05.18.04

What is wrong with this picture?

Posted in Other at 10:24 am by Leopoldo

package.us.map.gif

There is a package coming to me via Federal Express that I am eager to receive. I have been tracking it�s progress on the FedEx web site and was a bit surprised to log in this morning and read this:

May 18, 2004 4:17 am Held at Sort Facility INDIANAPOLIS IN
1:28 am Release for delivery INDIANAPOLIS IN
12:28 am Arrived at Sort Facility INDIANAPOLIS IN

May 17, 2004 8:53 pm Left FedEx Ramp SHANGHAI CN
2:46 pm Left FedEx Sort Facility ANCHORAGE AK
1:09 pm Arrived at Sort Facility ANCHORAGE AK

May 15, 2004 11:33 am Pickup status SHANGHAI CN
Package received after FedEx cutoff time
11:33 am Left FedEx Origin Location SHANGHAI CN

Now, I don’t know how you read this, but it looks to me like the package was shipped from Connecticut, sent by airfreight to Alaska and then back to Connecticut! From there it went to Indiana where I hope it will be shipped out to me in Oregon. Sometimes I have to wonder if FedEx knows what they are doing…

60 Comments

  1. mph said,

    May 18, 2004 at 10:30 am

    “Shanghai” ring any, uh, Asiatic bells, Leopoldo? Asiatic bells that start with a C and have an N in them?

  2. Leopoldo said,

    May 18, 2004 at 10:37 am

    You think the package actually shipped from China? I had assumed there was a city in Connecticut called Shanghai, it had not even ocurred to me this could be coming from China (now that I think about it it makes sense). Why then does it show as having gone back to ‘Shanghai’ after arriving in Anchorage?

  3. Michael Hall said,

    May 18, 2004 at 11:41 am

    What’s the package? If it’s a new Apple, I recently read accounts of people watching their Powerbooks shipping from China. (as soon as I get my last check from my freelance contract, I’ll be watching my own shipment, btw… it’s Powerbook time!)

    Re: the rest of it: I’d guess a few things, including a bug in timezone handling. If the software doing the reporting doesn’t know about the 12 or 13 hour difference in timezones, or there’s a configuration error at one of the processing terminals, it’d report events out of order.

  4. Leopoldo said,

    May 18, 2004 at 2:14 pm

    Well, I was hoping to make it a surprise, but then again I have been talking about upgrading from the iBook for a while now… yes, last week I put my order in for a brand new 1.5GHz, SuperDrive, 15″ PowerBook. The iBook has been good to me, but I want more and am getting it…

  5. denni said,

    June 16, 2004 at 10:20 am

    have you got your package? Mine is being held at sort facility and i want it to move on further but it’s just sittin there in teh sort facility… any idea when it’s going to leave the sort facility?

  6. leopoldo said,

    June 16, 2004 at 10:31 am

    Oh yeah, my PowerBook actually arrived just a day after I made that post… I have been quite happy with it too :-)

  7. muggins said,

    August 3, 2004 at 11:27 am

    I ordered a Compaq R3000Z, which was shipped from Shanghai, and now the tracking shows the exact same thing…going to Anchorage, then Indianapolis, and now being held at a sort facility.

    It makes me angry.

    Not to mention I live on the west coast. Why fly it all the way out to Indiana?!

  8. Bern Phyle said,

    September 29, 2004 at 7:05 am

    Thank the terrorists for the delay. The package (and all others) now have to go through x-ray, nitrogen sniffing and radiation tests before clearing customs. It causes quite a backup.

  9. blonde moment said,

    December 16, 2004 at 3:03 pm

    Hey, I thought my HP was coming from Shanghai, Connecticut too. My boyfriend linked me to this forum. Hopefully mine will skip the Alaska detour.

  10. U R Notalone said,

    January 8, 2005 at 2:28 pm

    Add me to the list of people assuming there’s a Shanghai in Connecticut. My brain was thinking APPLE = PIE = MOM = BASEBALL = USA = CONNECTICUT instead of APPLE = COMPUTER = ELECTRONICS = MADE IN CHINA.

  11. Walter Smith said,

    February 16, 2005 at 5:01 am

    Why then does it show as having gone back to ‘Shanghai’ after arriving in Anchorage? Well… it didn’t.

    The problem is the time zone. It left Shanghai at 8 pm. Due to the magic of timezones and the international date line, it made it to Alaska by 1 PM the same day. (or, about 7 PM china time … the next day!)

    If my calculations are correct, Shanghai Tues@8PM is Mon@2PM in Alaska. So it took about 23 hours to move from the China facility to the Alaskan facility.

