Which is more harmful to the FedEx brand: Kinkos (Office) or Ground?

[Washu234]

I hate to flood the forums with new topics but I gotta say this one really bugs me.

Of the entire FedEx network there are two brands that stick out for all the wrong reasons, Kinkos (now FedEx Office) and Ground.

On one hand we have the overvalued rushed buy out of a company that has never quite fit and cost the company millions in write-offs.

On the other hand we have the poor integration of a company that has cost the FedEx brand millions in lawsuits and caused much confusion within the company and among its customers.

So - which was a bigger mistake? I know you have stories for both.

 

[MrFedEx]

I hate to flood the forums with new topics but I gotta say this one really bugs me.

Of the entire FedEx network there are two brands that stick out for all the wrong reasons, Kinkos (now FedEx Office) and Ground.

On one hand we have the overvalued rushed buy out of a company that has never quite fit and cost the company millions in write-offs.

On the other hand we have the poor integration of a company that has cost the FedEx brand millions in lawsuits and caused much confusion within the company and among its customers.

So - which was a bigger mistake? I know you have stories for both.

Kinko's. They've re-branded it twice now (FedEx Kinko's and now Office) and have a problem with unqualified and/or underqualified employees. Whenever I pick one up, it's rare that they've managed to get their end of the paperwork and scans correct. If FedEx would actually pay them decent money that would clear-up a lot of the performance issues.

 

[bbsam]

I hate to flood the forums with new topics but I gotta say this one really bugs me.

Of the entire FedEx network there are two brands that stick out for all the wrong reasons, Kinkos (now FedEx Office) and Ground.

On one hand we have the overvalued rushed buy out of a company that has never quite fit and cost the company millions in write-offs.

On the other hand we have the poor integration of a company that has cost the FedEx brand millions in lawsuits and caused much confusion within the company and among its customers.

So - which was a bigger mistake? I know you have stories for both.

Ground a mistake? The segment of the company that continues to make money even after the litigation fees? The only way that that Ground can be considered a mistake is from the point of view of couriers afraid that their own employee model is threatened by the contractor model at Ground. It is a fear that I think is well justified, but hardly makes the acquisition of Ground a mistake.

 

[Testicular Fortitude]

Ground a mistake? The segment of the company that continues to make money even after the litigation fees? The only way that that Ground can be considered a mistake is from the point of view of couriers afraid that their own employee model is threatened by the contractor model at Ground. It is a fear that I think is well justified, but hardly makes the acquisition of Ground a mistake.

They are both big mistakes.The largest litigation has not yet been settled by the court.FDX Ground and Home employees versus Fedex.If FEDEX corporation loses it will cost them over one billion dollars.This could be the end of the Ground and Home divisions.

 

[bbsam]

They are both big mistakes.The largest litigation has not yet been settled by the court.FDX Ground and Home employees versus Fedex.If FEDEX corporation loses it will cost them over one billion dollars.This could be the end of the Ground and Home divisions.

You prove my point. Not until the litigation is settled AND Fedex loses AND the court requires Fedex to abandon the IC model (which no court has yet required) can it be considered a mistake. If on the other hand the court affirms the IC model, look for Express to adopt it in the years to come. I assure you, Fedex Corporation does not see IC's as a mistake in the least.

 

[MrFedEx]

You prove my point. Not until the litigation is settled AND Fedex loses AND the court requires Fedex to abandon the IC model (which no court has yet required) can it be considered a mistake. If on the other hand the court affirms the IC model, look for Express to adopt it in the years to come. I assure you, Fedex Corporation does not see IC's as a mistake in the least.

If FedEx loses, we'll see your Ground fleet for sale at the local car lot...just like DHL when the feces hit the fan over there. Even if FedEx was forced to abandon the IC model tomorrow, it has been a tremendously profitable venture, so I agree with you that it would never be considered a mistake. And if Fred has to cut you loose, he will...without batting an eye. OK with that?

