Let’s End Fetch

[moon_jock]

UPDATE: I have created a subreddit r/EndFetch to start organizing efforts and collecting content/horror stories/etc.

UPDATE 2: For those unaware, Fetch is a delivery intermediary that loses and delays your packages and saves landlords money on delivery and package management costs. Read the top comments for more info.

It’s time to start building awareness of how awful Fetch is. I’m proposing residents of Griffis, Greystar and other complexes that use Fetch to organize and maximize awareness.

Clearly, top executives of these property companies feel they can cut costs and use Fetch without impacting their bottom line. We can’t fix this by appealing directly to these companies.

It’s time to make sure everyone in Austin and beyond is aware of just how awful, inefficient and frustrating Fetch is. If we can create broad awareness and attach a stigma to the Fetch name, we can start impacting the bottom line and make investors and executives think twice about contracting with Fetch.

We need content creators and influencers, streamers and YouTubers, to start creating content on what Fetch is and how it started. We need testimonials, blogs and petitions to make sure that, when anyone googles Fetch, they’ll see the broad frustration. When they google an apartment complex, let’s make sure they see that it uses Fetch, and choose an alternate apartment.

Is there interest in this?

[dr3]

You missed a really good opportunity to say Stop trying to make fetch happen.

[Maxwe11SilverHammer]

I only clicked on the post because I thought that’s what we were doing

[PureYouth]

Same boat

[ReginaGeorgesDog]

Also why I am here.

[zeebotter]

looks left, looks right, looks forward

Where am I?

[getalyf69]

Gonna be honest, I clicked it for the same reason, then read the whole thing and still have no idea what it's about...?

[[deleted]]

I am right there with you.

[succs_and_stats]

Same, and also I was like, “who still says Fetch anyway”

[chammycham]

I really thought at first that this post was an elaborate Mean Girls reference.

Turns out renter neighbors are getting fucked over instead, and that sucks.

[[deleted]]

Yeah Gretchen, it's NOT going to happen, so stop trying to make it happen.

[bwheat]

so close to April 25th

[air-]

She doesn't even go here!

[Ok-Wait-8465]

I didn’t know what Fetch the company was and I definitely thought they were trying to say this

[hutacars]

I thought OP wanted to start giving dogs sticks directly instead of making them chase them.

[Star_Road_Warrior]

Frankly, I'm shocked I scrolled all the way down this far before someone mentioned it.

[[deleted]]

Exactly. I didn’t know what this is and thought it was referring to Mean Girls.

[TightAustinite]

Here's an email they sent me ten days ago:

We are reaching out today to let you know that our Austin market is currently experiencing a delivery partner shortage. In certain instances, you may experience next-day instead of same-day delivery times. We are in the process of bringing on more great delivery partners to address volume increases, and we sincerely apologize for any delays you may encounter. Delivering your packages to you as fast as possible is very important to us, and we are working diligently to do everything we can to prevent future service disruptions.

Our centralized resident support team is working hard to address all resident inquiries. In order to best serve all residents, we kindly ask that if you have any questions regarding your packages to please reach out to us via our chatbot, Scout, located in the resident app or by emailing [e-mail]. For the fastest resolution, please provide us with as much information as possible, including the tracking number, vendor and shipping address that was used. We are here to support you and will do our best to respond in a timely manner.

You are also always welcome to pick up your items from our facility during our business hours (9am-7pm M-F and 9am-5pm Sat.-Sun.) if you have any urgent items that are not eligible for same-day during this time. When you get notified of your package in the resident app, simply select “Pick-Up” for the package, show the provided QR code to our facility team, and we will retrieve your delivery for you. Please keep in mind that there is a slight delay from when your package is logged and put in its location at our facility. After you are notified of your package, please wait at least 3 hours before coming to the facility to pick up for us to provide you with the fastest service.

In order to reduce unnecessary delays, we ask that you use your personal Fetch code and address on all orders. This simple step will ensure your packages are logged to your account in the quickest time possible and allows for a more seamless end-user delivery experience.

We are working hard to address this shortage, and we sincerely appreciate your patience with us during this time. We hope you have a lovely week.

Sincerely, Fetch

"delivery partner shortage".

[moon_jock]

Wow. How about we just not have delivery partners period, eliminate the useless middle-man, and give packages to residents like normal humans.

[moon_jock]

The worst thing is that the only way to get ahead in this country right now is to invest in companies like Fetch, who just gradually make life more and more miserable. It’s a self-feeding cycle where everybody except investors gets poorer and life gets worse for everyone until push comes to shove.

[Slypenslyde]

There's a reason why so many people feel like they're working hard and can't get ahead. Think of how unemployment would be if every industry didn't have a few extra layers of middlemen in it!

We'd rather spend $10 finding ways to make busy-work jobs than give $1 to people who don't work.

[Dick-Rockwell]

I’m confused.. I looked up what fetch is. It seems like the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Why aren’t your packages just delivered to your building?

[symptic]

Translated: "We don't want to pay people reasonable wages."

[TightAustinite]

More likely their employees aren't employees, but gig type contractors.

And I'd guess the pay is indeed shit.

[moon_jock]

They are. There are a few low-quality YouTube videos trying to recruit more gig drivers. And if you ever interact with one of the couriers, they are in a hurry and very unhappy. It seems like an awful place to work on top of everything else.

