Papers Please

July 24, 2018 11:58 AM

I was supposed to have some Very Important Papers couriered (via Fedex International Priority) to me today. Apparently the delivery person didn't bother trying the buzzer on my building, so they left a door tag telling me I can sign for my package at the nearest Fedex location... tomorrow afternoon. This usually isn't a problem, but in this case it is very much not ideal. Is there anything I can do to try and get these papers sooner?
posted by btfreek to Grab Bag (8 answers total)

Best answer: Is there a phone number on the tag?
Do you have the tracking number? If you pop the tracking number into Google, it should bring you to a page which may have a contact number on it.
posted by k8t at 12:00 PM on July 24, 2018

You're likely going to have to go to the FedEx processing location, where they hold this stuff while planning redelivery. You might take some time out to raise holy hell with them on the phone, and get a refund for whomever paid the FedEx charge to begin with.
posted by klangklangston at 12:04 PM on July 24, 2018

Best answer: Raising holy hell on the phone appears to work, judging by the times my boss has done it. He managed to get FedEx to make the driver come back, or pass the package off to another driver who could get it to us.
posted by yasaman at 12:10 PM on July 24, 2018 [5 favorites]

Response by poster: Huh - there was only the generic Fedex 1-800 customer service line so I was expecting to just get bored indifference from the CSR, but after navigating eleventy billion phone tree options I managed to speak to someone who said they could try make the driver come back, this time with me giving very explicit instructions on how to operate the buzzer (never mind that the instructions are clearly written on the buzzer panel). Fingers crossed (and eyes watching like a hawk for the Fedex truck)...
posted by btfreek at 12:16 PM on July 24, 2018 [5 favorites]

Would it be possible to take a book and a bottle of water down to the door and hang out on the front step to wait for the driver? Just in case?
posted by bowmaniac at 12:20 PM on July 24, 2018 [3 favorites]

Or a post-it note? [FEDEX #XXXXXXX234 I AM HOME - RING BUZZER!]
posted by JoeZydeco at 12:45 PM on July 24, 2018 [2 favorites]

Or even leave your phone number to call if the buzzer "doesn't work" for whatever reason.
posted by trig at 1:49 PM on July 24, 2018

Response by poster: (Choir of angels descends) I got my papers! Apparently the first time around the driver had tried to ring the buzzer next to mine. Thanks to all who suggested I call - I genuinely would have assumed it'd be useless, but I am happy to have been proven wrong!
posted by btfreek at 3:24 PM on July 24, 2018 [19 favorites]