Fedex package missing.. Need advice

I will assume it is not actually out for delivery.. but was perhaps lost after it hit a sorting center.

Call the local FedEx hub... Ask them to run a trace. If they ask what was in the box tell them a college buddy sent you a care package... Probably video games or maybe some new guitar strings, who knows?... etc.

If something does leak or break, always have a sympathetic back story.... "Oh.... We were friends in college... My wife just had a baby.... Money is tight so my buddy decided to send me a care package... He didn't say what was in it, I guessed it was going to be video games or his wife's homemade salsa.... Terribly sorry it was beer... I didn't know shipping beer was against the rules.... I will let him know that he probably shouldn't be shipping alcohol.... Thanks so much for searching around for me. I can come down there immediately and pick it up."

You, don't EVER volunteer that you know it was beer... Play dumb till the very end.

If the package ends up missing forever or is destroyed... Your trading partner should file an insurance claim. There will be some people on here that say that "is a bad idea and they could flag your account".... That is "possible" but extremely unlikely. On the other hand, if the beer is discovered and discarded, your partner should still file an insurance claim and he should do it immediately as soon he knows the box is gone forever.

Most likely, the hub will run a trace and the box will show up on your porch in a day or so.

Hope this helps... Toby.

 

Is it throwing an exception in the tracking system or has it just not updated between facilities? I have had tracking info not update and the package still be delivered on the target date or a day later. If it is throwing an exception it is most likely damaged, but if not just give it more time.

 

Same thing happened to me with UPS on beer I bought from Holiday Wine Cellar, I told them the exact contents, showed up 10 days late

 

have him file the claim NOW. They wont pay until it is MIA for 2 weeks. Has happened twice with me. The last one, pretty much identical to your story. Filed the claim, and whammo, 2 days later, at my door. I do shipping for a living. We do a lot with FedEx. If you want me to see what I can see, message me, and I will give you my email at work and I will get the info I need to do a thorough search.

 

"general household items"

 

I could be in the minority, but I had a package lost before and called up FedEx. They asked for a detailed description of the contents, so I told them "bottles with X name on them" (i.e. name of the beer/brewery). This information actually helped them find the package when they opened it, and shipped it back to me with no issue. YMMV.

 

This usually happens when the label falls off. Always take care of affixing the label properly. I tape the hell out of it.

The only way for them to know which box is yours is to describe the content accurately. That means you will have to tell them that it's beers. I really doubt they will interrogate you on the phone whether or not you're a licensed shipper as they have no idea if you actually have the alcohol label on the box or not. Plenty of people got "Improper Alcohol shipment" sent back to them and maybe a warning letter, then continue to ship 100's of boxes via FedEx without any problem (don't ask me how I know that ).

 

That's exactly what happened to mine. I used their stupid pouches and it tore right off.

But seriously OP, just be honest with them. If the label tore off, giving an accurate description of what is inside is going to be your best bet for them to locate your box. As @mythaeus said, you may get an accompanying warning letter. Big deal.

 

I typically use more tape over the label package than I use for the entire box. I've actually had a trading partner rip me a new one for using "too much" tape. But the beer made it there, and to me, that's what matters.

 

I'm currently having this problem with USPS regarding a package sent from Vegas. No updated tracking since 2/21 when it departed the facility in Atlanta. Only problem is, customer service refuses to track it down since it was sent "standard". I have absolutely no idea where it is or what happened to it, but I think a Postal Worker used it for a VERY nice weekend!!!

 

That's what I do now. In fact, I don't even use the pouch. I take the printed label and tape it like hell onto the box.

 

Some people put a copy of the label inside the box, right on top of everything. This is probably a good additional safeguard. I haven't done it because I think I tape my labels pretty well.

 

This. Always play dumb, from the moment you ship out to the moment it arrives at your door. They likely won't ever ask specifically what it is when you ship it (if they do, just tell them it's homemade olive oil, salsa, soda, something inane that can account for the faint swishing sound in the box). The only reason I can see them asking what it is, is if it's already broken open and they need to know whether or not to declare it a dangerous goods spill. I hope for your sake that isn't the case. Best of luck, OP.

 

The pouches will not stay on, I like using them but I always tape over them as well. I had a pouch tear off when shipping to FL. Luckily I used the same box that was sent to me and his label was under the pouch, so it showed up at my door a few days later. It showed no tracking updates for several days and then appeared at my door. I always tape the hell out of the label now.

 

First problem is you NEVER use USPS.