Thursday 11 Nov, re-launch 2021, HHN day 43: Finishing ceramic coating, fighting FedEx for claim, evening with plumbing fitting the new shower rail for our bathroom.
The first part of the morning is taken up with … yes, you guessed it, fighting with FedEx again. Now that our shipments have finally arrived, that part at least is over. But on discovery last evening that the box of Hallberg Rassy parts was damaged and crucial items were missing, we are back trying to communicate with FedEx again. This time desperate to find out if they have such a thing as “lost and found” department and how we contact them.
Getting hold of FedEx to ask them is, as usual, impossible. But my new friend in FedEx customs does give me a better telephone number and finally I get through and manage to start a claim for the missing items. But apparently it will take them 14 business days to investigate and get back to us. Pfff that’s way too long. We might not even still be in the USA in 14 days ☹.
A quick search on Google indicates that FedEx (and other couriers) do have a place where they send all unclaimed items and any item that has become separated from its documentation – which is the case for our escaped items. These collection centers are called Over-Goods facilities, usually run by a 3rd party. Here, they try to match descriptions of missing items with the multitude of physical items they have been sent. Then, after some time of not matching item to owner, they are auctioned off! So, our conclusions are: a) there is virtually zero chance of FedEx getting our turnbuckles back to us and b) best way to get them back is to look for them on EBay in about 2 months’ time!
With the morning almost totally wasted, it’s finally back to work at midday. Tonight it will rain and get much cooler, so I’m desperate to finish the ceramic coating. First, I do the shady side of the coach roof, then get back to the hull, where I just have ½ of one left to do. Then finally again to the coach roof to apply a second coat. Just as the light is fading, I finish. And I have to say it looks wonderful. Not quite a new-look finish, but really not far off. And I’m very glad for the UndrDog ceramic. Pricier than the cheapy Ebay stuff but far superior. Let’s see how long it lasts. But for now, the boat is gleaming like a new pin, and Captain is very happy after his 10-day crusade on this task.
Following the triumph over the ceramic coating the evening is more relaxed than usual. We scan again all the parts that arrived from HR-Parts and get ready for some inside work in the morning, because outside the wind is picking up and it will be raining for the next several hours.
One small but pleasurable job was receiving from Amazon a new shower rail for our bathroom. Actually, we received 2 and picked the one we like the most. The other will be returned. This extended period in the USA we have really learned how to use and abuse Amazon. If we are not sure which “one” to buy, we buy all that might be interesting and send the rest back! Now it could be considered abuse, but frankly they are getting one hell of a lot of business from us, because of the simplicity and no-questions-asked returns policy. For once, the job of fitting the new rail only took but a few minutes. I didn’t even need to drill new holes. The old tarnished one goes out to the trash.
We go to bed to the sound of howling wind in the rigging, and the start of rain lashing on the decks. Nice to be snuggly in bed for such weather!
4 comments
Glen, surely HR must have some responsibility for your missing items as a result of poor packaging! Am sure they must carry some form of insurance for such occasions and besides, if their customer relations is any good, they should want to solve this issue to your satisfaction!! Either way, good luck with it all.
@Alexander: If I understood Glen correctly, FedEx does want to investigate, it just takes 14 days for them to do it. As part of that investigation, I’m pretty sure they would contact HR and see what went wrong and where the parts might be.
Not defending FedEx here by the way, they are horrible.
Yes Andrej, this is correct. And looking from their side, its understandable that it will take a while to investigate. The problem is, for domestic claims (inside USA) its very easy to interact with FedEx and add photos etc. But for claims on international shipments they make it very difficult …. almost to the point to them suggesting “just forget it ….!)
Yes, HR also have a claim in, at their end. Lets see how it transpires. I doubt the items will get returned, but their should at least be compensation. And that will go to HR because they paid for the shipment.
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