I am a gunsmith, and have a Federal Firearms License. For years, I have helped my customers ship their firearms to other FFL holders so they can save some money when they sell a gun through the Internet. Early in June I shipped a rifle to another state for one of my regular customers. We packed it well with microfoam and bubble wrap.
I noticed that it took a couple extra days to get there, but it was finally delivered. A couple days later my customer called and said the rifle was delivered broken. The final recipient is not very good with a computer, and took at least a week to get photos to me, and the dealer that had received it for him had already thrown out the box.
A letter came from FedEx today saying they have denied the claim. The reason they gave was, "We have determined that it was not adequately prepared or packed for safe transportation." I found it most interesting that they reached this conclusion after never seeing the packaging.
My conclusion; never use FedEx to ship anything that can't stand being hit with a truck, or drop kicked at least 30 yards. You see, they can break steel, and the value of an object being shipped means nothing to them.
On March 21, I sold a laserdisc player for $150 plus $20 shipping via eBay. The player was in PERFECT condition, tested on a videodisc at home and with my television. I packaged it PERFECTLY -- double boxed and with plenty of bubble wrap -- and sent it via FedEx, which is the last time I will be using this delivery service. My purchaser informed me that the player would not eject. I immediately refunded him $170 and filed an insurance claim with FedEx, which picked up the player from my buyer and gave an insurance case number. All FedEx packages are insured up to $100. So I figured, OK, it'll be a $70 loss. But at least it won't be a TOTAL loss. Well, it was a total loss. Because on April 4, FedEx claims representative DesRae Griffin wrote to inform me they would not honor my claim because "we inspected the shipment and found there was no visible damage to its contents." I can drop a box, VERY HARD, and damage the contents (especially a delicate electronic instrument) without causing visible damage. FedEx does not have a fair way of deciding insurance claims, and needs to explain that "delicate electronics" are not covered under its insurance. It should also provide customers with an appeals process -- preferably one conducted by an impartial third party. I will never be using FedEx again, and suggest you don't, either.
Federal Express Reviews
I am a gunsmith, and have a Federal Firearms License. For years, I have helped my customers ship their firearms to other FFL holders so they can save some money when they sell a gun through the Internet. Early in June I shipped a rifle to another state for one of my regular customers. We packed it well with microfoam and bubble wrap.
I noticed that it took a couple extra days to get there, but it was finally delivered. A couple days later my customer called and said the rifle was delivered broken. The final recipient is not very good with a computer, and took at least a week to get photos to me, and the dealer that had received it for him had already thrown out the box.
A letter came from FedEx today saying they have denied the claim. The reason they gave was, "We have determined that it was not adequately prepared or packed for safe transportation." I found it most interesting that they reached this conclusion after never seeing the packaging.
My conclusion; never use FedEx to ship anything that can't stand being hit with a truck, or drop kicked at least 30 yards. You see, they can break steel, and the value of an object being shipped means nothing to them.
On March 21, I sold a laserdisc player for $150 plus $20 shipping via eBay. The player was in PERFECT condition, tested on a videodisc at home and with my television. I packaged it PERFECTLY -- double boxed and with plenty of bubble wrap -- and sent it via FedEx, which is the last time I will be using this delivery service. My purchaser informed me that the player would not eject. I immediately refunded him $170 and filed an insurance claim with FedEx, which picked up the player from my buyer and gave an insurance case number. All FedEx packages are insured up to $100. So I figured, OK, it'll be a $70 loss. But at least it won't be a TOTAL loss. Well, it was a total loss. Because on April 4, FedEx claims representative DesRae Griffin wrote to inform me they would not honor my claim because "we inspected the shipment and found there was no visible damage to its contents." I can drop a box, VERY HARD, and damage the contents (especially a delicate electronic instrument) without causing visible damage. FedEx does not have a fair way of deciding insurance claims, and needs to explain that "delicate electronics" are not covered under its insurance. It should also provide customers with an appeals process -- preferably one conducted by an impartial third party. I will never be using FedEx again, and suggest you don't, either.