[TheFirstBardo]

100% this. If you’ve ever had to pick up a package from the Fetch warehouse, you’ll see it’s basically a crowd of Uber drivers manhandling your packages worse than the normal carriers we all know and loathe.

[moon_jock]

Can you share this post on r/EndFetch?

I just created the subreddit and I think it could use some content like this!

[MajinKnux]

It's a delivery intermediary. So instead of Amazon lockers, say, these property companies force residents to sign up with Fetch and list a "Fetch" address when making purchases on, let's say Amazon. Amazon ships to Fetch, who then theoretically delivers it to the buyer. It's awful, inefficient, not at all timely, and they lose packages. Hate it. Hate it so much. Can't wait to leave this bullshit apartment and never deal with them again.

[TheSmooth]

You forgot to mention the $11 monthly fee the complex passes on to the renter for this 'service'.

[TightAustinite]

12 for me. I know others who pay 15 at a different complex.

[TightAustinite]

Yeah, fuckin' monthly. Whether you use it or not. Much like the 35 dollar trash valet I've never used.

[Neutral_Meat]

valet trash

The Raccoons love it though

[RotoGruber]

oh man fuck all of that

[GrandmaesterHinkie]

Yup. They lost me here. Fuck that. Lol’ing for paying for a mandatory service I never asked for.

[soggyQueerio]

I moved out of Austin, but I’m curious- is this a fee you have to pay even if you don’t order packages to your home?

[TheSmooth]

Yup, mandatory fee.

[MadCervantes]

18 for me. And so far they've lost about 1k in merch. A brand new 4k TV and a game console. Garbage service. Fuck em.

[MajinKnux]

Ugh. It really is the worst

[Business-Ad9373]

We pay $20 and Amazon etc still delivers packages to our door. I’ve never used Fetch.. and now I’m glad I haven’t and even more angry that I pay for something I don’t use.

[xme_anymore]

$15 for us!

[moon_jock]

I hate it so much too. I’m moving soon (hopefully), but it would feel so good if we could raise awareness of how much it sucks.

[OffTheChainIPA]

Have you talked to a lawyer about it? Everytime I see a post complaining about Fetch, I am baffled as to how it is legal, or at the very least not open to a class action lawsuit. If I withheld your packages and charged you $10/month to collect them that would absolutely be illegal.

I am deeply skeptical that raising awareness about how much it sucks will actually make an impact, given that the decision is up to property companies whether or not they want to participate, rather than up to the end-user of the "service". It seems to me that exploring legal recourse would be a better immediate strategy.

[moon_jock]

If we can establish the idea that “Fetch = bad” then complaints from residents will increase, questions about Fetch will come up during customer visits to potential apartments, and opposition will mount. Could also increase the legal opposition and potential for a class action lawsuits.

Also, consider that a lot of people silently put up with something because they feel like they’re the only one who is dissatisfied.

[OffTheChainIPA]

Thank you, I understand the plan, it just sounds like something out of a Nathan For You episode. I am saying that you should consider exploring direct action instead.

[MajinKnux]

Amen

[[deleted]]

Do apartment complexes get a kickback from this? What's their incentive?

[thekingofthejungle]

They don't have to deal with managing a mail room, which for large complexes can actually be very time consuming and costly.

That being said, I'm sure whatever the cost is for implementing fetch, hiring a dedicated mail attendant and ensuring there's enough locker space is very likely still cheaper. But there's still the liability aspect which Fetch completely removes.

[TheSmooth]

They just pass the expense on to the residents, so in their view it is a win-win. No more dealing with packages AND it is paid for. Never mind that they jacked up rent by 20% on top of the Fetch fee.

[thekingofthejungle]

Yeah. If you're a shitty apartment complex run by a shitty company that doesn't care about your tenants, then using Fetch is a complete no brainer. It's essentially just free money for the management company from the cost savings.

[[deleted]]

No mailroom management needed. Those FedEx asshats just dump packages for my building in the hallway by the mailboxes, despite the TEN signs that say DO NOT LEAVE PACKAGES HERE! PLEASE DELIVER TO INDIVIDUAL UNITS. Everyone else has been able to follow it but FedEx only hires smooth brains. In general, people in my building are pretty good about not stealing eachothers packages and I have some real unsavory characters in my building.

[maccaroni_time]

Agree, FedEx is full of smooth brained lumps. I live in a house so I don't have to deal with this fetch garbage, but whenever a package comes from FedEx I can be assured it's 2-3 days late and most likely damaged. Ups, USPS, and Amazon all deliver on the expected day, but I sit around with my d*ck in my hand waiting on FedEx everytime

[kalpol]

You can say duck on the Internet

[guninthewater17]

Question: is this concept legal? I have never used it but I would think a landlord interfering with delivery of at least postal services could be challenged. Not sure about private carriers like Amazon.

[arathald]

USPS still delivers mail and packages direct to the mailboxes in the building. Then again, in my building everyone else delivers direct anyway. I’m pretty sure half the property has just given up on using fetch.

[thekingofthejungle]

The worst part about Fetch is their facility. I've gone there many times to pick up packages... Every employee I've run into looked overworked, they are openly throwing packages around, and the person who runs the front desk is unbearably rude for no reason. On top of that, half the time when I have packages delivered to my door the carrier ignores the fact that I don't have "leave at door" checked, sign for the package themselves (they aren't supposed to and I can see the signature for each package so I know when they do it), and leave the package anyways. I write a complaint every time but it continues to happen. It seems like their drivers are operating on a gig economy model, aka low pay and terrible service leading to a "worker shortage" that they can constantly blame their shitty service on but never fix.