  12. R3000z said,

    March 16, 2005 at 8:46 am

    Ordered R3000Z. Just wondering whats going on in china for last 2 days.
    Mar 16, 2005 11:00 pm

    Pickup status

    SHANGHAI CN

    Package received after FedEx cutoff time

    9:27 pm

    Left FedEx Ramp

    SHANGHAI CN

    Mar 15, 2005 10:17 pm

    Package status

    SHANGHAI CN

    Package in FedEx location

    Mar 14, 2005 11:33 pm

    Package status

    SHANGHAI CN

    Package in FedEx location

    8:46 pm

    Arrived at FedEx Ramp

    SHANGHAI CN

  13. R3000z said,

    March 16, 2005 at 8:51 am

    Ordered R3000Z. Just wondering whats going on in china for last 2 days.

    Mar 16, 2005 11:00 pm
    Pickup status
    SHANGHAI CN Package received after FedEx cutoff time

    9:27 pm
    Left FedEx Ramp SHANGHAI CN

    Mar 15, 2005 10:17 pm
    Package status
    SHANGHAI CN Package in FedEx location

    Mar 14, 2005 11:33 pm
    Package status
    SHANGHAI CN Package in FedEx location

    8:46 pm Arrived at FedEx Ramp SHANGHAI CN

  14. DJD said,

    April 8, 2005 at 7:25 am

    It’s not really going back and forth between Alaska and China. It just is weird, and appears that way because of the crossing of the International Date Line. (I’m in the same situation waiting for my PB to get to me in Florida all the way from China.

  15. Billy said,

    April 10, 2005 at 7:01 am

    did u pay any duties or anything because it came from china ??

  16. james d said,

    April 26, 2005 at 6:13 am

    Delivery location
    COLUMBUS, OH
    Service type
    IP Direct Distribution
    Weight
    0.6 kgs.

    Status
    On FedEx vehicle for delivery

    Date/Time

    Activity

    Location

    Details

    Apr 26, 2005 7:11 AM

    On FedEx vehicle for delivery

    COLUMBUS, OH

    7:06 AM

    At local FedEx facility

    COLUMBUS, OH

    2:34 AM

    Departed FedEx location

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    6:29 AM

    Int’l shipment release

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    Apr 25, 2005 2:50 PM

    Departed FedEx location

    ANCHORAGE, AK

    1:26 PM

    Arrived at FedEx location

    ANCHORAGE, AK

    12:45 PM

    Left origin

    SHANGHAI CN

    12:22 PM

    Picked up

    SHANGHAI CN

    11:33 AM

    Package data transmitted to FedEx

  17. Elise said,

    May 3, 2005 at 9:05 am

    Hey guys, since it seems that some of you have already gotten your Apple computers I was wondering if you could give me some peace of mind. My computer was ordered on April 26 (Tuesday) and has done nothing but sit in China since (It’s May 2, a Tuesday)!! I’m going crazy with anticipation and was wondering how long, in days, it actually took to get your computers. Thanks for the help,

    Elise

  18. Rob said,

    May 4, 2005 at 10:33 am

    I ordered an IPOD photo on sunday morning (may 1) and I see that it, too, is shipping from Shanghai, CN which I am assuming is in China…I paid an extra 12 bucks for 1-2 day delivery (from ship date) but the estimated time of delivery is before noon on next monday! I also ordered a device to connect my digital camera to the ipod through usb for storage on the same ticket….it’s coming up my driveway as I type this! So maybe this is a trend for Apple…unpredictable shipping…
    Rob

  19. Dave said,

    May 7, 2005 at 9:24 am

    I just ordered a 17″ powerbook. it shipped Fri may 6 from Shanghai via UPSH. Service Type:”EXPEDITED DELIVERY CON”.

    I did the UPS Calculate Time thing at UPS.com and it estimates that it should be here (WV) by Fri the 13th.

