FEDEX IS STEALING MY MARSHALL!!!

[SavageRiffer]

So I went down to FedEx Office on the 9th to ship a Marshall. I put a declared value of $1399. This was not an online label. I paid and had it shipped from FedEx Kinkos. Well, the tracking didn't update after it reached the first city. The buyer suddenly became irate and sent like 20 insulting messages before the initial estimated shipping date even passed, so I had to deal with that which eventually led to Paypal sucking the money out of my account to refund the guy.

Well, after sending photos, receipts, calling several times to locate the package, and filing a claim, I get a call from FedEx who leaves a message saying that the package lost its label and was given a new label and delivered to the customer on the 11th. Turns out, the tracking number was to some other address. Not only that, I questioned them why the new label didn't have the "signature on delivery" service which I paid for on the original label.

Then I call FedEx who tried to give me some story about some label coming off of my "reused box that had a bunch of old labels, including UPS labels" and getting stuck on another package and sent to the wrong address. Well that makes no sense of course because the buyer didn't receive any package, and when FedEx scans a package, they would have known if it was an old label or UPS label. Not to mention, have you ever tried to remove a label from a box?

So I explained how I wasn't buying the story. Moreover, I explained that I shipped it from FedEx Office who inspected the package, taped it up, placed the label and fragile stickers on the box, and shipped it out. Therefore, if there were any old labels on the box (which there weren't), they should have been taken care of by FedEx office.

Then they called and left a message saying that I needed to submit a claim and provide documentation, so I told the lady that called that I already submitted a claim and provided documentation. Then I called FedEx to find out what the fuck is going on and they said "We received your claim and it is being reviewed. We will let you know our decision when it is ready."

Sounds to me like FedEx is not going to take responsibility. Funny thing is that I started using FedEx years ago because that was a problem with UPS. I never had a problem like this for years with FedEx. What makes it worse is the first time that I break my own rule and spend the money from the Ebay sale before it got to the buyer, this shit happens... and the first time I ever have an issue with FedEx losing a package, they try to fuck me.

So now the buyer has his money back, my $1899 Marshall is lost or stolen, I'm now $1400 in the hole, and it's starting to look like FedEx is going to fuck me.

Needless to say, I'm doing away with ever shipping anything expensive. I'm done with sales and trades completely. As far as I know, UPS doesn't insure past $500, FedEx won't take responsibility for lost packages, and I hear that USPS never takes responsibility for lost or stolen packages either. Short of flying a fucking drone to the customer myself, there's just no trustworthy way of shipping anymore.

Here's the box by the way

 

[SavageRiffer]

Thanks for the mojo man! If this was a couple hundred dollars, that's one thing, but recovering from $1400 is going to do me some real damage. It's also going to leave me without my damned amp! Jeez I'm so pissed.

 

[spliffsperlunk]

Wow , what a nightmare.

Personally I feel if they lose your package and cant locate it that they need to pay you what you insured it for in full and don't have a right to ask for a receipt or a current replacement value. Its all on them if they lost it.

 

[d1469d]

I stopped shipping and selling anything, The seller is getting screwed more and more. I don't trust any shipping company . The last time I sold anything on ebay I had to refund two of the four items I sold weeks after selling. You have to hang onto the money after it is shipped for so long it is not even worth it anymore. I have had very good luck trading and selling on here, Sorry to here about the loss of your amp.

 

[SavageRiffer]

I stopped shipping and selling anything, The seller is getting screwed more and more. I don't trust any shipping company . The last time I sold anything on ebay I had to refund two of the four items I sold weeks after selling. You have to hang onto the money after it is shipped for so long it is not even worth it anymore. I have had very good luck trading and selling on here, Sorry to here about the loss of your amp.

Yeah, forum trading is a lot more reliable than anything you sell on Ebay. Reverb is a lot better than Ebay, but still, there are always those guys who seem to get away with being real shitty. The problem is that trading on the forum 99.9% of the time involves shipping the gear, so even though the risk is highly reduced with reputable traders, it's between you and them that all the risk lies. Therefore, as much as I love flipping gear to find the right piece or just to experience different tones, it's going to have to come to an end until there is some kind of reliable and affordable method of delivery. Oh and that's another thing, I spent $84 shipping that damned amp, and it would have been $67 if I didn't set the declared value and signature confirmation. Damn.

 

[mooncobra]

bummer man, stay on top of fedex.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

That is whacked

 

[Rick Lee]

The declared value is what will eventually save you, if this gets resolved. That's your insurance and your shipping fee reflects that amount. They trashed one of my amps in shipping too and the declared value plus my shipping fees is the exact amount they paid me. This sucks, but I really think it will get fixed, especially since you shipped from a FedEx Kinkos store.

