Fedex Express Dumps Amazon as Customer

[WayOutWest]

From Barron's:
 

FedEx decided to dump Amazon.com as a customer on Friday, saying it would focus instead on doing business with other online retailers. The move underscores the extent to which Amazon has become a serious competitor to existing logistics providers. But it also shows that FedEx believes it doesn’t need Amazon’s high-volume business to thrive.

“FedEx has made the strategic decision to not renew the FedEx Express U.S. domestic contract with [Amazon] as we focus on serving the broader e-commerce market,” FedEx said in a statement. Amazon accounts for 1.3% of FedEx sales, according to FedEx.

read entire article at: https://www.barrons.com/articles/fedex-dumps-amazon-51559941071

Of course, Amazon would probably have ended up dumping Fedex, since they're building out their own delivery network.  I suspect Fedex felt it would look better to investors if Fedex did the dumping, but I could be wrong.

[uncleleroy]

Fed Ex doesn't guarantee much of anything anymore for deliveries so it is no big loss, imho. With Amazon going to 1-day delivery, maybe this is the straw that broke the camel's back?

Fed Ex sucks anyway, at least around here. Throw packages into the yard, put them right in front of the door so it can't be opened from the inside, put them on the bottom step that is exposed to the rain/snow when my porch itself is covered. Lazy worthless 

[WayOutWest]

Fedex Air usually does a good job around here.  Fedex Ground, though, is a whole nother matter.  They constantly deliver my stuff to the house down the street and some time back I had multiple boxes of product headed to FBA and the truck that was hauling them to Tulsa left the back of the truck open while going down the road, dumping my boxes out a few miles away on the street. 

The only reason I found out is because someone living near where they got dropped saw two of them sitting there, picked them up, and called the number on the return address (me).  The other boxes were never seen again.

Fedex covered my cost on them, but that didn't make up for the lost sales 

[Southern Jewel]

Axios had a great article:
https://www.axios.com/amazon-shipping-chart-fedex-ups-usps-0dc6bab1-2169-42a8-9e56-0e85c590eb89.html

Interesting and packed with facts.

"Amazon is about 40% of all e-commerce. If they're handling half of their own shipments, that's 20% of the whole market," Alex Pellas, a logistics expert at market research firm Rakuten Intelligence, says. "That's huge."

Researchers found that nearly half (48%) of Amazon packages are delivered by the company itself.
That's a dramatic shift from two years ago, when the Postal Service delivered more than 60% of Amazon parcels, and Amazon just around 15%.

[WayOutWest]

During my last stays in Denver and Houston, every Amazon package was delivered by Amazon.  Where I live, they're all still delivered by USPS and UPS. However, when you think about it, Amazon doing their own deliveries in the larger metro areas and using usps & ups for the rest, makes sense.  It costs a lot more to deliver when the customers are fewer in number and more spread out.  Heck, there's only ONE Uber driver in the nearby town. Lol

It's a little surprising, though, that half of their orders would be to large metro areas. I knew it'd be high, just didn't realize it was that high.  Sure, there's a much larger population, but I would have thought ppl that live further away from big cities would tend to do most of their shopping online, whereas those that live in the larger metros would be doing more local shopping.  I guess for ppl in the bigger cities it's about the convenience factor. 

I came across a perfect example of why I shop so much online just the other day. Went to local grocery stores, and then finally the super Wal-Mart, looking for cocktail sauce. The only brands that anyone in town carries are Good Value, Louisiana, and Kraft. No Crosse & Blackwell, no Hoffman House, not even McCormick brand. [The Kraft was a little boring and had that lecithin aftertaste (if you've ever had cheap cookies that had a funky aftertaste, that's lecithin), the Louisiana was overly sweet and ketchupy,  The Good Value brand was actually the better tasting of the three, but still wasn't great, was merely okay.    I guess I should have simply made my own. :/  (didn't have the horseradish or the Worcestershire sauce on hand)]  There's a similar lack of selection for many other products where I live, which is why I buy so much online and seldom even bother to look locally for what I want/need.

