Fedex Service - December 2020 - (Ontario, Canada) - Digikey orders - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Jay_Diddy_B
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2020, 06:29:08 pm
content: Hi group,I am wondering if other forum members are getting similarservicefrom Fedex?I am used to being able to order from Digikey before 6pm and have the order delivered by Fedex the next day.Theserviceon my last few shipments has been terrible:Digikey did their part and got my order to Fedex, but Fedex has been really slooow. They still can't commit to delivering on Monday.Is anybody else experience similar delays?There are no service guarantees.( I think I am getting Fedsex)Regards,Jay_Diddy_B

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2020, 11:53:44 pm
content: Yes, lately I have seen them take MUCH longer to get an order shipped than a couple monts ago. I often order in the evening, and the label is generated during the night and I get the "shipped" email the next morning. Now, it seems to take a whole day, and in one case the order just got stalled and I had to call them on the phone. They could not explain why that order did not ship, but got it "unstalled".They could have a lot of staff out with COVID, or having them work from home doesn't really get the job done in a warehouse/shipping company.Oh, sorry, didn't read closely enough. Your issue is with FedEx, not Digi-Key. Well, I have seen some rather circuitous routing for FedEx ground, but the Memphis location suggests this was an air shipment. Now, it rather looks like it is a customs issue in Canada.Jon

author: Selectech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2020, 12:07:16 am
content: I'm in Ottawa and yes, Fedex has become slower re Digikey. What was Digikey next day via Fedex is now 2 or 3 days.They've all gotten a bit slower ( Fedex, DHL, UPS ) and also Purolator within Ontario.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2020, 12:16:48 am
content: Quote from: jmelson on December 12, 2020, 11:53:44 pmIt may well be Digikey issue, they may have cheaped out to using a less expensive slower Fedex delivery option, while charging customers the same. If that was the case it would be another step for Digikey going down the drain. If you have old invoices/emails mentioning the shipping method used, see if it was different than the one they use now. This may explain it. It would be a shame as fast delivery used to be Digikey's competitive advantage.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 13, 2020, 08:15:29 am
content: Wow, you think Digikey "cheaped" out offering Fedex overnight for $8 dollars on orders less then $100 bucks and free if over $100?I've had delays with all couriers since Covid. UPS in my area had 4 days of packages backed up to deliver locally for a while.Seems to be the new "normal".Quote from: Bud on December 13, 2020, 12:16:48 am

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2020, 10:04:44 am
content: Currently hoping for the best; Fedex failed delivering a Mouser package on time, timing estimate now completely removed, I have no idea whether I'll ever get that shipment.Just some weeks ago, UPS totally failed a Farnell shipment due to information systems issues. After one failed delivery attempt, the information of the failed delivery didn't reach some part of the tracking system. I checked the tracking status every day, it claimed no failed delivery attempts, and every day it updated that the package is in transit and will be delivered that day. So I waited. And waited. And waited. They informed me that due to Covid, I need to wait. Inreality, the package was on-hold waiting for me to contact them, without giving that information tomein any form. Only retrospectively they could see this data from theirinternalinterface, but not through the public tracking. After a week of no deliveries (which actually never happened despite the tracking system claiming they would), the package was finally returned to Farnell. During that same time, UPS delivered me two other packages just fine. What a piece of crap.It seems these crap companies now have a reliability of approx. 85%. This means, if I need parts, I have to place the same order twice, preferably from different distributors using different couriers, then the chances of getting at least one shipment is increased to some 98%. Now this will double the material costs for any project but usually human costs dominate, but then there is the problem what to do with all the excess stuff.Another option is, once you know you will be getting a shipment and know the tracking number, proactively bomb the shit out of the customer support trying to negotiate so that they don't even try to deliver it to you, but instead if you could drive to their location instead to pick it up. For example, in my case, it's always just the last 100km which takes anything from one day to one week, of fails completely. There hasneverbeen any problem getting the couriers to get the stuff inside Finnish borders, but when this happens, the service stops there. It's so close but so far!After all, waiting for a package for a week, holding a project down, calling around for hours, quickly comes up to tens of thousands of $. Heck, with that level of bullshit, I would preferably fly to the U.S. to pick the parts myself!The root cause for this level of bullshittery is the peculiar nature of this business: theactualcustomer is not the same as the formal customer. When I order from Digikey, Mouser, or Farnell,I'mthe one who finally pays for all the services I receive, so I'm theactualcustomer. Yet, I have no contract with UPS or DHL or FedEx. For them, it's enough they show a nice face and offer good enough service for thesender. Then they can give whatever shit to the end customer. The only thing I could do is to complain to Mouser. Oh, maybe I'll do just that.

