stolen Gildaxe gilded solid-body - please let me know if it surfaces

[J Posega]

I sold an audio interface and when it got to the buyer it looked like FedEx kicked it like a soccer ball all the way there. Took three weeks for a claim resolution, luckily got the buyers money back, but then had to spend a couple hours playing phone tag to answer a simple question about where my money was.

I never had problems with FedEx until this year. Now I will be refusing to ship by them. I understand that companies don’t want to pay people decent wages, but it’s no excuse for them to mishandle and/or steal other peoples stuff. If the FedEx package handler came to my restaurant, I wouldn’t make their lunch then sit down and eat it in front of them.

 

[Indiedog]

Thanks - since this has put a spotlight on FedEx for me, I've learned they have a history of problems and as you say - their utterly abysmal customer support. If it was delivered on Thursday which is when the email announcement posted - I would have been there as I waited around all day and they blew it off. This is very common for FedEx. Then, instead of leaving a notice for the next delivery date - to forge a signature, enter that it was delivered and the package disappears? No - we are doing all we can to get to then bottom of this and it all stems from the driver.

I hate to hear this! I will absolutely keep my eye on things out here (I stop in the shops every week or two).

It may sound crazy but i feel—I really feel—that this will come back to you.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I only use UPS and USPS and always insure for the maximum amount. Over many years and many guitar/bass shipments I have only had one issue with UPS and they resolved it to my satisfaction. Pat ships FedEx and again, over many years and bodies/necks shipped during those years - I never had something like this happen. He insures for a standard amount and luckily I never needed to know how much. Not his fault and partially mine trusting FedEx but from now on he will ship UPS to me and I'll pay extra for max insurance. FedEx attempted to close the case but Pat called and read them the riot act so they re-opened the case and will focus on the driver - who I feel is responsible.

One way or another, the driver is responsible.

 

[JIO]

One way or another, the driver is responsible.

Yes - Pat emailed me today saying he's done with FedEx as he's had similar problems with them lately. He's going with UPS and shipped all his outgoing packages today with them. I'm afraid FedEx just lost some substantial business there.

It's the way I've always done biz - treat me right and I'm a loyal return customer ... treat me like and ... bye-bye. Same with my services - anything I make/sell is 100% satisfaction or I make good on it. On eBay my feedback is 100%, and the same on Reverb. There's no alternative in my book.

 

[elgranluis]

Just so you guys know , the driver is the last person to handle your package , and the one that has the least interaction with it.

Your driver will touch you package twice : when he loads it into the truck, and when he unloads it into your front door. Before that , your box has been though sorting facilities , loaded and unloaded from a plane , maybe been on an accident inside of an 18 wheeler.

Also , I don’t think it’s fair trying to blame the driver for “stealing” the bass that was insured for 500 bucks. How did he know there was something of value inside the box ? I mean , the driver most likely gets at least 10 items every week , insured for thousands per item. If I was going to steal anything , I’d stick to the jewelry store items.

 

[JIO]

Just so you guys know , the driver is the last person to handle your package , and the one that has the least interaction with it.

Your driver will touch you package twice : when he loads it into the truck, and when he unloads it into your front door. Before that , your box has been though sorting facilities , loaded and unloaded from a plane , maybe been on an accident inside of an 18 wheeler.

Also , I don’t think it’s fair trying to blame the driver for “stealing” the bass that was insured for 500 bucks. How did he know there was something of value inside the box ? I mean , the driver most likely gets at least 10 items every week , insured for thousands per item. If I was going to steal anything , I’d stick to the jewelry store items.

I initially said considering the circumstances, there was only two possible scenarios - that being one. I've since conjectured (considered) that the driver signed for it, left it and it was stolen by someone who scoped-out the situation. Pat Wilkins echoed that this tactic has been used by Fed Ex delivering his finished guitars/bodies more than a couple times over recent months. He has ended shipping with them because of it. (obviously their loss) I live in the Mission SF and it's not out of the question by a long-shot that low-lifes seeing "easy drug money" by selling whatever was in the box. It was shipped from Pat Wilkins Guitars, and that is what was on the label.

 

[JuanB]

Did this ever turn up?

 

[JIO]

Did this ever turn up?

Thanks for asking. No, and the criminal organization that is FedEx is not taking responsibility for their driver leaving it on my porch. I contacted the BBB and they reviewed it but passed on it. No surprise there, they support businesses - not consumers. So then I contacted the Consumer Protection Agency. They passed also claiming they had no jurisdiction in the case. (!?!) This is how it works folks - those with the most money always win. So much for a lowly consumer in the USA.

I'm still posting on Craigslist and visit eBay regularly.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Bass Man Dan]

Thanks for asking. No, and the criminal organization that is FedEx is not taking responsibility for their driver leaving it on my porch. I contacted the BBB and they reviewed it but passed on it. No surprise there, they support businesses - not consumers. So then I contacted the Consumer Protection Agency. They passed also claiming they had no jurisdiction in the case. (!?!) This is how it works folks - those with the most money always win. So much for a lowly consumer in the USA.

