1977 GMT 1675 stolen in California. Serial #5515833.

[springer]

Hello vintage lovers. I am reaching out to everyone regarding a GMT 1675 that was stolen from me last year while being delivered by FedEx to a residence in San Diego.

The watch is depicted below with a serial number of 5515833.

FedEx claimed the recipient signed for the package even though he was at work at the time of the delivery. His wife was at home the day of the scheduled delivery but FedEx never delivered the package.

A police investigation and an investigation by a FedEx investigator indicated the watch was probably delivered to an incorrect address, but, the delivery driver when interviewed told investigators that the package was properly delivered to the correct address. During the police investigation, it was determined that the FedEx signed signature for the package did not match the intended recipient's hand writing or signature.

Fedex maintained the package was properly delivered and Parcel Pro refused my insurance claim.

If anyone has information on the whereabouts of this watch or runs across it, there is a reward for information leading to the recovery of the watch.

The watch theft has been listed in NCIC and with Rolex USA.

Below are a few photos of the watch. As you will notice, the bezel insert is very distinctive.

[RFC]

Sprnger sorry to hear about this especially after losing such a fantastic piece. I’ve learned to receive FedEx packages at a local FedEx hub but never at my home address. I once had FedEx drop a watch in my front door.

[TimeLord2]

Sorry to hear about that JP. I do hope justice is served and you recover this watch.

[btinl]

This worries me about Parcel Pro. Has anyone had a successful claim with them?

[Rolextellstime]

I can't fathom that no one was responsible for this. If Parcel Pro didn't cover it FedEx should.
It's terrible that you paid insurance and did everything right and you were out of a watch. This is terrible and one party or the other should cover your loss.
Hope you recover the watch or the funds at least.

Sent from my SM-S908W using Tapatalk

[MrChamfers]

Originally Posted by Rolextellstime

I can't fathom that no one was responsible for this. If Parcel Pro didn't cover it FedEx should.
It's terrible that you paid insurance and did everything right and you were out of a watch. This is terrible and one party or the other should cover your loss.
Hope you recover the watch or the funds at least.

Sent from my SM-S908W using Tapatalk

This is disgusting. I usually ship with IFSinforsure and have heard good things about claims. But when Fedex hangs you out to dry like this, I don't know if anyone would pay out a claim.

[steversaurus]

Just search fedex and lost or delayed package and you start to realize how unreliable Fedex is. This one unfortunately is on Fedex. If Fedex deems it delivered correctly, pp ‘s hands are tied. They are in the insurance business after all.

Really unfair to Springer. Terrible situation.

[swaini3]

Terrible. Hope someone finds it.

[Stan Cooper]

I am so sorry to hear about this FedEx episode, JP.

FedEx has misdelivered at least two items addressed to me over the past couple of years. Neither package required a signature. and one of the packages was delivered which is two blocks from my house. The resident there googled my name and called me, then was thoughtful enough to walk over with the package. The other package never showed up, but it wasn't valuable enough for me to waste my time following up on my complaint to FedEx.

I always ship watches USPS Registered Mail insured for market value now. It's a little slower, but I've never had a problem with getting them delivered to the right address. Interestingly, the Rolex Long Island City RSC instructions say to ship insured Registered Mail, but when they return the watches from service they use FedEx.

[Mark020]

Originally Posted by swaini3

Terrible. Hope someone finds it.

This

[berdboy]

Obv the driver stole it.. Sad.. So far i have been lucky

[1675-David]

Such a bummer, I hope this works out for you John.

[Dan S]

That's a terrible story, you did everything right and still had such a bad result. I'll keep an eye out for the watch, obviously.

[alwayshere]

sorry to hear....

these stories always scare me with transporting watches...

Hope you get it back JP.

[BigBlue1]

I hope it finds its way back to you.

[springer]

Originally Posted by BigBlue1

I hope it finds its way back to you.

Thanks for the comment "blue" and thanks to all those other members that posted comments, suggestions and concerns.

Since this incident occurred, I no longer use Parcel Pro and now insure my packages with Inforsure. Further, for those that do not know, FedEx does not insure watches and jewelry.

My shipping policy is now two-fold and about as secure as it can be. Some here seem to be using this same method but when I ship with FedEx and insure with Inforsure, I always do one of the following:

A) I normally will only ship to a FedEx company owned location with full insurance and a signature required.

B) I will not ship to an apartment under any circumstance.