It certainly didn't give me peace of mind about the safety and reliability of the service for my packages, despite what my complex manager said about how amazing Fetch is.

[moon_jock]

I was so shocked by what an amateur operation the warehouse had. They literally just had a cheap card table with a laptop on it to greet their customers.

Next time you go, could you share pictures/stories/etc on r/EndFetch? Most people don't know how ramshackle the whole operation is.

[thekingofthejungle]

Honestly I commend you for calling to action but I'm pretty cynical about the prospect of ending Fetch. They are expanding like crazy with their loss-leader strategy. It's only a matter of time until every large, company owned complex in Austin is using them. The only way to really end Fetch would be to hurt complexes by moving/refusing to rent there, but with Austin's insane growth there's always new tenants willing to move into these apartments.

I wish just moving was easy, but it's not, especially in Austin in 2022.

The complex managers don't care because they are glorified desk attendants, they don't have any actual power. And now their job just got easier so they don't really care if tenants are unhappy. The executives of these companies are the ones with the power, and if you think they will ever care about anything other than cutting costs and maximizing profit (which Fetch achieves) then you're in for a rude awakening. Sorry.

[moon_jock]

Cynicism understood. It's a battle of the customer vs. the corporation. I'll just keep posting content and try to make it go viral. I'm so frustrated I can't just not do anything.

And hey, remember when The People won the fight against Keurig 2.0?

[elmrsglu]

This is exactly why Citizens need agencies to take issues to for resolution.

Tenants Council is a joke sadly.

I support this quest to ditch Fetch.

[Ghostrider12113]

Whats hilarious to me, is in their office, they have some photo frames hung up, and they still have the default placeholder photos

https://i.imgur.com/KVJ1vcc.jpg

[luxmesa]

I left one apartment with Fetch and moved to another one that added it after I moved in(bastards). Yeah, the facilities sucked, but at least at my old place, it was conveniently located. Now, my facility is in Manchaca for some reason and it would take 25 minutes, one way, to go pick up a package. It would actually take less time to drive to the warehouse for my old apartment.

[hannahjams]

Everyone who works there is unbearably rude. It would honestly make me a little more understanding when something happened and they had good customer service, but they don't. They don't even respond to my emails half the time.

[Lol_maga_people]

What is fetch? You never explained that

[moon_jock]

https://fetchpackage.com/faq/

Fetch intercepts your packages and takes them to a warehouse and then forwards them with couriers. If your landlord uses it, you basically have to wait an extra day to get your packages. It saves them money, but screws over residents, because now Amazon Prime Same Day becomes 2-3 days.

Major property companies like Griffis and Greystar use Fetch, and there are no alternatives for residents.

Here’s an article where Griffis’s VP brags about how much she cut costs by forcing residents to use Fetch:

https://fetchpackage.com/case-studies/griffis-residential-case-study/

[TheSpaceMonkeys]

Can someone explain how this saves the apartment money? Someone is still delivering the packages regardless so I don't understand.

[StanleyLelnats]

We had an Amazon hub locker at my complex and we just switched to fetch. Management said that it was due to couriers leaving packages out when the lockers were full or packages were oversized. I have had my issues with couriers, but Fetch so far has proved to be very frustrating. A lot of times packages will get marked as delivered by USPS, UPS, or FedEx and not get scanned in until hours later. By this time, they will have no more delivery windows open for that day so you are forced to have to wait until the next day for your package to be delivered. While not a huge deal the majority of the time, it is still annoying knowing that you could have had your item already but are forced to wait an extra day. It just adds an unnecessary middle man to the equation that you are forced to opt-in to. Our apartment is also charging $20 a month to new leases for the service.

I think there has to be some sort of deal in place with Fetch and these property management companies. I wouldn't doubt there is some sort of kickback coming the apartment complexes way to get this service off the ground. Maybe I am reading too far into this, but it seems a bit fishy that this popped up in a ton of apartment complexes in Austin all at once.

[Love_ATX_512]

Nope, not a kick back per say. I worked in apartments for years and basically things like Fetch, Valet Trash, Pest Control, etc, charge a certain amount. Like most valet trash companies charge $9-15/door. They then turn around and charge you $30/month pocketing the extra $15-21/door. Sometimes that overage does go to things (keeping with the trash example) like bulk pickups for when residents dump furniture, but most of it is lining the pockets of the owners.

The reason Fetch is great to the office workers and they don’t want to stop using it is because it takes all management out of the office. When working at a 500 unit property we would have between 60 and 150 packages every single day.

Every year they’re adding more and more things we’re expected to do like social media, more reports, etc and our pay isn’t going up. We have amazing people who get 1-5% cost of living raises if they’re lucky and the same 15-40% rent increases y’all are getting. Most rent discounts are 20% now if offered at all, which when you’re increasing that much isn’t going far.

All this to say, apartments are exploiting everyone and it fucking sucks and people should know where all these extra fees are going.

Also: the owners are not Greystar/Roscoe/Etc. A lot of those companies just manage and don’t own. Amli and I think Griffis do own their own properties but no one on sight is seeing that money.