The IC model would be a big problem at Express because of the higher standards for service and employees. Sorry, but the $13 per hour parolees you've got working for most Ground contractors wouldn't cut it over at Express. In order to attract competent workers Fred would have to pay at least what he does now (not much) and also offer a benefit package, negating much of the IC "advantage" right off the bat. Even in a crappy economy like we have right now, few people are willing to bust their hump the way Express expects you to for Ground wages.

One of these days, perhaps you should visit the Express operation at your local ramp, then go to a DGO station afterwards and observe what goes on. You might learn a great deal.

 

[capta320]

Ground a mistake? The segment of the company that continues to make money even after the litigation fees? The only way that that Ground can be considered a mistake is from the point of view of couriers afraid that their own employee model is threatened by the contractor model at Ground. It is a fear that I think is well justified, but hardly makes the acquisition of Ground a mistake.

Yup my future I see going down the road at FedEx Express. After 25 years I am being outsourced to a " Contractor ". See more and more Ground and Home Delivery Routes and Express Package volume going into the "Ground" Building more and more Ground Hubs, Home Delivery will begin pickups and working 6 days a week....Thanks Fred.. We built the Company and now tossed aside. Hope all the top Execs enjoyed their $ 8 mil in other compensation last year ( Look at Latest Annual Report)
Many Senior Drivers bailing out and taking early retirement once hit age 55. We should have joined Teamsters 15 years ago. I am afraid its too late for Express. I will be moving on to a company that respects its employees. Cant afford to work only 35 hours a week...Express Div will become a part-time job for college kids. And FedEx image in regard to Ground has been tarnished. Due to bad customer service by Ground. Hope UPS kicks Freds Butt and send him packing to Memphis. Hey maybe Greyhound is hiring.

 

[FedEX 4 Life]

Hope UPS kicks Freds Butt and send him packing to Memphis.

Isnt Fred already in Memphis

 

[The Mayor]

I would definately have to say Fed Ex Kinko's / Office division. We spent 2.3 billion to purchase it, then another $830+ million to buy it's name out to change over to Fed Ex office. In return? All we got was a $800 million dollar write off because of the diluted value of the company from its purchase price. So, in the end when you finally put it all together, we are still looking at the approximately original $2.3 billion that we spent with no return. Call me crazy, but getting no return on an invest to me is a very unwise business decision.

 

[bbsam]

If FedEx loses, we'll see your Ground fleet for sale at the local car lot...just like DHL when the feces hit the fan over there. Even if FedEx was forced to abandon the IC model tomorrow, it has been a tremendously profitable venture, so I agree with you that it would never be considered a mistake. And if Fred has to cut you loose, he will...without batting an eye. OK with that?

The IC model would be a big problem at Express because of the higher standards for service and employees. Sorry, but the $13 per hour parolees you've got working for most Ground contractors wouldn't cut it over at Express. In order to attract competent workers Fred would have to pay at least what he does now (not much) and also offer a benefit package, negating much of the IC "advantage" right off the bat. Even in a crappy economy like we have right now, few people are willing to bust their hump the way Express expects you to for Ground wages.

One of these days, perhaps you should visit the Express operation at your local ramp, then go to a DGO station afterwards and observe what goes on. You might learn a great deal.

With the added revenue from express deliveries I'd easily pay $18/hour. Actually you would be surprised at the competence I can get at $13/hour. Not every time, but more often than not and more and more as the job market tanks. Sometimes it takes creative route structuring, but that's ok.

 

[MrFedEx]

With the added revenue from express deliveries I'd easily pay $18/hour. Actually you would be surprised at the competence I can get at $13/hour. Not every time, but more often than not and more and more as the job market tanks. Sometimes it takes creative route structuring, but that's ok.

At $18 per hour you might have some takers. IMO the average Express employee today is only about half as competent as the old-school FedExer's. A really good courier is worth paying $30 per hour, something Fred has never managed to figure out. As more and more of them quit or bail at 55, he'll be stuck with the rest. At that point, providing current service levels would be impossible without adding a bunch of routes, which defeats the original penny-pinching premise.

