FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Recently ordered a rebuilt 1939 3-speed manual trans from Minn. The seller sent it out by FedEx. FedEx lost in in Kennesaw, Ga. I have a friend who has been a mechanic for over 40 years. He had an item waylaid in Kennesaw, Ga for several months. This may end up costing me about $1600 if FedEx will not cough up the refund. Will never use FedEx for shipping anything.

Next, my '34 Ford truck has been flushed with vinegar, Thermocure and baking soda. Does not run hot, but keeps loosing fluid from the overflow. What else can I do the make sure the radiator is in good shape? Bill

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

I have had bad luck with them. Delivery to wrong address, damaged goods. I really don't think their workers care, just a job for them. If you don't want something damaged you had better make sure it is a damaged proof container

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Just like with the Model A's you can fill the radiator to to brim and as the water expands it will send fluid out the overflow as the radiator seeks it's "happy level". After it finishes that process look and see if the plates in the top of the radiator are covered with liquid. If so and it's not overheating, all is well.
If you are still concerned you could add a radiator overflow system.
Bummer about your FedEx adventure. Thanks for the heads-up. Chap

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

I believe that groups of Fedex routes are owned by different individuals who manage their drivers. UPS drivers are Teamsters members and are employees of UPS. I have sent and received many packages through UPS and have never been disappointed. I am sure that they make mistakes occasionally but rarely. The person sending often does not make labels correctly and the shipper gets the blame. JMHO

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

My Fed Ex shipment.
I just recently shipped a 98 # box from Minn to an Island off the
west coast of WA. state, about an 1800 mile trip.
Both I and the receiver had the tracking # so we could follow
the shipment. We could see that the receivers address was
Correct on the shipping label, so that helped re-asure us that
the box should make it to the small Island off the WA. coast.
The Fed Ex truck had to take a ferry boat ride, and the box
was delivered to the receivers address. ;):)




.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

USPS recently lost a Wilton vise I sold through eBay. FedEx lost a Schwinn bicycle for about six months. Sounds like UPS is the last hold out.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

I sure hope your transmission was insured and that you have plenty of rebuild photos to verify your loss.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

UPS is no better! “Lost” a rim I shipped for five months. They notified the shipping company and recipient but not me. They and others don’t make an effort to find anything. Too costly for them I’v resorted to contacting the Customer Advocate for USPS ( they don’t want us to know about this) and demanding higher and higher supervisors at UPS until I get satisfaction. You must speak VERY clearly as to what you expect to occur ie “ find my damned part” for an effort t be made.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Ken, you are referencing both UPS and USPS. Which are you having problems with or both?

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Be aware with USPS there is a window from 15 days to 60 days from shipment that you must file a claim for certain packages. Check the USPS website for the different type of packages and don’t dally in filing a claim.

That sucks about your transmission.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

When shipping anything of larger size or weight I always attach a sturdy label showing the source and destination of the item to the actual item itself. FedEx and UPS drivers have told me that their warehouses are full of packages that were damaged in a way that the shipping information is missing yet the contents are in good shape.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

After losing countless shipments with all 3 and filing numerous claims I have come to the decision that trying to recoup your loss is a waste of time.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

USPS lost a generator one time, the last scan was at a processing center in my state. It’s probably fell out of the box and is sitting on the table in the damaged mail section. Good idea as mentioned above to label the part INSIDE the box. I was reimbursed but that’s not much solace for a rare part.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

sounds like a good use for an E tag
I have one in my caravan so family can see where I am .
Lawrie

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Heard a lot of good stories about E-tags. Newc

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

'scuse my ignorance, but what is an e tag for locating an object or vehicle? Google shows several e tags, mostly for electronic toll collection, but I didn't find any reference to identifying the location of a vehicle.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Sounds like FEDEX driver may have a thing going in Ga

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Look up apple e/tag
Lawrie

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Garry Sisson reports successful delivery of his 9” Ford differential.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

You are 100% correct.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

dosent matter who it was loosing a customers parcel is not acceptable! MAKE NOISE AND LOTS OF IT always find out who you talk to and who is their supervisor if they cant find it go higher and get louder freight just doesn't disappear

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

just for fun, I don't know the shipper, but a friend recently told me he sold a ww2 dodge pickup box to a buyer in Florida, shipped from Minnesota, the buyer received an old corvette frame, the dodge box was never found

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

I use Apple Air tags in every shipment of significance. I have even mailed them to the seller to place in the shipment. I’ve done this will all 3 carriers.

What is amazing is the tracking. The Air Tags are accurate within 200 feet or so. The Carrier tracking has been off by hundreds of miles, even showing wrong state and location. I’ve watched packages goes back & forth across the country, stall for days at airports etc.

But in the end I have complete peace of mind knowing where the package is. Doesn’t help or prevent damage or rough handling. But never completely lost something using this method.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Sorry to hear about the trans. Hopefully a heavy, bulky item like that didn't get "lost" in their system. I believe Georgia is the hub for FedEx and all packaged filter through at some point.


I had something go missing with FedEx once. It was a Model A hood, so the box was rather large and bulky. Their tracking showed it arrived to the depot in NJ, but was no where to be found. It obviously walked out the back door. I did insure it and was paid relatively quickly without too much drama. I understand this could be an outlier. I do prefer USPS for heavy small things and UPS for bulky items.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Makes you want to just DRIVE the item to where it is going, if you want undamaged non-lost parts:eek: Especially for irreplaceable antique car parts.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Makes going to Swap Meets even more appealing. You actually get to see the part in person, haggle over the price one on one and then safely escort it home. A win, win, win situation if I ever saw one!

