Mother’s Day is a magical time, but many things can go wrong with carrier performance that can sour your customer’s special day. Here’s how 71lbs can help.
Note: At the time of publishing this article, some parcel carriers have suspended money-back guarantee due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Late delivery refunds may not be available by Mother's Day 2020.
FedEx and UPS publish safe posting dates to make sure gifts get there on time for Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10). How well the big carriers keep their end of the bargain to follow these delivery schedules and meet care standards is a different story. Let’s look at your rights to a successful Mother’s Day and how you can avoid a maternal mess-up before millions of packages get underway.
Know the dates and deadlines for FedEx and UPS
Every business offering Mother’s Day gifts should know the cut-off days and post clear send-by dates for their customers. UPS offers several cut-off times for its various services to get packages there by no later than May 9 — and at only a week or so before the final delivery date, they’re cutting it tight.
Arriving the day before Mother’s Day isn’t so bad, however, it’s important to note that in every case, UPS will charge an extra fee for delivery on the 9, which is a Saturday. The option is also not automatic and must be selected by shippers.
Items moving by UPS Ground service should be posted on May 1st for a May 8th or May 9th arrival. 3 Day Select packages must be posted on the 5th or 6th, 2nd Day Air by the 6th or 7th, and Next Day Air by the 7th or 8th (the same deadline applies to Next Day Air Early shipments).
UPS does acknowledge that the day before Mother’s Day will be busier than normal and it’s extending delivery times for UPS Next Day Air, UPS Next Day Air Early, UPS Worldwide Express and UPS Worldwide Express Plus, but only by 90 minutes and only for packages delivered within the U.S.
FedEx has not published any specific Mother’s Day deadlines, so it’s up to shippers to choose cut-off dates based on that carrier’s various services. FedEx did publish its days of non-operation for 2020. For May, only the dates surrounding Memorial Day are affected. Still, we advise you to contact FedEx to double-check the situation if your business relies on them for Mother’s Day.
71lbs can help with late deliveries (and other letdowns)
Millions of Mother’s Day gifts will be posted this year, and some of the most popular are also extremely sensitive to rough handling and even slight shifts in temperature. Chocolates, candies and flowers require the utmost care both by the businesses sending them and the carriers handling them.
We advise following your carrier’s advice for delicate items — such as this FedEx example for flowers — to the letter. If you don’t, they’ll likely have no qualms about placing blame for any damages on the shipper. For chocolates and other sensitive sweets, UPS provides some savvy advice for shippers to protect them from harsh handling and too much heat or cold.
Special items like jewelry also have carrier rules. They may require a declared value or special handling. If your shipping department has taken all these precautions, it’s on the carrier to perform. Sadly, this could still mean late, lost or damaged deliveries. This is where 71lbs and our experienced team can go to work to help your business limit the expense of carrier mistakes.
For late, lost and damaged deliveries, we can ensure you get a full refund of shipping costs paid directly back to your shipping account if the carrier is even 60 seconds over their promised delivery time. Loss or damage may entitle you to up to $100 in refunds, and we don’t only monitor FedEx and UPS for errors here — we also keep an eye on DHL and USPS.
Protect your presents with an extra layer of security
We recommend complete shipping insurance if you want maximum Mother’s Day peace of mind. Our own insurance covers the cost of your merchandise and return shipping unconditionally, and what’s more, there’s no burden of proof on your business when it comes to carrier negligence. We might also be able to save you up to 45% compared to insurance premiums offered by carriers.
71lbs can offer the advice to help businesses make the most of Mother’s Day and the advocacy to minimize damages and maximize savings if your carrier doesn’t perform. Connect with us at the link below to learn all the benefits we can bring to your shipping practices.
At 71lbs, we focus on two things: a) helping customers save money on shipping, and b) helping customers understand their shipping costs. We provide refunds and savings on shipping insurance, freight and imports, among other benefits. Our automated dashboard displays easy-to-understand shipping costs and insights so you can make better business decisions. Drop by the contact page to get in touch!