 

[FedEX 4 Life]

At $18 per hour you might have some takers. IMO the average Express employee today is only about half as competent as the old-school FedExer's. A really good courier is worth paying $30 per hour, something Fred has never managed to figure out. .

You are telling me that you deserve the same pay as a UPS driver?Do you do the same amount of work as a UPS driver.Please answer honestly.

 

[FedEx courier]

You are telling me that you deserve the same pay as a UPS driver?Do you do the same amount of work as a UPS driver.Please answer honestly.

All Couriers deserve fair market pay. Can't speak for Mr.Fedex but all my coworkers take their jobs very seriously and work hard everyday. It's really ridiculous that you get on here and constantly belittle the jobs that we do.

 

[FedEX 4 Life]

All Couriers deserve fair market pay. Can't speak for Mr.Fedex but all my coworkers take their jobs very seriously and work hard everyday. It's really ridiculous that you get on here and constantly belittle the jobs that we do.

How am i belittiling?I am asking a simple question.Do fedex express drivers work as hard as UPS drivers?Yes or No?

 

[MrFedEx]

How am i belittiling?I am asking a simple question.Do fedex express drivers work as hard as UPS drivers?Yes or No?

You would be the perfect Kinko's employee...you've got all the qualifications. What I said was "an excellent courier is worth $30 per hour" and I stand by that. An outstanding FedEx employee is just as good as his/her UPS equivalent and works just as hard. Most don't...I'm talking about that "7" employee who knows exactly what they are doing and always does an excellent job. There are certainly a lot of swing drivers who are worth that much, and plenty of others. I'm guessing that you are overpaid relative to your contribution.

 

[FedEX 4 Life]

You would be the perfect Kinko's employee...you've got all the qualifications. What I said was "an excellent courier is worth $30 per hour" and I stand by that. An outstanding FedEx employee is just as good as his/her UPS equivalent and works just as hard. Most don't...I'm talking about that "7" employee who knows exactly what they are doing and always does an excellent job. There are certainly a lot of swing drivers who are worth that much, and plenty of others. I'm guessing that you are overpaid relative to your contribution.

Cant even answer a simple yes or no question.Just as I thought.You are an embarrassment

 

[FedEx courier]

How am i belittiling?I am asking a simple question.Do fedex express drivers work as hard as UPS drivers?Yes or No?

Don't know what kind of Candyland station your claiming to work in but my answer is yes.

 

[1989]

Cant even answer a simple yes or no question.Just as I thought.You are an embarrassment

Look, FDX boy is back!

 

[MrFedEx]

How am i belittiling?I am asking a simple question.Do fedex express drivers work as hard as UPS drivers?Yes or No?

A classic distraction tactic...throw out the old "who works harder" question in the hope that the discussion gets sidetracked into an us vs. them argument. I'll answer when you answer the question I've posed to you so many times now. Why do you post on other sites with the same username and post on this site with different usernames yet use a differing grammatical style each time? Only the pro-FedEx jargon and erratic reasoning stay the same. Question 2; How does a 17 year FedEx "employee" know so little about how his company operates and make so many errors in statements that even the newest employee could answer with ease?

 

[FedEX 4 Life]

A classic distraction tactic...throw out the old "who works harder" question in the hope that the discussion gets sidetracked into an us vs. them argument. I'll answer when you answer the question I've posed to you so many times now. Why do you post on other sites with the same username and post on this site with different usernames yet use a differing grammatical style each time? Only the pro-FedEx jargon and erratic reasoning stay the same. Question 2; How does a 17 year FedEx "employee" know so little about how his company operates and make so many errors in statements that even the newest employee could answer with ease?

Yes or No? Its a simple question. I knew you wouldnt be able to answer.Pathetic.You are a joke.