I'd say you had some bad luck!
To be that badly setup, they must be copying the Jamerson signature!
Saying that any bass I buy new or second hand needs some tweaking to get it to play the way I like.
Normally it's a change of strings, a tweak of the truss rod, intonation, Pick-up heights etc. We all play a little differently, be it with a tender touch/digging in with pick, fingerstyle, slap etc.
I agree Fender could do a bit better with the factory set-ups, or even the shops take the time to give it a once over on arrival. Any decent guitar shop should offer you a setup if your interested in buying and not happy with how it plays. They are great as we all know once tuned to your liking