Need Advice - trouble with Fedex

glynnw · « **on:** 14 Apr 2025, 09:15 pm »

I recently sold a couple of mono amps and shipped 2 identical 27 lb boxes by Fedex, insured for $1000 total. The buyer says he never received them, the signatures are not his and also he was at work at the time listed for the delivery. I refunded his money since i picked the carrier. I filed a claim but after a couple of days the claim was canceled and the delivery was declared finished because they were signed for, despite my explanation to a supervisor that the signatures were not the buyer's. Now I am left to start all over trying to explain to a non-American telephone person who speaks poor English. Any suggestions on how to get thru this?

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 Apr 2025, 10:34 pm »

Sorry for this bad news. It was clear that you was stolen by the driver or someone else that knows fedex rules in detail.

In my also sad experiences with fedex and UPS recovery this money will be imposible unless you go to the court.

Iam having good service from DHL for two years or so.

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 Apr 2025, 11:05 pm »

Take them to small claims court. They will probably pay you because they would have to send a representative to court. If they do not show up then the judge will find in your favor.

nlitworld · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 Apr 2025, 11:29 pm »

Definitely pull a Karen and demand to speak with a manager. My work goes through FedEx and we've had some packages delivered to God knows where. Any time we've escalated a claim that was insured and it was delivered to the wrong person OR FORGED BY THE DRIVER, then they've paid out. Smart on you to insure the package as you'll then get your money plus shipping costs back. Hopefully the gear was worth less than $1K.

marvda1 · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 Apr 2025, 11:50 pm »

Have you or the person tried googling the signature name to see if an address comes up?

newzooreview · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 Apr 2025, 12:14 am »

Quote from: marvda1 on 14 Apr 2025, 11:50 pm

Have you or the person tried googling the signature name to see if an address comes up?

It seems likely that someone forged the signature of the person named on the address label, but if FedEx uses one of those touch screens to accept "signatures" then it's going to be illegible anyway.

Philistine · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 Apr 2025, 07:49 pm »

I had a FEDEX issue in 2006, they delivered to the wrong address and refused to honor the insurance claim. I gave them the slip you write out in the store, the employee typed a completely different address in their system.
Their MO is to deny, deny, deny and hope you go away. If it is FEDEX, and not the recipient, then I would claim through the local court system - in my case it was the magistrate court local to the FEDEX office I used. I had the evidence that I submitted with the claim. My expectation was that they wouldn't send an attorney to the court, too expensive, and as most customers give up they've factored in that the tenacious ones will pursue them and they'll settle before the court date. This is what happened in my case, I received a call from a legal secretary in the regional office - she tried to negotiate the claim down, I refused to budge and told her I'd see them at the hearing. This triggered them to pay in full.

I posted my experience in the GR Research circle, if you search under my user name and FEDEX it has what happened in chronological order.

Good luck!

ljiminez · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 Apr 2025, 10:45 pm »

glynnw,

What state are you located ?

Nez

NIGHTFALL1970 · « **Reply #8 on:** 16 Apr 2025, 12:22 am »

I thought that the driver had to take a picture of the delivered item sitting where it was left? Because it was “delivered” maybe that gets them off the hook? I hope you get a refund!

novice · « **Reply #9 on:** 6 May 2025, 01:47 pm »

Quote from: NIGHTFALL1970 on 16 Apr 2025, 12:22 am

I thought that the driver had to take a picture of the delivered item sitting where it was left? Because it was “delivered” maybe that gets them off the hook? I hope you get a refund!

Amazon delivered last week while I was outside. Walked up to take package and he tossed it on driveway, took pic. Absolutely generic, package surrounded by asphalt. How Amazon proves delivery from that beyond me. To OP my run-in with Fedex over an item that never showed up alsc. Found out even though it had value assigned when label created not insured unless recipient sig checked. At that point used them for years on ebay and shocked none covered. I have no faith in any carrier these days.

