FedEx

Wow fed ex! I’ve always used you as my primary carrier until I was billed for $ 70 for an 8 lb box, 2^nd day delivery. You rated it as a 25 lb box (after I did the calculation on your online feature with weight & measuremets). You then charged me a residential fee, a drop off fee (which was at your own fed ex location)…what??? Called customer service, that didn’t help just rude answers to my questions. I will never use you again!

Great service

My hatred of DHL and UPS has been well documented here.
But FedEx… oh, how I love thee, FedEx.
First of all, their tracking site blows their competitors away. Not only is it extremely up to date (you get an email like, a nano second after it’s shipped or delivered), but it has a little status bar at the top, telling you if it’s been initiated, picked up, in transit, and delivered. So easy. Not only that, but it actually tells you when it is placed on the truck, and when you can expect to receive it. I love!
I also typically get their packages ahead of schedule, which is always welcome!
AND their drivers… They are the best in the industry! When I worked retail, I *loved* our FedEx drivers. They were so nice, fun to talk to, always on time, and once I even saw one on the street on my day off and he honked and waved to me and chatted with me at a stoplight. Today? I was waiting for a package and decided to run out for ten minutes. I left a post it note, but *of course* they came while I was gone. As I walked back to my apartment I passed him on the sidewalk, and I asked him if he had just delivered a package for [my last name], and he said, «Yes! Oh, I’m so glad you’re here, I didn’t want to leave it unattended!» Aw, how nice that he cared! When I got home, he not only delivered it, but took it all the way upstairs and put it in front of my apartment on the 5^th floor instead of leaving it in the lobby. How awesome of him to go the extra mile.
FedEx, I’m a fan. Keep up the good work.

Folks, you have until 9:00 PM to send your packages at this Fed Ex counter. So I’m often there at 8:55. But be forewarned, they lock the door promptly at 9:00.
The post office cutoff for overnight is 6:30 PM at the main post office. I don’t know what the cutoff is for UPS because I hate going to the south loop facility.
This facility is near Halsted and Division so its ultra convenient for anyone on the near north and northwest parts of town. And if you miss the 9:00 deadline here, the Fed Ex counter at the airport has a 10:00 cutoff.
Update: Even better: cutoff is 9:30 now!