World's most lame shipping damage claim rejection.

avahifi · « **on:** 15 May 2012, 10:08 pm »

One of my assistants ordered a huge old Red Wing crock pot. He collects these antique things. It was shipped to him via FedEx. It arrived damaged - - cracked.

He put in a damage claim with FedEx and had all the wonderful packing material to show them it had been properly packaged for shipment.

FedEx denied his damage claim!

The reason: It was too well packed! They said it could never have damaged it in shipment because it was packed too good!

Or why I never use FedEx for anything at all.

Frank Van Alstine

dB Cooper · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 May 2012, 02:18 am »

I used to work at a place that used Fedex Ground and they routinely f**ked packages up, once delivering the box back to us by mistake.
Another box looked like one person held it while someone punched it repeatedly.
I use them only when there is no alternative.

I wonder what if any appeal process there would be?

OzarkTom · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 May 2012, 04:01 am »

UPS is no different. On several of our orders lately, they changed the address without notifying us and these packages were delivered to the wrong location.

cujobob · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 May 2012, 04:33 am »

Fedex has fared better than UPS for me.

Austin08 · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 May 2012, 05:56 am »

Quote from: cujobob on 16 May 2012, 04:33 am

Fedex has fared better than UPS for me.

+ 1.
So far, I have no problem with Fedex.

martyo · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 May 2012, 08:18 am »

UPS for us. We even give the local driver a Christmas gift.

timind · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 May 2012, 11:16 am »

UPS for me.
I gave up on Fedex after witnessing the delivery guy stop three steps shy of my porch and heave a box containing a 40 lb amp onto the porch.
Also, UPS drop off sites are much easier to use for me.

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 May 2012, 11:57 am »

Funny how these things are regional. Here in Boston, you MAY get your package if you use UPS. If you're really lucky, you MAY get it undamaged with UPS. You will have no problems (knocking on wood right now) if you use FedEx. Something about the Boston hub of UPS is just horrible!

decal · « **Reply #8 on:** 16 May 2012, 12:55 pm »

All shipping firms have problems and do dumb things from time to time. Frank, if your man feels slighted by the FedEx decision and seeks satisfaction, there's always the legal avenue of approach. This course of action may or may not work out to his benefit. You take your chances in court, just like you take your chances when shipping something through a carrier.

dflee · « **Reply #9 on:** 16 May 2012, 01:34 pm »

Old joke:
Fed-Ex and UPS joined to form one company and will be called Fed-Up. Motto is your lucky ya got the damn thing at all!

Randy · « **Reply #10 on:** 16 May 2012, 02:52 pm »

I once shipped a pair of expensive speakers (Audio Physic) to the buyer in California. One arrived with a dent in the wooden front panel, a couple inches big. According to UPS and the buyer, the box showed no damage, therefore, I must have packed them with the dent already there. Well, I didn't. It must have received the sort of blow that can penetrate through the box and damage the contents without leaving the evidence on the box itself. It had popped back close to its original shape without tearing. Needless to say, the shipping claim was rejected.

wilsynet · « **Reply #11 on:** 16 May 2012, 03:29 pm »

It's hard to extrapolate general competence of these carriers from anecdotal evidence. There are regional differences and to some extent, the luck of the draw.

Having said that, the 2002 JD Powers survey ranks FedEx #1 and UPS #2 in overall customer satisfaction.

http://fleetowner.com/news/fleet_fedex_ranks_highest

Of course, many things may have changed over the last 10 years, and given the variability by region, your mileage may vary.

zybar · « **Reply #12 on:** 16 May 2012, 06:09 pm »

Quote from: Randy on 16 May 2012, 02:52 pm

I once shipped a pair of expensive speakers (Audio Physic) to the buyer in California. One arrived with a dent in the wooden front panel, a couple inches big. According to UPS and the buyer, the box showed no damage, therefore, I must have packed them with the dent already there. Well, I didn't. It must have received the sort of blow that can penetrate through the box and damage the contents without leaving the evidence on the box itself. It had popped back close to its original shape without tearing. Needless to say, the shipping claim was rejected.

That's why I take pictures of expensive items before shipping. Still doesn't guarantee that your claim will be honored, but it helps.

George

avahifi · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 May 2012, 06:12 pm »

My issue was the reason for the damage claim itself.

Too well packed - - - rejected.

Not packed well enough - -- - reason for rejection too.

Pray tell me what is exactly the right way of packing to not be too well packed and not be not packed well enough at the same time and still expect safe delivery.

My observation is that with this line of claim rejection reasoning the shipping company can wiggle out of any possible claim.

Frank

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 May 2012, 06:30 pm »

I show up with my box open so they can inspect it and then have them double box it so they have had their hands in the process.

pstrisik · « **Reply #15 on:** 16 May 2012, 06:44 pm »

I suppose taking a few pictures while packing might help with a claim.

......Peter

charmerci · « **Reply #16 on:** 16 May 2012, 07:05 pm »

Quote from: decal on 16 May 2012, 12:55 pm

All shipping firms have problems and do dumb things from time to time. Frank, if your man feels slighted by the FedEx decision and seeks satisfaction, there's always the legal avenue of approach. This course of action may or may not work out to his benefit. You take your chances in court, just like you take your chances when shipping something through a carrier.

Try small claims court. Often large companies don't bother to show up thereby instantly giving you the win. (Costs more for the lawyer's time than to just pay you.)

Wayner · « **Reply #17 on:** 16 May 2012, 07:20 pm »

Having worked in the shipping business in one of my many part time jobs of late, I can tell you that if you do not use an original cardboard carton, all claims are off the table, even if it was insured. They also recommend the parcel be double boxed with at least 3" of stuffing material on all side of the layer between the outer and inner box. The packaging is also expected to be designed to withstand a 3 foot fall.

Almost all have the same patterned requirements, and if the packaging is not to their standards, there will be no claim honored.

This is the crap I had to deal with everyday, when I was doing lots of eBay shipping.

Wayner

rcag_ils · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 May 2012, 07:23 pm »

I would have the UPS or Fedex outlet people pack it, and have it insured, if I was the sender.

If I was the reciever, then it's all up to the sender.

I had a sender thought that Walmart plastic bags were good packing material, and he stuffed a hundred of them around a 50lbs amp, needless to say, the amp shifted in the box and hit something hard, and ended up with a bent corner and a broken knob.

When I purchased my 90lb subwoofer, I called the UPS outlet in CT, got the shipping quote with insurance from them, and told them what I needed to ship, then I called the sender, had him dropped it off there, then called the UPS outlet again while they were packing it, and gave me an update on the progress. Then paid them over the phone.

When the sub arrived, I watched the UPS driver slid it off his truck very gently onto the dolly, then together we lift it in the house. The shipper and the driver both did an outstanding job handling my sub. This sub is a collector's item now.

In this case, I woould collect all the document and go through the court process with Fedex.

rpf · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 May 2012, 07:29 pm »

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 16 May 2012, 06:30 pm

I show up with my box open so they can inspect it and then have them double box it so they have had their hands in the process.

Me too.