On a complete aside, town near me only has 3 grocery stores (counting the Wal-Mart), but has 6 liquor stores and 5 marijuana dispensaries   

[uncleleroy]

I live west of Cleveland just out past the suburbs and I have noticed a lot more of those stupid blue Amazon delivery vans around here. So now, I am just about done ordering stuff from Amazon for any personal use whatsoever. I gotta keep them for business use because the reward points I'm accumulating through Speedway gas stations doesn't provide U-line gift cards but they do for Amazon. So, I'm going to be ordering a LOT of shipping stuff from Amazon because of gift cards. The stuff I order is slightly less than Uline but not having to pay for it is like having Christmas all year long.

As far as your town having all those liquor and drug dispensaries, that is a built-in market for potato chip and other munchie sales. Maybe you should open your own munchie biz?

And I completely agree with you on the lack of selection for quality products on store shelves like a good cocktail sauce. All Walmart does is put the cheapest version of garbage out there and that is exactly what a lot of that stuff tastes like: garbage. I'll go to Walmart for milk, bread, eggs and that kind of stuff but I'll go to a regular grocery store most of the time for most other things. I only do my full grocery shopping at Walmart if I am short on time.

[Southern Jewel]

So, I'm going to be ordering a LOT of shipping stuff from Amazon because of gift cards. The stuff I order is slightly less than Uline but not having to pay for it is like having Christmas all year long.

As far as your town having all those liquor and drug dispensaries, that is a built-in market for potato chip and other munchie sales. Maybe you should open your own munchie biz?

And I completely agree with you on the lack of selection for quality products on store shelves like a good cocktail sauce. All Walmart does is put the cheapest version of garbage out there and that is exactly what a lot of that stuff tastes like: garbage. I'll go to Walmart for milk, bread, eggs and that kind of stuff but I'll go to a regular grocery store most of the time for most other things. I only do my full grocery shopping at Walmart if I am short on time.

Personal use of purchases from Amazon for me have gone up minimum 4 times and probably closer to 5 times what I used to purchase.

My used to be purchases from Uline fall are being handled the same way as you.

<perk>
Marijuana dispensaries = Cornering the Dorito's market

Honestly though... the dispensary that just opened on the north side of Lakeland is knocking it out of the park.
95% of the customers are over 65 and buying edibles, vapes, etc.
Business is booming!
My side of town doesn't have one.... yet.
30 minutes to northside of town or 30 minutes towards southwest of my area of Lakeland has plenty of them.

Heck, I make my own cocktail sauce.
<smile>
I can control ingredients when I make my own but if I can't, I dayum sure refuse to buy products that are a cesspool for our bodies.
We watch every single bit of sugar, salt etc that goes into our diet.
People who are smart read labels and the labels of some of those foods is garbage.
I won't eat garbage. Nope. Nada. Just refuse to do it.

I will admit to using the coupon codes with Wal-Mart for pick up for quality items I do want.
<shrug>
I have the worst of times finding diet ginger beer (no alcohol, just very spicy, gingery carbonated beverage) for my moscow mules.
They have it. I normally by five six packs at a time and just have it here. 
Sure, I could order it off of Amazon...it's 8 times the price.
Sure, I could get it at my beloved Publix... priced at four dollars more a six pack. 
I'm errrrrr... frugal.
<smile>

Moving forward with retiring from Amazon at a pace that is working.
Met with accountant yesterday and it's looking good for being out of the ecommerce business at 11:59pm December 31, 2019.

Then I can be a lady of leisure.
<smile>

[uncleleroy]

Moving forward with retiring from Amazon at a pace that is working.
Met with accountant yesterday and it's looking good for being out of the ecommerce business at 11:59pm December 31, 2019.

Then I can be a lady of leisure.
<smile>

Don't be a stranger! Just because you will have escaped Hell does not mean you should forget about us. After all, who else are we gonna have to keep us pushing through reminding us that it is all worth it in the end?

