Do UPS, FedEx Guarantee On-Time Delivery? Sometimes Not

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Now that the dust is settled and all the delayed holiday packages are (hopefully) where they’re supposed to be, we couldn’t help but wonder: Do UPS and FedEx guarantee on-time delivery of packages or you get your money back?

Sometimes they do, but sometimes they don’t, says Mouse Print, a website dedicated to looking at all of the fine print most of us can’t be bothered about.

It notes that the UPS service guarantee says:

UPS air and international shipments picked up or delivered within the United States are guaranteed throughout the holiday season unless otherwise noted on ups.com. Commitment times for air and international shipments delivered within the U.S. will be extended by 90 minutes the following days: Nov. 29, Dec. 18-24, and Dec. 31. The guarantee is suspended for UPS Ground and UPS Standard packages picked up or scheduled for delivery between Dec. 11 and Dec. 24.

CBS News reported after the Christmas delivery fiasco that a UPS spokesperson said refunds would be offered only to air and international customers. If you used ground or standard shipping through UPS, you’re out of luck — unless the retailer you ordered from offers to refund the shipping.

At first glance, FedEx seems to be a bit more generous. But Mouse Print noted these exceptions:

We offer a money-back guarantee for our services. This guarantee can be suspended, modified or revoked at our sole discretion without prior notice to you.

Also:

The money-back guarantee for FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery services will be suspended temporarily for packages tendered during the 14 calendar days before Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013 (Wednesday, Dec. 11, through Tuesday, Dec. 24).

Mouse Print adds that FedEx express services allow an extra 90 minutes to make deliveries at certain times, just as UPS does.

“The bottom line is that these companies have tried to absolve themselves of on-time delivery responsibilities, and have been relatively silent about how they would make good for disappointed shoppers,” Mouse Print says.

I guess you’ll just have to plan ahead next year, as delivery “guarantees” may not be applicable when you need them most. Oh, and read the fine print next time.

Have your late Christmas packages been delivered? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook page.

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