The Worst Courier Company

My son, who is completing his masters in Electronic engineering ordered a $10 part from China on the 1st August 2018. FEDEX were the couriers. They were paid $34 to get the part to him in 5 days. On the 8th August the part arrived in Cape Town. It is now the 12th September ( over 40 days since the order was placed ) and the part is not close to being delivered, in fact today we finally gave up all hope and ordered the part again using another freight company. We have phoned, emailed FEDEX on a daily basis since the 8th. We have spoken to so many people we have lost track. Not one of them has been able to assist. They have blocked us getting to a manager or supervisor continually. Even "escalating" the issue meant nothing. The issue is that FEDEX failed to pick up and rectify the most basic mistake by the customs officials - who took the overall cost of the goods on the FEDEX waybill, PLUS transport, and said that the goods were undervalued and wanted a penalty amount of $100. After over a month they have failed to sort this out even despite us offering to pay the penalty in desperation to get the goods. Yes, despite this and against our requests, they sent the penalty to the Chinese company to pay, which of course they will not do - why should they respond to such and obvious failure to carry out the mandate to sort out these issues and deliver by FEDEX. All I can recommend is - if at all possible do not use FEDEX EXPRESS.