[Southern Jewel]

<waving>
Hope all finds everyone doing well.
Husband health issues, family from NC here to visit, lost our family cat to old age (two pets in two years has been rough), cruises and looking at train vacations to the west, renovating our home a bit getting it ready to sell (condo life for me), getting ready for hurricanes <smile>, grandbabies, grandbabies and did I mention grandbabies, afternoon movie matinees, #1 son getting moved into their first home, #2 son establishing his restaurant/kitchen (which celebrates it's 5th anniversary today), and only daughter coping with her disability.
I'm so blessed to be able to share in these moments.
I'm still selling but nowhere at the rate I've done in previous years.
Training the next generation to take over my biz.
Actually trying (and sometimes not successfully) to remove myself from the brain set of ecommerce after 20+ years.
Almost all my domains have been given away, only have one piddly little blog left.

Talked with accountant and have advice with how to move forward with eating bon bons and watching soap operas all day.
<laughing>
As if!

[uncleleroy]

How has your "slow down" been? Hopefully you've been able to spend a lot more time with family this Christmas season. Especially since it is 6 days less than last year. How is your family doing?

[Southern Jewel]

My slow down has been perfect.
Nailed it by laying out my plans ahead of time.
Two plus years of laying out plans, I'm uhhhh a bit of a control my environment/life person.
Not always easy to live with me.
The help of our accountant and our financial planner along with my input...
This planning worked out 100%.

I've actually been enjoying my time being a lady of leisure.
Bon Bon's and soap opera's.
<smile>
Actually, the grandchildren, an up and coming wedding of my second child and afternoon matinees, streaming movie services, getting our home ready for selling in the spring, etc has kept me at a pace that I really enjoy.

Family is doing the same.
Thank you so much for asking.

I love them beyond all words and blessed to have the time with them that I do.
Husband is still end stage liver, ITP and more.
He copes amazingly and it is so impressive.
He's passed the stage of being angry or grieving for the loss of his healthy self.
We're traveling as best we can and it's actually not that hard.
Doable trips within 3 hours or long distance by air or cruise.
I've signed up for info on train vacations.
National Parks tours.
The swaying of the train would put me to sleep though.
<smile>
Anyway, I would not handle this as well as he has.
Takes care of himself to the highest of his ability and all testing shows that he isn't progressing.
He's still on the transplant list and waiting.

My darling dear daughter and her disabilities.
She has good days with pain levels of 3 out of 5 and she has horrible days where pain is 10 out of 5.
We are so blessed for her sweet spirit. She too went thru the stages of anger and grief but has pretty much accepted it.
There are days though where she is spitting nails angry at what her life was supposed to be.
Full paid scholarship to several colleges for art and then auto-immune diseases stepped in. 
We're very familiar with urgent care and the ER.

My wonderful children.
<swoon>
Just so happy to spend time with them.
Blessed they want to spend so much time with us.

In other words, we're blessed!

How's it going in your neck of the woods?

[uncleleroy]

Your retirement seems to be on track. You can keep the soap operas. But I will take a bon bon if you will pass me one!

I am glad to hear that hubby hasn't gotten progressively worse. Make sure to appreciate the ones you have for as long as you have them. I know life can get in the way of that but if you continue to make time for loved ones, you won't have to live with regrets.

I say that because my dad passed away just over a week ago on Monday, December 9th. We had his funeral this past Saturday. Every day I was at the hospital and taking mom with me (neither of them drive). Making time for my dad while he was in the hospital and in rehab to come home was the best thing I could have done, even though it put my own life into some type of chaos. I have no regrets about the time I spent taking mom and going to visit him. In fact, he passed just a few hours after mom and I had left from our last visit. He was 94 so we knew at that age anything could happen but we had been preparing for him to come home in a few days or a week. He initially went in for a kidney stone. At the end, my dad knew I loved him and that I cared for him.