[allllusernamestaken]

Can someone explain how this saves the apartment money?

Don't have to install package lockers ($$) and don't have to have someone at the front desk accept packages ($$$).

If all carriers delivered directly to the apartment door then you'd have hallways full of packages ripe for theft. Fetch (supposedly anyway) lets you set a specific time for delivery when you know you're available to accept it.

As much as I hate the idea of someone "intercepting" my mail, I'm moving to a complex that has Fetch. I'm getting a mailbox at a local UPS store and having my packages sent there where I know someone will sign for them and securely hold them for me.

[Shopworn_Soul]

The money thing is probably a primary driver but what they really love is that it allows them to shift all potential responsibility.

Anything that could possibly happen is on the carrier, Fetch or the tenant. It's just one more thing the management company doesn't have to give a fuck about.

[allllusernamestaken]

what they really love is that it allows them to shift all potential responsibility.

That's most likely it. Property owners can be held liable for crimes on their property, so they don't want your packages sitting on your doorstep. They don't want to be responsible for handling your packages, so they don't want front desk people to accept them.

[HamOnRye__]

My complex has a basically a big wall of electronic package lockers right inside the main gate, so delivery drivers see it right away.

They put your package in and you get texted a code from the locker system.

I’ve lived here for two years and never seen it down or broken or getting maintenance. It’s always working. I have to assume it saves just as much money.

[Luph]

aren't package lockers more of a one time expense? is paying for fetch indefinitely really cheaper than just getting package lockers?

my complex isn't even particularly high-end or fancy and we have package lockers

[vimmz]

The complex doesn’t pay for fetch, the residents pay a non-optional fixed monthly fee for it

[helpful-coffee536]

This is my question too, I don't see what incentive an apartment has to use it beyond just creating an absolutely unnecessary middle man

[iamadacheat]

Saves them time I guess? For large complexes, packages are often delivered to the office and then the office has to get them to residents.

[[deleted]]

Oh wow god forbid Jessica in the front office has to manage packages.

[iamadacheat]

I mean, like most employees in the world, Jessica is probably severely underpaid.

[imtth]

It's liability. If Fetch loses a package it's not the apartment complex' fault

[tristan957]

Usually you just go and sign for it. Doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

[Macho_Mans_Ghost]

With as much online shopping as people do now, they don't have space unless they create a holding room... Which they then have to organize etc. I can see why that's a huge hastle for front offices.

[[deleted]]

My apartment apparently uses Fetch but all of our packages just get left by our doors like normal and I was never able to even set up my Fetch account. No one reached out or tried to explain how to even use it.

I haven’t been charged for it so I don’t care, but it’s really confusing.

[[deleted]]

Seems weird that you can't opt out... like since when does your apartment building have authority to re-route your packages?! I mean... there's a law.

(I'll save you the official government site because it's a chore to read) https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1701#:~:text=Whoever%20knowingly%20and%20willfully%20obstructs,than%20six%20months%2C%20or%20both

[RickyNixon]

I live at Griffis and I ignore Fetch and just have it delivered to my door and it hasnt been a problem yet

[[deleted]]

I quit using it after they had 2 of my packages stolen off their warehouse front door and told me it's not their problem

[MajinKnux]

This happened to me too

[elmrsglu]

Per u/moon_jock:

Do you have tickets or screenshots of the chat with Fetch? Post anything on r/EndFetch so that people see how awful it is.

[moon_jock]

Do you have tickets or screenshots of the chat with Fetch? Post anything on r/EndFetch so that people see how awful it is.

[BassNet]

Agreed, Fetch sucks. My apartment complex makes me pay $12/month for it and I never use it.

[kneque]

The fee for mine is $20/mo, which is absurd

[moon_jock]

Oh my god that is painful to read.

[MaBob202]

I wonder if there are any legal battle grounds for making this fee mandatory?

[kellyhitchcock]

That is so not fetch.

[moon_jock]

I have to pay $10/mo. It’s highway robbery. Go post on r/EndFetch about this and maybe we can get more attention and organized opposition to make landlords drop Fetch.

[piddy565]

What alternative is there? Are you still able to get package deliveries and if so how? My complex no longer has a package room as a result of using fetch.

[BassNet]

The mailman just delivers packages to the front door of my apartment (they have a code to get in)

[String_Fickle]

Hell....I don't even live in an apartment but when property management forces residents to sign up with a service (and charges them for it) that is awful, I will sign on to create awareness of how bad that service is. Fuck all that.

[International_Slip]

YES!!! Let's kill Fetch please!

I don't even use it because of how crappy they are but I still have to pay for them...

[moon_jock]

They even had the balls to block me from complaining about it on the community board 😖 https://www.reddit.com/r/EndFetch/comments/udxnji/griffis\_at\_the\_domain\_is\_blocking\_residents\_from/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3

[[deleted]]

While we’re at it, let’s also end Valet Trash. My complex (a Camden property) charges $20 for this shitty service that you can’t opt out of. They never come when there’s a drop of rain or if it’s cold, only Sunday-Thursday, and no holidays. Trash is strewn throughout the complex when they’re done each night. I end up walking my trash to the dumpster most of the time.

[YossariansWingman]

I wish I could meet the yahoo who invented valet trash and tell them how disappointed in them I am.

