Need online selling dispute advice

[WolfenMachine]

So I sold a Windstone, the buyer paid, I was a little late shipping it out, but I shipped it out FedEx, insured it and checked the box that it required a signature.

I check up on the status of the shipment to find its being returned! The buyer kept it at her house 2-3 days and then it showed it was in transit 2-3 days after it was initially delivered. When I called FedEx, freaking out that it was being returned, they told me there was no signature required on the package even though I checked the box, as I *always*alwaysalways do to require a direct signature. I asked the FedEx customer service rep “what happens if it gets broken in transit back to me?” She acted like it would be no big deal, FedEx would take care of the problem. Oh well, at least I can re-sell the piece. Well it comes back to me (Paypal has already taken their money back out of my account, mind you, which left me with a negative balance in my paypal account) with a deep dent in the box that almost broke through the top of the box completely. It had not been opened, so I carefully opened it and the two pieces inside are shattered and destroyed. I was both sad and angry. I paid for insurance so I contacted FedEx and they denied my claim. I’m quite upset and angry and I’ve been wanting to write them a letter disputing their decision. That box was packed well with lots of bubble wrap and packing peanuts. I’m just afraid their argument will be “Well obviously it wasn’t packed well otherwise it wouldn’t have broken”. I contacted the buyer via email to ask why she returned it…no response. Its been weeks. I’m pretty sure I sent the email twice asking why she returned the box. Maybe she decided she couldn’t afford it and *eh* didn’t want it anymore or something. Either way, now I’m out over $100 and have two destroyed Windstones.

Am I up shiza creek without a paddle? Is writing a letter to FedEx the only thing I can do? They are probably repairable but no way could I get my original asking price, PLUS I’d have to pay shipping to someone who could repair them and pay for the repairs. It seems kind of pointless to me to purchase insurance if the issuing company is going to deny your claim. I had the same problem with the post office and a broken emperor, they ran me around with red tape for 6 months and I eventually just took him home and had him repaired and kept him.

I’m feeling upset and lost.

[Dandr13]

My condolences honey. I guess the only thing you can do is document the damage to the exterior box and keep contacting them. Insurance should cover the shipped item regardless of whether the fault is with the packaging or not. And if the box was obviously damaged, then the fault was not with the packaging. You could always take the box, broken pieces, and receipt into a FedEx depot and refuse to leave until they do something about it. Plus if you get to yell at someone, it might make you feel better. :~

My brother and I don’t deal with FedEx personally (way on the other side of town), but we have had issues with UPS damaging/losing packages. It ends up taking several phone calls, and a fair amount of luck to actually get someone either competent or who actually cares about your problem. We’ve had several “That’s not our fault,” or “we can’t do anything about that” operators before actually getting someone who does something about it. Usually, if you bother them enough, eventually someone will do something about it.

I hope everything works out for you. Wish I had better advice.

[WolfenMachine]

Its okay. Thank you for your words though 🙂 Ive used FedEx to ship OVER 100 Windstones in the last 2 years and I have NEVER had a problem with them breaking anything until now.

I found this thread
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/844629/

but in that thread the item damaged is a $2,000 chest. I guess I’ll get pictures and try to get an estimate for repair.

[drag0nfeathers]

Much like USPS, with FedEx you have to get all over their butts to get any kind of compensation. It was insured and it is their responsibility, but they don’t make money on giving refunds so you have to be an absolute irritant to get anything done. Go as high as you can, cooperate, whatever. Be loud, be obnoxious, and be assertive! Honestly, it will feel like you have taken on a second job! I have spent countless hours arguing about lost or mis handled packages on the phone with people who do not care.

Honestly, UPS is the ONLY people I have dealt with who have not made me want to throw my phone into the wall. Not that dealing with them was much better, but in comparison they were a breeze compared to issues with USPS or FedEx.

This is my experience at least. I have never used Fed Ex to ship before, but they have lost items on me before. Mostly stuff grayfire has sent me, but they have always found it if I annoyed them enough.

Got a busted Windstone?
drag0nfeathersdesign@gmail.com
*OPEN for repairs*

*SEEKING GRAILS*
Arc-en-ciel Emperor
Siphlophis Male Dragon
Calypso Hatching Empress
Ivory Moss Sitting Baby Kirin
Tattoo Mother Kirin
Emerald Tabby Male Griffin
Tie Dye + Orion Hatching Royalty
Indigo Rockfish + Flame Tabby Little Rock Dragons
Dragon Quail + Obsidian Frost Old Warriors
Betta Sun Dragon + Male Dragon
Dreamscape, Orion, Poison Dart, Fireberry, Spangler + Tigerberry Dragons

[Kim]

Sorry you have had this experience. I have have never used Fed Ex but have been lucky with my purchases with USPS. I used UPS once and will never do that again as they delivered me banged up boxes and charged me huge import fees. Don’t give up and keep contacting them until you can get a refund! Good luck!

Looking for rainbow or pink & teal grab bags!

[Pam]

This was a few years ago, but I received damaged windstones through fedex once, worth over $600. The box was not insured but fedex told me they didn’t offer insurance and it wasn’t needed to file a claim on damaged items. After several months of fighting (I would send them paperwork and get no reply, or get conflicting information on what I needed to do next), I finally took the damaged items into the fedex center so I was there in person when they documented the damage. They agreed to pay half the value of the items since the damage was not too bad, but I don’t think I would have gotten anything had I not gone there in person.

[WolfenMachine]

Thanks Pam. I might try that. There is a headquarters type place not too far away. I’m going to try sending documentaion first and see what happens.

[Author]

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