UPS vs. FedEx
The best thing in countries that have competitive package carrier business is that if ever you need to send something to someone, whether that package is classified or not or fragile or not, you’d be guaranteed that it is in safe hands. Not only that, no matter what package carrier company you choose you’d be guaranteed of the quality service that it’ll provide. These package carrier companies are kind of obliged to suck up on you so you’d choose them over the other. So the best way to show they’re the real thing compared to the other is to please you and surpass your expectations on the quality of service they provide. Like for example if you want your package delivered a day ago, you would really choose the carrier company that runs ahead of time. If you want everything to happen with low cost, you would choose the carrier company with the lowest rates. If you want your package handled like a new born cow (only gentler), you would go for the carrier company that studied graces on a tea table.
In the US the highly competitive package carrier companies are none other than UPS and FedEx. Both are very popular companies that are not only known for their massive package carrying business but also with their generous sponsorship in the world of sports. UPS is the official sponsor of highly illustrated sports events such as NASCAR and the Olympics, while FedEx is the official sponsor of NBA and NFL. These two companies are really on each others throat and constantly show off with each other to gain the public’s trust. Here are some more distinctions of the two in case you need to send a package and you still have no idea what are UPS and FedEx because you just migrated from the other side of the globe.
UPS or United Parcel Service, to begin with, has the slogan “What can brown do for you?”. Brown is the official color of the company. Its logo is a golden shield which connotes “security over your packages, so you don’t have to worry about anything else”. Not only that, the logo also promises strength. UPS is the king of the road because of its 25,000 vehicles. This company handles up to 150 pounds of package for every customer. They deliver internationally via their airlines. These carrier qualities are very impressive but expected for a company to have been existing since 1907. However, there are few drawbacks when you use the service of UPS. The service is a bit pricey compared to FedEx. Not only that, when your package is delivered, UPS will just leave it on your porch when nobody’s around. UPS also prioritizes businesses over individuals. The UPS office is less accommodating too compared to that of FedEx.
FedEx, on the other hand, has the slogan ‘Relax, its FedEx’. The company logo is not as impressive as that of UPS with only the fonts that spell FedEx. This carrier was founded in 1971, only a year later than UPS. FedEx’s land transportation is weaker than that of UPS but it makes out with its 672 aircraft that travels to over 375 airports all around the planet, making it the king of the sky. FedEx, like UPS, deliver packages all around the world but puts surcharge on packages that weigh more that 70 pounds. FedEx however charges less compared to UPS. The company also has preferable office and environment with friendly people compared to UPS. And when FedEx delivers your package, they require a signature. If you weren’t around to receive them, they’d leave a note or they come back just to personally deliver the package.
SUMMARY:
1. UPS and FedEx highly competing package carrier companies in the US.
2.UPS is king of the road with 25,000 vehicles while FedEx is the king of the skies with 672 aircraft.
3.UPS drawbacks include higher rate, less customer- friendly accommodation, package delivery. FedEx drawbacks include surcharge on packages that weigh more than 70 pounds, and a very less assuring company logo.
UPS is, indeed, the king of the road, but with far more than 25,000 vehicles (that would be FedEx). UPS has roughly a 110,000 !!!
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UPS ACTUALLY HAS CHANGE THEIR POLICYS RECENTLY SO THIS INFORMATION IS OUT OF DATE. UPS OFFERES THEIR CUSTOMERS AN OPTION THAT A SIGNATURE BE REQUIRED AT THE DOOR, OR THEY LEAVE A NOTICE ON YOUR DOOR SAYING THAT THEY HAVE ATTEMPED TO DELIVER YOUR PACKAGE MORE THEN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIMES. ALSO THE WORKER AT UPS ARE WAY MORE THEN FRIENDLY, I USED TO USE THEIR PRINTING SERVICES BEFORE I STARTED WORKING THEIR AND THE WORKER WERE VERY FRIENDLY. THE ONE SPACIFICALY THAT HAS ALWAYS DRAWN MY EYE IS THE UPS STORE IN EAGAN MN. THEY HAVE A SMALLER STORE BUT STILL WORK JUST AS HARD AS ANY OTHER UPS STORE. CHECK THEM OUT ON YOUTUBE.COM WITH THEIR VIDEO “THE UPS STORE PRINT NINJAS”
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UPS may have changed their policy on requiring signatures in some instances, but they still leave their packages at the door! I had a laptop delivered via UPS and they just left it @ my door! Also, one time, they delivered a small parcel of mine at the back door of my house! If it wasn’t for my son going around the back of the house to chase our dog, I wouldn’t have known it was there for a few days!
I however, loved Actor Alan Cumming’s interpretation of a UPS delivery driver, in the movie “Son of the Mask”! He wore the atypical brown uniform that they wear, as well as a blond wig and huge white pearly teeth! Priceless!
