Benjamin Marmer orders a new computer from Dell. But it never arrives, even though Dell ships it via FedEx. Is his Dell laptop a lost cause?
Question
I’m a 19-year-old college student. I recently ordered a new Dell G15 laptop computer for school. The computer cost over $800. Dell shipped it via FedEx.
FedEx claimed it delivered the computer, but I never received it. Here’s the problem: Dell says they can’t help without a shipper’s waiver and FedEx says they need Dell’s authorization before they can do anything. Can you help me? — Benjamin Marmer, Miami
Answer
You paid for a computer but didn’t receive it. That’s Dell’s responsibility.
Dell has an obligation to ensure its customers receive the products they order. If Dell loses a product in transit, it needs to work with the shipping company to locate the package or issue a refund. While it is understandable that Dell wants to protect itself from fraudulent claims, refusing to help a customer whose package was genuinely lost is unacceptable.
What could you have done to protect yourself? Many shippers require a police report when someone steals a shipment. But a review of the correspondence between you and Dell doesn’t show they wanted a police report. You can also ensure the package isn’t dropped off, for anyone to take, by making sure FedEx requires a signature at delivery. But it looks like Dell did that — and someone signed for the package.
So whose responsibility is this? It’s Dell’s. It should have held your hand through the process of filing a claim with FedEx (if necessary) or just replaced your computer. Instead, it sent you a curt email that read, “Since FedEx has confirmed good delivery of the order, Dell considers this matter closed and therefore we cannot assist further.”
Huh? I think a brief, polite email to one of the Dell executive contacts might have helped the company see the error of its ways.
More Dell horror stories
Wait, does Dell guarantee your delivery?
Dell doesn’t explicitly guarantee the delivery of its computers. But there’s an implied guarantee that if you buy a computer it will be delivered to you and not handed off to someone pretending to be you, or to a thief. At any rate, companies like Dell typically are insured against losses incurred during shipping and can file a claim. A review of your paper trail suggests it didn’t even get to that point.
FedEx has a fairly well-developed system for reporting lost packages. I don’t see anywhere in the process where it refused to help you. It just needed authorization from Dell, which it didn’t get.
Instead, you were caught in a loop. The correspondence between you, Dell and FedEx shows FedEx needed an authorization from Dell to pay a claim, but Dell wouldn’t provide it. That should have never happened. Dell should have taken care of you the moment you reported a delivery problem.
I contacted Dell on your behalf. A representative called you and agreed to send you a replacement computer, which it did.
Loading ...✋ Your turn
Have you ever had a package go “missing” even after tracking claimed it was delivered? Did the company make it right — or pass the buck? Share your story in the comments.
FAQ’s
The seller. Under U.S. consumer law, retailers like Dell are responsible for ensuring that the goods reach the buyer. If a courier loses the item, the seller must work with the courier to resolve the issue.
Start by checking around your property, asking neighbors, and reviewing security footage if available. Then immediately contact the seller and file a report. If the carrier won’t act without seller authorization (as with FedEx), escalate directly to the seller’s executive team.
Yes. In many cases, particularly with high-value goods, a police report can help expedite an insurance or internal investigation. However, not all retailers require one.
Request proof of signature from the carrier. If the signature doesn’t match yours or someone you trust, you likely have grounds for a replacement or refund.
Document every interaction. If basic support fails, escalate to executive contacts via email. You can also file complaints with the Better Business Bureau, state attorney general, or the FTC.
Pro tip: Always check if signature confirmation is enabled for high-value shipments. If it’s not, request it — and track delivery in real time. If something goes wrong, start a paper trail immediately with both the retailer and the carrier.
Key takeaways
- The seller is responsible for delivery — not the shipper. Once Dell handed the laptop to FedEx, it was still Dell’s responsibility to ensure the product arrived.
- Shipping issues shouldn’t trap the customer. When FedEx required Dell’s authorization to process a claim and Dell refused, the customer was unfairly caught in a loop.
- Consumers must escalate smartly. Direct outreach to executive contacts and persistence with documentation often yield results when frontline support stalls.
- Proof of delivery isn’t always proof. If someone signs for your package but you never get it, you may still have a valid claim.
- Advocacy can cut through red tape. Dell reversed its position only after external pressure — a reminder that companies often listen when reputations are at stake.
