Possible theft from FedEx and need help...!

[phillip ridley]

To my friends and watch collectors.

Unfortunately, I have an issue with a package that mysteriously went missing then appeared in a different state.

The story goes:

My wife and I dropped off a package to FedEx last Tuesday the 8th to be sent overnight as I always do. The following day I noticed that the package did not arrive. After looking up the tracking info, I did see that FedEx had only noted that the package was scanned into the system. I reached out to my insurance company to be told that FedEx is backed up and it is possible that it had been delayed.

At that point, I flew down to Texas for a family visit. After arriving that Sunday the 13th, I realized the package was still missing. On the 14th, I drove to the original FedEx store as I was instructed to do by my insurance company and spoke with an employee; which he then told me the manager would review the surveillance video and get back with me. An hour later, the manager called and mentioned that he saw me walk in, had it over to an employee and then that employee passed it along to the manager I was currently speaking to. The manager said that he then scanned it into the system and then handed it off to the driver and it "appeared" the driver had attempted to scan it and possibly had a 'mis-scan'. Also mentioned to not worry yet as he thought it would show up.

2 days later, a security agent for FedEx reaches out (former Phoenix police officer) to request my side of the story. After hearing what I typed above, he seemed a bit confused and told me he would be in contact the following day, the 17th. He also requested photos of the watch and the label I used being specifically clear that I did nothing wrong and he thought it to be "stupidity" for the box missing.

Apparently, the update is that a normal package generally receives 12 or so scans which we the "users_ only see 3-5, but his package had 68 scans! Not only that, it appears that it arrived in New Jersey when it was supposed to be Arizona.

Here is what I know - for a fact, the original manager I spoke to told his security specialist (not the former cop) that there was an issue with my label and reprinted a new one, but the manger never mentioned this to me while I spoke to him. Also, the package was shipped on the 9th, yet the manager again told me it shipped the 8th.

At this point, there is an active police report and hope the package is located as this watch is a family heirloom.

I need your help just in case this watch is sold via social media and appreciate it very much. This situation is a first for me as I have dealt with FedEx for many years.

The following watch is:

1966 Tudor Submariner
Style: 7928
Serial: 56869X


Photos attached

[1665fan]

Sorry to hear, hope it gets recovered....

[narembeen]

I wonder what address was on that reprinted label?

[phillip ridley]

Originally Posted by narembeen

I wonder what address was on that reprinted label?

Exactly! That is what we are trying to figure out. All I know if that a new label was applied over mine when it should not of been. Then I was lied to about it.

[MrChamfers]

The manager should be able to get that address on label #2, they know what left their location each day. Time to put some pressure on the manager I think.

[phillip ridley]

Originally Posted by saltpeter

The manager should be able to get that address on label #2, they know what left their location each day. Time to put some pressure on the manager I think.

I did press the manager this past Monday and he told me I did everything right, that he passed it to the driver. What he did not mention was that he changed the label and it went out the next day.

There is currently a police report in which they will investigate the manager as well as, the FedEx security officer. Should have more info tomorrow.

[AJMarcus]

Originally Posted by phillip ridley

I did press the manager this past Monday and he told me I did everything right, that he passed it to the driver. What he did not mention was that he changed the label and it went out the next day.

There is currently a police report in which they will investigate the manager as well as, the FedEx security officer. Should have more info tomorrow.

Quite suspicious that the label was changed. If not theft than certainly a poorly managed fed ex office. Sometimes people often cover up for their incompetence. Should be easy for the security officer to get to the bottom of it. Please keep us posted.

[Dan S]

I will certainly keep an eye open for this watch.

With all of the packages they handle, I wonder how they know which ones to steal. It's time-consuming and very risky on their part. Do they know how much the package is insured for? Or perhaps they somehow know that certain people often ship valuable items?

[phillip ridley]

Originally Posted by Dan S

I will certainly keep an eye open for this watch.

With all of the packages they handle, I wonder how they know which ones to steal. It's time-consuming and very risky on their part. Do they know how much the package is insured for? Or perhaps they somehow know that certain people often ship valuable items?

That is the million dollar question!

[SunTzu]

Originally Posted by phillip ridley

I did press the manager this past Monday and he told me I did everything right, that he passed it to the driver. What he did not mention was that he changed the label and it went out the next day.

There is currently a police report in which they will investigate the manager as well as, the FedEx security officer. Should have more info tomorrow.

Originally Posted by phillip ridley

That is the million dollar question!

Great news in the end, but...

Maybe you put an insurance value on the label and that caught the eye of the potential thief at FedEx? If it is truly a theft attempt it seems like a sophisticated operation with multiple individuals involved in multiple States that went through a process of redirecting the package while feeding you false information.

Fortunately it sounds like the appropriate representatives at FedEx were involved and did their due diligence.

I live in NJ. Do you mind telling us what city in NJ it went to?

[77T]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Do they know how much the package is insured for? Or perhaps they somehow know that certain people often ship valuable items?

Yes, sometimes a person becomes known to ship high-value items. Also other items that are theft-worthy. But the risk is too high at the origin office where the package is accepted and gets its first scan.

They wouldn’t know the insurance value if 3rd party insurance is used - but if the carrier’s max value is declared and paid for, the scan code tells all. Such exploits would mean collusion with drivers where a new label is slapped on after the package leaves the office.

In this case, the “replacement label” aspect is worrying. An innocent error is also possible - that office manager could’ve made a mistake in coding a new label in such a way that it routed to NJ. So this isn’t necessarily a crime - it could be a simple error.

