Should Auction Houses Be More Aware Of The Climate Of Where They Are Shipping To?

Exactly. A standard set of packing/shipping materials. Add a plastic sleeve, bag or whatever to your "standard set of supplies" and presto, problem solved!

Not sure what a wet electric bill has to do with wet collectible stamps. You have me on that one.

Siegel solved the problem by simply selecting a tyvek envelope vs a cardboard envelope. Amazing.

Last time I checked I pay for shipping anyway so I would gladly pay an extra $1 for a plastic whatever.

I completely understand where my shortfall was and just want to make clear that I'm not complaining about the results that I could have avoided. My question was a simple one since the auction house I purchased from knows the climate conditions here since we are only separated by 20 miles.

Did FedEx ignore any requirements for a signature? I have seen UPS and FedEx leave packages on the edge of the street in front of the mailbox 70 feet from the front door or outside in front of a dry porch easily with a door easily opened form the outside. Filing a claim against the auction house and FedEx would not be out of the question. I ship in ebay lots to US addresses in kraft bubble wrap envelopes that should be reasonably water resistant, but no package, even one where the contents are in a plastic bag is truly waterproof if the package is immersed for any length of time.

I have a post office box because the mailbox by the street is not waterproof or secure enough for high value mailings. It is part of the cost of doing business. The dealers insurance policy requires a signature for mailings valued at more than $400. Some collectors policies have a $200 maximum for mailings without a signature. The policy also has a low upper limit for UPS. Apparently the insurers believe that the post office or FedEx is safer.

A few years ago I had a large shipment (8 boxes, 75 pounds) of albums come in from Europe. The USPS truck backed up my driveway right the garage where I was waiting. As the postman handed me each box, I was shocked to find each one of them wet. I am not talking about some rain drops, it was obvious that the boxes had somehow sat in several inches of water.

I had the postman note the damage but accepted the boxes. The albums contained fair number of mint stamps and my fears were justified; much of the material had been affected. I immediately contacted the dealer in Europe and he made good on all the damaged material.

After this, I request that every shipment I get be enclosed in plastic garbage bags and sealed. While I offer to pay any extra cost, so far every seller has complied without extra charges (the cost is quite minimal).
Don

Years ago, fedex had some sort of limitation of liability against shipping collectible stamps in their T&C. It was a pretty low amount, or maybe even a statement of don't ship stamps with them period. People did it anyway, since the key is to get in and out of the mail system quickly for security.

Filing a claim against FEDEX for stamps might be problematic, however, if they still have such a clause somewhere.

Also, I used to have a PO Box when I was getting stuff all the time, and it was very useful for keeping things dry. Unfortunately, the postal service doubled the cost of my box one year, which drove me out of it.

Most of the auction houses that ship to me do so via Fedex with Direct Signature Required. If I am away it will not be left out in the weather because I did not accept it. Perhaps the op's did not require a signature?

I have on multiple occasions, had a FEDEX package/letter which had signature required - get left on my doorstep when I wasn't home.

I've been lucky so far and not lost or had anything damaged as a result.

If Fedex left something without getting a signature that is very strange since the tracking number would show it as being out for delivery and then........

For my area, FEDEX will drop at the address/door unless you send a written letter to them not to do that or there is a signature required. USPS will not drop at the address/door unless you send a written letter authorizing them to do that.

This has more to do with the sender's bad packaging than anything else. stallzer, have you talked to the auction house about this yet? I feel they might be the ones to owe you, though I'm sure you'd rather have the auction lots.