TL/DR based on my experience, don't ship a doll with FedEx.
Some of 'the guys' have heard my 'tale of woe' in the chatroom. I figured I'd post some of the details because the story may be a helpful warning.
Some details withheld to protect the privacy of people who attempted to help me get this doll delivered or returned.
I recently attempted to purchase my fourth doll. Previously I had my dolls delivered by DHL once and Seko twice. I've had nothing but trouble using FedEx for anything in the past. But, in this case, the agent who was assisting me with the purchase had (up to that time, but that is another story which is not mine to tell) success shipping dolls with FedEx. So I 'gave it a try'.
FedEx fucked up three times:
1) Based on clear evidence of the package label and packing tape being resealed over the package opening, the package was opened in transit. I have information to confirm that this was NOT done by customs.
2) The package was delivered to the wrong address on delivery day. This showed up in the online tracking information and initiated a substantial series of telephone calls to FedEx to try to determine what had happened and what to do to try to 'fix' it. It is certainly possible that the opening of the package occurred at that wrong address.
3) The package was not held at the FedEx depot after being retrieved from the wrong address. On one of the phone calls, I expressly instructed FedEx to hold the package. My intention was to visit the depot and inspect the package to determine if there had been tampering. Had FedEx following my instructions, I would have had the option of returning the package to the vendor. The vendor had previously agreed to this in the event of tampering.
FedEx delivered the package to a third party that had agreed to receive it for me. When I retrieved the package from the third party, I felt that I could not 'stick' them with a tampered package because they'd have no practical way to either return it to FedEx or ship it back to the vendor.
I no longer want the doll. THAT is totally 'on me'. Stubborn old fool that I am, I would not 'enjoy' a doll with which I associate the level of fuck ups I describe. (It helps that I already have three other dolls to 'enjoy'.
)
Subsequent attempts by me and other parties to get FedEx to ship the package back to someone who could deal with it were blocked by 'business process restrictions' (''we can't/won't do that'').
