Backstory first. A package supposedly was left on my doorstep on a Friday, or at least its delivery status claimed. Nothing was there. The next week goes by. Nothing shows up. Monday rolls around, my doorbell rings, and a guy's standing there with my package.

Some anonymous Fedex employee scanned the entirety of his truck and claimed he left those items on people's doorsteps, reported another Fedex driver who had to eventually come and clean up his mess. "He doesn't work for us anymore," said the man, subconsciously hoping to convince me not to go with UPS in the future.

I can see regular mailmen doing it, since very few people will miss another credit card offer or a Pennysaver or a 20% off coupon at Bed Bath & Beyond. But Fedex? Like there aren't tracking numbers on most of those packages?

Image credit Washington Times

The postmaster general is asking Congress to remove the requirement for the post office to deliver mail six days a week, since the USPS lost $2.8 billion last year and could lose as much as $6 billion this year, since people are mailing less crap and it costs more to deliver it. So, the postmaster general says, "It is possible that the cost of six-day delivery may simply prove to be unaffordable." Worst-case scenario surprisingly isn't cutting Saturday delivery, which I've always kind of looked at as a bonus, but actually Tuesdays, which is a pretty light day.

Who do you trust to deliver your gadgets? Personally, I prefer Fedex, but I use USPS a lot when I buy from Amazon because I'm cheap and pick free Super Saver shipping, which isn't bad. For some reason, Newegg's new Egg Saver shipping, which also uses the USPS, is pretty terrible. If there was one less day a week, would you actually change your behavior though? Like stream more movies from Netflix, switch your Gamefly subscription or use more Fedex?

I guess you could always use the pony express: [AP, Image: aubergene/Flickr]

LVISO, CA & ANN ARBOR, MI — November 17, 2008 — TV has never tasted this good. That’s because TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), and Domino's Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ), the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, have teamed up to give broadband connected TiVo subscribers the ability to order pizza for delivery or pick-up, and track delivery timing, right from their TV sets using the TiVo® service. It’s a service that cooks up the perfect pizza purchasing recipe.

“Our commitment to customer satisfaction is what has helped us become the leader in the global pizza delivery market, said Rob Weisberg, vice president of precision and print marketing at Domino’s Pizza, Inc. “We are confident that teaming with TiVo on this novel, easy, and convenient way to order pizza right from the TV will be very well received by our customers. This is the first step in the future of customer interactions with the brands they seek to engage with and buy from. This is the first time in history that the ‘on-demand’ generation will be able to fully experience couch commerce by ordering pizza directly through their television set. You’ll see a television ad for Domino’s and you’ll click ‘I want it’ through your remote. In about 30 minutes, your pizza will show up at your door.”

Karen Bressner, Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales, TiVo Inc said, “Joining forces with Domino’s Pizza creates an effective marketing and commerce tool for Domino’s while enhancing and further distinguishing TiVo as the ultimate way to watch TV with a closed-loop advertising experience. This exciting new partnership offers yet another advertising solution as commercial avoidance continues to increase. With just a few clicks of the remote, TiVo users can order a pizza, then sit back, relax, and enjoy their program. Now, TiVo delivers the absolute best television viewing experience…and a pizza.”

TiVo subscribers can seamlessly access their Domino's Pizza order from various advertising entry points on the TiVo user interface including Gold Star Sponsorship, Program Placement, Interactive Tags in live TV spots, and through Music, Photos, Products, & More by clicking on “Order Your Pizza.” TiVo is serving up a piping hot new service that’s truly made to order and gives a whole new meaning to the term “TV dinner.”

TiVo subscribers can set-up a user name and password on Dominos.com so that each time they use their TiVo remote to place an order, they can log-in with a simple account number. Alternatively, TiVo subscribers can enter their delivery address, build their pizza order right from the television set by selecting type of crust, toppings, and sauces, and get the pizza delivered by their local Domino’s Pizza.

Bressner added: “Our commitment to revolutionizing interactive advertising and commerce on the television is a direct result of the innovative solutions and features we provide. TiVo’s growing list of interactive features also includes the ability to find and purchase products on Amazon.com related to a customer’s favorite TV show or the convenience of being able to search for a movie that’s playing nearby and purchase tickets through Fandango – all by using the TiVo remote.”

Starting today, this new service is free of charge to all broadband connected TiVo subscribers and supports both delivery and pick-up orders. Viewers pay in cash when the pizza is delivered.

[Zatznotfunny]

This is absolutely astonishing.

I'm on the phone right now with [redacted], Customer Advocate for FedEx. She, and [redacted], employee #[redacted], Operations Manager at the San Jose Express delivery station, are claiming that Apple specifically requested that FedEx disregard the "Priority Overnight, delivery by 10:30am" service Apple shipped Leopard out under, and instead "DEC17" the Apple packages, which means to deliver them by 5pm instead of the contractually-obligated 10:30am time dictated by the Priority Overnight delivery requirements.

Update 2: Another reader says this.

i have an update to the fedex debacle for leopard shipment, i too had issues this morning with my delivery showing an exception and stating "customer not home", i was home the whole time and they didnt come, i called fedex and bitched and they said that it said "delayed by management", none of the three reps that i spoke to knew what that meant, but i was able to get them to talk to the driver and have him come back at 1130 with my leopard

Original: We've had three separate confirmations that some Leopard deliveries are failing via FedEx. When we say fail, we mean there's a "Delivery exception" and the status says "Future delivery requested." We're sure the recipients didn't request a future delivery for something they pre-ordered, so what's the deal here?

As Brian and I were unboxing the Wii and PS3, Nintendo dropped the bomb on us. A bomb filled with creamsicles, fudge pops, and good humor.

Oh yes, dear readers, just when we were ecstatic about having a Wii, Nintendo delivers us a second Wii via Ice Cream courier. Cool? Very. Delicious, definitely. They even spotted us some ice cream sandwiches. Thanks Erin! Mmmmm, mmmm, good. Twin Wii's? Yes, we're twice blessed. (Both the east and west coast Gizmodo Wiis got delivered to the SF HQ by accident, if you were wondering.)

Click to the jump to see the Awesome Ice Cream Truck in Action.

– Jason Chen