Since I have been in Nevada. My in-laws send our Texas mail on occasion wherever I might be working at the time. We received a Fed-Ex Express package and it had been opened and resealed with clear tape. We don't know if something is missing or not since they did not count the letters and items. We had alot of personal information, SSN, Registrations, Bank account info, Insurance. etc.etc. Who opened it and where was it opened and why? So I contact Fed-ex customer service and of course every company always says " We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused" if they know something is an inconvenience why do they do it anyways? So I e-mail a complaint looking to find out more information and I get this nice reply.

RE: Complaints [Incident: 071128-001718] Discussion Thread---------------------------------------------------------------Response (April Joy R.) - 11/28/2007 08:36 PMDear Carlos: Thank you for writing to FedEx. We may, at our sole discretion, open and inspect any shipment without notice. Governmental authorities may also open and inspect any shipment at any time. If you need immediate assistance, please call our Customer Service department at 1.800.Go.FedEx® 800.463.3339. I hope this information is helpful. April Joy R.FedEx Customer Service


WTF. Don't they have enough money for x-ray equipment like the airlines to see if a package has a bomb or just letters? Why open up a package for the hell of it. Does that not violate customer privacy laws? Nothing on their website says this is standard practice or even that it may occur. One time I got a call from UPS saying they had opened our package to verify it's contents. But at least I was notified. I am not a Fed-Ex or UPS employee and I don't know how they work. I know stuff gets broken, misplaced or just flat out mysteriously lost or stolen. Wow. I just can't believe it.

 

I guess a company like that cannot even afford a drug, or bomb sniffing dog.

 

From the FedEx website, under Terms and Conditions:

Well, there you have it.

 

Bad choice on using UPS or FEDEX.

Go with a local courier or something. When I used to ship and haul stuff back in high school, I used to ship sensitive information only because they didn't trust it with those idiots. I even bought a box of red tape that stated, reject if tape is broken. I would put it on before I shipped it right in front of my customer. Never did I have an issue... in fact they felt a sense of security.

 

Use the USPS, registered mail. That's how the government mails classified documents.

 

Thanks. Apparently I did not look deep into "the fine print". It is not right out there. You have to really look for it. All I can say is WOW. I always prefered Fed-Ex because at least the items arrived in one piece and most times ahead of schedule. Just goes to show anyone that nothing is safe or sacred anymore. I guess We'll just have to be more careful or use another type of carrier, although I am sure UPS and DHL have the same type of "fine print" and "stipulations" on the handling of their packages. I just did not know that this could happen like this.Privacy out the window and into the public hands.

 

We have received items USPS Priority Mail and say they were delivered. When we complained that it was never received. We spoke to the carrier only to find out he left our package in the WRONG mailbox. I guess everyone has their turn and mine was comin'. I am certain I am not the only person this has happened to. I guess when you have millions of packages with millions of people and addresses, mistakes will be made. I just did not expect to receive a taped up box without some kind of notice on the package. Saying "hey you, per our terms and conditions agreement we opened your package at this facility to verify it's contents. thanks, have a nice day" Oh well. Just wanted to vent a little. Now I know. Can't trust anyone. I guess I was expecting too much.

 

Unfortunately, things have changed in recent years, and many agencies have a hand in the air transport of packages. I work for one the major package shippers, and can tell you that we must comply with directives from any number of agencies that may have an interest in a particular, or even random, shipment.

For quite some time, "High Times" magazine rated FedEx the #1 way to get drugs from point A to point B. Do you think that with over 5,000 shipping counters there is a "drug-sniffing dog" at every one? Nope. How about somebody sending weapons (not allowed to ship except UPS Ground). Local and state police, FBI, TSA, BATF all may have active investigations going that require verifying contents...it's waaayy out of the hands of the shipper...they're forced to comply. It's Interstate Commerce, and subject to a whole lot of rules.

You want privacy these days?? Then stay inside your home. Don't talk on a cell phone, don't venture on the Internet, don't buy on-demand TV shows, don't check out books out a library, and don't go to any stores or an ATM (you're on video...SMILE).

Sorry to hear that this happened to you. But please understand that it is a different world today, and you have to read the "fine print" when purchasing ANY service, not just shipping packages. It's a sad reality we all must face today!

 

I work for FedEx, and yes anything you submit for shipment may be opened by a MANAGER, not couriers, and it's the same for all freight companies including USPS.

Another thing to consider is are you packaging things properly? Stuffing a fedex envelope or pak until it can barely be closed is not a good practice. The thing is going to be handled and stuffed into bags with hundreds of other packages and sometimes the things will pop open.. and then they'll get taped shut again, doesn't mean they've been gone through or inspected.

People get mad and don't understand that just because you can cram 3 lbs. of stuff into an envelope you're not going to save money by doing so. You're going to be charged by the weight for anything over 8 ounces. So use a box.

Finally, Fedex policy is that if any shipment IS opened for inspection there will be a scan stating that the package was opened and inspected. If the shipments you have questions about don't have those scans then you should probably contact Fedex security and alert them.

 

THIS GUY GOT IT RIGHT

 

i work at UPS and sometimes boxs will open if they fall or something or how they are packed so some time no one opens them they just retape them. we have a guy that re tapes for about 30 mins after everyone else is gone.

 

Yep yep.. same at my Fedex station.

The best though is boxes of seafood (fish, lobster, etc.) that are shipped 3 day on a Friday.. show up on the belt Monday morning REEKING like homemade ****... LOL

People are idiots.. LOL

 

I realize that packages can be torn in the shipping process. I received some boxes that were partially wet, had torn, and coming apart on the corners. I also know that I do not have the only package in the world that needs to be delivered. Driving through Kentucky I saw a Fed-Ex truck that had rolled-over and packages were all over the median and shoulder I am sure that someones items may have been damaged in that situation. I would have simply appreciated a small sticker, stamp or some form of information as to my package being opened by someone at a Fed-Ex location legally and that nothing was removed. I would be cool with that. I had and have nothing to hide regardless. Dealing with people you will always get the good with the bad.Of course nowadays, nothing is private and everyone wants to dictate how to live your life and raise your kids. I was just surprised and upset when it first happened since it was unexpected. I guess now I know. You live, You learn. Thanks for ALL the info. I won't be surprised next time. I still remember a package that I shipped Nov 2000 through USPS ground from Tucson, AZ to Orlando,FL. My mom told me the box was torn and had been opened. come to find out 100 cd's were stolen from my collection. I was quite upset and weary. Nothing could be done.

 

I did not say Priority Mail - I said *REGISTERED* Mail. HUGE difference - registered goes with a complete paper trail with signatures at every change of custody, and the package is sealed. That's why the rates *start* at $9.50. That is the only method approved by the government for physical transfer of classified material over any distance other than hand to hand courier.

 

Thanks.