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2020, 03:15:04 am
content: I've had some Microchip parts sitting in Indianapolis for 8 days now.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2020, 03:20:17 am
content: I ordered some filament for 3D printing, supposed to be 2 day delivery and it took four days.Now I have self-imposed new rule. No more orders until after holidays are over.

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2020, 04:08:50 am
content: It has been slower all this year but it got worse in December. It is not limited to FedEx either. USPS and UPS are all slower. I had several instances of package coming from Colorado Springs reaching our local hub (Orlando), then go back to Georgia, Michigan, back to Orlando, and finally to my city.It's quite understandable though.... on top of busy holiday season, we have Covid affecting everything. Weakness of our infrastructure is more obvious this year than any other year.If one must have something quickly, better use over-night service which is usually prioritized. 2 days and longer services might mean you might wait a week.

author: tonyh88
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2020, 04:34:38 am
content: I did couple orders in the last weeks and all of them came in 2 days. I'm used to get delivery the next day but I won't complain as it is still pretty fast.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2020, 06:10:46 am
content: @TheSteve I do not know how long you've been using Digikey. I remember times when they were doing free shipping for $30 orders.In the case we discuss now - if they lowered delivery method but did not change shipping charge - how's that not being going cheap and make an extra buck on shipping ?

author: chickenHeadKnob
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2020, 10:53:22 am
content: I thought digikey used to truck overnight /early morning from Thief River to Winnipeg and ship to the rest of Canada from there

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2020, 11:03:04 am
content: All the courier services that own their own airplanes are being overloaded as everyone upgrades shipping to try and get things before xmas.For me DHL/FEDEX has gone from ~3 days to 10 (USA to New Zealand)and UPS from 4 days to ~18.China mail has gone from 3 weeks to still waiting after 3 months overdue.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 16, 2020, 01:57:11 am
content: Quote from: chickenHeadKnob on December 14, 2020, 10:53:22 amIf you order earlier in the day they truck it across the border, if it is later in the day it usually goes via Memphis.

author: ve7xen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2020, 02:47:02 am
content: Yup, DigiKey package ordered on Friday night and due to me in Vancouver on Monday is still (Tuesday night) sitting in a warehouse in the suburbs. They even had the weekend days extra! I'd go pick it up if they'd tell me where, but they won't. I kind of needed these parts urgently.DigiKey pays for 'Priority Overnight'. Regardless of their volumes right now, you would think that this (I think it's the highest) priority would extend to putting it on a delivery truck to deliver?? There can't be that much of an increased demand for high-priority packages due to the holidays? Still plenty of time to not pay and get there on time... I'd expect it to decrease if anything as the portion of personal packages goes up...Somewhat annoyed, I called FedEx and they can't even promise when it will end up on the truck, despite already being 24h late.I haven't noticed a significant change in UPS/DHL recently due to COVID, but haven't ordered anything from them in the holiday season.

author: Jay_Diddy_B
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2020, 12:17:41 am
content: Hi,Here is the tracking info for this weeks Digikey order. This week I ordered on Tuesday about 6:00 pm local time.It looks like it is slightly improved. I am hoping to get the parts tomorrow.You can track the FedEx planes on flightaware:Regards,Jay_Diddy_B

author: asmi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2020, 05:15:27 am
content: I've placed an order at DK Sunday night, and received it today, as it would normally be the case - but it was shipped from Canadian warehouse in Winnipeg, MB, so that probably explains the speed. Mouser order is taking an extra day (at least) - it's at the local Fedex station right now, so hopefully it will be delivered tomorrow.

author: Jay_Diddy_B
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2020, 09:53:34 pm
content: Hi,Here is the tracking information for this weeks Digikey order:This week I ordered at 2pm, earlier than previous orders.This meant that the order was processed in Thief River, MN. It was placed in a truck and drive across the border to the Digikey facility in Winnipeg. I don't believe that there is any inventory of parts in Winnipeg. It was picked up by Fedex.Note that on Tuesday, FedEx said it missed the delivery vehicle, so you would have thought that it would have been on the delivery vehicle today. But no, FedEX has given the package to a third party for delivery. Hopefully I will get the package tomorrow.Regards,Jay_Diddy_B

author: Jester
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2020, 01:14:48 am
content: Jay-Diddy,Shipping to Ottawa from Digi-Key is definitely messed up lately. For years and years it was next day 90+% of the time.Lately it could be up to 5 days, especially if not ordered on Monday or Tuesday. I noticed that when it arrives the next day it seems to take the path through Winnipeg and when delayed through Memphis. I actually wondered if they had a warehouse for common items in Winnipeg, but apparently not. I called Digi-Key and complained. Seems like something is broken in Memphis.