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FedEx Lost/Stolen watch

Waltesefalcon
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Howdy guys, it seems that FedEx is at it again. They have lost, or someone within FedEx has stolen, my old 1960 Longines Flagship which I sold to a fella in Britain. It has been several months and on the US end of things FedEx is denying the claim, while on the GB side of things they have acknowledged that it went missing on their watch (pun intended) and have refunded the import duties to the buyer. The emails from the GB side were submitted in the US appeal three weeks ago and FedEx's response has been no response at all. Needless to say I am rather frustrated today, and that I will never give my business to FedEx again.

This is the watch in question: Longines Conquest, Ref. 9026, caliber 291, serial number: 1116392.
20230201_101250.webp 20220610_132419.webp 20220610_132409.webp 20220610_133944.webp 20220623_123640.webp 20220623_123737.webp
 
gbesq
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Sorry that this happened to you. Use the USPS. I’ve never had a problem shipping for both domestic and international packages.
 
Waltesefalcon
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gbesq gbesq
Sorry that this happened to you. Use the USPS. I’ve never had a problem shipping for both domestic and international packages.
USPS is what I'll likely go with from now on, even though they don't offer shipping once it leaves the USA.
 
paddymoran
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As someone who also had an item “lost” in the post this year I really sympathise with you. It’s extraordinary that FedEx US don’t accept the loss of the item while their UK colleagues accept the package is lost. From your message, it seems that only the import duties have been refunded. I hope you have full resolution soon.
 
Waltesefalcon
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paddymoran paddymoran
As someone who also had an item “lost” in the post this year I really sympathise with you. It’s extraordinary that FedEx US don’t accept the loss of the item while their UK colleagues accept the package is lost. From your message, it seems that only the import duties have been refunded. I hope you have full resolution soon.
Yeah, only the import duties have been refunded. I would have thought that would be enough to make FedEx admit that the watch is lost. Instead they state that it is still enroute, despite their own tracking showing it went the wrong direction in the UK and hasn't updated since April 11th.
 
paddymoran
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Waltesefalcon Waltesefalcon
Yeah, only the import duties have been refunded. I would have thought that would be enough to make FedEx admit that the watch is lost. Instead they state that it is still enroute, despite their own tracking showing it went the wrong direction in the UK and hasn't updated since April 11th.
The fact that package didn’t go to a third
party should at least help for a speedier resolution - and no language barriers. It seems that many organisations purposely make it difficult for customers to make a legitimate claim in the hope that they won’t follow through on claims. It took me five months for compensation and I’m now challenging the compensation amount. Challenge was limited to 280 characters which is crazy!!
 
Ron_W
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Always a bummer when the courrier does not deliver, i hope it resurfaces or gets found !
I wonder if the UK import duties and vat were charged after it arrived in the country ? If so, when it is "in customs" holding in the destination country UK, it is not for USA to decide if UK states it is missing.

It could be for this ;
paddymoran paddymoran
It seems that many organisations purposely make it difficult for customers to make a legitimate claim in the hope that they won’t follow through on claims.

and i my only missing case so far, knock on wood, it took 6 weeks for UPS to refund me plus another 2 months ( customs needed the UPS documents for make up documents to approve UPS to pay me back the duty and VAT as they are the agent for Customs. W
Customs are of no help tin these matters if you complain with them as they are "not a party involved" ....

I replied it was already obvious they didnt do any work At All.... which did no go down well as they hung up on me. So my new motto in these circumstances such as you are in now ;

Patience_you_must_have_my_young_Padawan_Have_patience_and_all_will_be_revealed.webp
 
Waltesefalcon
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Ron_W Ron_W
Always a bummer when the courrier does not deliver, i hope it resurfaces or gets found !
I wonder if the UK import duties and vat were charged after it arrived in the country ? If so, when it is "in customs" holding in the destination country UK, it is not for USA to decide if UK states it is missing.

It could be for this ;


and i my only missing case so far, knock on wood, it took 6 weeks for UPS to refund me plus another 2 months ( customs needed the UPS documents for make up documents to approve UPS to pay me back the duty and VAT as they are the agent for Customs. W
Customs are of no help tin these matters if you complain with them as they are "not a party involved" ....

I replied it was already obvious they didnt do any work At All.... which did no go down well as they hung up on me. So my new motto in these circumstances such as you are in now ;

Patience_you_must_have_my_young_Padawan_Have_patience_and_all_will_be_revealed.webp
Duties were charged upon it arriving in England. The watch was held in Stansted GB for just a bit over two hours on the tenth of April. From there it went to Newcastle GB instead of its destination on the eleventh and has been there since according to FedEx's tracking. I guess FedEx's view point is that it is simply being delayed in Newcastle, and that I am unreasonable for expecting the watch to have arrived by now. I mean, today has only been three months since I shipped it.
 