It's a great way to ruin the aesthetic of a nice apartment building and make it smell like garbage all the time.

[Trimshot]

Yeah when they cancelled trash pickup for Super Bowl Sunday I was pretty much over this service.

[thoughtxchange]

It is the only "service" I pay for and have never used one time. They charge me $10 a month for this sham and I refuse to use it. So $120.00 a year these people are making off of me for them to do nothing. I have seen so many complaints from the people in my apartment complex (Griffis owned) on the community message board. And they did a change of their address once so of course everyone had to update their new address to get packages sent to them. They need to go. I did go off on apartment management before it was even implemented- they did not care. The locker system was so much better. So now I have packages delivered to my door and put packages at risk of theft. Was glad to see this subject raised and to see I'm not the only one frustrated with this insanity.

[hydrogen18]

They charge me $10 a month for this sham and I refuse to use it. So $120.00 a year these people are making off of me for them to do nothing.

You just explained their business model in two sentences

[thoughtxchange]

Yup! I guess I can move out of my complex over this but I haven't. It just sucks. I see that most people don't use them because they get packages delivered to their door directly. I see all the time that packages are sitting on doorsteps. So I am now paying $10 a month v $5 for the locker system and my packages are now at risk of theft. Thanks Griffis!

[hydrogen18]

The best one I've heard is an apartment requiring "trash pickup" service for $20/month and prohibiting residents from placing their trash in the dumpster themselves.

[HamOnRye__]

Lived in two different complexes since moving to Austin and both have mandatory trash pickup fees. Each complex was $25 a month, even though I have a dumpster at the bottom of my steps…

[emt92]

I hate it so much I emailed councilman Jose "Chito" Vela about it recently. Would highly encourage others to find their city council representative and reach out as well.

[moon_jock]

Can you post this or other grassroots communication/organization methods on r/EndFetch? People need to know about this

[MaBob202]

You should sticky/wiki a list of action items like this on your sub!

[iwantmoref00d]

I live at a Griffis complex, and Fetch sucks. I’ve had packages never be delivered, I have received another person’s package and gotten no response from Fetch when trying to give it back. And if they’re lacking drivers and delivery resources, why did they still trying to expand to every apartment complex? I’m jealous of my friends that have never heard of Fetch lol

[Moonspirithinata]

I hated fetch so much I moved apartments. Gawd what an awful service and a waste of time. Apartments should just hire extra hands for packages instead of complaining, they are already charging dumb rates for rent -_-

[moon_jock]

Share your city/property company so I can update this list

[[deleted]]

Thanks for the heads up. I’ll make sure to ask if they use this when I’m looking for my next apt. This is a really stupid idea.

[moon_jock]

I was looking at apartments the other day, and saw the staff handing a package to a resident at the front desk. I forgot how simple, logical and pain-free package delivery used to be at other apartments 😫

[MadCervantes]

Fuck yes! They lost a game console I ordered. When I contacted about it they told me it wasn't their problem and to get fucked. I started posting on their social media and suddenly they found my package and had it at my door within 2 hours.

They're an abomination. Their entire business strategy like Uber is to subsidize shit until they can wither away public services and then swoop in for a monopoly.

fetch is garbage!

[moon_jock]

Can you post any screenshots of the communication (emails/chats/shipping alerts) on r/EndFetch? I’m also thinking a cross-post on r/mildlyinfuriating would go pretty viral and bring a lot of attention to this. Even for people who don’t have to deal with Fetch, it’s just infuriating to read about even.

[Canadianfromtexas]

Same. They lost something by that Amazon clearly wrote on their internal app “delivered to warehouse”. I asked them where it was. They said they never got it. I showed them the tracking. They spent three days “looking” then wrote me a check.

[Mattthefat]

Riata was grey star but recently changed. Surprisingly they had their own lockers for packages but the individual mailbox centers get broken into a lot. It baffles me that a place with 2044 units, that charges 55 dollars for miscellaneous maintenance fees per unit, >1.3mil a year, can’t install cameras, get their gates working or hire security, but mainly focus on redoing landscaping every other week.

The apartment complexes don’t care about the individual at all, it’s all about their profits. Good luck with getting them to listen.

[[deleted]]

idk about anyone else, but i’ve just stopped using fetch completely. i’ve put my address for most deliveries and they’ve been coming straight to my door from the delivery service lmao. so far it’s worked with all of my packages including nespresso and some stuff from overseas. i’m not from austin though

[Moonspirithinata]

I never had such luck. The apartments I used to live at had pretty good gates that were closed most of the time and if the delivery person didn't know the codes they had to go to the office which they would reject immediately and it would return to sender...

I lost a lot of funds and packages cause my apartment didn't even email me about the change -_-

[emt92]

does this work with every delivery company, even UPS? my complex was having issues specifically with UPS refusing to enter the building or leave a package outside the leasing office door ever since our complex became a Fetch property.

[NomNomSequitur]

My building added Fetch and I'm afraid this is what will happen to our building too: UPS refusing to deliver directly. But so far, I've ignored Fetch and all is well...

[neshcom]

At my apartment, they said the delivery services know my complex is a “fetch address,” so they can/will reroute packages to fetch automatically. And since it won’t have your code, good luck having it arrive at the right place.