    I too had know idea it would be coming from China. I hope it gets here by the 12th, I’m leaving the US for 2 months on the 13 :(

  20. Brett said,

    May 12, 2005 at 1:02 am

    Yes, it seems quite strange that Apple advertises ‘free ground shipping on all orders over $50′ when it is actually being shipped from China… making ground shipping impossible. I just ordered my powerbook on the 8th and am quite concerned, especially because I was not informed it was coming from China or how long it will take to get here.

    http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/248/2041/756/store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/cp_promo_free_shipping.gif

  21. The S said,

    May 22, 2005 at 8:21 am

    I also ordered a powerbook and am watching the journey. This is pretty obvious. First of all of course it is made in China, or else you would have to pay a few hundred dollars more for it. It goes to Alaska, because that is the closest US state to China and FedEx setup a facility there for international shipments from Asia. Remeber the earther is round so look at a globe and see how close China and Alaska are. The package then goes to a central hub sort facility in Indianapolis. FedEx operates on a hub distribution system. All packages are sent to a central hub for sorting. It makes sense because from central hubs they can gather all packages being sent to a area in one place to be sent off all in one shot. Instead of having each of the smaller facilites which have packages to be sent to so many different places have to send to all those different places. Say a smaller facility has maybe 3 packages being sent to Philadelphia but 30 others on the West coast. Making a special trip just to go to philadelphia is ludicrous. So all the packages are sent to Indianapolis first and instead of just 3 packages going to Philly 300 of them from around the world go there in one trip. As for why it sits in China for a few days. I am guessing it is because they probably ship at regular intervals from the location or something like that. Most likely it is a mundane logistical thing.

  22. Julie said,

    May 23, 2005 at 7:46 am

    I am so glad I saw this forum, I’ve been going crazy waiting for my iBook. So I went searching for Shanghai, Conneticut. I really wonder why they can’t just make my computer in the US. I mean honestly! I paid an extra $18 for it to be here NOW!

  23. Antonia Oliver said,

    May 25, 2005 at 6:03 pm

    I wish I would have seen this page before I ordered my ipod photo online. I would have gotten my lazy butt up and went to the city. My status is now SHANGHAI CN. So I guess I have about a year left to wait. I wish I could have gone the places my ipod has.

  24. Ian said,

    June 1, 2005 at 11:48 am

    I just ordered an ipod Mini from apple. Here’s FedEx’s tracking results so far…

    Jun 1, 2005 10:09 pm

    Left FedEx Origin Location

    SHANGHAI CN

    9:36 pm

    Pickup status

    SHANGHAI CN

    Package received after FedEx cutoff time

    Personally, I’d want to have it come from Connecticut rather than China cause i’m
    IMPATIENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  25. Laurie said,

    June 8, 2005 at 9:30 am

    I just ordered my IPOD yesterday. It’s in China. There’s no estimated delivery date yet, but I suspect FEDEX is pretty organized at handling shipments, since this is what it does as a business. Although I’d really like it to be here NOW, as I am impatient, I don’t expect much more than a week. I’ve ordered items that are coming from within the continental U.S. that have taken that long via a carrier such as FEDEX or UPS. So, I’m going to remain optimistic about this.

  26. crap said,

    June 9, 2005 at 11:25 am

    damn, i wish i would have ordered like next day, my 17″ powerbook is in china now… curses.

  27. Laurie said,

    June 9, 2005 at 6:11 pm

    I just checked the update on the IPOD I ordered on the 7th. It’s actually moving pretty fast. I’m in Sacramento, California and it’s now in San Jose, only about 2 hours from here. It should arrive tomorrow or Monday (since they don’t deliver on weekends.) Less than a week all the way from China–not so bad. Really, it’s about the same as I’ve waited for items coming from New York via FEDEX or UPS.

  28. Laurie said,

    June 10, 2005 at 12:57 pm

    I’m so happy. My iPod came a day earlier than it’s estimated delivery. That’s particularly nice since the expected delivery was on a Monday, so a day early is Friday, since there’s no delivery on w/e’s. It only took 3 days to get here, so I guess I really didn’t have to feel uncomfortable with it coming all the way from Shanghai. I live in California.

  29. Ali said,

    June 14, 2005 at 9:26 am

    Grrr…. I, too just bought a powerbook. I assumed there was a Shanghai, Connecticut… which coincidentally is how I found this post. I was trying to find out if the manufacturer was in China. I thought it was odd that it would go further away from me instead to toward me. I have a delay too. I ordered last week, and still haven’t gotten it.

    Jun 13, 2005 5:34 PM Departed FedEx location ANCHORAGE, AK

    3:01 PM Arrived at FedEx location ANCHORAGE, AK
    12:05 AM Shipment exception

    SHANGHAI CN Delay beyond our control

    Jun 12, 2005 11:09 PM At local FedEx facility
    SHANGHAI CN
    Jun 11, 2005 11:30 PM At local FedEx facility
    SHANGHAI CN
    1:33 PM Picked upSHANGHAI CN Package received after FedEx cutoff
    1:33 PM Left origin SHANGHAI CN 1:19 PM Package data transmitted to FedEx

  30. Preston said,

    June 27, 2005 at 8:55 am

    Ah crap. Haha. Though I did not order a Powerbook (sadly), I did order an iBook. Good enough for college says my mother. I didn’t realize that these were made in China…though afer reading the posts, it makes sense. Technology + cheaper labor = CHINA.

