Warning: Fed Ex Policy Change!

[Noah Kadner]

I will say the chances always seem higher that UPS drives over a package with a truck than FedEx but maybe that's just been my experience. Here's something kinda mind-blowing about FedEx's logo if you didn't know about it already:

http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/000273.php

-Noah

 

[Joel Kaye]

So I don't have any clear answers. Red says they require signature (I believe them!)

FYI, Just today I missed a FedEX shipment from RED (pretty sure it was from RED) and the shipment required a signature and FedEx did not drop it off. They left a door tag.

 

[DNomer]

FWIW, I just completed a UPS damage situation on a parcel (a used, specialty PC) worth much less than a Red camera, where UPS damaged this parcel beyond what I thought was conceivable (since the package was not transiting Iraq). Because of the way that they handled this situation, which involved multiple people at UPS in various capacities, I will never ship UPS again, period. This package was VERY well packed in purpose-built foam, etc. etc. and they skewered it with a large piece of metal and did damage that I thought could not be done. I have shipped UPS for many years, and except for a couple of minor incidents, had never had a problem before. But this one blew my mind. Then their corporate BS attitude really showed a side of them that I had not seen before. Caveat Emptor. I will now use FedEx.

dn

 

[Michael Brennan]

I have a horror story from one of the big guys, a couple of years ago (I'll call them carrier X).
My complete HD camera package of 9 cases went missing on return to UK from a regular client in Europe, then most of it turned up a few days later at a production house in London that I had no connection with at all.
The production company could have kept the lot as carrier X had no idea where the kit was, I had to tell them where it was....

But one case was missing, as luck would have it the only thing that wasn't mine, worth around US$14k.

Carrier x said they had no record of said item and so it did not exist and thus basically calling my client a liar. This outraged him and his company.

Local rep came around and asked my wife to sign a document saying that she had taken delivery of said item!

After 6 months of both he and I attempting to claim on the carrier's insurance (which my client had paid 100's of Euros extra to fully insure) I threatened legal action and the missing item was suddenly "found" in a distant European office of carrier X!
But get this, it had apparently been used in the intervening 6 month period!

Carrier X then said the item was found...so no insurance claim.
This outraged my client.



In the meantime I had purchased a new item for the rental company.
At first I thought I did not want to claim on my own camera insurance policy as my client had paid good money to carrier X and my premium would likely have gone up.


The moral of this story is NOT to rely on insurance from a carrier as they can be an utter pain to deal with, especially if shipping between European countries.


Once the European HQ heard of the allegations their lawyer resolved the issue within a week. I had threatened to sue for a six month rental of the item as well as replacement cost of new item, well within my moral rights!


Following the debacle my client bought his own HD kit.
Now he has a RED


To balance the books Ive had one positive outcome when carrier Y messed up and looked after me.


Mike Brennan

 

[Philip Powell]

Just FYI

Just FYI

Don't ever insure Film via Fed Ex as they won't cover it. I used to (before I had better insurance in general) insure my negs before they were shipped for processing for the cost of reshooting, in case they got lost. So you can inmagine, it was quite a bit of money. I found out later, that they would have never paid the claim, it's one of thier fine print rules. They will only pay for the cost of the film stock itself.

It's weird, I've never understood why they feel that way.

 

[Shawn Nelson]

And so why do you think UPS is any different?

In my experience, very different! FedEx is the friggin worst at leaving packages on my doorstep when I am away, UPS never does. I ordered a new Mac Pro (which ships in lovely retail packaging that LOUDLY advertises it is an expensive new Mac) and FedEx left it when I was gone for the day. Thankfully no one helped themselves to a 23" LCD or Mac.

When given a chance, I always pick UPS over FedEx due to FedEx's repeated efforts to help my neighbors steal my stuff.