C) If the recipient can not accept a delivery at a FedEx location, I will ship to
a single family residence with a $10 COD payable upon delivery. When this occurs, the recipient must write a check payable to me and present this check to the FedEx driver once the delivery is made and signed for. FedEx then sends me the check which I destroy. This method of delivery prevents a package from being left at an incorrect address since the delivery driver must collect the COD amount which is a check with the recipient's name on the check.

[leed654]

sorry to hear this happened to you... hope you are able to recover the watch!

[BigBlue1]

Option C is slick. Good idea

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Rolextellstime

I can't fathom that no one was responsible for this. If Parcel Pro didn't cover it FedEx should.
It's terrible that you paid insurance and did everything right and you were out of a watch. This is terrible and one party or the other should cover your loss.
Hope you recover the watch or the funds at least.

Sent from my SM-S908W using Tapatalk

Couldn’t have said it any better.

I’m very sorry to hear this John and I hope that somehow, you recover your GMT.

[dshin525]

Originally Posted by RFC

Sprnger sorry to hear about this especially after losing such a fantastic piece. I’ve learned to receive FedEx packages at a local FedEx hub but never at my home address. I once had FedEx drop a watch in my front door.

This. Whether I am shipping or receiving, I have it delivered to a local FedEx branch. That way, if it gets "lost" it cant be disputed whose fault it was.

[KY..]

This may help with shipping packages…
You can consider installing a small disposable gps tracker in the package with any high dollar watch shipment.
Several companies sell them and it could help prove if the package really arrived at its destination or not.
Sorry to hear about your loss @springer!

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by springer

C) ...the recipient must write a check payable to me...

Sorry for your loss.

Not sure how many people still use checks. I haven't had a checkbook in 30 years.

Guess you won't be shipping to me anytime soon.

[RFC]

It’s like a needle in a haystack, and I hope it comes back to the owner, but where do uncommon stolen vintage pieces like this end up for sale? Or the thief is likely to keep it?

What should be the most common outlet for this particular watch and location where it was stolen? Pawnshops? Vintage dealers in California? Ebay? Online classifieds? Private sellers? C24? Auctions? Is the insert likely to be replaced so the identity is disguised? Is it likely to be exported?

Knowing probabilities may help us to narrow possible outlets for this piece.

[Alexander88]

Originally Posted by RFC

It’s like a needle in a haystack, and I hope it comes back to the owner, but where do uncommon stolen vintage pieces like this end up for sale? Or the thief is likely to keep it?

What should be the most common outlet for this particular watch and location where it was stolen? Pawnshops? Vintage dealers in California? Ebay? Online classifieds? Private sellers? C24? Auctions? Is the insert likely to be replaced so the identity is disguised? Is it likely to be exported?

Knowing probabilities may help us to narrow possible outlets for this piece.

We had a case in the family. Watches and jewellery were stolen from the house. Some of these things were found in pawnshops all over the city.
Not necessarily very smart, because in our country you have to identify yourself in the pawnshops. That's how the thief was caught.
I don't think something like that goes through Chrono24, maybe eBay or other online platforms.
But the most likely way is under the table, somewhere in the criminal milieu.
If the GMT has also been reported stolen to Rolex, we can perhaps hope that it will turn up for a service there at some point...

[springer]

Originally Posted by zapokee

Sorry for your loss.

Not sure how many people still use checks. I haven't had a checkbook in 30 years.

Guess you won't be shipping to me anytime soon.

Never had a problem with someone writing a check. Clearly, if they can't write a check, then they will need to go to a FedEx store and pick their package up there.

Only the cool guys don't use checks

[TuRo]

Really awful behaviour by FedEx and the Insurer.

One of the two (or both) should poney-up, as they are clearly culpable.

Hope it's showing on a lost and stolen register and gets confiscated by RSC, and returned to you, if it goes in for a service in coming months by the scumbag(s) who lifted it !

[inadeje]

So sad to read about your misfortune OP. I sincerely hope you recover the watch and karma works in your favor

[SOG DIVER]

USPS or face to face-
Also the state to which shipped may have a bearing.
As a retired Federal and state investigator, one has to be even more careful
with our population now. Some came into the US without documentation or vetting....
Caveat emptor..regrets Springer.

[swish77]

First, so sorry this happened. Hopefully it can be recovered one day

Just curious … if investigators found irregularities with the signature, why wasn’t that enough for FedEx to acknowledge that the package wasn’t delivered, and therefore you would have a valid insurance claim?

I know it’s a nightmare, but is getting a lawyer involved an option? Seems there’s enough suspicious activity that you’d have a good legal argument that the watch was never delivered.

[Filipão]

So sorry.

C option is just brilliant.