    Damn. I think I am possibly one of the few who didn’t pay for the quick, 1-2 day shipping, so I hope I don’t have to wait much longer and a week or two for this thing. I’m not leaving the country for two months like someone up there, but I want to play with my new toy. We all know how that goes.

  31. Ed said,

    June 30, 2005 at 4:03 am

    I think when you get something shipped from Apple with the 1-2 day shipping you still have to wait a few day s for the deliverary

  32. max said,

    July 1, 2005 at 4:11 am

    here’s mine. but its no apple related. 8hr drive from this place and look what they did..

    Jul 1, 2005 3:12 AM

    On FedEx vehicle for delivery

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    Jun 30, 2005 5:24 PM

    Arrived at FedEx location

    CHICAGO, IL

    4:34 AM

    Departed FedEx location

    SAINT PAUL, MN

    1:47 AM

    Arrived at FedEx location

    SAINT PAUL, MN

    Jun 29, 2005 10:02 PM

    Left origin

    EAU CLAIRE, WI

    5:27 PM

    Arrived at FedEx location

    EAU CLAIRE, WI

    10:28 AM

    Picked up

    EAU CLAIRE, WI

    Jun 28, 2005 4:45 PM

    Package data transmitted to FedEx

    Chetek, WI

  33. lazymofo said,

    July 8, 2005 at 1:19 pm

    Didn’t it tip you off that, as in the map you posted, Connecticut is abbreviated “CT”, not “CN”?

  34. jake said,

    July 11, 2005 at 7:43 pm

    Wow, thank goodness I found this post, although I’m relly confused as to WHY it keeps going back and forth from anchorage to Shanghai…it’s a bit frustrating.

    Jul 11, 2005 9:26 pm

    Left FedEx Ramp

    SHANGHAI CN

    8:51 pm

    Left FedEx Origin Location

    SHANGHAI CN

    8:50 pm

    Pickup status

    SHANGHAI CN

    Package received after FedEx cutoff time

    3:33 pm

    Left FedEx Sort Facility

    ANCHORAGE AK

    1:43 pm

    Arrived at Sort Facility

    ANCHORAGE AK

    Jul 10, 2005 9:32 pm

    Package status

    SHANGHAI CN

    Package in FedEx location

    Jul 9, 2005 6:39 pm

    Package status

    SHANGHAI CN

    Package in FedEx location

    1:38 pm

    Package status

    SHANGHAI CN

    Package in FedEx location

    4:14 am

    Arrived at FedEx Ramp

    SHANGHAI CN

    Jul 8, 2005 11:30 pm

    Package status

    SHANGHAI CN

    Package in FedEx location

    4:06 pm

    Arrived at Sort Facility

    ANCHORAGE AK

    Is that normal? It doesnt seem right for it to ship back n forth…who knows. Thats for my ipod mini, I cant even track my powerbook, its being shipped by SAME DAY. Who knows..:S

    lol, confusing.

  35. Leopoldo said,

    July 11, 2005 at 7:57 pm

    It is not going back and forth, it is traveling an international timeline so some times report as happening later in the day when they really happened later in the previous day.

  36. jake said,

    July 11, 2005 at 7:59 pm

    whew, i was worried for a while there. Thank you!

  37. VOC said,

    July 18, 2005 at 10:48 am

    I ordered a 20 gig iPod last thursday night and I must say I wasn’t it expecting it to ship all the way from China (though it makes sense).

    My status so far:
    Jul 18, 2005 10:51 PM
    Left origin

    SHANGHAI CN 10:34 PM
    Picked up
    SHANGHAI CN
    Package received after FedEx cutoff

    Jul 17, 2005 10:53 PM
    At local FedEx facility
    SHANGHAI CN
    Jul 16, 2005 8:08 PM
    Package data transmitted to FedEx
    -

    It seems to have left Shanghai so that’s good. FedEx has given me an estimated delivery time of 7/20 (this Wednesday) by 10:30 AM. I am not sure how it’ll make it’s way to NY in 2 days but from past experience with online orders, things tend to come by the estimated date or earlier. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and let you know.

  38. Cheesewheel said,

    July 18, 2005 at 11:53 pm

    I ordered a 20G iPod last Tuesday with the 2 day shipping dealy… it shipped Friday. Anyway, here is the log. It is due at my house this Wednesday at 10:30AM.

