think the same can be said for UPS and FedEx. Both are giants, each has it's own core of followers, and then there are those who use both. I don't see one putting the other out of business anytime soon. However, I do see the two of them making it almost impossible for a third party to enter the market and be just as successful.

You just wait till somebody starts a LCC cargo airline, then your gravy train days will be over!

 

[capt_zman]

A little jealous this morning aren't we? BTW, my newborn baby has some gravy train for you if you're interested....

 

[buster232]

Both are good companies, Both are good jobs. Stock price doesn't mean much that as far as comparison due to dilution. For those who care to know;

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/co?s=UPS

 

[skykid]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Clyde
I think the whole "who is better, purple or brown?" argument is one not worth debating.

As far as I'm concerned, it is like Coke vs Pepsi. You have hardcore Coke drinkers and you have hardcore Pepsi drinkers, and then you have people who drink both with no rhyme or reason. Either way, both companies are successful and controlling in the market.

I think the same can be said for UPS and FedEx. Both are giants, each has it's own core of followers, and then there are those who use both. I don't see one putting the other out of business anytime soon. However, I do see the two of them making it almost impossible for a third party to enter the market and be just as successful.

You just wait till somebody starts a LCC cargo airline, then your gravy train days will be over!

You got that right. But as Clyde will agree I'm sure, it is logistically impossible to do this because you're just not going to compete with the big two without the worldwide network. No doubt there are thousands of pilots willing to do the same job as UPS/FedEx pilots for less compensation, but there is no vehicle to do it. You can't compete in this arena by cherry picking routes with shiny new jets.

 

[Huck]

No doubt there are thousands of pilots willing to do the same job as UPS/FedEx pilots for less compensation, but there is no vehicle to do it.

I prefer to call this "Project X" and it is my #1 FDX concern.

I'd be willing to bet there's a dozen MBA's in Memphis working on it already - moving flying offshore, wholly owned subsidiaries, mergers with shifting of flying, whatever. Think it can't happen? Ask an Atlas pilot. I love my company but I am not betting the farm on a stable job for the next twenty years.

Watch the EU/US open skies talks closely this fall. And wonder - as I do - about who is going to be doing the flying out of Guangzhou....

 

[skykid]

I prefer to call this "Project X" and it is my #1 FDX concern.

I'd be willing to bet there's a dozen MBA's in Memphis working on it already - moving flying offshore, wholly owned subsidiaries, mergers with shifting of flying, whatever. Think it can't happen? Ask an Atlas pilot. I love my company but I am not betting the farm on a stable job for the next twenty years.

Watch the EU/US open skies talks closely this fall. And wonder - as I do - about who is going to be doing the flying out of Guangzhou....

I agree with you 100%. FedEx might not be susceptable to what has happened to the "legacies" having to match LCCs in terms of compensation, but there is more than one way to attack, as you wisely point out. Like you, I would not bet on having a stable job anywhere in this industry in the next 20 years, and certainly wouldn't count on a pension, even at the more stable companies.

 

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

I think the same can be said for UPS and FedEx. Both are giants, each has it's own core of followers, and then there are those who use both. I don't see one putting the other out of business anytime soon. However, I do see the two of them making it almost impossible for a third party to enter the market and be just as successful.

While short term that may be true, I think DHL will bear watching within the next few years. They are doing things that could potentially make them a major player in the total supply chain market which includes air freight. FWIW, I was stuck in a middle seat the other day between two junior execs from two different companies. While I found their conversation a total bore, both were saying FedEx (in their opinion) was actually behind the curve in pursuing future growth. Again they were talking about total supply chain but if a company can control the supply chain then chances are they're going to secure the air freight piece. "Old fashioned" UPS has actually done a decent job in preparing for future growth.