This is a long post but I will try to make it short. I have a Tamron 150-600 lens that needed some adjustment with the auto focus. I called Tamron USA and she told me everything I needed to do. When I ask how to ship it, she said they use Fed Ex. I thought that was ok because I feel like UPS uses most everything for a football. I took it to my local Fed Ex Office, purchased a box and bubble wrap. When I asked the counter rep to borrow tape and scissors, He said "Oh no! I have the perfect safest way to send it". He proceeded to open packages and wrapped it in molded foam. I was a little worried about that because of the heat it gives off. But he assured me it was fine, and "nothing was going to get to this lens". I purchased $1100.00 insurance and paid extra for fragile. About a week later I received an acknowledgement from Tamron and the words " Evidence of Shock Damage" and "Broken External Parts" grabbed my eye. I immediately called Tamron USA and the young lady told me the box was crushed and should never send in molded foam. They kept the box for evidence and a note on the acknowledgement said "Please note Lens was damaged by insufficient packing". I had left the UV filter on it and it was also shattered. Tamron assessed the damage at $278.00 to fix which of course I told them to do it. I want my lens back! It's bird season in the RGV!. I have filed a claim on 12/3 and have not heard anything yet. My question is should I make them pay for the lens and filter or settle for the amount it takes to fix it? Comments please. Again sorry for the lengthy post.

We all have our favorites, don't we! I use either USPS, or more generally UPS. My UPS driver knows me, I periodically buy him coffee, he feeds my dog cookies, and it has been a good relationship for 25 years. My local FedEx generally can't find my house, or leaves it at the neighbors!

Stopping by the local coffee shop when you see your driver there, and buying a coffee, is better than buying insurance, for me!

This is a long post but I will try to make it short. I have a Tamron 150-600 lens that needed some adjustment with the auto focus. I called Tamron USA and she told me everything I needed to do. When I ask how to ship it, she said they use Fed Ex. I thought that was ok because I feel like UPS uses most everything for a football. I took it to my local Fed Ex Office, purchased a box and bubble wrap. When I asked the counter rep to borrow tape and scissors, He said "Oh no! I have the perfect safest way to send it". He proceeded to open packages and wrapped it in molded foam. I was a little worried about that because of the heat it gives off. But he assured me it was fine, and "nothing was going to get to this lens". I purchased $1100.00 insurance and paid extra for fragile. About a week later I received an acknowledgement from Tamron and the words " Evidence of Shock Damage" and "Broken External Parts" grabbed my eye. I immediately called Tamron USA and the young lady told me the box was crushed and should never send in molded foam. They kept the box for evidence and a note on the acknowledgement said "Please note Lens was damaged by insufficient packing". I had left the UV filter on it and it was also shattered. Tamron assessed the damage at $278.00 to fix which of course I told them to do it. I want my lens back! It's bird season in the RGV!. I have filed a claim on 12/3 and have not heard anything yet. My question is should I make them pay for the lens and filter or settle for the amount it takes to fix it? Comments please. Again sorry for the lengthy post.

This is a long post but I will try to make it short. I have a Tamron 150-600 lens that needed some adjustment with the auto focus. I called Tamron USA and she told me everything I needed to do. When I ask how to ship it, she said they use Fed Ex. I thought that was ok because I feel like UPS uses most everything for a football. I took it to my local Fed Ex Office, purchased a box and bubble wrap. When I asked the counter rep to borrow tape and scissors, He said "Oh no! I have the perfect safest way to send it". He proceeded to open packages and wrapped it in molded foam. I was a little worried about that because of the heat it gives off. But he assured me it was fine, and "nothing was going to get to this lens". I purchased $1100.00 insurance and paid extra for fragile. About a week later I received an acknowledgement from Tamron and the words " Evidence of Shock Damage" and "Broken External Parts" grabbed my eye. I immediately called Tamron USA and the young lady told me the box was crushed and should never send in molded foam. They kept the box for evidence and a note on the acknowledgement said "Please note Lens was damaged by insufficient packing". I had left the UV filter on it and it was also shattered. Tamron assessed the damage at $278.00 to fix which of course I told them to do it. I want my lens back! It's bird season in the RGV!. I have filed a claim on 12/3 and have not heard anything yet. My question is should I make them pay for the lens and filter or settle for the amount it takes to fix it? Comments please. Again sorry for the lengthy post.

I’ve had both good and bad experiences. The bad: delivered my Nikon 600mm f/4 to a neighbors house. Didn’t look at the shipping label and signed for it. When status said delivered, thankfully I recognized my neighbors signature and went over and got my lens. This has happened more than once. Was supposed to get my brand new Fender custom Telecaster last Thursday. Didn’t arrive. Didn’t ‘t arrive Friday either. Called Customer Svc and of course you can only get an automated response and no expected delivery date. Luckily it came Saturday. Signature was required, but they just left it at the door and took off. The good: ordered some parts from Sweetwater one Thursday afternoon and specified 2nd day air. Package got to my door next day, Friday at 9:30am. It’s a roll of the dice.

They will probably only reimburse you for what you have a receipt for.

On another fedex related incident, I came out to find 2 boxes in the bed of my truck. I was puzzled. After closer inspection, it was a fedex delivery, but not for me. I went and reviewed my security footage. Sure enough, the fedex guy put the boxes in the back of my truck.
I called fedex to come pick them up. They said , sorry, the shipment could not be redelivered. I asked what kind of operation were they running? A delivery put in the back of my truck, wrong address delivery and they won’t come and get them?
Finally she said she would put a note in the system but would not guarantee someone would come get the boxes. 2 days later, still no pickup. I finally delivered myself.