    What is this “Int’l Shipment Release”? Does that mean they know it doesn’t have a bomb (as mentioned by a poster above)?

    Jul 19, 2005 1:15 AM

    Int’l shipment release

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    Jul 18, 2005 8:42 AM

    Departed FedEx location

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    7:32 AM

    In transit

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    6:51 AM

    Arrived at FedEx location

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    Jul 17, 2005 10:40 PM

    Departed FedEx location

    ANCHORAGE, AK

    8:30 PM

    Arrived at FedEx location

    ANCHORAGE, AK

    10:15 PM

    Picked up

    SHANGHAI CN

    Package received after FedEx cutoff

    Jul 16, 2005 11:30 PM

    At local FedEx facility

    SHANGHAI CN

    Jul 15, 2005 11:30 PM

    At local FedEx facility

    SHANGHAI CN

    7:53 PM

    Package data transmitted to FedEx

  39. readitall said,

    July 29, 2005 at 4:40 am

    you know, this posting would be a lot smaller if people would read from the top to bottom…and just have a little patience…

  40. omgimugly said,

    July 29, 2005 at 5:36 pm

    hmmm. i just ordered a 4GB mini iPod, and right now it states that it’s in a facility in SHANGHAI, CN. hahaha, how completely random. said it would get here by tuesday, so yay. china rocks.

  41. lies_make_the_baby_jesus_cry said,

    August 1, 2005 at 6:58 am

    I did the “buy a computer, get a cheap iPod” deal for students and the FedEx site says that both my iPod and iBook are in Shanghai. The estimated delivery date for my iPod is Wednesday Aug 3rd(ordered last Weds.), but there is no projected date for my iBook. I wonder if they’ll ship separately?

    Has anyone had their shipment delivered AFTER the estimated delivery date?

  42. Courtnie said,

    August 3, 2005 at 5:23 pm

    It all ships from China, my iMac should be here tomorrow… it came from China. It say in the FedEx office there for 4 days before it actually shipped. I order the iMac got the free iPod deal as well. I ordered last Tuesday, got the iPod on Thursday and I should have the iMac tomorrow! So far FedEx has been good, things arrive when they say they are gonna… my iPod Mini could of come a day earlier but because it wasn’t supposed to come till the next day it didn’t.

  43. Binky said,

    August 3, 2005 at 8:05 pm

    Just thought I’d point out that CT is the abbreviation for Connecticut.

  44. Scott said,

    August 8, 2005 at 2:31 pm

    BTW I thought I would post this since I found this site. My HP notebook was shipped
    Aug 5, 2005 4:58 PM

    In transit

    PARIS FR 1:12 AM
    picked up

    SHANGHAI CN
    Package received after FedEx cutoff

    So they shipped it from Paris to China? I think the Atlantic ocean was smaller last time I checked than shipping it across Europe, Asis, the Pacific and into the US that is freaking stupid…grrr I want it today…

  45. Ermel Ariel said,

    November 13, 2005 at 7:07 am

    I just bought a 60GB Ipod Video from Apple’s website. I bought through the site because I got student discount and free engraving. Its so frustrating to wait for the stupid thing to ship from China but damn the free engraving, effective @$$ marketing I swear. I was at the Apple store and because they do not offer free engraving there I went through the site not anticipating they would ship them from China. I mean jeez the cost of making my ipod is about 50 bucks and when you factor in the cost of engraving, labor, and shipping they are making something like 300 bucks profit not including my Camera Connector and extended warranty which generated them some nice change as well. Anyway, If you are making that much profit on millions of ipods (and I mean millions as you should have seen the people at the Apple Store) you could at least rent some warehouse space to store the damn things in the U.S. or something :-( I am highly upset.

    Actually the reason Apple offers the free engraving is because the retail stores make a small (Apple is greedy) $13.00 dollar profit per ipod. Apple is so greedy they would rather cut the retailer profit completely out of the equation by offering free engraving so that stupid idiots like me will want to engrave stupid messages on their units like “Me vs the R.I.A.A: Exhibit I” LOL. Its ironic that Apple was once the company crying foul because Microsoft was raping the computer consumer market with overinflated pricing and now they seem to be doing the same thing but thats another story for another thread.

    The Apple store is also not completely owned by Apple as it is a franchise operation with private investors. While Apple would prefer people go to the Apple Store as opposed to a normal retail outlet such as PC Richard & Sons, Best Buy, and Circuit City it still favors to sell its Ipods through the website so it can make a straight clean profit.

