Fedex really is still like two completely different companies..... real Fedex (ie: the "Golden Package" company lol) and Fedex Ground which sucks donkey balls.
I've had great luck with Fedex "Express" and "2-day" deliveries, in fact for "mission-critical" they're still to this day my go-to. (the exception would be items where USPS-exclusive "protections" apply)
I'd be more inclined to send a package regular/"slow-boat" parcel-post with the USPS then use Fedex ground for anything ever.
Frankly, it’s worse than that. In areas that are more “rural,” FedEx tends to use 3d party contractors for Ground. Bad part is these contract drivers have NO “rule” requiring them to deliver the pkgs on their particular delivery vehicle.
Instead, they get paid per pkg delivered and can quit delivering when they feel like it…no matter how many packages are still on their vehicle.
They can apparently even decide not to load a pkg onto their vehicle if they decide to do so.
For instance, I live in a small town with a pop of ~4500. About 45 min from Athens, GA, the “local” FedEx dist hub. Ordered a Schwann recumbent exercise machine late Oct. Got from PA to Athens in two days…then spent 8 days in Athens…guess it was the puck in forklift hockey given the condition of the box. Big hole, crap falling out. Dumped on porch.
Ordered a 55” TV…shipped from TX Nov 23. Hit ATL on Nov 26, Athens next day. Delivered to my house 5 days later…4days late.
Once had to drive over an hour to a FedEx depot to retrieve an overnight package that had “attempted delivery” 3 days in a row…but of course no attempts were ever made. I was home the entire time waiting on the damned laptop. That was a Wed, Thurs, and Fri wasted waiting.
I’ve never ever had issues like that with UPS nor USPS. Only FedEx.
Damn I hate FedEx
Oh, and the TV was screwed up. Apparently got dropped…looked like a phone’s screen after dropped on concrete.