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

I fully agree----


And good '39 Trannies seem to be not all that easy to come by.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Be careful shipping anything somewhat heavy, especially in those inexpensive USPS Flat Rate Boxes. They are rather flimsy. I use box-within-a-box packaging plus the ship to/from info on the item itself. I adopted this policy after receiving a nice USPS Large Flat Rate Box which formerly held a pair of nice 32 front bumper brackets. The delivered box was in perfect condition except for hole just large enough for the brackets to exit.


By comparison, FedEx flat rate boxes are very robust and unlikely to fail the gorilla test. Whether they arrive at the destination is another matter. I just shipped 25 lbs in a FedEx Very Large Flat Rate Box. Supposed to arrive Monday. We'll see.

FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

If you choose commercial drop shipping
to send parts - have the sender pay for
the shipping and insure it at 200%
replacement value - taking pictures
while packing - package according to
shipper requirements - take pictures
of parts being dropped off.

Jim

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

I used to ship auto parts for a living, but it’s been a few years. Very few issues with FedEx. Much more volume (and issues) with UPS. You remember the stuff that was ridiculous, like a personal UPS shipment of a pricey English bicycle. This was before the days of Apple Air Tags. I seriously doubt that missing shipment would have ever been found without the relationship I had with counter staff at the local UPS depot/hub. There was an absolute attempt at subterfuge because the shipping box and label and tracking number were not the ones the shipment started out with…….

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

I didn't realize FedEx offered flat rate and I have an account with them. I'll need to look into this.

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Opposite experience here. Zero problems with UPS, FedEx- delivered to wrong address, packages hung on mailbox because they didn't want to bother driving up a long driveway, beat up and missing shipments etc. Don't get me started on USPS, lost mail, mail delivered to wrong address, recent shipment took 6 weeks to go 300 miles , Ohio to Tenn via Fla...

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

K32: After losing countless shipments with all 3 and filing numerous claims I have come to the decision that trying to recoup your loss is a waste of time.
I am glad I am no longer a daily account UPS Shipper! most of my shipments arrived at destinations ok, but I also have some stories. the ones you don't forget! And they always were expensive items and fully insured.

but when lost or broken UPS would NEVER ever, easily pay the claim! always a run around. always, we need more this... or such n such. always! only because I got a customer deep within UPS at Dallas complex, was I able to get the insurance paid. try and try: NEVER! one call to him, check rec'd within 10 days! in full amount of claim.

and I always ran a bill's audit on my weekly UPS charges. I always got refund credits to my account due to their billing errors!!

UPS always over charged me for shipping!! on their weights, destination zones, etc per their scheds! :(

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Timely post
Here is a 35 Engine I just completed going to Norway.......As Lawrie has mentioned.....Two apple air tags are installed in this crate. One I have installed hidden on the motor and the other is installed in one of the parts boxes in case there is a theft and the two get separated.
One of my tricks for shipping local ie here in the USA IS


I send shipping labels to whomever I buy parts from and I use my home address for both the shipping and receiving address.....This gives me more of a chance of the box getting shipped to me IF one of the address on the label gets damaged or obscured. It will always show MY address.


Apple Air Tags.....better than NOT using them


As for heavy shipments (like this motor). In my business, I have three motor freight carriers I use.....Old Dominion, Estes and AAA Cooper. ALL have limits on "insurance" coverage for high value Items like this motor. NONE of them would cover the value......SO the freight handler for the shipment going to Norway has a "specialty high value" shipper that he uses. That is the only way the "CYA" on any heavy shipment of any real value....EVEN the motor freight "insurance is almost NOT worth it, as stated by other here and UPS & Fed Ex.


Just a little insight into the UPS world as I was a high volume direct sorter for the local hub here in Jacksonville for 3 years.....On average (28ish years ago) we would handle approx 300,000 packages per 4 hour sort. My "preferred Destination" I handled Miami metro, ALL of North Carolina, 1/2 of Texas and Davenport Iowa was my low flow trailer. My PD was the longest run out in the hub....From unload to load was almost 15 minutes of conveyor belts & shoots with rollers. The main conveyors ran at about 8 miles an hour until it got to the HVD & LVD sorters like me, then those belts slowed down to about 5 mph....so at that point boxes start to get bunched, pushed and on very high volume days, smuushed together. During "peak season", which was Oct to Jan we would run, on average, 385,000 packages per 4 hour sort SO...It is a tremendous amount, moving on a tremendous maze of conveyors and shoots SO the way things are packaged ARE CRITICAL for success as well as where, how and how many times it is labeled and for UPS....the bigger and clearer you make the destination zip code, the better!!!!!

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

I am not familiar with Apple air tags. I have to assume that they only work if you are using a smartphone? :confused:

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Smart phone is the quickest and easiest way BUT you can also log on with your computer and use the "findmyairtag.com" app.


Here is the apple link: https://www.apple.com/airtag/

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Lol.....Hey Kube, 1 of the 3 arrived today.....The other two.....who knows? Lol

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Fed ex lost a Packard crankshaft on me. Must have fell on someone’s toe. What a nightmare , never got it back

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

Last whack at the dead horse, I had a customer have a 48" 316L SS weld-on pipe flange "hot tailgate rush" shipped on R&L from Mass to Florida and it left Atalanta hub for Florida never to be seen again!!!

Re: FedEx lost my rebuilt '39 trans
 

I have bad experiences with both USPS and UPS. UPS has a stock set of reasons on their computers when an item is “lost” to choose from. One of them is “Damaged packaging, lost item. My rim was not packaged! It took days to get this through their heads and find a supervisor who would but boots and eyes in the warehouse of “lost” items. Once they did whalah! They found my rim.