By William Turner (Wturner) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 10:51 am: Edit

I was planning to do a much needed brake job this weekend, and was desperately waiting on the replacement rear rotor coming from Nathan Crabtree at Discount Rovers.

http://discountrovers.com

Nathan sent it out on Wednesday for Friday AM delivery. Friday came, but no rotor. I called FedEx to find out that the package will not be delivered until Tuesday.

It is being delivered to my parents house in the country where I go only on the weekends to work on my Disco, so now I have to drive back and forth to Austin, on terrible brakes, making them worse and worse.

Thanks FudEx

Nathan, ever considered UPS or is the same incompetent performance to be expected?

By John Cinquegrana (John_C) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 10:55 am: Edit

I ordered a set of pads last Wednesday from Rovers North. They sent them UPS ground to Tappan, NY and arrived the next day. I use UPS alot (my wife has a business that ships with UPS) and never had a problem. In ten years of doing business with them we probably lost a box or two (usually on large shipments - 10 boxes or more).

I also needed the brakes before the weekend so I could get them installed by Sunday.

One word of advise, never order for 2nd day delivery. Either do next day or ground, 2nd day is a waste of money...it would have been cheaper to do next day than to really mess up your brakes.

Good luck and I hope you're brakes don't get too screwed up....

John

By Mr. FudEx man on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 03:34 pm: Edit

...and Tappan, NY is like, a few hours from Rovers North. They could probably hand-deliver it just as quickly.

By John Cinquegrana (John_C) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 03:45 pm: Edit

Tappan, NY is probably 6 hours from RN. That's why I get it the next day via UPS. I'm guessing that it would take 3-4 days from RN to Austin. I've shipped and received shipments from LA to NY and they take 5 days.

I'm just giving you my experience with UPS.

Oh, one more thing, UPS is cheaper than Fedex.

By Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 04:08 pm: Edit

Fedex promised me my lights on Saturday delivery (ordered on thursday) to my HOUSE. Ok, fine. I get home on Friday - and there's a sticker saying we missed you! Well, NO SHIT! WTF did they think SATURDAY RESIDENTIAL is for?

Sticker said: Will try again MONDAY (cry cry cry...)

So I drove to the FUCKEX building a picked them up myself - very happy with the light, BTW

Dean

By John Cinquegrana (John_C) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 04:15 pm: Edit

What lights?
You putting xmas tree lights on the Disco now?

By KJ on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 04:47 pm: Edit

Dean, really nice mood swing there, LOL! Reminds me of when I'm crabby and my hubby hands me chocolate.....(VBG). Glad you had a happy ending, now we need pics!

Karen

By Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 05:11 pm: Edit

Karen,

I know, I haven't had my quota of rover-time, choco, alcohol, food or $^# for the weekend. But I did have the BEST son of a bitch fondue yesterday - I don't know what it was that was different, probably the wine, but it was FANTASTIC.

As for the fedex crap, well, what can I say? They get it wrong every time. UPS is great. That's why I have never been to the UPS office, but I have been to the FEDEX place half a dozen times, to pick up urgent failed deliveries. I don't understand either, coz the people there seem quite smart, not dumb asses you would think are required for such failures.

UPS rules

Dean (+ steam)

By KJ on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 07:09 pm: Edit

Dean,

Hey, sometimes a good fondue will get you over the hump, all puns intended. Just ask Eric, he's a new fondue aficionado. You know, I wondered how you knew where the FedEx office was. I couldn't begin to locate the one local to me. I think that sort of knowledge can only mean it's been a baaaaad thing. Now, what was the light you ordered?

Karen

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 08:12 pm: Edit

Yummmmyyyyy, melted cheese Of course I still have a problem with paying 40 bucks to cook my own dinner at the Melting Pot restaurant but, I must say that for some reason I keep going. Between that place, the Mongolian Grill, and Pistone's Italian Inn I'm going to be a very fat man. However, if you are in the Seven Corners, VA area I highly recomend stopping at Pistone's and having their Prime Rib Anton.. 18oz prime rib covered with crab and lobster meat in a sauce.. It is sooo good.

By 94Rover on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 08:25 pm: Edit

Dag Eric, you eating a 18 oz prime rib covered with crab and lobster meat-and you spend $40 at the Melting Pot, and you DRIVE A LAND RANGE ROVER DISCOVERY-Dag you must be Rich-and your getting married soon, you must be way UPPER CLASS
=)

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 09:14 pm: Edit

ha ha ha.. Na, I'm a poor bastard. That prime rib is worth ever penny of the 22 bucks I pay. You also get all you can eat antipasto bar which always has 15 different things to try. We won't talk about the bill for drinks though. Let's just say that 40 bucks for food is nothing when the drink bill comes. Of course if you really want a good meal then you have to go to Sam & Harry's in Tyson's Corner. They have the best food. The Lobster Bisque as well as everything else on the menu is just perfect. But, that will put a hurten on the wallet that's for sure. I like to consider my self upper low class. White trash just doesn't sound right to me, but it's probably more fitting

By gp (Garrett) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 08:20 am: Edit

well then maybe Hard Times Cafe in Old Town right off King Street is what you need. actually that place has some of the best chili this side of the Mississippi!!! and what a cool place it is......with some great music shows ta boot. always a favorite when i am in the DC area. not to mention Carpool. (is it still there.....been awhile)

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 09:58 am: Edit

I hate Carpool.. Yes, it's still around there is another one in Reston that opened up a little while ago. We went there for a friends birthday and they cut us off at 11pm. They said that we had ordered too many drinks. None of us were drunk or acting rude or anything. We were just minding or own business and playing pool so F'em. Hard Times is good. We go there to play pool alot but, mostly the one in Springfield not the Old Town one.

