Narrative Summary

I deal in archival, 1990s streetwear. I sold a highly sought-after, 25-year-old graphic hoodie for $1,500. FedEx lost the package in transit. I filed a claim, and FedEx issued a check for $1,000. They cited the "Antiques" clause in their Service Guide, stating that any item over 20 years old automatically falls under the extraordinary value limitation, capping the maximum liability at $1,000.

The Resolution Strategy

The 20-year "antique" rule is a devastating loophole for vintage sellers. FedEx uses it to automatically devalue anything from the 1980s, 90s, or early 2000s, treating functional, wearable garments like fragile 18th-century porcelain.

Using an Authori-generated appeal letter, the defense dismantled the antique classification by invoking the functional utility doctrine alongside FedEx Service Guide Section 16.

The appeal successfully argued that the hoodie was sold as, and intended to be used as, everyday wearing apparel. It provided market data showing that the garment is actively traded on fashion platforms (like Grailed or Depop) based on modern consumer demand, not historical sentiment or antiquity. By legally separating "vintage functional clothing" from "fragile antiques," the appeal successfully extracted the item from the liability cap. FedEx overturned the limitation and paid the remaining $500.