This is outrageous (pointless FedEx runaround)

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Well, I ordered for the second time from CGB.  The first time, I ordered direct from the website and they sent it via post, and I was quite happy.

Even though it cost 5 euros more per coin, I went via vcoins this time because it was easier.  There were two options listed, and both were opaque.  The first one was something like, CGB delivery (which I went with, assuming it was post) and the other, Express delivery, which I assumed was FedEx.

I happened to be off today and I had gone to the store, and when I get back, I see a FedEx sticker on my door. No we'll try again, sign here, just pick up at their location, 25 miles away.  And of course they would come at the one time of the day I was out.  Well, how bout a signature on the reverse, and they come back, like in the old days?  Well, I just started cursing like Samuel L. Jackson, and my profanities echoed off the other houses. 

One, I didn't want FedEx.  I wanted post. And a signature required for a stinking $200 package?  Well, this puppy's going right back to them, I guess.  How long does it take for it to time out and be returned to sender?

I certainly can't fault the speed, I ordered on Wednesday and it's here Friday, but it's kind of useless if I can't get it!  It's much better if it takes a week-and-a half via post than this. My postman ignores all signatures, and even if he didn't, it would be easy.

I've never tried the redirect to another place for pickup before.  I've heard that Walgreen's is one, but that seems like a great way for it to disappear.

I don't have this problem from Savoca. The package generally goes into my designated place.

Arkadien went on my never again list after the 2 x 2 debacle, and LAC went on my order-from-them rarely list after the Nero disaster.  Shipping is important to me, and I'm not going to order from a firm if I'm greatly inconvenienced or the packaging is sloppy. Sure, I can get mitigate LAC by choosing DHL, but who wants to pay nearly $40?

 

Edited October 26 by Nerosmyfavorite68

[kirispupis]

If it helps, for FedEx I always have them hold the package at a FedEx location. They then send me a mail when it's ready and I stop by and pick it up. I've never had an issue that way.

UPS also has a similar service, though it costs a few $.

DHL is the riskiest one. They just place the envelope in front of my door, and when I have the notification I race home and grab it. I've never lost a package though.

Deutsche Post, SwissPost, Roayal Mail, etc are always delivered here by USPS, who can be spotty. It takes the packages forever to get here, but they've never lost an international package - just some domestic ones.

[CPK]

In my experience, FedEx will try up to three times to deliver before holding the package at their facility for pickup. I had that happen to me once - had a coin shipped FedEx Express from the UK and it arrived way sooner than I had anticipated, practically within hours. We happened to be gone on a trip at that time, and we only got home in time to accept the third and last delivery attempt.

If your case is similar, I don't know what there is to get upset about, since they will only try again tomorrow. It's not CGB's fault or FedEx's fault that nobody was there to receive the package. Perhaps I'm not fully understanding the situation, though.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

I'm hoping they'll come back tomorrow, but I've never known Fedex to come out on a Saturday.  There was no indication of we'll try again on the slip.  That stinks.  I'll have to check my email tonight, for FedEx updates.  There's no indication whatsoever on any of the FedEx emails about a pending redelivery.

I'm upset because I expected it to be sent by post, I'm rarely home during the FedEx delivery times, and the whole situation is moronic.  It wouldn't have been so bad if they had a signature section on the reverse of the slip, like UPS used to have.  Unless there's a signature slip offered the second try, I'd be in an endless feedback loop were I to try FedEx from them again.  Sure, it would be annoying if I had to wait an extra two days if I could sign on the back of the slip, but I wouldn't have been this upset.

I sent off a polite email to CGB, enquiring about what to do and how I might be ensured to have a postal option.  There's certainly little point in ordering  from a place if I can't receive the coin.  Nobody, but nobody seems to require signatures anymore, even at times where I'd probably want one,like on a $500-or-over coin.

I also had a nightmare situation in 2015 regarding FedEx and a custom turntable, which soured me for many years on FedEx.  I've had generally good results with Savoca (FedEx generally just chucks the package in my designated spot). Would I prefer the post?  Of course.  Does this cut down on my Savoca orders? Yes, somewhat.

DHL sometimes puts it in my preferred spot (via their delivery manager), but sometimes not. I generally try to avoid them, but it's not always possible.  I'm pretty much forced to use DHL if I go LAC, because the cardboard mailer mitigates their dangerous (to the coins) floppy postal bubble mailer.

The post is always my preferred option.  I'd much rather it take a week-and-a-half like the first time, than go through grief.  I was quite pleased with the first, postal order.  The first order squeaked in at under $200, but the second one, with fees, was over that. I don't know if that was the deciding factor on post-vs-FedEx.

