A Rant, Of Sorts...

I keep my online buying to a few select sites that I know offer some form of buyer protection.This post is about something I bought on Amazon. Let's go back a bit...


We have a giant TV. It's one of those over-sized big screen projection TVs. Hitachi 56 inch huge thing...We've had it for several years and from time to time we have to replace the projection bulb. Also known as the "projection lamp module". The bulb is not your average light bulb...NAY! It's not something I can just go buy at Walmart...or really...anywhere, for that matter.


It's a pretty bulb... iridescent and shiny. 

The first time we paid over $300 for a bulb in it's plastic case (the module), to have it delivered from China through a Hitachi dealer. The second time we had to replace the bulb, we wised up...and looked around. I found one on eBay for about $100. Score! The only difference was that is was just for the bulb. No biggy, it only takes a few more steps to put the bulb into the plastic case we already have, then into the TV. It was also a generic version (not Hitachi). 

Sooooo. About 2 months ago we needed another one...and I wised up some more. Since the last bulb didn't last nearly as long as the very first one we bought, I wanted to buy a real Hitachi bulb, not the knock-off. I found one on Amazon, from a company that sells them and nothing else. The price $65. Huzzah! I bought it and it was shipped the next day.


And here goes my rant. It was shipped FedEx. FedEx Smart Post to be exact. Smart Post is a cheaper way of shipping, FedEx ships the item to your closest FedEx warehouse. From there, it gets shipped basic USPS to your home. 


My estimated delivery date was June 6th. It arrived at Earth City on the 2nd (that's my local FedEx warehouse). I watched the tracking number several times a day. And, it said it was DELIVERED on the 2nd. I waited. I watched. I waited impatiently. The 6th came and went. Still, I waited. Finally, on the 8th I called FedEx and said simply "My package was suppose to be here on the 6th...so, where is it?" The nice lady on the phone says "Oh my it should be there" I agreed. "I'll put a trace on it, and give you a call back" she says. I give her my phone number and wait. It arrived the next day at the post office. I never got that call back. Apparently FedEx drivers don't come "out here" unless they feel they have to. 


I will never, and I really realllllllly mean never...ship with FedEx or buy anything that needs to be delivered by them...again. The item itself was perfect. But...FedEx...sucks.