This thread on FEDEX shipping was of interest to me, as I ship bikes via FEDEX exclusively these days, and I have been for at least six years, after UPS damaged a very valuable bike in shipping, and nearly destroyed another.
I've been aware that FEDEX would be a nightmare to deal with in the event of damage, since you cannot really *insure* anything when shipping with them.
However, I've always shipped with the mindset that if the thing was lost, I was willing to take the full financial hit. I'd try to get what I could, but if I couldn't, s'est-la-vie.
That said, I pack bikes as well as I can, I always used two boxes, I always brace and pad and wrap everything thoroughly. They'd have to drop the box off a 5 story building on one corner to really mess it up...or, run a forklift over it (something that's probably more common than we'd like to think).
I've had five tandems, and innumerable bikes, shipped to me, and away from me, via FEDEX, with not one, single problem.
Doesn't mean I couldn't have a problem the next time, but, so far, so good.
I do know it's possible to get UPS to pay up, but you have to be persistent, and have your ducks carefully lined up. With FEDEX, who knows? I'm guessing if you could avoid the whole "collectible" trap, you might get your money back, but it's just a guess. I always tell buyers, that in the event of damage, or loss, to NEVER tell FEDEX the bike is collectible (something that's somewhat arbitrary anyway)...just tell them it's a bike, get an appraisal from a reputable dealer or restorer, and follow the process.
Unlike another poster, I don't find that unethical. I find FEDEX's rules themselves unethical (in the manner of health insurers who want only healthy people on their insurance list) and inconsistent. So, I'd just play by their rules and hope for the best.
But, in the end, I'm ready to take the loss. The alternative is to find an insured carrier for a LOT more money. So far, my gambles have paid off, but there's no guarantee they will tomorrow.
Charles Andrews
SoCal