FedEx Philippines: Customer not Available or Business Closed

FedEx attempted, but was unable to complete delivery of the following shipment. Reason Delivery Not Completed: Customer not Available or Business Closed.

I got that message from FedEx on July 22, 2013. I thought, perhaps FedEx needs a new reason to label failed delivery with. Customer not available? That couldn’t have been true for two reasons.

1. I was at home the whole time. I am a home-based entrepreneur. Except for a few minutes out to buy essentials, I am always at home, always available.

The alarming blood-red notification on FedEx website: Customer not Available or Business Closed. Notice how the destination is Hinatuan PH, and the package location is Paranaque PH. The town and city are almost at opposite ends of the Philippines.

2. My package was located in a city hundreds of kilometers away. How could FedEx have “attempted” to deliver the package to my doorstep, when the package was in Paranaque City in the Philippine’s north, and I’m down south in Mindanao. The package was not even in Davao, the city nearest to my town where FedEx keeps an office.

Does it matter if FedEx says they “attempted” to deliver my package, but didn’t?

It does. Because FedEx would only make 3 attempts to deliver a package; after that, they Return the package to Sender. So now, it’s one down for my package; 2 more “attempts” to go.

I’ve contacted FedEx customer service the same day, informing them of the situation. I was glad that my package went through customs quickly, unlike a DHL shipment I’m also expecting; but now, I’m in doubt. And irritated.

 

Update: A FedEx representative called me, telling me that my package is in Butuan. She also told me that my town, Hinatuan, is “not served.” I can have the package delivered right to my residence, but I would have to pay an additional P400. That’s alongside the customs and taxes amounting to P2,700, which is about 40% of the value of my purchase (I expected to pay only P1,800).

Oh, well, I have no choice. But I would have to consider the additional charges the next time I choose a shipping option.

 

Update: Received the package on July 25 and saw that, of the P3,110 I have to pay for customs duties and tax, only P1,690 actually went to Customs, the rest were additional charges made by Fedex for processing the package through customs. That said, I didn’t have to pay documentary stamp tax and import processing fee with Customs, which would have about P500, though still half of what I paid with FedEx.