Cards from REA October Auction stolen via FedEx
 

Just got an empty box delivered by FedEx that had been ripped open from REA. The two cards, if anyone sees them:

1935 Diamond Stars Mel Ott PSA 7 Cert #22239086
1911 T205 Lee Tannehill PSA 3.5 Cert #43738674

I immediately told the driver, who called his supervisor and said they would investigate. I also took pictures of the box and wrote to REA. This is the first time this has happened to me - any advice on what else to do, and what to expect from REA and FedEx?

Thanks

That’s horrible! It’s also horrible that you had to tell the driver before he noticed that the box had been ripped open.

Update: REA just responded that they will refund my invoice, thankfully. Hopefully they catch the guy and this doesn't happen/hasn't happened to more packages.

You are extremely fortunate that the auction house is REA.

Whenever I receive a package of auction winnings delivered by FedEx, UPS or USPS that requires my signature, before I sign, I carefully examine the package for signs of tampering, resealing, sufficient weight, etc. Can't be too careful these years!

This is literally happening daily at this point. I literally see a new card mail theft post every day.

Received a shipment from an AH recently and the return address didn't identify the AH at all. I thought that was a solid move.

I hate hearing about stuff like this, but it's nice the REA response was so positive and quick.

About shipping...

Locally, I trust my local post office and UPS, but our FedEx packages are generally abused and the drivers rushed + careless.

I highly suggest anyone that has a local FedEx drop point (Kinkos, in my area) re-route your packages there if your local FedEx is sketchy about delivery. I've been doing it for many years and it's been 100% trouble-free whereas the stuff that doesn't allow dropping at a FedEx "store" has been busted open, empty, or actually being marked as undeliverable.

+1

This seems to be happening a lot. Most of what I hear is coming from REA.
I agree REA is a great auction house that takes the correct steps if this happens. It just seems to keep happening.

Since REA does so many shows they should offer the option for the winner to arrange to meet in person and get the cards at a show...

REA Is a Class Act
 

REA's reaction to this unfortunate event doesn't surprise me at all. I have dealt with the people there for a number of years now and from Brian Dwyer to Dean to Matt to both Tylers they are a class act. Period.

P.S. Don't panic. You will get your cards back. It will take time BUT don't lose sleep. Peace.

It's absolutely insane to me that one can pay huge money for AH winnings and not be given the option to choose the shipping carrier.

I often give the winners of higher value shipments the option to use USPS Express or Registered, some prefer to use Fed/Ex so I also use it from time to time. This past auction all of the USPS Express packages made it in one day.

Registered Mail isn't perfect. However, in my opinion, it's much, much better than FedEx...if receiving your cards is important.

What is your threshold for high value shipments?

Generally 15K and up..

Sorry for your cards getting ripped. REA did the right thing but it is a shame that there is a need for REA to do the right thing.

w/ REA they ship all my winnings & even the auction catalogs via USPS as I requested this years ago
& they obliged

The stolen cards :

That's good to know. I suppose it can't hurt to ask!

Correct me if I’m wrong but surely this is being done by a FedEx employee(?) I mean at least some of it has to, right ? does FedEx or the police keep track of how often this happens at a certain facility ? Does anyone ever get arrested ? Are there FedEx employees that go to work and come home every day with free stuff ?

It happened to me
 

a couple of years ago with FedEx. They do less than nothing in response! Had their in house security out to check out the package (which was opened and resealed with a page of cards removed). Called all the way up to the CEO's office - nothing!

Sure!
Why would a competitive auction house turn down a shipping request?

FedEx & UPS tend to leave packages at my front door in rain or shine
& seldom look for a signature.
w/ USPS my packages are dry & secure at my P. O. waiting to be picked up at my leisure

They do.

Just sayin
 

The expression on both those guys faces says it all about this situation……

If you have collectors insurance, normally your policy will cover mail theft up to a certain amount. However you need to check the terms of the policy between USPS, UPS and Fedex as the insured amounts could vary between the three. I have CIS and never had a claim (fingers crossed) but it's the main reason I carry that policy is against mail theft, more so than fire or home theft. Signature delivery is always required.

Actually CIS only requires a signature over $400 AND they now have a $500 deductible so they don't really cover the smaller shipments.

I guess it would be up to the insurance companies to pressure FedEx into exposing the thieves, With today’s technology shouldn’t be too hard to figure out who’s doing it

My policy with CIS requires a signature over $200 and has no deductible. It's a collectors policy not a dealers policy. Are you talking about a dealers policy?

Yes, I am I didn't realize they had different requirements, seems strange to do so.

I recently had a T3 Cobb mailed to me via USPS priority. It was supposed to be next day delivery. The package went missing for a few days, then when it arrived, the card was gone. Because the package had been resealed and then delivered, USPS wouldn't pay out the specially purchased insurance...after giving quite the runaround. Fortunately, Collectibles Insurance Agency did pay out on my collector policy on an easy to file claim.