    Seriously, I am sorry I typed so much but I am dying to give my best friend my MP3 CD player and start using my Ipod :-) If Apple had a warehouse in the U.S. and I got my Ipod faster I would be filling my little mircale machine with music and not typing anti-Apple commentaries on this forum. I love you Apple, I hate you apple, I love you Apple, I hate you Apple…ok I am done.

  46. Jackal said,

    December 31, 2005 at 4:32 am

    OK, I have one better. I live in Anchorage, Alaska. Here’s the route my PowerBook 17″ took.
    1. MAR 1: ORDERED from Apple–ETD 10 days
    2. MAR 4: LEFT Shanghai, CN (yes, China)–ETD 5 days
    3. MAR 6 AM: ARRIVE Anchorage, AK. Hey, look at that–it’s early!!
    4. MAR 6 PM: LEAVE Anchorage, AK–WHAT?
    5. MAR 7: ARRIVE Louisville, KY
    6. MAR 8 AM: LEAVE Louisville, KY
    7. MAR 8 PM: ARRIVE Anchorage, AK
    8. MAR 9: On truck for delivery and delivered

    I can’t post the actual tracking data as UPS has removed it from its site (it just says “delivered, Mar 9″ and doesn’t provide the details), but that’s my best guess as to how I remember it. I actually called UPS and asked them why the heck my package left me when it was within 5 miles of me (and within 2,000 feet of me at work–I work at the airport). They said it had to go to their main hub to clear customs. Wow, what a waste of aviation fuel!

    I thought I had previously heard that they had a customs inspection staff here in Anchorage. Maybe it was FedEx that had that. We’ll see–I just ordered an iPod that’s being shipped from Shanghai as we speak, this time via FedEx. If it leaves Anchorage after arriving here tomorrow, I’ll call them and ask what’s up. I do know the FedEx hub here is larger than the UPS one, so maybe they do more in-house processing at the FedEx hub and will split my iPod to the local delivery center. Then again, they’re shipping it “IP Direct Distribution” (IP being International Priority, not Internet Protocol…Star Trek replicators aren’t here yet…), which I found out means that the shipper can bundle an entire pallet of shipments destined to a single country (i.e. from China to the U.S.) together and save on both money and customs processing time (since Customs treats it as a single imported package), which FedEx then breaks into individual shipments and delivers them. So we’ll have to see if FedEx processes the pallet (and breaks my iPod off of it) here in Anchorage or in Louisville. My guess is Louisville, because it’s cheaper to keep the pallet whole until they’re more centrally-located in the country. However, FedEx does fly from Anchorage directly to both their Portland and Oakland hubs (I’ve ordered smaller things from Apple and had them FedExed from their Elk Grove distribution center through the Oakland hub and straight here without touching Louisville, and ground shipments to Alaska are trucked/trained to Portland and then flown to Anchorage.)

    If the pallet isn’t opened here in Anchorage, that brings up an interesting question: why does the Anchorage hub even exist? I did some checking, and the distance from Shanghai to Louisville is about 8,200 miles. FedEx uses mostly MD-11 aircraft, which have a maximum range of about 8,100 miles. Just a hair short.(Maybe the aircraft could just cut power after 8,100 miles and coast down from 42,000 feet for the remaining 100 miles…just kidding…) If FedEx ever invests in some of the newer long-haul/intercontinental freighters now in production, such as the Boeing 747-400ER and the 747-8, which both have maximum ranges of about 9,200 miles, perhaps the Anchorage hub might reach the end of its useful life, as you can get from pretty much anywhere in the Far East to Louisville on one flight. However, FedEx seems to be quite happy with its MD-11s, and its new order of A380s won’t cut it, as their range is only about 8,000 miles. Good for business here, anyway.

    One other note–my iPod shipment is saying the same thing as many have posted above: “Package received after FedEx cutoff.” Apple’s factory workers need to step it up, or they need to make them come in to work a few hours earlier! If Apple’s consistently missing the shipping deadline, that’s delaying everyone’s shipments by a full day.

    And a last note: a commenter above expressed surprise that the products were made in China. Yes, labor’s cheap, and that helps Apple to compete and even (gasp) make a profit. Interestingly, though, my old PowerMac G4 350MHz was built in Singapore, where wages are considerably higher and the residents enjoy a standard of living higher than most western European countries (and maybe even higher than the U.S.). Odd…

  47. Leo you moron said,

    May 9, 2006 at 5:37 pm

    Just to let you know Conn. abrreviation is CT NOT CN.

