After just battling with a Fed ex ground claims manager over Destroying a NOS '72 custom made chrome Paramount the list should be aware that the official policy of Fed-ex Ground is any bike considered a 'COLLECTORS ITEM" will not be covered for more than $100 period. Even if you pay the extra "declared value" upon shipping. Use the word "collector" in the contents description, invoice, claim form, or verbal or written correspondence to a "CLAIMS moron" (read personnel) and you are screwed.
The fact is, you are paying to declare a value, YOU ARE NOT INSURED. You are not paying for Insurance! It spells this out in the fine print on the back of the shipping record.
They, so far, have not honored the "declared value" (that was also the paid invoice amount) even though the fee was paid up front for the extra value and there is no discrepancy in any of the paperwork.(nowhere on any of the paperwork are the word(s) "collectors" "item") this only surfaced when the friendly back biting claims person asked me, "would this be consired a collectable bike?" How would most of you answer that question? If you didn't see it coming? There must be a class they take to smooth into that one! It's like good cop bad cop with one schmuck playing both parts. There is also no argument over who caused the damage . It was packed better than good.(the bike and package were inspected by a Fed ex manager) She was nothing but apologetic and the damage report was all in my favor .
To add insult to injury the claims person notified me that if the claim were honored that Fed ex would take possession of the remains of the bike, and would not give me the "right" to keep or purchase it back. How does paying for the irresponsible damaging of a bike they were paid to ship give them any title to that bike? I call capital B.S.
The amount , by the way, is well below the recent price paid for a similar NOS chrome Paramount on eBay.
Shipper Beware!
David Cowie Sutherlin Oregon
they only destroy the ones that can't be replaced