Shipping techniques to not get screwed by UPS.

[LINUS]

Hopefully somebody here can learn from my mistake.

I recently shipped a center channel speaker, and I did a really good job packing it, but there is some fine print on the UPS website that I guess never becomes an issue unless, well, there's an issue.

In order to qualify for claiming a loss, your packed item can have no less than 2" of padding on all sides. No exceptions.

I literally had 1 1/2" of styro board on the sides, and well over 2" on top and bottom.

You guessed it, UPS dropped it hard enough to break the speaker cabinet, and when the buyer filed his claim, they brought up the 2" issue. It really doesn't look good for me, so I think I may have to eat the price of the speaker.
Point being, read all the qualifiers listed with your carrier to get insurance. I never read the specs before, and never had a employee say anything when I purchased additional insurance, so I never had this brought to my attention.

Like I said, learn from my mistake.

[Mot]

I always remember to overpack my stuff. Working with funkmasta taught me two things, always use excessive packaging, and no broken clips. lol

[Stu]

3 years ago when they dropped my basketweaves (and bent them) on their way to California, they didn't bring up that issue. And I'm fairly certain I didn't use 2" of padding on every side. However, it took them about 3 months to send me the money for them (Had a friend front me two basketweaves to resend to the buyer)
Sorry for your misfortune, hopefully things will work out in your favor in the end.

[nkell09]

The box must be able to withstand a 3 foot drop... I'm pretty sure that's the exact figure i was told when I worked there. Been a while though, could be waist high?

Mostly for when the boxes transfer conveyors, fall inside the truck, and just plain slip out of your hands.

[ColdAccord]

3 years ago when they dropped my basketweaves (and bent them) on their way to California, they didn't bring up that issue. And I'm fairly certain I didn't use 2" of padding on every side. However, it took them about 3 months to send me the money for them (Had a friend front me two basketweaves to resend to the buyer)
Sorry for your misfortune, hopefully things will work out in your favor in the end.

lol @ "front me basketweaves"

[nkell09]

lol @ "front me basketweaves"

ROFL!! I'm sure it was a big loss.... Probably cost more to ship!

[LINUS]

I always remember to overpack my stuff. Working with funkmasta taught me two things, always use excessive packaging, and no broken clips. lol

You didn't by chance pack a heater control fascia piece and DHL it last week up to Mount Vernon? Small world if so....

[DarkWing6]

ups lost a package of mine once. paid me pretty much as soon as i faxed them the invoice for the items. i got a call from them and they sent a check.

[Mot]

You didn't by chance pack a heater control fascia piece and DHL it last week up to Mount Vernon? Small world if so....

nope, havnt worked for funkmasta in months.

[StereoInstaller1]

Linus, that blows that you are likely to get screwed.

Thanks so much for the advice though. I do ship occasionally, but have never had an issue yet.

Yet.

Luke

[LINUS]

nope, havnt worked for funkmasta in months.

Oh....that would have been funny, I got a heater faceplate surround that had a broken clip - Joe sent a new one, but that just seemed too much a coincidence.

Luke, yeah-hard to say what's going to happen, UPS kept the damaged speaker and packing, so I think they plan to send it back to me, but my buyer is really the one screwed at the moment, since he's out the money, and no speaker either.

[KenC]

semi-OT, but what kind of speaker was it?

[LINUS]

Definitive Technologies. It was a entry level model without the powered woofer. I've upgraded to a powered Def Tech center, so this was an extra sitting around. Sadly now it's been roughhoused, but I got it back tonight and despite being a little rough on the edges, it's still sound acoustically, unless the glue broke loose - doesn't appear so, and it's a ported box - so I would guess it to function as it did before. Bummer is that I'm totally O.-C. - so it was absolutely perfect when it left my house. All my friend want to buy my stuff when I sell it since I'm a whack job over keeping stuff nice.

I plan to just take UPS to small claims court. I'll cost them more in expenses than if they would have just paid the claim in the 1st place. Someone from UPS is supposed to call me back before the close of business Thursday, so I'll update this thread as new information becomes available.

[blueapplesoda]

UPS will screw you over. Fuck them. I shipped a set of euro bumpers...reall nice ones too....the fuckers ran it over and said that it was insufficient packaging. I wrapped each bumper with cardboard twice, then stuffed the front into the rear and wrapped that with more cardboard. It just so happens when it arrives at the buyers house, one side is smashed flat. I mean both bumpers are flat inside of each other. I bought insurrance, and they still wouldnt pay up....i even spoke to a representative (and i was so mad i forgot to get his name) and he said that it is their fault and hell take care of everything. But he didnt. UPS' argument: INSUFFICIENT PACKAGING. NO INTERNAL SUPPORT. bumpers inside of each other ring a bell? and what can smash bumpers flat? i mean gezus how does that happen.

fuck that. stupid fucks...can't trust no one to ship packages anymore.

[Justin B]

Wow ...that seriously sucks about the bumpers. Thats bullshit.