[mcwyler]

I have to admit I find FedEx the most efficient, but (and this is a big But) I hardly ever choose to use them because of the cost. I'm in the UK btw.

One funny thing, though. Savoca always uses FedEx, fair enough, you know in advance - but they only charge around €16 for express delivery from Munich. Good deal if you ask me especially as they ship immediately. Everybody else that ships FedEx charges 25 or more likely 30.

So, either Savoca have a special deal with FedEx, or all those other auction houses are chiselling bastards. Which do you reckon?

[Dwarf]

20 minutes ago, mcwyler said:

So, either Savoca have a special deal with FedEx, or all those other auction houses are chiselling bastards. Which do you reckon?

Standard UPS Germany to GB is 22,90 Euro (which I prefer - no losses to anywhere worldwide)
This is uninsured, so insurance is on top. As soon as the invoice exceeds 1.000 Euro, it has to clear customs - takes time and paperwork.
Thus even 30 Euro is fair. Cheaper is service of the dealer.

Regards
Klaus

[mcwyler]

Fair enough @Dwarf, but how about £30 for London to where I live in Dorset, England. About 100 miles. FedEx can't possibly charge that for a single coin valued less than £100, but an auction house did just last week. I call it chiselling. Not saying they're all like that.

[Dwarf]

11 minutes ago, mcwyler said:

but an auction house did just last week

I suppose you read the terms before bidding. So you agreed to the charges.
Where is the problem ? You knew it! ( I suppose)

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

I always wondered if Savoca had a special deal with FedEx.  It's worked well enough and been relatively inexpensive enough where I haven't griped too much about a postal option not being available.

If they'd go back to best practices per packing I'd happily go back to the postal option for the UK dealer.  The earlier orders were reasonably packed (inner coin mailer, etc).  I don't really understand why there was regression after they moved. 

I had to beg a German firm to send a gold coin via the post.  80 Euros for FedEx or DHL (I forget which) was just crazy.

[mcwyler]

2 minutes ago, Dwarf said:

I suppose you read the terms before bidding. So you agreed to the charges.
Where is the problem ? You knew it! ( I suppose)

I know when they do it, yes, and if I want the coin enough I might accept it. It doesn't mean I can't grumble about it, of course. And it doesn't make it not chiselling imo.

[Sol_Invictus]

FWIW, if you sign up for a free Fedex delivery manager account you can get text or email notifications for any packages that are being delivered to you, including a delivery window the morning of. You can also manage your delivery to provide delivery instructions, schedule a time for the delivery, or have them deliver to a FedEx retail store for pickup later. I’ve found it to be very convenient.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Yes, I already have the Delivery Manager.  I should have checked my email before I left for the store. However, I assumed they would just leave it, like they do with Savoca's packages.

There may be a delivery reattempt, but neither the paper nor any of the emails (and I also logged into Delivery Manager) gives any indication of one.  The one and done delivery would be the outrageous part, other than me not expecting FedEx in the first place.  They sent the first package via the post, so of course I'd assume the second would also be.

There's a very convenient Walgreens nearby.  The not-so-close 'closest' FedEx pack n ship has an incredibly low rating on google (1.7!), so I don't think I'd take that route.   I'm not traveling 25 miles.That's not going to happen.  Should I wait until Monday, and if there's no sign of any redelivery attempt, try to route it to the Walgreens and hope it doesn't disappear, or wait for it to expire and be returned to sender?

[expat]

Nearly all my dealings are with Savoca, 16€ Fed Ex delivery and always receive the coin(s) 5  days later. Never had a problem with FedEx, If on the seldom times I am not available to take the delivery, the driver rings me and I tell him where he can leave it. Signing  up for delivery management was the best thing I did.

[Phil Anthos]

3 hours ago, mcwyler said:

I have to admit I find FedEx the most efficient

 

I wouldn't ship my volleyball with them.  😯

[David Atherton]

53 minutes ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

Yes, I already have the Delivery Manager.  I should have checked my email before I left for the store. However, I assumed they would just leave it, like they do with Savoca's packages.

There may be a delivery reattempt, but neither the paper nor any of the emails (and I also logged into Delivery Manager) gives any indication of one.  The one and done delivery would be the outrageous part, other than me not expecting FedEx in the first place.  They sent the first package via the post, so of course I'd assume the second would also be.

There's a very convenient Walgreens nearby.  The not-so-close 'closest' FedEx pack n ship has an incredibly low rating on google (1.7!), so I don't think I'd take that route.   I'm not traveling 25 miles.That's not going to happen.  Should I wait until Monday, and if there's no sign of any redelivery attempt, try to route it to the Walgreens and hope it doesn't disappear, or wait for it to expire and be returned to sender?