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“The worker at UPS is was more friendly” – It is a well known fact that *in general* UPS’s policies are less user-friendly than FedEx and my experience, being a constultant and having lived in numerous states, is that FedEx is much friendlier, flexible, and more dependable than UPS and that UPS workers *in general* are not as cordial as FedEx workers. Now at my current domicile the UPS worker that delivers my package happens to be exceptionally nice (when we met he saw my dog and since he owned a dog we got to chatting and became friendly) and would actually call me if I’m not home to see if he can come back later to re-deliver the package, but this is an exception and not the rule. Aside from my experience with this single UPS individual, the rest has been either what you expect from a carrier (ie. they deliver the package) to absolute horrenous (ie. claiming that they attempted delivery when in fact you took a day off work and waited all day on the porch). Whenever I go FedEx (I wish it was an option all the time) it’s always a pleasant experience, and if I need to pick up the package at a location it’s always been easy going. Given a choice I would choose FedEx hands down, no questions asked, even if I have to pay extra.
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UPS was founded in 1907, not 1970.
UPS and Fedex both offer signature-required and driver-release services; there is no distinction.
Erroneous article.
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This was great! This really helped me choose FedEx over UPS to ship an application packet to a European school!
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Excellent article! Exactly what I needed to know!
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The last of our three kids leaves for college soon. Opening a FedEx account was the best decision for sending small to large packages across the country, near and far – 20% discount on shipping, waaay better rates than UPS, self-printing labels from home, drop-off at their large box at the nearest location anytime, text/email updates for tracking. Delivery times are reasonable and quick and their practice is efficient in general. Your packages don’t have to go across the country to a central check-in first before back tracking to their intended location. Every visit into their store has been nothing but pleasant, they treat you like they know you everytime. UPS through their stores always makes me cringe while anticipating the quote. My local store has a friendly owner but the general feeling is “this will not be cheap to send through UPS”. They have even quoted me cheaper through USPS with tracking! Also, don’t have them pack anything either, that adds up. The Fedex boxes in store are free, you just pay for packing materials. Or at least I don’t remember ever paying for their logo boxes. FedEx is my first choice, 2nd Day Air/Priority USPS is my 2nd, UPS only if I’m desperate. Good luck!
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I have worked at FedEx for 5 months now.I can attest that I’ve never met a non friendly ups driver. They are all very friendly. I have asked asked many of times over my short time at FedEx what the difference was between us and ups. I generally get the same answer: we are way more reliable and secure. It is true that ups now has the option to request a signature but that is only on a very small occasion. Depending on the location it is very important to get a signature vs just leaving a package unsecured on someone’s front step. All in all I think they are both clearly dominant and great companies. With FedEx being cheaper, faster, and more secure it will be my only courier service I would ever ship with. Working or not working for them.
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To add to the previous statement in regards to the friendliness of both drivers. I believe that since ups drivers are union their performance and attitude towards customers had very little effect on their job security. Fedex drivers on the other hand are non union which means they HAVE to put in the extra effort and be extremely productive to keep their jobs. Thus their attitudes might be a little more caring towards their customers.
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Correction Query/Request
UPS was found in 1970 not in 1971, I guess.
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Ups 1907 was founded
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I prefer and like Fed Ex over UPS for the following reasons.
1-Fedex always bring parcel or letters to my door
2-UPS instead of leaving by my door just leave the parcel on top of the mail box in public area
3-Fedex appears to be more professional and my visit to their local office gave me a more positive professional experience then UPS.
4- UPS in the past have rudley thrown my box up the stairway rather then placing it by my door. I have seen this with my own eyes and have filed several complaints about their local career
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I have gotten packages stolen from FedEx box came empty all my Christmas presents were gone that i bought gone then they had the nerve to tape it back like nothing happened
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Just talked to a supervisor at UPS today may 10 2017… delivery guy did not ring door bell and I was home and left a notice on my door. But my dogs started barking at the time he left the note but I thought they was just barking until I checked at the door and saw no one but the note. They do not ring doorbells very well. I left a message on the note to ring bell or call me The next day he called but I was gone and tried to work out a time schedule I be home. Sadly to say he couldn’t do morning hours or late evening hours. He said he couldn’t go off his route or come back. So I picked up my package at the UPS building. The supervisor said it is their policy not to back track on a route unless it’s a few miles off. Or they have permission. But the reason why is they don’t want to pay for extra mileage or use their trucks more than they have to and also they have to be back in time to deliver other important mail so it don’t delay that mail. Funny thing is if your suppose to deliver my package and u can’t work out anything for me. Why do I have to chase my package down? Don’t that make me lose more of my gas and time? Not impressed with UPS BUT she was friendly. Also if u call the number on the back of the notice you go straight to the Philippines. Saddddd ups
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UPS always seems to “incorrectly” sort my packages at one or more hubs…homing pigeon would be more effective
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