Ron_W
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Waltesefalcon Waltesefalcon
I mean, today has only been three months since I shipped it.
Patience you are indeed !! 3 months is crazy for not refunding you, and it should be a UK case as it is clearly happend in the UK. So maybe laywer up ? May the Force be with you ⚔️
 
Evitzee
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paddymoran paddymoran
It seems that many organisations purposely make it difficult for customers to make a legitimate claim in the hope that they won’t follow through on claims. It took me five months for compensation and I’m now challenging the compensation amount. Challenge was limited to 280 characters which is crazy!!
The insurance mechanism is set up to deny as many claims as possible, or to settle for less than what a policy actually calls for. In the end a lot depends on the integrity of the company(s) you are dealing with. Last March I sent a relatively high valued clock (with a prepaid provided FedEx label) to auction in NYC, well packed in it's original fitted leather box, that box into its cardboard slip case, and all that into a well padded shipping box, all very secure. Nonetheless when it arrived the next day I got a message from the area specialist informing me the clock suffered irreparable damage in transit. How it was damaged, and what it looked like upon arrival, is unknown to me, I didn't ask to see the pictures. But I was assured that the transit insurance coverage was in place and I would be compensated for the loss per the contract. The eight page contract specified the basis for determining the value of lost or damaged property which was quite fair in my estimation. I was asked to sign an agreement letter and ten days later the payment was wired to my checking account. Neat and tidy. But it all hinged on the integrity of the company I was dealing with, it could have gone sideways with another firm. In this case I don't think FedEx was involved at all, it was handled by the auction house and their insurance company.
 
Waltesefalcon
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Evitzee Evitzee
The insurance mechanism is set up to deny as many claims as possible, or to settle for less than what a policy actually calls for. In the end a lot depends on the integrity of the company(s) you are dealing with. Last March I sent a relatively high valued clock (with a prepaid provided FedEx label) to auction in NYC, well packed in it's original fitted leather box, that box into its cardboard slip case, and all that into a well padded shipping box, all very secure. Nonetheless when it arrived the next day I got a message from the area specialist informing me the clock suffered irreparable damage in transit. How it was damaged, and what it looked like upon arrival, is unknown to me, I didn't ask to see the pictures. But I was assured that the transit insurance coverage was in place and I would be compensated for the loss per the contract. The eight page contract specified the basis for determining the value of lost or damaged property which was quite fair in my estimation. I was asked to sign an agreement letter and ten days later the payment was wired to my checking account. Neat and tidy. But it all hinged on the integrity of the company I was dealing with, it could have gone sideways with another firm. In this case I don't think FedEx was involved at all, it was handled by the auction house and their insurance company.
Your story is encouraging that some companies still have some integrity. I just wish I could say that FedEx was one of those companies.
 
asrnj77
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That’s awful. It sounds like FedEx laid off a lot of people in the UK and I wonder if this was a factor. It’s more likely sitting somewhere on a shelf than stolen, but that doesn’t particularly help you. I presume you’ve filed a lost/stolen tracer? This will at least get FedEx to run down the final scan location. If you’re able to get somebody on the phone instead of just using automated phone service, they have additional access that could prove helpful.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgeg9w3elv7o.amp
 
Waltesefalcon
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asrnj77 asrnj77
That’s awful. It sounds like FedEx laid off a lot of people in the UK and I wonder if this was a factor. It’s more likely sitting somewhere on a shelf than stolen, but that doesn’t particularly help you. I presume you’ve filed a lost/stolen tracer? This will at least get FedEx to run down the final scan location. If you’re able to get somebody on the phone instead of just using automated phone service, they have additional access that could prove helpful.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgeg9w3elv7o.amp
Thanks, the guy on the other end of this deal is a really solid guy, and he has done everything short of call out the national guard. He even managed to get FedEx to admit in writing that they lost it. At this point I am looking at the logistics of taking FedEx to small claims court. Them sending a lawyer will cost more than what we insured the watch for.
 
Evitzee
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What kind of insurance was in place, from FedEx or third party? I'd never be confident FedEx would pay out under their coverage, too many loopholes. What is their reason for not paying out, especially if they've admitted they lost it?
 
Waltesefalcon
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Evitzee Evitzee
What kind of insurance was in place, from FedEx or third party? I'd never be confident FedEx would pay out under their coverage, too many loopholes. What is their reason for not paying out, especially if they've admitted they lost it?
FedEx. What I have learned from this experience is to not take out insurance with the carrier.
 
pdxleaf
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Waltesefalcon Waltesefalcon
Your story is encouraging that some companies still have some integrity. I just wish I could say that FedEx was one of those companies.
+1. I had a watch serviced in Canada, so the watch went through customs. The watchmaker returned it using FedEx, whereupon it disappeared. Weeks went by and we were notified that it was held in customs because forms were not completed, which of course they were. It took many, many phone calls, with each new phone call starting at the beginning, as if it was the first contact.

Eventually someone figured things out and the watch arrived. Soon after, I received a fee for duties, as if I had purchased the watch, as opposed to getting it serviced. What's more, they charged me storage fees for the month or so they had it. Several exchanges with customer service followed and the agent eventually agreed to drop the fees. A month later I received a delinquent invoice. After contacting the same agent he claimed there was a misunderstanding and he never agreed to drop the fees.

Fedex. May they learn how quickly a reputation can be ruined.
Edited:
 
padders
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So if it is lost have you refunded the buyer?
 
Tony C.
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Waltesefalcon Waltesefalcon
FedEx. What I have learned from this experience is to not take out insurance with the carrier.
I was under the (long-standing) impression that FedEx does not insure high value jewelry or watches. Hence ParcelPro, and other third-party insurers.

Has something changed?
 
Waltesefalcon
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Tony C. Tony C.
I was under the (long-standing) impression that FedEx does not insure high value jewelry or watches. Hence ParcelPro, and other third-party insurers.

Has something changed?
They had no problem insuring it for $400.
 
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