  48. yo moma said,

    July 19, 2006 at 3:19 pm

    well…i ordered a laptop and case and printer from HP last Fri (07-14-06)
    5-7 day shipping…
    my printer and carrying case arrived monday…yes monday..shipped from TN..pretty crazy…
    now my laptop has been “shipped” today..but its still in shanghia…
    damn them…they need more flights….
    hopefully it won’t be like that one dude thats been waiting 2 months…i think urs was on a ship buddy…
    although no one has posted here for quite some time…thought i would anyway
    im sure the happiness will over whelm me when it arrives…
    i hope by Fri…cuz im leaving for college…
    damn cheep chinese….
    i wonder how big our economy would be if we had everything manufactured here?

  49. op4latino said,

    September 19, 2006 at 12:11 pm

    I guess I came to the right place, I ordered a HP laptop and it’s sitting in Shangai CN, I’ll come back to let you know how is going

    Welcome to the club to me!!!11!!

  50. op4latino said,

    September 21, 2006 at 2:51 pm

    So everything looks good

    Sep 21, 2006 10:11 AM

    Delivery exception

    MyCity, VA

    Customer not available or business closed

    8:45 AM

    On FedEx vehicle for delivery

    MyCity, VA

    8:36 AM

    At local FedEx facility

    My City, VA

    6:00 AM

    At dest sort facility

    RICHMOND, VA

    5:06 AM

    Departed FedEx location

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    Sep 20, 2006 10:22 PM

    Int’l shipment release

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    9:04 PM

    Int’l shipment release

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    3:33 AM

    Clearance delay

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    2:51 AM

    In transit

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    Package available for clearance

    Sep 19, 2006 11:40 PM

    Arrived at FedEx location

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    1:57 PM

    Departed FedEx location

    ANCHORAGE, AK

    12:39 PM

    Arrived at FedEx location

    ANCHORAGE, AK

    9:47 PM

    Picked up

    SHANGHAI CN

    It was a delivery exception because I wasn’t at home when the FedEx truck came. I got a note at the door saying I couldn’t either go pick it up at FedEx that same day or They would try to delivery it the next day.

  51. John123040 said,

    March 11, 2007 at 3:59 pm

    Package received after FEDEX Cutoff time. This phrase is automatically inserted in the FEDEX tracking whenever it appears the shipment will be late. You will always notice that within hours the package is a thousand miles from the pickup point within hours, so how could it be late? It is a cost cutting measure that is used to deny refunds against the late delivery guarranty. It is also used selectively. When you call 800-622-1147 (press 0 immediately) you will get a human agent whose first question is “what is your FEDEX account number?” Your shipping volume over the last year determines everything. If you are big, you get a refund no sweat. If you are not, you get all kinds of BS, starting with the “fact” that you did not meet the FEDEX cutoff. If you point out the package’s location hours later, he will switch to equipment failure, or weather, or any number of exclusions, none of which appear in the Terms and Conditions that form FEDEX’s tariff. If you hold your ground, he will eventually give up and put your application through “as a courtesy” but it won’t be paid. It is surprising how many people think this phrase is real.

  52. Erick said,

    March 28, 2007 at 12:39 am

    I’m waiting for a hp and its coming from shanguai too, i found this forum looking where in the world was shanghai, but i just can understand how you guys mix CN with Connecticut when Connecticut is CT… =] heheh

  53. sopheap said,

    April 29, 2007 at 10:26 am

    what does int’l shipmeant realease mean?

  54. Alex said,

    April 29, 2007 at 1:36 pm

    yeah i’d like to know what int’l shipment release means too :[

  55. Grant said,

    July 4, 2007 at 8:35 am

    int’l shipment release basically means that your package has cleared the first stage of US Customs (China -> US) and that the package is allowed to go in.

  56. Marc said,

    July 11, 2007 at 10:23 pm

    I ordered a new 15″ MacBook Pro on June 30th (a Saturday). I also ordered some other Apple and Adobe stuff as well, I also got a free printer through Apple’s education discount. Everything except the MacBook Pro shipped the following Monday (Jul 2nd). The AirPort Express and CS3 Design Premium coming form Bloomington, CA; the iWork ‘06 coming from Lewisberry, PA; and the Canon printer shipping from FedEx’s headquarters in Memphis, TN. With the July 4th holiday backing everything back a day I still managed to get everything by Friday the 6th (got iWork a day early). No problem with that.