By gp (Garrett) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 10:24 am: Edit

ah man.....i use to frequent that place along with Whitey's (i think that is what it was called). they use to play funky movies late in the back. always had good beers too. getting cut off at 11 is pretty cruel. no one should suffer like that. Brickskellar was another favorite as well. Blue and Gold Brewery is gone now i think. that was a little too nice for my taste. Austin Grille was another decent place......oh and Rio Grande was pretty good too. lots of good stuff in DC. i like eating and drinking there, just don't like the drive.
damn.....it's 10:30am and we're getting back to this beer thing again. sorry.

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 10:33 am: Edit

Hmmm, getting thirsty already, might have to grab a black & tan at lunch.. I have to go to my future mother in laws birthday party on Saturday night so I'm gonna get good an tanked (it's a must).. Sunday is going to suck I can already tell. I tell you what though, nothing beats IHOP at 3am for good cheap eats..

By David Gage (Davidg) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 10:50 am: Edit

Back to the Fudex thingy....Was it Fudex express or fudex ground. Fudex ground is the old Roadway Package Service (RPS) that tried to compete with UPS. Fedex bought it out a couple years ago to get into the ground service...I ship everythin UPS even though I complain about the fees and restrictions. Imagine, still paying a fuel surchage due to the "volatilty of the fuel prices" God forbid they lower it because fuel costs are belowe a buck a gallon...nuff griping, UPS is still the best.

Man you put me in fondue mood....

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 10:53 am: Edit

I use FEDEX all the time and I haven't had a problem with them yet. Key word being "Yet"..

By Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 11:24 am: Edit

Karen,

This is how it goes: Tracking number - it tells me all the usual bad news. Then, call 1800 GoFukex, don't wait for all the menu, just press zero. Find out where it is. Typically, its in a fukex office nowhere near your house or office, but what the hell, you wanted it fast (hence fukex). So, you drive to the office which closes at 8pm. But in those areas, they have NO STREET LIGHTING WHATSOEVER, so you penis around in the pitch black, and there's NO fukex sign, despite the building being about 40 acres.

Last time, of course, I was waiting for my spot lights, so I couldn't even use them to find the office they were in!

I can only laugh when I think of the idiots who did this: Scheduled residential saturday delivery. So, we'll try to deliver on FRIDAY at noon (like we're all home then), and when (gosh!) there's nobody home, we'll IGNORE the "leave it outside, its ok, nice and safe, so signiture required" note on the package and the door, and we'll take it back. Then we'll reschedule the delivery for MONDAY, avoiding SATURDAY ALTOGETHER. AND WE'LL GET PISSED SINCE THERE WAS NOONE THERE TO PICK IT UP FIRST TIME TOO!

Ok dean, breath, calm down......
And I payed how much for this service?

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 12:03 pm: Edit

In my neighborhood they just leave it on the door step no signatures required even if it says you need one. I asked them about it and was told some thing like they have a waiver for the neighborhood.. Probably since it is so bad they don't want to deal with the people since most don't speak english.

By KJ on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 01:56 pm: Edit

Dean,

Picture this: You're out wheeling and you find yourself a bit peckish. Suddenly two gorgeous Iron Cheffettes begin feeding you the BEST fondue ever! It might even be CHOCOLATE fondue! It's so magical you don't even get anything on your shirt. Telepathically they sense your thirst, and a frosty mug of your favorite brew presents. The girls think everything you say is funny and smart. Your wife is off having her own perfect mental health day, so it's all GOOD! You find yourself muttering under your happy breath, "Fed-WHO?" Feel better now?

Karen ;)

By KJ on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 01:58 pm: Edit

Hey Eric,

I thought of you when I was on vacation last month. We went to a really nice restaurant and I ordered what I thought was going to be a crock of mixed seafood. Ends up it was a seafood fondue. It was really terrific, but I was a bit surprised when they presented it, LOL!

Karen

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 02:00 pm: Edit

Hope they were good thoughts

By Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 02:01 pm: Edit

Karen, you have a way with words

By KJ on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 02:17 pm: Edit

Eric,

Yeah, I thought, "How the hell do you DO this??? I'll bet Eric would know...."

Dean, my pleasure ;)

Karen

By Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 02:20 pm: Edit

Oh the pleaseure was all mine!

By Erik Olson (Jon) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 05:16 pm: Edit

USPS also does amazing work (in my experience) and delivers parcels with the regular mail on Saturdays. Low prices too.

Erik

By Robert Mann (Oldscout) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 01:35 pm: Edit

I found your package,......... Blame it on UPS