 

[LanierP]

Dude, I've been in your shoes and it makes me physically ill reading your story. I've had 3 events like this with FedEx, and each one worked my nerves to the bone. For each instance, I got the same woman in FedEx's claims dept.,,Shandra Hix. An absolute waste of jizm this woman is. Stubborn, argumentative, belligerent, hope you don't have her working the claim. Anyways, when and if they deny your claim, if you know anyone that is an attorney, be it friend, someone on rigtalk, etc,,,sending them a classified letter with intent to sue gets these morons moving, and moving quick. I have a friend of the family that is an attorney and we send a certified letter to Fedex (attn:Shandra Hix) and shit started happening the very next day after letter was received. It's worked in all 3 instances.
Insuring your gear with FedEx has become a joke. I haven't explored it yet because like you, all this has killed my desire to sell anymore, but I have been told by a few that insuring thru a third party is the way to go these days. I believe reverb offers this, though I haven't heard on how dependable going that route is. I know that most of the large stores that ship stuff out every day use 3rd party insurance. If anyone reading this knows about insuring your package this way, hit us up with some knowledge.
Hope you get this settled with a happy outcome my friend. The work ethic at FedEx and all the other shippers out there has slumped to an all time low these days.

 

[glip22]

That sucks! I go every mile when shipping. Clear all old labels off any boxes. I make sure they scan my packages and give me a receipt. You do all you can and still shit like this happens. I hope it gets resolved. I know how you feel. Not fun.

 

[bbaug14]

Going through a FedEx claim right now. You really have to stay on them, get the person who is responsible for your claim on the phone, and go step by step through every detail. In my situation, they had me and the seller send all the documents and pictures, and then the claims agent hadn't even seen them before deciding to deny the claim. Luckily, I caught it before the actual deny went out. Then after having to resend everything again, she saw the pictures (both transformers bent) and said, "I don't see anything wrong. The box looks great and the packaging is great. Looks fine." I had to actually explain the visable damage and help her to understand that a box dropped from excessive height landing flat is the only thing that could bend steel on a reinforced Marshall transformer. Things are moving my way now, but it wasn't easy.

My advice, stay on them. Call daily for updates. Always be calm and polite.

 

[GOHOINC]

Wait, so they lost the amp/package but somehow know the condition of the box and labels that were on it? I am confused... If they say they delivered it they should go and get it back from wherever they delivered it.

 

[paulyc]

My family owns a small business, we've used UPS forever, shipped tens of thousands of packages over the last 45 or so years, only had one claim in that time and they paid the insured amount. I've used this account to ship guitars, effects, amps, etc...and never had a problem. Good luck dude.

 

[Racerxrated]

PM'd

 

[brianiac5150]

Wow! Really sorry to read what you're going through with this shipment. I certainly hope it's resolved soon, in your favor, as it should be.

 

[DennisJr]

Wow...this makes me hurt. So disappointing!

 

[charvelstrat81]

Wow man sorry to hear about this! It does make me really glad i decided to just sell my EVH head and cab separately on CL.
I did not get quite as much if i had posted on ebay or here( lost about $50 on both compared to what i would have gotten) but the sale of both was super smooth and easy, so did i lose any money? not really

 

[ZachMN]

I would never try to sell or buy anything that expensive for this type of crap...too much risk. I just did a deal here in MN last Feb off of ebay and only did it because the guy was in the state and we were able to meet in person to do the exchange.

Sorry for your troubles. I had a deal that was small potatoes years ago in terms of money but it taught me to never trust these outfits or the chance that the buyer will try to complain.........

 

[RACKSYSTEMS]

When shipping via FedEx and using the plastic window bags that stick on the package always put packing tape over them. They are easy to rip of in transit. Had this happen to 3 amps over the years till we figured it out. I don't even use those and just tape the label to the box. We ship a tone of stuff with out issues.

 

[gtrwun]

When shipping via FedEx and using the plastic window bags that stick on the package always put packing tape over them. They are easy to rip of in transit. Had this happen to 3 amps over the years till we figured it out. I don't even use those and just tape the label to the box. We ship a tone of stuff with out issues.

This is good advise. I have a UPS account that I always use here at work, so my labels are actually the type that spit out of a dedicated UPS label printer...super sticky backing on these things, which really helps. If your using a regular printer and paper, then yeah, like Dave said, get some packing tape over that label for sure. Good 3M packing tape preferably. I've had good luck with UPS over the years and never had a problem with any of my amp being damaged. I do know that the claim process can be a pain and it can get very taxing on your patience. Try to remain calm and be persistent. Based on the OP, it sure seems you did everything the right way and the claim should be paid. Good luck to you....