I'm still posting on Craigslist and visit eBay regularly.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

If you believe they were wrong and you can prove it, sue them. Around here, you can file suit online for about $50. An incorporated company has to be represented by an attorney. You'll get their attention.

 

[JIO]

If you believe they were wrong and you can prove it, sue them. Around here, you can file suit online for about $50. An incorporated company has to be represented by an attorney. You'll get their attention.

I'll look into it - thanks.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

I'll look into it - thanks.

Yeah. Try it. My wife got side-swiped in her van by a dump truck. The driver lied about the details, so the company's insurer denied the claim. So I sued them and got a very quick, very fair settlement from the same insurance company that had denied the claim.

 

[JIO]

If you believe they were wrong and you can prove it, sue them. Around here, you can file suit online for about $50. An incorporated company has to be represented by an attorney. You'll get their attention.

Could you recommend a link? I found one that charges $35 + 20% "success fee" - if I win. Pat Wilkins underinsured it (not his fault - it was his standard amount for shipping a body and up till now he hadn't had anything stollen) When I ship something like that, I insure it for what it's worth. It was a custom made body with a custom gilded art finish and final finished by Pat - so realistically we'd be talking about a minimum of $1500 total. It seems like I could sue for that amount because although not insured for that, it was stollen due to their driver breaking their company policy and leaving it unattended on my porch. And forging my signature! But if they take 20% of $650, it would pay Pat and leave me with small change. I guess compared to nothing right now - I'd want justice even if it doesn't about to being reimbursed for what it was worth.

 

[JIO]

Will they even pay out on the insurance if they claim they successfully delivered it?

No - they state it was delivered (to me!) and believing so they feel they have no reason to be responsible for honoring Pat's insurance claim.

 

[elgranluis]

. And forging my signature!

I initially thought that they used any random signature, but if I’m reading this correctly , how the heck did they know how to forge your signature?

 

[JIO]

I initially thought that they used any random signature, but if I’m reading this correctly , how the heck did they know how to forge your signature?

What I meant is they showed a signature claimed to be mine on the record of its delivery. Doesn't look anything like my signature and wasn't even correctly spelled.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Could you recommend a link? I found one that charges $35 + 20% "success fee" - if I win. Pat Wilkins underinsured it (not his fault - it was his standard amount for shipping a body and up till now he hadn't had anything stollen) When I ship something like that, I insure it for what it's worth. It was a custom made body with a custom gilded art finish and final finished by Pat - so realistically we'd be talking about a minimum of $1500 total. It seems like I could sue for that amount because although not insured for that, it was stollen due to their driver breaking their company policy and leaving it unattended on my porch. And forging my signature! But if they take 20% of $650, it would pay Pat and leave me with small change. I guess compared to nothing right now - I'd want justice even if it doesn't about to being reimbursed for what it was worth.

If you use small claims court, you don't typically even need a lawyer.
That said, whichever route you go, I'd probably use a bit broader charge. It would be difficult to prove the driver forged the signature vs misdelivered and clearly accepted a wrong signature. Either way, FedEx was responsible for your loss through negligence or covering up malfeasance. And that's where paying a lawyer might be worth it; I'd have to do a ton of research to determine the right approach and language (which likely varies by jurisdiction).

 

[JIO]

If you use small claims court, you don't typically even need a lawyer.
That said, whichever route you go, I'd probably use a bit broader charge. It would be difficult to prove the driver forged the signature vs misdelivered and clearly accepted a wrong signature. Either way, FedEx was responsible for your loss through negligence or covering up malfeasance. And that's where paying a lawyer might be worth it; I'd have to do a ton of research to determine the right approach and language (which likely varies by jurisdiction).

Thanks Miles... I'm waiting for their response to a letter I sent to their customer relations dept before I start moving on suing. I'd been doing everything on-line so far and wanted a hard-copy record sent. In it I included my signature to show it looks nothing like the one they have on record. I hadn't considered that it was delivered to the wrong address. I doubt Pat would have mis-printed it - but it is a long-shot possibility I guess. It would mean whoever it was delivered to signed a version of my name (?) knowing it wasn't for them. Seems a stretch.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

Could you recommend a link? I found one that charges $35 + 20% "success fee" - if I win. Pat Wilkins underinsured it (not his fault - it was his standard amount for shipping a body and up till now he hadn't had anything stollen) When I ship something like that, I insure it for what it's worth. It was a custom made body with a custom gilded art finish and final finished by Pat - so realistically we'd be talking about a minimum of $1500 total. It seems like I could sue for that amount because although not insured for that, it was stollen due to their driver breaking their company policy and leaving it unattended on my porch. And forging my signature! But if they take 20% of $650, it would pay Pat and leave me with small change. I guess compared to nothing right now - I'd want justice even if it doesn't about to being reimbursed for what it was worth.

For our county in Ohio, you just went into the county court web site and no attorney needed.

 

[JIO]

For our county in Ohio, you just went into the county court web site and no attorney needed.

Thanks Dan - I appreciate your insights.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

Thanks Dan - I appreciate your insights.

I wish you the best. Sounds like a bad deal. I'm not a litigious guy but at some point when you've been wronged and nobody wants to take responsibility, you gotta do what you gotta do.