Big Problem, Thoughts Welcomed

[MassWineGuy]

One of my pickup stops is an Autozone. Ready time is 5 pm, but I’m usually there between 6:30 and 7. The freight is way in the back at shipping/receiving. Ideally, I’d go back there, ring and they’d open the back door. But all the shipping staff leaves at five so this isn’t usually possible. The front staff are very busy with customers so if I phoned for them to open up I’d often get put on hold. Not good, so at times I’ve scanned it as pickup not ready/no access to freight.

Management there understands that I need to get the shipments asap and leave. For the last few months most of the time, outbound was ready at the front on a cart for me to take outside and load. But this isn’t always the case and it takes 3-5 minutes for someone to go back and get it. Sometimes I’m a bit ahead of schedule and wait. But I don’t usually have the time. It was working, though, and I seemed to be on good terms with the employees.

This past Friday it was snowing all day, roads sucked and traffic was terrible. Obviously, the planes were eager to take off as soon as possible. So when I walked in at around 7 (normal return to bldg time is 8) with about six stops left and saw nothing I told the evening manager “I’m sorry, but it’s not ready and I don’t have time to wait.” He totally lost it, saying that I had to wait. In fact, that FedEx policy was that drivers wait five minutes. Said some manager whose name didn’t match anyone at my station told him that.

After a couple of minutes I went back to my van to leave. He followed, saying lots of stuff. He also told me not to come back.

I called my manager immediately afterward and explained what happened. Tomorrow, we’ll need to discuss it and figure out if I should go back or not.

Stops like this make the job a real pleasure.

 

[Operational needs]

One of my pickup stops is an Autozone. Ready time is 5 pm, but I’m usually there between 6:30 and 7. The freight is way in the back at shipping/receiving. Ideally, I’d go back there, ring and they’d open the back door. But all the shipping staff leaves at five so this isn’t usually possible. The front staff are very busy with customers so if I phoned for them to open up I’d often get put on hold. Not good, so at times I’ve scanned it as pickup not ready/no access to freight.

Management there understands that I need to get the shipments asap and leave. For the last few months most of the time, outbound was ready at the front on a cart for me to take outside and load. But this isn’t always the case and it takes 3-5 minutes for someone to go back and get it. Sometimes I’m a bit ahead of schedule and wait. But I don’t usually have the time. It was working, though, and I seemed to be on good terms with the employees.

This past Friday it was snowing all day, roads sucked and traffic was terrible. Obviously, the planes were eager to take off as soon as possible. So when I walked in at around 7 (normal return to bldg time is 8) with about six stops left and saw nothing I told the evening manager “I’m sorry, but it’s not ready and I don’t have time to wait.” He totally lost it, saying that I had to wait. In fact, that FedEx policy was that drivers wait five minutes. Said some manager whose name didn’t match anyone at my station told him that.

After a couple of minutes I went back to my van to leave. He followed, saying lots of stuff. He also told me not to come back.

I called my manager immediately afterward and explained what happened. Tomorrow, we’ll need to discuss it and figure out if I should go back or not.

Stops like this make the job a real pleasure.

When that happens immediately call your manager, explain the situation and ask them what they want you to do. Put the decision making in their court where it belongs.

 

[MassWineGuy]

I should definitely have known to do that.

 

[Brownwind]

When that happens immediately call your manager, explain the situation and ask them what they want you to do. Put the decision making in their court where it belongs.

Unfortunately we all have a few like this. Some people think they are special and treat themselves better than they treat us.

Hang in there. And remember it’s just cardboard. Don’t risk your life for it

 

[rod]

I don't have a clue how FedEx operates but at UPS your manager would throw you under a bus to make you look like an idiot to the customer. It happened to me too. Your best bet is to call your manager when this crap happens and let him determine if you should wait or tell the jerk customer to get bent. You aren't paid enough to make discissions like that.

 

[MassWineGuy]

With 20/20 hindsight, I agree totally.

 

[Guitarman01]

That's a real easy solution to me. Ready time is 5pm? It's supposed to be ready by 5. You are even getting there 2 hours later than that. If it's not up front for you, they should allow you to go to the back to get it. If it's not even ready in the back, that's on them, not FedEx. You have a pretty easy argument being that it's supposed to be ready by 5. That's their incompetence.

 

[MassWineGuy]

True enough. Though I wouldn’t be big on always having to walk way back there. This is a real warehouse type of spot. But you’re completely right. My definition of ready is that the freight is available to grab.

 

[Guitarman01]

True enough. Though I wouldn’t be big on always having to walk way back there. This is a real warehouse type of spot. But you’re completely right. My definition of ready is that the freight is available to grab.

So this isn't a regular AutoZone store? They are pretty small around here. You said shipping leaves at 5? Well that's exactly when it should be ready. So that's perfect. That should be the last thing they do then is push that cart up front for you. Another easy argument to give them. That's what I would tell them.

 

[MassWineGuy]

Excellent point. That’s exactly what should happen. And I’ll urge my manager to have them do it. This particular store is also a regional shipping center. So when you buy online from them, it may ship from this site. That’s why it’s such a huge warehouse.