Dear, Sue, Ralph, MOPO and all,
Respectfully, it does NOT have to do with:
1) what kind of account you have. Other than the DVX (Declared Value
Exceptions) program, there is no kind of account that deviates from the
rules in FED EX's Customer Service Guide.
Here is what the customer service guide says about Declared
Value: E. Shipments (packages or freight) containing all or part of the
following items are limited to a maximum declared value for carriage of
US$500 per shipment or US$9.07 per pound, whichever is greater. Import
of any of the following items may be prohibited by individual
countries, and a lower declared-value limitation for a country will
control this stated limitation for such items:
1. Artwork, including any work created or developed by the
application of skill, taste or creative talent for sale, display or
collection. This includes, but is not limited to, items (and their
parts) such as paintings, drawings, vases, tapestries, limited-edition
prints, fine art, statuary, sculpture, collector's items, and
customized or personalized musical instruments.
2. Film, photographic images (including photographic negatives),
photographic chromes and photographic slides.
3. Any commodity that by its inherent nature is particularly
susceptible to damage or the market value of which is particularly
variable or difficult to ascertain.
4. Antiques, or any commodity that exhibits the style or fashion of
a past era and whose history, age or rarity contributes to its value.
These items include, but are not limited to, furniture, tableware and
glassware.
5. Glassware, including, but not limited to, signs, mirrors,
ceramics, porcelains, china, crystal, glass, framed glass, plasma
screens/flat-panel display screens, and any other commodity with
similarly fragile qualities.
6. Jewelry, including, but not limited to, costume jewelry, watches
and their parts, mount gems or stones (precious or semiprecious),
industrial diamonds, and jewelry made of precious metal.
7. Furs, including, but not limited to, fur clothing, fur-trimmed
clothing and fur pelts.
8. Precious metals, including, but not limited to, gold and silver
bullion or dust, precipitates, or platinum (except as an integral part
of electronic machinery).
9. Stocks, bonds, cash letters or cash equivalents, including, but
not limited to, food stamps, postage stamps (not collectible),
traveler's checks, lottery tickets, money orders, gift cards and gift
certificates, prepaid calling cards (excluding those that require a
code for activation), bond coupons and bearer bonds.
10. Liquor stamps, tax stamps.
11. Collector's items such as sports cards, souvenirs and
memorabilia. (Collector's coins and stamps may not be shipped. See
"Prohibited Items" section.)
12. Guitars and other musical instruments that are more than 20
years old.IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS YOURSELF, GO TO: http://www.fedex.com/us/services/express/termsandconditions/intl/ liabilitylimits.html
2) the volume of packages you send. I went over all this with my FED EX sales rep, telling her we were a loyal and good client, etc. They were not interested in taking this into account. 3) who your FED EX sales rep is. Fed certainly could not, and, if you investigate it you will find out that they do not, make one set of policies for one sales rep and another set of policies for a different sales rep. 4) how much money you spend with FED EX. The Canadian dealer who got hit with thousands in losses was a big FED EX shipper. He pleaded with them and it was to no avail. His "insurance" premium, or rather, DECLARED VALUE fee was refunded. And "we are sorry." End of story.
I know that what Sue says about some shippers having been paid for losses above the $500 stated limit is, in fact, true. I have brought this up with several different FED EX employees at several different levels and no one has ever been able to explain to me why these claims were paid in light of Fed Ex's stated policy. In fact, they will deny this on the phone, or some have claimed that they don't understand how that can happen. I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT THE OPERATIVE SITUATION MAY BE THAT IF FED EX DOESN'T LOOK INTO YOUR CLAIM CLOSELY ENOUGH TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF GOODS YOU ARE SHIPPING, YOU MAY SLIP UNDER THE RADAR.
The question is, do you really want to take that chance on a multi-thousand dollar poster? The issue of losses and damage is bad enough without adding this area of uncertainty to the mix. I do not choose to do that, and so we are moving most of our shipping back to the United States Postal Service. While the cost of their insurance - and that is what it is, real insurance - is high per $100 of valuation for priority mail, it still goes pretty quick and you are covered. Also, USPS are now offering more programs like pick up services etc that traditionally FED EX has offered. Registered U.S. mail is still the safest way to send anything, and has a lower cost of insurance.
I really don't like United Parcel Service, and I do not know what their policy is about this. I don't use them.
I'd be curious about DHL. They are trying to rev up serious competition to FED EX in the U.S.
FED EX employees in the DVX program division have told me that there has been talk about expanding the program. Right now the merchants in the program are mostly jewelry sellers. But collectibles:DEFINITELY NOT. I think, and this is pure speculation on my part, that there is a view that collectibles dealers are a rag-tag lot, lots of mom and pop-ers. This isn't so far from accurate. But it is not just collectibles that are listed; there are lots of products that are not allowed to have valuations over $500. Here is a URL to the FED EX employees who work in this division. Call them up and ask them about these issues yourself: http://www.fedex.com/us/services/express/addservopt/dvx/contact.html
If you don't believe me, look into it vigorously yourself. You can start by calling your sales rep at FED EX 1 800 GO FED EX. If you hear ANYTHING different from what I have stated above, I'd like to know it. I would love to have FED EX change their policy to accomodate me. I'm willing to pay a reasonable valuation fee to have my shipments insured. I see no reason why FED EX should care what it is that they are "insuring." I think if you get right down to it, they are afraid of the "inside job."
I'm not trying to tell anyone what to do. But as a bumper sticker that I saw the other day proclaims: IF YOU GO TO HELL, DON'T BLAME JESUS!
Kirby McDaniel MovieArt Original Film Posters P.O. Box 4419 Austin TX 78765-4419 512 479 6680 www.movieart.net
On Oct 2, 2004, at 12:44 PM, Susan Heim wrote:
Dear Ralph and all, I think Ralph has hit it on the head and that is it may depend on what office you deal with, who our rep is, and what type of account you have. I have had frames with posters in them damaged and they have been insured for quite a bit more than $500 and I have never had a problem being reimbursed whatever my claim is. I don't know if it has anything to do with the volume of packages you ship or the amount of money you spend with Fedex per month (my monthly shipping bill is in the thousands), but as Ralph said it may be the squeaky wheel syndrome. I am speaking from just my own experience with Fedex.
Sue Heim ----- Original Message ----- From: Ralph Plumb To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, October 01, 2004 5:29 PM Subject: Re: [MOPO] Fed Ex on Insurance
I have filed several claims for damaged items both with Fedex and the USPS. Both items were under $500. I always got a refund from Fedex including an item shipped from overseas. With the post office, claims can vary. Sometimes they want me to establish the value of an item in order to claim the insured value. In regard to ebay sold or purchased items, I have had to furnish a printed copy of the auction results to establish the value of the item and then had to file an appeal after my claim was denied. Both Fedex and USPS will ask for the packing materials to establish proper packing. If you receive a damaged item or a fail to receive a shipped item, the claim must be filed by the shipper even though the packing materials are with the recipient. Always tell the buyer to keep the packing materials so that they can be turned in to the Post Office. Fedex will come by and pick up the damaged item and packing box. They will also pay the claim and allow the buyer to keep the damaged item. Neither will refund you for shipping charges. The requirements vary from office to office. Just keep bitching about it until they pay up. Ralph Plumb
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