Reroute to Walgreens. I have all my FedEx deliveries routed to a nearby one and haven't had any issues. 

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

I'm currently in Delivery Manager, and I see no way to reroute it.  There's a link in the email which says there's a way to reroute (but it implies while it's in transit), but that option now just loops back to the page I'm looking at.  Clicking delivery options just brings up my generic delivery instructions.

On the good note, it says they'll hold it at the highly inconvenient center (gee, only 25 miles away!) for five days, starting today. Hopefully that means that it times out and returns to sender in 5 days.  I was there once, circa 1998, and it was not fun.

Attempting only one delivery and requiring a signature for what amounts to two junk box coins is just execrable.  There's no other way to describe it.  My mostly good experiences with Savoca made me think that FedEx had cleaned up their act.  I guess not.  Even if they did reattempt delivery and it's not tomorrow, I'd still be in the same boat, unable to be there to sign for it.

Not being able to e-sign for it via delivery manager is also very stupid.

The special handling tab states, 'Deliver Weekday, Residential delivery, direct signature required."

I'm thinking that the direct cgb website had a more clearly defined postal option, rather than the opaque 'cgb delivery.'

 

 

[Roman Collector]

I just have FedEx leave it at the local Walgreens. I've never had an issue with this. 

[David Atherton]

You had an opportunity before delivery to set up either a time or place for the package to be delivered through delivery manager, but failed to do so. Sure, it would've been nice if the FedEx driver left a door tag with more options, but they didn't. Just call FedEx and arrange another delivery at a time or place convenient for you. 

Cgb.fr upgraded your shipping option for free (wish they would do that for me!). If you need to be upset with someone, the blame rests solely with the driver, not cgb.fr. 

You're over thinking this. Relax, breath, chill with a nice glass of wine or a cuppa. It will be all right. 

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

While I'm certainly miffed at CGB, I'm more upset with FedEx.  I'll call Saturday (I guess I'd call the national number?) and see if I can do something. If that fails,I'll just let it return to sender and they can send it via post, assuming it makes it back,  like they were supposed to.

It does make me more skittish about making any further orders from them, however. 

[Kaleun96]

10 hours ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

While I'm certainly miffed at CGB, I'm more upset with FedEx.  I'll call Saturday (I guess I'd call the national number?) and see if I can do something. If that fails,I'll just let it return to sender and they can send it via post, assuming it makes it back,  like they were supposed to.

It does make me more skittish about making any further orders from them, however. 

Miffed at CGB for what exactly? Theoretically they upgraded your delivery service free of charge as David mentions.

If you have strict requirements for packages being shipped to you, you'd need to make these clear before ordering or, at the worst, at the time of the order. CGB probably thought it was win:win - they can send the coin in a fast and reliable manner with insurance, while you, the customer, gets your coin faster. They can't be expected to know things like that you won't be home to accept deliveries, that the nearest FedEx location is 25 miles away, and that you don't trust the redelivery to Walgreens.

For me, FedEx is the best option because they're the only one (out of UPS, DHL, and FedEx) that lets me enter my apartment code and other information before delivery so they can make delivery to the door. All the others don't give you a way of contacting them so they redeliver it to a service point. FedEx also always calls me 5 minutes before delivery and their customer support in general has been really great in my experience. Of course it differs for everyone depending on location but I just want to point out that these are the things CGB can't know and there's some responsibility on you to sort this out beforehand rather than blame CGB.

If the coin gets redelivered to CGB, theoretically you're still on the hook to pay for shipping again so that may not be the best option. I can imagine them letting you cancel your order so as to be done with the hassle of it all but they may not and hold on to your coin and money until your pay for it to be reshipped.

Edited October 26 by Kaleun96

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Yes, I remember the apartment days. It was even more imperative then to avoid FedEx and UPS.  The various pickup options weren't available then.  And you think FedEx is bad, well UPS is worse.  I've avoided them for 25 years.

Tom Petty's Buried Treasure channel was playing some fine blues tunes which put me in a somewhat better mood.  I'll have to consider whether it's worth going through the hassle of calling FedEx and trying to redirect it or just do nothing and let it return to sender.  I'm leaning towards the latter option. The whole thing just brings back the bad memories of the 2015 situation.