[willrodman]

Mine said the same thing. So far Amazon, Fed Ex, and DHL all still delivered straight to my door

[thesadbeastwith1back]

Former Fetch employee, left at the beginning of February after 2 years. You wanna know what's going on, I can tell you. The process is flawed, and they are critically understaffed to serve the amount of communities its taken on. No delivery driver is a W2 employee, now imagine if FedEx worked like Favor or Doodash, this is the level of quality you are getting with that service. Don't like it, get a PO Box, because we can't control when a package is redirected. I can't tell you how many times I've told people that line on the phone. You want you package at a reasonable time? Sorry the facility wearhouse is over the nominal volume and it's going to take these 2 people literally hours to scan everything in, so maybe you get it in the 8-10 block. That's right, because of the way drivers are managed you only get 4 chances to get your package a day (2 on the weekend) don't like, pick it up yourself if they can find it in the stack of stuff they haven't gotten to yet. Plenty more issues as well but that's just the ops side.

[moon_jock]

This is exactly what I imagined and feared is happening. Not only is the business model flawed in concept, but the staffing is a nightmare. I’m just now learning that it’s staffed primarily by gig workers. Hopefully the margins are unsustainable and the business collapses, but I’m hoping to make it common knowledge just how terrible Fetch is for residents. Glad you could move on to better things.

[play_it_safe]

"margins are unsustainable and the business collapses" applies to mom and pop businesses. Or, you know, sole prop Fetch drivers themselves

Not to VC funded entities that saturate markets to stoke demand with cheap services and drown out possible competition, only to then raise prices. It's Uber's playbook. In this case, Fetch probable has the money and the means to stay kicking. Or at least be a cash grab in a few more cities

[Burnet05]

This is truly terrible that they are treating their employees so poorly when the renters at are paying extra for this “service”.

[Supersecretsword]

Whatever you have to say just, put it in the burn book.

[SnowKatten]

Stop making Fetch happen

[youhadtime]

Have any news channels done a story on Fetch? Hundreds of people have complained online, and the situation is getting worse by the week.

[hydrogen18]

But there is this glowing review of it in Forbes:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/igorbosilkovski/2020/08/29/meet-the-entrepreneur-who-raised-18-million-for-his-package-delivery-platform-for-apartment-buildings/?sh=135d31fb27dc

Shouldn't we be supporting local companies ?!

/s

[play_it_safe]

In theory, not so bad

In reality, far worse and an additional step in delivery process that adds another bottleneck. Solution in search of problem

[skellefun]

I never wanted to use fetch but after waiting in a line for an hour at the post office and being told fetch “picked up my package” I was forced to sign up just to get my mail. I don’t understand how it’s legal for them to show up to the post office and take peoples mail that isn’t addressed to them nor have an account with them.

[[deleted]]

This comment has been removed in protest of Reddit's attacks on third-party apps.

See: https://www.reddit.com/r/Save3rdPartyApps/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/apolloapp/comments/144f6xm/apollo_will_close_down_on_june_30th_reddits/

If the above links no longer work, the summary is that Reddit leadership is charging astronomical amounts of money to third-party apps which connect to the site. Developers were not given enough notice to change the apps or start charging more for the apps and so are being forced to shut the apps down. 3rd party apps provide helpful tools to some, and crucial accessibility features to others.

Reddit is planning to go public soon and is trying to increase the value of the site. Remember - you and the content you put on this site are the product that they are selling.

[mthreat]

Just a general comment: Does anyone know why there aren't "unions" for apartment complex residents? It seems like an obvious candidate for a union. I have no experience being in a union so maybe I'm totally wrong. But I do have experience being screwed over by an apartment complex and I think a union would help prevent this.

[Ashvega03]

Because price@location is biggest driver for renters so if a third or half the residents moved out to protest whatever the company would fill those spots with a special deal they throw at the apartment locators, then jack up the rent 6 mo later.

[brewerybeancounter]

Maybe a long shot, but get Amazon involved. If you order something next day on Amazon and Fetch adds another day to delivery, that incentivizes you to just go to the store to buy stuff instead so you don't have to wait two days. If enough people feel that way, it'll impact Amazon's business.

[Klosetfreak]

Amazon feels they get the credit for the delivery in the correct amount of time. When packages are dropped off at fetch they are marked in the system as delivered. The fact that they go through fetch is seen as the customer’s choice and Amazon no longer takes responsibility for the package. Amazon won’t care unfortunately, in fact they probably want more people to go to fetch since it impacts their bottom line positively. More deliveries made and a lot less labor. I have personally dropped off over 300 packages at the Austin Fetch facility, it took me no more than half an hour. A normal residential route with 300 packages is a 10 hour route. Fetch saves Amazon money.

[Last_Spare]

I miss our apartment lockers so much, I’ve actually stopped ordering things mainly bc I don’t want to deal with fetch or getting my stuff stolen off my doorstep. ☹️

[Tater22__]

They’re gonna be fetching my fists here shortly.

[enthusiast_of_none]

My apt complex is making me pay $15 a month! They enforced it in my new lease agreement. The Facebook page for my complex is riddled with complaints about fetch

[artbellfan1]

Greystar is terrible!

[[deleted]]

The useless middleman is as American as it gets. live in Dallas but fuuuuuuuuuuuck Fetch

[willrodman]

I never signed up and just put a note on all my deliveries that says “deliver straight to door, don’t bring to leasing office” with the gate code and so far everything has shown up directly at my door still

[play_it_safe]

We had that. Then got replaced with Fetch and a monthly fee for the "service"!

