Beware when shipping through FedEx (Ground). They used every technicality they could to avoid settling my loss claim. After months of phone calls and hours on the phone, I lost big time!
I shipped an item (a handgun, sold and shipped in accordance with government regulations) valued at $900 via the FedEx customer counter at Jonesboro, AR. It was packaged securely with security tape and unmarked outside, as per BATF guidelines. I advised the counter person of the contents and stated the value on the shipping form. The shipping date was 12-21-01, just before Christmas 2001.
The package arrived 12-27-01. The recipient called me and stated that the package had obviously been opened during transit and resealed, and the handgun was not in the box! The only tracking info FedEx would provide was that the package had been in FedEx possession the entire time.
I immediately filed a loss claim with FedEx and reported the loss to my local police and the FBI. After weeks of waiting and phone calls, I received a letter stating my claim was DENIED due to the recipient's failure to make the package available for inspection. The recipient said FedEx never came for the package. I demanded a resubmission of the claim, and FedEx picked up the package and returned it to me without even opening it to investigate the loss! (The security tape I used is still in the box and obviously has the thief's fingerprints on it. They could have investigated and probably recovered the stolen item!)
After more phone calls and weeks of waiting, I was again denied my claim, several times by phone, for the following stated reasons:
"failure to report the loss in time" (I reported the loss within a week);
"failure to advise carrier of contents" (I told the clerk of the contents and asked if there were any special regulations pertaining to it. There were no signs posted about this item);
and finally "FedEx (Ground) no longer transports firearms..." (Why wasn't I advised of this when I shipped the package?).
The final disposition was a letter dated 5-13-02 from Daniel Corry, FedEx Ground, PO Box 256, Pittsburg, PA 15230, stating that they "respectfully decline liability for this item." The contents were obviously stolen by one of their employees while in their possession! How can they decline liability?
(Beware of shipping valuables through FedEx!)
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