Your daughter's illness (and your entire family) is still in my thoughts and prayers. Has there been any updates on any possible treatments that might help her situation?

Glad to hear of your second son's upcoming wedding. I hope things work out well with him and his bride-to-be.

When you sell your house, do you plan on moving far away or just downsizing some?

[Southern Jewel]

Your retirement seems to be on track. You can keep the soap operas. But I will take a bon bon if you will pass me one!

I am glad to hear that hubby hasn't gotten progressively worse. Make sure to appreciate the ones you have for as long as you have them. I know life can get in the way of that but if you continue to make time for loved ones, you won't have to live with regrets.

I say that because my dad passed away just over a week ago on Monday, December 9th. We had his funeral this past Saturday. Every day I was at the hospital and taking mom with me (neither of them drive). Making time for my dad while he was in the hospital and in rehab to come home was the best thing I could have done, even though it put my own life into some type of chaos. I have no regrets about the time I spent taking mom and going to visit him. In fact, he passed just a few hours after mom and I had left from our last visit. He was 94 so we knew at that age anything could happen but we had been preparing for him to come home in a few days or a week. He initially went in for a kidney stone. At the end, my dad knew I loved him and that I cared for him.

Your daughter's illness (and your entire family) is still in my thoughts and prayers. Has there been any updates on any possible treatments that might help her situation?

Glad to hear of your second son's upcoming wedding. I hope things work out well with him and his bride-to-be.

When you sell your house, do you plan on moving far away or just downsizing some?

Thanks so much for asking.
Soap opera's?
Nope.
Never been much of a fan.
Plenty of bon bon's to pass out though.

I'm so sorry to hear of the passing of your father.
Deepest and most sincere sympathies.
I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you for sharing the days up to his passing and the day of his passing.
It helps to talk about it.
I'm so thankful you were there through the last weeks/days.
I'm glad that you have peace knowing he knew you loved him and cared for him.
In the end that is what helped me to go with peace at his passing. 

I went through this with my father almost 2 years ago.
Some days it feels like yesterday and other days it seems years ago.
A double amputee with diabetes and his kidneys failed at the end.
It had been a really rough year for him for many reasons and his health progressively got worse, too.

He was placed in a hospice facility and we children were there 24/7.
Everyone who needed to tell him good-bye had a chance to be there.
I held his hand as he passed and it still brings tears to my eyes.
Not tears of sadness but tears of feeling blessed I was there.
It's hard to explain.

No new treatments for my sweet daughter.
We hope every day that something new will be found.
She handles her life with grace and her head held up high.
Couldn't be more proud of her.

Second son wedding will be in St. Augustine. One of our fav get-aways.
They are having a 'destination wedding'.
Money will go toward honeymoon in August.
Only family, immediate family.
It's going to be soooo much fun!
She's in graduate school and they have dated for 3 years.
My son is a classically Le Cordon Bleu trained chef.
Once she graduates, he will return to school so he may teach culinary skills.
The life of hospitality workers is not cohesive to having a family.
And they want to start a family in the coming years.
MORE  grandchildren!

Selling this house so we may move to a maintenance free environment.
I want to look out my window and see someone mowing my lawn and cleaning out the gutters.
HA!

I want to be able to leave at a moments notice and not worry about our home.

We celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary in December with a cruise.
We're heading to the panhandle of FL this coming week.

Planes. Trains. Cruises.
Let the enjoying of our time begin!

We. Are. Going. To. Live. Life!
And I don't want to worry about my home.
Especially with dear daughter at home as much as she is. 

Blessings and more sent to you.
I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and send strength.

I will check in from time to time.
Promise!
<pinkie swear>

[uncleleroy]

Yes, enjoy your life however you are able. That way, when it is our time to go we can sense that we have lived a full and happy life.

And thank you for the condolences for Dad. It is still surreal and it hasn't yet quite sunk in yet of his passing. I am sure it will become real in the near-term future.

And yes, we look forward to hearing of your stories. Those of us that are too young to retire are going to live vicariously through you.