The package in question was insured (value $318 - ouch!). The signature had the right surname, but the wrong first initial. The customer told me that she lives by herself, except for a daughter who was away at college. The delivery person I have not spoken with directly, but his supervisor says that the driver left it with "a woman 20-30 years old, who happened to be on the porch at the time".
Well, gee. The signature was (as many signatures are) basically illegible. The carrier doesn't care and won't assume responsibility, because they got a signature for the package, by someone over 18, and it was at the right address.
So... having insured it does no good. The carrier (FedEx) says it's been delivered, so we cannot put in an insurance claim.
Apparently the only thing we could have done to prevent this would have been to either send it through the Post Office, using Restricted Delivery, which would require photo id from the customer, in order to release the package. Or, send it FedEx but have the package held at the local FedEx center, and the customer would have to go there to pick it up, in which case photo id would be required.
The ironic thing is that we sent it FedEx because we thought it would be safer (full tracking, automatic insurance, signature required).
Guess not.
Maybe this is a cautionary tale to any of you who ship precious quilts.