Cobb Reporter

As the countdown to Christmas came to a quick close, many FedEx customers in the metro Atlanta area were still awaiting packages to carry out their holiday celebrations. 

With customers left wondering whether their gifts will arrive on time this year, Fox5Atlanta reported many said their packages were idly sitting at a FedEx shipping center in Austell.

"It's like they're holding it hostage," one customer told Fox5Atlanta. "You can't pick it up and they won't deliver it." 

According to the report, one package — a treadmill ordered in November — was set to arrive no later than Dec. 10. As of Dec. 20, the article said, the package was still stuck inside the Austell facility, which has been the subject of recent problems. 

Daniel Jones, an operations manager for a contractor that FedEx uses in the facility, told Fox he knows the station gets a lot of complaints, stating recent staff shortages have left the facility sending staff from other locations to help get it in order. 

While many complained about tracking data that showed the same packages coming and going from one facility or jumping around to another in what appeared to be an endless loop, Jones told Fox5Atlanta the problem arose from errors in technology. As they work to address these problems, Jones asked residents to show respect toward drivers and to not show up at the facility.