Previously I had an opened box delivered from Memory Lane. USPS at least let me know the box had been opened before signing for it, so I was able to reject the delivery. Memory Lane was great about the situation and issued the refund quickly.

Definitely seems like more and more packages are going missing these days...and I find it crazy than anybody puts brands/logos on packaging. Maybe that will change.

Mac

I've requested dealers/AH's not use FedEx to ship my packages and have never had an issue with that. I've had more issues with FedEx than with any other carrier, and their customer service is basically non-existent.

In regard to the refund from REA, that's not surprising at all. I've used REA both buying and selling many many times and have had zero complains.

If the card was mailed to you, I'm surprised your insurance policy would pay a claim for it. Wouldn't it have to be the shipper's insurance that would pay?

Back in June, REA sued Fed Ex over three shipments it never delivered.
https://x.com/Paul_Lesko/status/1938...yx3Hn0WvQ&s=19

Standard for policies to insure incoming as well as outgoing. They treat it as part of your collection/inventory once you've paid for it.

Ah thanks - Perhaps some lawsuits will force FedEx to police themselves

It happened to me! I made a YouTube video on two rare cards that were lost/stolen by FedEx. My channel is Vintage Oddball Cards. The two cards were in the summer REA auction. What's missing is 1916 campaign Cy Young card and a 1923 Lections Frank Frisch. FedEx was no help. REA was great. We definitely have a problem with FedEx.

Well... at the customers request, against my better judgement, I sent a Fed/Ex 2 day package on Monday which is at this moment dead in the water(at a Fed/EX distribution center) pretty close to it's destination with no sign of movement.

Of course you can't get anyone on the phone, so I guess I go back to the Fed/EX hub I packaged and sent it from, which is the terminal hub for Dallas/Ft.Worth and query the agent who helped me....

I noticed that Clean Sweep uses UPS for shipping. Wonder if they have a better record than Fed Ex. As I write this, I am waiting on Fed Ex for 2 packages of winnings from ah's. Delivery promised between 8.30 - 10.30 am. It is now 2.30 pm and nothing, and I am sitting at the front door with my pal, Raggedy Andy, who is wearing his Brooklyn Dodgers cap autographed by Peewee Reese, and a taser.

That may be the most interesting thing I've read all month. Yoda and Raggedy Andy, an autographed Dodgers cap, and a taser. Quite the visual.

UPDATE

It appears Fed/EX delivered it to the Dollar General yesterday at 12:58 local time, where the buyer has his packages held. Someone signed for it as requested but Fed/Ex has never updated their site or notified anyone of its arrival. He believes they have it, but the Dollar General won't tell him over the phone.

Buyer confirmed that he picked it up. Had I not watched the tracking and alerted him, no way to know when someone on that end might have alerted one of us.

Last one for me with Fed/EX.

REA is the best auction house since Brian has owned imo... very classy outfit, they do the right thing. The other AH's are ok but to me they're not REA.

One question
 

If REA is suing Fed Ex, why continue to use them?

How does the Dollar General shipment holding facility compare to the Best Western Plus?

I just received my auction winnings from the latest REA auction. It was shipped via USPS priority with signature confirmation required. Apparently they use different shipping methods, but I don't know how they decide which one to use. I've never asked them to use anything specific when shipping to me.

That's good to know. I would have only thought it was the seller's insurance that would pay for something not getting delivered to me. However, to get more than $200 from my insurance company, it would need to be sent with signature confirmation. I may have to start requesting that for any expensive cards I purchase.

Since Rob opened it, not even a question.

I would tend to agree but have no experience with REA when Rob owned it.

Not sure, but they did actually have the card and the buyer now has it in possession. I don't think it would be my choice to send a five-figure card to...but.

I use and encourage anyone with any sizeable amount of incoming cards of value to get a PO Box at USPS Post Office, not a franchise box. Your mail will be waiting on you, instead of you waiting on it.

The biggest percentage of loss/theft from USPS, UPS and Fed/Ex does not come while in transit from hub to hub, but while out for delivery, either due to theft or mis delivery. A PO Box eliminates the vast majority of possible misdoings.

And if you make friends with your postal clerks/Postmaster you will be amazed at how helpful they can be if something does go off track. They have a separate tracking system that can locate a package and even tell you what bin number it is in!

There was nothing like an REA closing night. Once a year, ended at like 4:30 am. We stayed up all night complaining to each other, laughing at how pathetic we were to be staying up all night, guessing the closing time; and the lots in the once a year REA auction were second to none. I can still remember cards I didn't buy from those auctions for which I feel regret decades later. Rob was the best auction house owner ever. And only someone like Brian could come in and maintain the level of professionalism, honesty and (still) great auction lots. The auctions are diluted as there's one a month, but Brian has really done REA proud. My only continuing criticism: no orange tape on the packages (esoteric Mastro joke that used to be funny).