An extremely important shipment was lost or stolen, here in Israel according to the forwarder. I need evidence that the forwarder has a record of the local delivery outfit receiving the shipment before I return to the police station.
So far, the forwarder has refused to provide the evidence.
Is there a Federal regulatory agency that has oversight of such forwarders that I can contact?
FedEx is not the forwarder and has its own Jerusalem office.
Your first action is to find an Israeli lawyer capable of getting an Israeli judge or court to serve whatever documents are appropriate on the forwarder's agent(s) or representative(s) in Israel -- it should also demand all relevant information and records from the local deliverer.
I'd advise that the lawyer's firm have good working ties to a US firm capable of doing the same in the United States if that turns out to be necessary.
If Israel permits you to charge even substantial amounts of legal fees if you prevail, even if the shipment can't be found or replaced, then it's worth doing. I doubt there is a national or international agency outside the justice system that would act even as an 'ombudsman' for something like this -- there should be. In many states there isn't even a statute for credit-card theft of services... and apparently legislatures like it that way.
In part this is shaping up to be a cautionary tale why a 78-year-old should either insure to the highest value he can substantiate or use a trusted personal courier to transport the item in person.
The better choice is probably not to ship via a service at all. I have never bought something costing more than a couple thousand dollars (mostly vintage electronics and historic watches) and shipped them through the mail or FedEx/UPS/DHL and the like. Even much cheaper things have become lost or stolen through 'incompetence' or someone liking something in checked baggage and keeping it.
If I live long enough I'm bringing in an E38 740d under the antique-vehicle provision. I'll be there when it goes on the ship in Europe, and I'll be there to get it when the ship docks here. And even so it will be insured for full appraised value.
1. Thanks for the good advice, and it is good, and some of it is applicable and is now implemented.
2. The shipment is two orders of magnitude less expensive and smaller in size and weight than your examples, but is essential to me for a decent life.
3. The choice of retail outlet was that of my USA-resident friend, and the choice of the forwarder was that of the retail outlet.
4. Implementing your most important idea, I now have an Israeli-American lawyer, who is licenced to practise in both New York State and Israel.
5. The retailer is now offering full monetary compensation for the item and shipping. Last heard my friend is holding out for what is contracted for, delivery to my Yeshiva. It would seem like the offer of monetary compensation instead of completed delivery means that neither the freight forwarder nor the retailer particularly want any business from Jerusalem residents in the future.
The retailer did not wait for our agreement to receive the "full refund," but apparently went ahead as follows:
IN my opinion what you have here is a scam, perhaps associated with some form of organized crime and perhaps with money-laundering or phony 'importation' of goods otherwise subject to tariff or duty. That the 'principals' are reluctant to provide details, and apparently the 'justice system' seems reluctant to urge them, is not an uncommon sign that 'the fix is in' as it were.
Note the important scam component that 'making you whole' is the same as 'making things right'. We have a highly similar thing in the United States now, where repeat offenders copy the routing and account numbers off a paycheck, go to an outlet like an Apple Store, and use an e-check service to buy stuff totaling just less than $500. Your bank will happily refund the resulting debit... if you go to a branch, fill out and notarize an affidavit, and wait for the thing to be reviewed... but no charges filed against the culprit, no court, no real deterrent at all. Unsurprising that it happens sometimes a dozen or more times a year.
Yes, take the refund and see if you can arrange better explicit transportation and delivery 'partners' for a new transaction, if you can. And best if you know someone who is visiting Israel and can bring it in, clear customs directly, and pay any entry fees or tariffs right on the spot for clearance.
One other little point to remember: some retailers will try to provide alternate goods instead of a full refund -- I would certainly try this if I were e-tailing, so I can't condemn their trying -- and you'll have to keep insisting that only the original item delivered as promised, or else full 'restitution', will do.
In some cases I won't blast a weasel company in feedback or review, even if they did what proved to be deceitful listing, if they do in fact return the payment. I won't justify that or even try to advise it as expedience. But in some respects it's a form of common sense.
More than likely it is just easier to refund your money and write it off than do any investigation.
It was probably a drop shipment from another supplier and trying to find out what happend would consume more time than the refund.
Try again and use a credit card you can challenge the charges with.
i think the matter is closed. I asked for help and got the help that was possible. There is an alternative retail outlet and an alternative freight forwarder that my friend has used with success. Since a railroad probably was not involved in the shipment, I think this thread should be removed by the moderator. Thanks.
thought the matter settled with my friend getting me an amp from another retailer and sending himself to my Yeshiva, but shortly before Hanukah candle lighting time got a call from the local delivery outfit that the amp was on the way to the Yeshiva's back door. It works.
My friend will contact the retailer to return the payment that was returned through PayPal. If they say no, and wish it to be a free gift, my friend will make that a contribution to the Yeshiva, and notify the retailer that the contribution is theirs.
Perfect.
Often amazing what happens when you start turing over the proverbial rocks. And few people like to be the subject of official attention, or even the threat of it.
- PDN.
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