    Last night, my MacBook Pro shipped from Shanghai, China (CN).
    Here’s what I have so far:

    Jul 11, 2007 - 4:36 PM - Picked up
    SHANGHAI CN
    Package received after FedEx cutoff

    Jul 11, 2007 - 4:36 PM - Left origin
    SHANGHAI CN

    Jul 11, 2007 - 2:20 PM - Package data transmitted to FedEx

    It’s been nearly 24 hours, and I still have this. Should it be farther along in the shipping process than this? I’m really eager to get my MacBook Pro. The email Apple sent me notifying me of shipment told me the delivery would be Monday (Jul 16), but the Apple estimate was wrong for some of the other stuff I ordered (usually off by a day before or after).
    Basically, I’m just curious to know how long it took some of you to get your MacBook Pros/PowerBooks.

  57. Glen said,

    July 23, 2007 at 6:18 pm

    Marc, I remember watching my Macbook Pro with anticipation the day I ordered it. (I ordered it the day they were released back in Feb 2006). They actually took it the long way. It originated in Shanghai as most Apple products seem to do, but instead of flying across the Pacific, I tracked it through Germany and England then to NYC, Indy, and finally to my eager hands in Chattanooga, TN.

    I’m now currently tracking a brand new iPod which left Shanghai at 12:30am EST this morning, July 23. I haven’t received any updates since then, so now I’m wondering if it’s either just sitting in Anchorage waiting to be scanned or, worse, the plane crashed into the murky waters of the Pacific!!!

  58. brian said,

    August 8, 2007 at 10:36 am

    Mine shipped out Wednesday, from China and I received it early Friday morning! Maybe I got lucky….
    Aug 3, 2007 9:37 AM

    Delivered

    LEXINGTON, KY

    9:02 AM

    On FedEx vehicle for delivery

    LEXINGTON, KY

    7:37 AM

    At local FedEx facility

    LEXINGTON, KY

    7:35 AM

    At dest sort facility

    LOUISVILLE, KY

    4:12 AM

    Departed FedEx location

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    3:24 AM

    Int’l shipment release

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    1:56 AM

    Arrived at FedEx location

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    Aug 2, 2007 7:53 PM

    Departed FedEx location

    ANCHORAGE, AK

    1:21 PM

    Arrived at FedEx location

    ANCHORAGE, AK

    9:07 PM

    In transit

    SHANGHAI CN

    9:07 PM

    In transit

    SHANGHAI CN

    Aug 1, 2007 3:21 PM

    Left origin

    SHANGHAI CN

    2:51 PM

    Picked up

    SHANGHAI CN

    Package received after FedEx cutoff

  59. Herb said,

    September 30, 2007 at 9:11 am

    You guys got it lucky

    check this

    9-13 Mac Book Pro ordered online morning of September 13th, email says laptop will arrive on 10-3 at the latest.

    -9-27 Got an email from apple @ 2am informing me of that it shipped
    (Exactly 10 business days from when it was ordered) and that it would deliver on 10-1. Nice.

    -9-28 -morning- i check fed ex with the tracking # 2 days later to make sure all was well.
    Its still in Shanghai. Called apple and fed ex to find out whats been happening for 2 days.
    got a load of BS from both companys.
    i was told there was delay because the package was received after fed ex cut off
    which is BS cause EVERY PACKAGE from apple seems to miss the cut off.
    I was also told there was a typhoon in china which is part of the delay.

    My guess is they load a pallet of laptops n towers. while loading they slap a fed ex tracking # on it. then the pallet sits while other pallets are loaded then they all get loaded onto a big plane.

    9/28 -afternoon- check Fed Ex again says “item picked up on 9/29″ Fed ex says delivery is now 10/3

    9/28 late evening- Fed Ex now says delivery is 10/8. it seems China has a holiday for a whole week 10/1 through 10-5 and whole city is shut down. Apple says they will upgrade the shipping to try and compensate.

    9-29- package arrived in Anchorage, AK. Int’l shipment release

    9-30 Fed Ex has no record of upgraded shipping.

    If i hadnt gotten an email from apple tellling me it would arrive on 10/1 i wouldnt be mad, Fed Ex must get a lot of calls about this cause the lady asked me if this was an apple product.

    i think people and companys need to stand by what they tell people, especially for the amount of money being spent on these products.

  60. Zain said,

    October 4, 2007 at 7:58 am

    Can you believe it, off all the replys,i dont know i may have missed it but what is the FedEx cutoff period. I mean i never knew such a thing existed. Also was it true about Shanghai being off from the 1st to 5th october. I mean it is just crazy what is going on here.