The USPS is slower, but if I stick with First Class and avoid Priority (and now registered), I've only had 2 lost packages in 30 years of ordering coins. Priority wouldn't disappear, it would just get mauled virtually every time.  I'm not inconvenienced with USPS, and even if the driver decides to suddenly enforce signatures, I wait a day or two after the signature card is signed and the item is delivered.  FedEx and DHL Express (more so DHL) are more unreliable.  While they put it in the designated spot most of the time, sometimes they dump it by the door.

I'm pretty sure CGB's website has a comments/instructions section in the final order form.  I seem to remember filling  it out during the Albinus order.  Lesson learned; order direct from them.  They usually aren't a go-to dealer.  It was just chance that this particular coin happened to be with them.

That's good advice about instructing dealers about one's delivery needs beforehand, but if I go the vcoins route, this isn't always possible. Their dreadful contact system doesn't work 80% of the time (I suspect the useless captcha is the culprit), and unless I guess the email naming convention and send manually, it doesn't go through.  The dealers almost always stick with the stated shipping method is,  so it usually isn't a problem.  I also tend to stick with tried and true dealers, usually the same five or so.

CGB really does need to go into the vcoins system and make the first option more specific.  "CGB shipping" is very unclear and could potentially lead to hangups.

I've heard nothing but good things about CGB's customer service, so I'll wait for their reply (probably Monday) and  proceed from there.  By then there may have been a change in the situation.

Now I'm a bit worried about ordering from Savoca.  This hasn't been a problem lately as they've not had a lot of new items listed on vcoins over the past 3 or 4 months.  Have they switched to direct website sales?

 

[DonnaML]

17 hours ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

I'm currently in Delivery Manager, and I see no way to reroute it.  There's a link in the email which says there's a way to reroute (but it implies while it's in transit), but that option now just loops back to the page I'm looking at.  Clicking delivery options just brings up my generic delivery instructions.

On the good note, it says they'll hold it at the highly inconvenient center (gee, only 25 miles away!) for five days, starting today. Hopefully that means that it times out and returns to sender in 5 days.  I was there once, circa 1998, and it was not fun.

Attempting only one delivery and requiring a signature for what amounts to two junk box coins is just execrable.  There's no other way to describe it.  My mostly good experiences with Savoca made me think that FedEx had cleaned up their act.  I guess not.  Even if they did reattempt delivery and it's not tomorrow, I'd still be in the same boat, unable to be there to sign for it.

Not being able to e-sign for it via delivery manager is also very stupid.

The special handling tab states, 'Deliver Weekday, Residential delivery, direct signature required."

I'm thinking that the direct cgb website had a more clearly defined postal option, rather than the opaque 'cgb delivery.'

 

 

If you consider two $100 coins to be "stinking" and a "junk box" purchase, why even buy them? Especially from another country?

Also, do you have a car? If not, I can understand the annoyance at the package being held at a location 25 miles away. But if you do have one, that's maybe an hour out of your life to go pick it up. Less time than you've probably spent on this thread!

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

I imagine due to overall volume they have a significant Fed Ex discount. In a former life in my early 20's I was a UPS International Account Executive after college. I used to hand out discounts of up to 60 percent. Before I got into tech and finance. Competing against FedEx and DHL was the game at the time. 

[AETHER]

I have now developed fright ordering over seas. Unless it's a coin I can't resist and must have, I have made an effort to avoid.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Well, I did my due diligence, and I wound up even more irritated.  I called fedex, and while they actually made it pretty convenient to get to a live person, the call center representative was not fluent in English, and after explaining the situation and saying "I want to reroute it", that was too difficult to understand.   Furthermore, she managed to badly misprounounce my first name (which only has two syllables), after I had both spelled it out and pronounced the same when asked for the name.  I wasn't being rude in any sort of way.  I just do that in a businesslike manner to make it easier for them to type in the name.

The automated system does offer a return to sender option, so this package is going back to France.

I did try.  I'm just over it at this point.  To be clear, 80% of of my complaint resides with FedEx. I just have to put the situation out of my mind or else my blood will be boiling again.  A signature required over two junk box coins; Unbelievable. If they had been fairly expensive coins, then yes, I probably would have accepted the situation and gone and picked it up.

Oh well, there's still a 75% chance that I'll receive the coins.  I'll politely explain the latest development to CGB reps when they get back to me.  Too bad there was a recent Agrippa thread.  That's what made me go with them.  I had searched vcoins for Agrippa and this was actually the nicest one (to me) under $300.  CGB's prices are usually a bit high, but the thick and natural patina (which I like) drove the price down and it actually's not a bad deal. 

It was actually kind of therapeutic to make the attempt to resolve the situation.  I tried.  I'm not as miffed now and I can have a good day.

My reaction while I was on the phone:

Edited October 26 by Nerosmyfavorite68