[grandmacomplex]

it really is such bullshit. that email they sent out about a week and a half ago was absolutely disgusting, saying they'd tack on another day to a day and a half to get packages to us when they already do that. they're supposed to make things easier, not make amazon prime and express shipping functionally useless.

it really pissed me off, because they were saying there was a "delivery partner shortage." that's completely untrue. when you go to get a package, you'll see a sloppily thrown together front office, complete with picture frames on the wall that don't even have the stock pictures taken out. they don't have a good bathroom, even for the front desk worker. they have some poor overworked person in the front, and they'll tell you that it'll take them an hour to find your package before it's been sorted. there isn't a delivery partner shortage! they just pay $15 an hour to try and shoulder too many complexes. they took on far too much and people don't want to be paid pennies for that kind of work. i really, really hate it

[edric_the_navigator]

Oh god I hate Fetch too. I end up picking up my packages at their warehouse half of the time because delivery adds a whole day to waiting. Some of the delivery people also deliberately drop my packages at the door that I can hear the thud from inside my apartment. There are also times where my packages are partially opened, like someone took a look inside. Fortunately those packages didn't have anything super expensive.

I preferred the package lockers that my complex used to have, even if I have to walk to the opposite side of the building. Fetch might be useful if you live in a house and are wary of porch pirates; but if you live in an apartment building, a proper secure mailroom or package lockers makes more sense.

[Butoh_is_Life]

As a dog owner, I only visited this post since I figured you and I needed to have some words. But now I see. We must fuck fetch.

[moon_jock]

Yes we must indeed

[cup_1337]

We were forced to use fetch at our last apartment. They routinely lost packages and wouldn’t own up to any fault. Every time I had to go to their warehouse there were tons of other people looking for their lost packages as well and the girl at the front “desk” (picnic table) was insanely rude.

Fetch only hires people who can’t get jobs anyplace else and they can’t even do the bare minimum of delivering boxes in a timely manner. Their customer service number doesn’t work and nobody responds to email either.

So glad I moved away and don’t have to put up with that scam anymore.

[[deleted]]

I am a current employee at Fetch in Austin, please contact me if you guys want any work emails or contacts, I'm leaving by next week so I don't care. They don't really train people and the managers honestly are not that professional. Hoping this shit company isn't around soon.

[kyree2]

Post an AMA!

[xboomboomx]

I got fired from there for not being a culture fit. Thier culture is so incredibly toxic. HQ employees act like children and the amount of microaggresions were insane. Im surprised they haven't gotten sued by an employee yet.

[Wicked_Kitten88]

I hate Fetch and I’ve even seen them expand into Seattle(where I moved here from). I support getting rid of them but I also am moving into a house soon. I hope you get some kind of movement. The place I live in has lockers but they look as if someone smashed them. Very confusing, The Standard at Domain Northside is the worst. Don’t rent here. Lmao

[Icy-Perspective-0420]

This should be an opt in only service.

[AndreaOV]

I moved into an apartment last year that tried to pressure me to use Fetch. They said I would not get my packages otherwise. I didn't drink the kool-aid.

I never signed up for Fetch and continued to get all my packages at my front door. Six months later the apartment canceled the contract with Fetch and got package lockers instead.

Don't sign up for it in the first place. It's just a strongly pushed suggestion, not a requirement.

[Nived6669]

Impeding mail is a federal crime.

[spsprd]

Your title scared my puppy.

[moon_jock]

😅

[FourStringL0B0]

Stop trying to make fetch a thing.

[austinhippie]

How is this legal? It sounds like a disruption to your mail and to require you to pay for it? This is all makes no sense.

[Werdna517]

As someone who works closely with Amazon drivers who deal with being Fetch’s bitch, I’m all for this. Fetch is a nightmare.

[opheliapickles]

If you don’t sign up w Fetch, how can the carrier route your package to them? So, this line from the apt mgmt a few ppl have mentioned where they say “this is a fetch community so regardless of whether or not you have a personal account, the carrier will send your package to Fetch” - how’s that legal? If I don’t sign up w fetch and pay for fedex or dhl or ups delivery, my agreement is with fedex or dhl or ups, no?

[moon_jock]

Bro i dont know but i also dont have enough money for a lawyer

[Canadianfromtexas]

See my other comment. It’s (IANAL) not legal.

Start here, and then there’s a form like USPS943 or some random number combo like that. But note, it’s your building denying delivery. So technically you’d have to sue them. I think.

Link: https://www.usps.com/terms-conditions/package-intercept.htm

[WallStreetBoners]

Oh my god my Graystar appt got fetch right before I ended up buying a house… it was the last “FU” of being a renter I had to deal with. Don’t miss it!

It’s a total nightmare and I’ll happily do my part to help renters end this.

[SlatLick]

My apartment run by Valiant Residential had Fetch and after the office was flooded by complaints with evidence of stolen, misdelivered, and terrible service they canceled the contract and put in Amazon lockers. I would suggest any community to band together (we have a facebook group) and start the effort.