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #10 on:** 6 May 2025, 08:20 pm »

Check out Pirate Shipping. You can get 3rd party insurance from them. It costs $1 for every $100 of Item worth. They have cheaper rates and ship through USPS and UPS

A friend of mine uses them all the time.

https://www.pirateship.com/

Bill Baker · « **Reply #11 on:** 6 May 2025, 08:43 pm »

I’ve been using Fed Ex for many years. I had one issue where the product was shipped to the wrong address. The insurance claim was denied twice. I finally got hold of someone with some integrity. After speaking with them [calmly] they issued the insurance claim money. Yes, I did have to speak to someone of higher authority. Two days later I received a call from the person it was sent to and he sent it to the rightful owner. Glad to see still honest people in the world. I called fed ex and explained what happened and cancelled the insurance refund.
I have always known they usually deny the first claim or two so I calmed myself down before speaking to a higher up.
Don’t give up and don’t be nasty. They deal with these types of calls every day.

I hope you get it sorted out.

Don_S · « **Reply #12 on:** 6 May 2025, 08:59 pm »

Quote from: novice on 6 May 2025, 01:47 pm

Amazon delivered last week while I was outside. Walked up to take package and he tossed it on driveway, took pic. Absolutely generic, package surrounded by asphalt. How Amazon proves delivery from that beyond me. To OP my run-in with Fedex over an item that never showed up alsc. Found out even though it had value assigned when label created not insured unless recipient sig checked. At that point used them for years on ebay and shocked none covered. I have no faith in any carrier these days.

My local "FedEx never has the same staff two times in a row. Most of them don't know that a signature is automatically required (no additional fee) when the declared value is over $500.

Nick B · « **Reply #13 on:** 7 May 2025, 02:02 am »

Quote from: I.Greyhound Fan on 6 May 2025, 08:20 pm

Check out Pirate Shipping. You can get 3rd party insurance from them. It costs $1 for every $100 of Item worth. They have cheaper rates and ship through USPS and UPS

A friend of mine uses them all the time.

https://www.pirateship.com/

Yes, I quite like Pirate Ship 👍

novice · « **Reply #14 on:** 7 May 2025, 01:27 pm »

Quote from: I.Greyhound Fan on 6 May 2025, 08:20 pm

Check out Pirate Shipping. You can get 3rd party insurance from them. It costs $1 for every $100 of Item worth. They have cheaper rates and ship through USPS and UPS

A friend of mine uses them all the time.

https://www.pirateship.com/

Keep seeing it pop up on other audio forums & groups. Always with positive comments. Maybe, just maybe...

Nick B · « **Reply #15 on:** 7 May 2025, 03:13 pm »

Quote from: novice on 7 May 2025, 01:27 pm

Keep seeing it pop up on other audio forums & groups. Always with positive comments. Maybe, just maybe...

Pirate Ship is some type of discount shipping broker that uses UPS and USPS as the actual shippers. I have only used them a couple of times with UPS and have been satisfied. And the savings have been great!

mr_bill · « **Reply #16 on:** 7 May 2025, 03:56 pm »

Fed Ex 'insurance' is a misnomer to me. In my experience if something is damaged in shipping - forget about it because there is abolutely nothing they will do.

Nick B · « **Reply #17 on:** 7 May 2025, 05:02 pm »

The best way to ship is to take multiple photographs of an item including the box and packaging right before you ship. As photos are digital, you can prove the date when they were taken.

I had original packaging and boxes for some speakers and had FedEx in Las Vegas do the packaging including custom cushioning of the tweeter enclosures on top. Once my friend and I left, somebody apparently dropped something and damaged the beautiful wood finish surrounding one of the tweeters. I had the new owner send me photos of the damage and I also sent the photos that I had taken to FedEx and they paid the claim immediately. It certainly helped that I had an insurance background and knew how to submit the claim properly.

Don_S · « **Reply #18 on:** 7 May 2025, 06:44 pm »

My local FedEx wants packages with a declared value delivered to the store unsealed. They "inspect"

and tape shut. I am not sure if being "inspected" would help with any claim. They only take a cursory glance.

Stercom · « **Reply #19 on:** 7 May 2025, 08:03 pm »

Take FedEX to small claims court. Your county district court website should have downloadable documents instructing you how to file a small claims petition. The court will set a hearing date. Take proper documentation to the hearing including:

1. Receipt showing you paid FedEX for $1,000 of shipping insurance. (Argue the insurance covers improper delivery, lost and/or stolen items).
2. Print-out showing they have closed the claim for reimbursement.
3. Affidavit from buyer (not just an email but a sworn affidavit - it will make or break your case - otherwise FedEx will just claim it was delivered) indicating that is not his signature, he did not receive the mono amps and you have refunded his money. The alternative is to have him available via phone to testify on the day of the hearing under oath.