Frustration Mounts in Asheville as FedEx Faces Delivery Delays
Asheville, NC – Residents in the Asheville area are expressing their frustration with FedEx as delivery delays continue to complicate their lives. Many customers have taken to social media platforms like Facebook and Reddit to share their struggles, reporting that packages are stuck at the FedEx facility in Fletcher, but never make it to their homes.
One of the affected customers, Robert Warehem, recounted his experience following the recent storm, Helene. “It was horrendous,” he said, explaining that after the storm, he saw no sign of FedEx even though other delivery services like USPS and UPS were making deliveries. “We had USPS and UPS out here within a week of Helene and no sign of FedEx,” he added, highlighting how his attempts to reach the company yielded little clarity. When he called FedEx for updates, the only response he received was that his packages were “delayed.”
Warehem shared his tracking log for a package shipped on October 21. By October 25, the package was recorded at the FedEx Fletcher hub, but two weeks later, it had been sent back to the vendor in Zionsville, Indiana. His frustration grew when a supervisor informed him that his area was on a “vacation hold” due to a lack of delivery personnel. “I didn’t put myself on vacation hold,” Warehem stressed. “He said oh, the terminal is putting everyone on vacation hold because they can’t deliver. They don’t have enough people.”
This “vacation hold” situation has reportedly been part of FedEx’s strategy to manage their on-time delivery statistics, as some representatives hinted at a more concerning practice of returning shipments without proper notice just to keep their numbers up.
A spokesperson for FedEx, Adam Snyder, did acknowledge the issues affecting the Asheville area but didn’t go into detail. “We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused by delays in the Asheville area and appreciate our customer’s patience as we implement contingencies – including securing additional delivery resources, extending operational hours and delivery times, and expanding package sorts – to deliver these packages as quickly as possible,” Snyder stated.
Local Leaders Weigh In
It’s not just individual consumers who are feeling the brunt of these delays. Jennifer Hensley, the Vice-Mayor of Hendersonville, also highlighted the ongoing issues she’s faced with her business’s FedEx deliveries. Hensley, who runs a chiropractic office, mentioned ordering specific refrigerated supplements that are crucial for her practice. “I’d say for the last two years we’ve had specific issues with FedEx delivering those items on time,” she explained.
Hensley displayed tracking logs that showed her recent Christmas purchases stuck at the same Fletcher hub, with some showing an alarming “delivery exception” on their status bars. After posting her frustrations on Facebook, she received over 27 responses from fellow customers, all sharing similar stories of undelivered or late packages. “We all have responsibilities to our customers. Do better,” she urged FedEx, pointing out that businesses like hotels and restaurants are typically upfront about their capacity and limitations. “I don’t see FedEx waving any flags saying, ‘we can’t take any more business.’”
A Shift in Holiday Shopping Strategy
With the holiday season fast approaching, both Hensley and Warehem caution fellow shoppers to consider other delivery options to avoid the frustrations they’ve encountered. At the same time, Philip Bogenberger, a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service, reassured residents that USPS is prepared for the holiday rush, claiming that most customers are receiving mail and packages in a timely fashion thanks to significant investments they’ve made in their network.
“We’ve made significant investments in our network, including the installation of 506 high-speed package sorting machines in the past four years,” Bogenberger stated, highlighting that USPS customers can expect mail delivery in three days or less this holiday season.
As the holidays draw nearer, residents are left hoping that the services they rely on will keep their promises and deliver those much-needed packages on time. For now, it’s a wait-and-see situation, and many in Asheville are keeping their fingers crossed for a more reliable shipping experience.