A copy/paste or fat-fingered fix to a scan error code could’ve created a completely different city center destination but left the tracking and shipper codes intact.

Philip:
Are you using FEDEX ship manager to create your labels?
If so, are you able to see if that file shows a scan error occurrence or other errors appear on the label status?



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[phillip ridley]

Yes, you are correct with the above statement.

To your questions, I am using a private insurance group to make the FedEx labels so that I can prep boxes, attach label and then go to FedEx.

When I look up that tracking info under my private account, all it says is that the packed "picked up" meaning it was scanned. I hope it is just an error, but the FedEx security personnel is not too sure. Plus the fact this tracking number had been scanned 68 times is alarming.

[1watch]

That is a terribly disturbing story for everyone. Thanks for sharing and I hope for all parties involved, that they can unravel what happened and get the watch recovered without damage for the owner.

I would think the police and FedEx security should be able to get to the bottom of what happened with security tape review, interviews of internal FedEx employees who touched the package and label tracking. So I wonder, who ultimately ended up with a package that traveled to other state(s) and what does their tracking show for the chain of custody within FedEx systems?


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[phillip ridley]

Originally Posted by 1watch

That is a terribly disturbing story for everyone. Thanks for sharing and I hope for all parties involved, that they can unravel what happened and get the watch recovered without damage for the owner.

I would think the police and FedEx security should be able to get to the bottom of what happened with security tape review, interviews of internal FedEx employees who touched the package and label tracking. So I wonder, who ultimately ended up with a package that traveled to other state(s) and what does their tracking show for the chain of custody within FedEx systems?


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I should have an update within the next few days.

Near the holidays are by far the worst times to ship.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by phillip ridley

Near the holidays are by far the worst times to ship.

I've had minor delays at other times of year, but all of the serious issues I've had with shipping have been in December. At this point, I try to take a break from shipping (for me, this means buying or selling or sending for repair) anything expensive after early December. Obviously you don't really have a choice.

Unfortunately, there is an auction on eBay right now that is going to be very hard for me to resist.

[Andad]

There appears to be a lot of variations from SOP with this package Phillip.

I hope you have some good news soon as too many days have past.

[roh123]

I am sure it will turn up. Sometimes there’s a hick-up but in the end I think this will get resolved. Throughout my years in this hobby I know of one package the got lost through Fedex. One of literally thousands.

Give it a few days and hopefully there’s good news. This time of year is hectic in the logistics business and I am sure covid isn’t helping. Be patient even if it sucks.

Good luck!

[narembeen]

Originally Posted by roh123

I am sure it will turn up. Sometimes there’s a hick-up but in the end I think this will get resolved. Throughout my years in this hobby I know of one package the got lost through Fedex. One of literally thousands.

Give it a few days and hopefully there’s good news. This time of year is hectic in the logistics business and I am sure covid isn’t helping. Be patient even if it sucks.

Good luck!

Definitely. I think we also need to consider the owners of this timepiece might be following this post.

[phillip ridley]

Originally Posted by Andad

There appears to be a lot of variations from SOP with this package Phillip.

I hope you have some good news soon as too many days have past.

Originally Posted by roh123

I am sure it will turn up. Sometimes there’s a hick-up but in the end I think this will get resolved. Throughout my years in this hobby I know of one package the got lost through Fedex. One of literally thousands.

Give it a few days and hopefully there’s good news. This time of year is hectic in the logistics business and I am sure covid isn’t helping. Be patient even if it sucks.

Good luck!

Yes, I am praying it does show up for the family's sake!

[phillip ridley]

Originally Posted by roh123

I am sure it will turn up. Sometimes there’s a hick-up but in the end I think this will get resolved. Throughout my years in this hobby I know of one package the got lost through Fedex. One of literally thousands.

Give it a few days and hopefully there’s good news. This time of year is hectic in the logistics business and I am sure covid isn’t helping. Be patient even if it sucks.

Good luck!

Thanks, roh123.

[Tavli3]

Keeping my fingers crossed for a Christmas miracle for the owners to get their precious heirloom back. I think it's a good sign that it showed up in NJ on Fedex system. So there is a trail up to that point. For what its worth Fedex is a nightmare right now. They are losing and damaging our packages almost daily! They are simply overwhelmed and like our packages that are eventually showing up up to 2 weeks later I'm sure this will find its way home.

[mattedialdoc]

Phil, there seems to be a crazy amount of delay in all shipping currently. I have FedEx packages unusually delayed. Heck, I have a USPS priority package that was supposed to be delivered This last Monday, and still not there.


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[swish77]

Wow, that's awful! Sorry to hear this.

Definitely some suspicious activity, not the normal (albeit rare) lost and/or delayed FedEx delivery.

Good luck, Phillip.

[swaini3]

Hopefully just a hiccup that will be sorted soon.

[EEpro]

Wow this is scary. So sorry. I hope it turns up safely.

[airansun]

USPS lost a 1966 Speedmaster between LA and San Francisco a few years back. Only package of mine that’s ever disappeared. FedEx has never lost one.

Best of luck! I’m betting it turns up before Xmas.

[214270Explorer]

Wow that story makes me feel a bit sick.

I have a suspicion (and fingers crossed too) that this situation will have a good outcome.

There are seemingly many good clues to follow up.

[214270Explorer]

Has the family been told? They must feel awful . . .

[vintagewaferthin]

Such a scary situation. Hope there is a happy ending to this story. Gives me a pause when it comes to shipping, especially as I was just about to send a watch for service via Fedex in the coming days.

[brandrea]

I’m very sorry to hear this Phillip.

Please keep us updated.