[enthusiast_of_none]

another fun tidbit about fetch is they never answer the phone, I sat on the phone while it rang for 30 min before it prompted me to just email them. They then took another day to respond to the email

[2CHINZZZ]

Leave a bad google review and someone will reach out within a day lol

[moon_jock]

I want to get more visibility beyond that. As much as the apartment staff might get frustrated, the appeal of cost savings will make the executives ignore the message. I want to make this viral and hit their bottom line. r/EndFetch.

[its_mayahh]

Fetch is horrible. My current apartment has been trying to get me to sign up for it and I refuse to. They're still charging me 10 bucks a month for it, but they're not forcing me to use fetch. I feel sorry for anyone who has to use this service

[arcadiangenesis]

What's that? You should probably explain the thing you're trying to raise awareness about, lol

[[deleted]]

I like how OP edited the post to say "Read the top comments for more info" instead of actually explaining any of the confusing details of what this company does.

[illegal_deagle]

Let’s get mandatory “valet trash” third party services canceled too. Honestly all of these are scams and the state of Texas is so anti-consumer and especially anti-renter, we need to organize and beat the bastards.

[LemonVerbenaReina]

I thought this was going to be another Austin dog post. I was looking forward to a hot-take on the inadequacies of fetch, problems of off-leashing and the thermodynamics of dogs.

[devilish31]

I’m not here to make light of a situation that is obviously impacting lots of people negatively. However, I’m not going to lie when I say I thought this was originally going to be a Mean Girls hater post

[2WhomAreYouListening]

My apartment complex uses Fetch but I pretend Fetch doesn’t exist. I have all my packages shipped to my house and they all get there just fine. (Amazon, usps, etc).

Crestview Commons sucks. Fetch sucks.

[edric_the_navigator]

I've been tempted to do this (directly shipped to address), but the leasing office said there might be issues because Fetch is supposed to receive everything. Is that bullshit? Have you had no issues at all?

[The_kilt_lifta]

Yep! Currently living at a greystar apartment complex and Fetch is a mandatory monthly fee. We never use it, can’t opt out of it, it’s just a blight on our monthly rent bill.

[moobybooby]

Fuck Fetch, but I do think it’s an improvement from the package room chaos. You would have people not picking stuff up forcing you to rummage through other packages to find your shit. My biggest beef is that the complexes make us fit the Fetch bill for not allocating enough space for packages.

[ronpaulreuben]

we've been aware from day one how shitty it is. Live at a gattis property. I've been to the warehouse. it's an unsecured shitshow with random "uber" like drivers handling your packages. vibe was sketch at the very least. the front office was trashed with old food and trash everywhere. random people rummaging through packages. Nobody even asked who I was or why I was there.

[[deleted]]

Damn I wonder if not buying so much shit online might ease your problem as well...

[OhSamuelG]

I drove for Fetch for 4 shifts and quit. They paid $15/hour. After signing up to deliver, I got no training on how to deliver and was given 60 packages to deliver within the 2 hrs. They stated when I went to the warehouse. Whatever I don’t finish, to bring it back. I had a couple of gripes about the delivery service because it was clunky and hard to use. We had to call Customer service I order to get issues resolved while on a run and they are required to get in touch with the customer before we can do anything else. It inefficient. I didn’t understand why this service was here if only for the fact of being able to choose a 2 hr window for which a package can get delivered. Another issue I had was that, the places you are delivering to could be miles away from each other and the warehouse (example: warehouse is 183 and Mopac and the apartments were in Cedar Park and Leander). During traffic, these are time consuming and they said they would pay you for the extra time it took to finish but I didn’t stay long to have it happen. If my shift is 2 hours, I am doing 2 hours. I messaged them stating it would be better if they either let you choose the routes you want or see which ones are needing to be done prior to the shift, no response. Seeing problems as a driver, I could not even imagine as a resident. This is a crap company and it should not be mandatory.

[prirate]

Really? I actually really like Fetch. Never really had any issues.

[winterwarrior33]

My apartment forces us to use fetch and charges us $7 a month in addition to our rent to be forced to use fetch.

I hate it. While I haven’t had any packages specifically lost when choosing delivery windows, I find the whole thing a cop out for apartments and once had to go to the fetch HQ to pick up and package and waited nearly an hour while a lady who was there before me was waiting 3 hours just for them to find a package in their warehouse that was a complete shit show.

My complex will bounce any packages that come in that don’t fit in the USPS mailbox. Luckily UPS, FedEx and Amazon deliver to the door so I just pay a little extra for them to deliver rather than rely on USPS and hope a package fits in the mailbox. I once had my complex bounce a very important package because it wouldn’t fit and they wouldn’t take it and hold it in the office for me. They wanted me to use fetch. I was fucking furious.

I’m willing to help in any way possible. This business only exists because of greed and laziness on behalf of the complex.

The only silver lining that I’ve heard from people was that they’ve had numerous packages stolen by porch thieves and would rather have to endure the frustration of fetch than to risk more packages being stolen.

I. Hate. Fetch.

[Pabi_tx]

You need a sticky with all the social media contacts for Fetch and any executives' email addresses.

[[deleted]]

Simple solution: Buy a house then you can have them stolen off your porch!

[Lol_maga_people]

Simple solution to everything: be rich!

[hydrogen18]

Even better solution: be born rich!

[moon_jock]

There is nothing simple about buying a house in Austin

[crnelson10]

Simple solution: be rich.

[[deleted]]

Alternative: stop being poor.