Fedex and Ups Damage thread

@larsman 

Incorrect. I spoke with a UPS rep on the phone. He couldn’t tell me where the package was. He instructed me to open a claim and they would put a trace on it. That sounds like “lost” to me.

Hello,

I have been shipping with FedEx and UPS for almost 20 years with high end car and home audio. I always use factory packing because these manufacturer companies got it right and have had many countless experiences compared to us as consumers. If the factory box doesn’t look up to par, then I order a new one. Let me tell you. In the past couple of years, FedEx and UPS has gotten sloppy. Don’t put this on customers, put it on the company’s that handle your shipping. I am currently involved with a claim that has lasted almost 4 Months and have spoken or emailed with several people. The come up with various excuses and have shady excuses even when you follow everything to a T. I shipped to a friend a McIntosh McIntosh MHT100 in mint condition that was even cleaned and gone over by George Meyers (an authorized McIntosh service center). It was packed in a authorized McIntosh box made for the unit where it is even screwed down to the bottom of the board for security and protection. Just like it is shown on the diagram of their inner floating box. Due to glass panels, McIntosh does an excellent job of describing how to ship and pack their items. Those who own McIntosh knows this to be true. Those who don’t, well, you don’t! As FedEx parks in front of my friends house to deliver the packages, (understand McIntosh boxes are quite large and really sometimes require 2 people to handle it due to its size. McIntosh emphasize this) my friend runs outside and said do you need any help. The driver said no, I got it as he drops the unit on its side. My friend opened the unit after the driver drove off and finds the glass shattered. Thank goodness George Meyers was able to sell me their last MHT100 glass as they are extremely on back order for at least 6-12 months. In this case, don’t blame the person who packed the item, blame the person and the company who mishandled the item. The unit was even packed in 3 boxes with arrows from FedEx that tells you how the item faces up and stickers all over that said fragile. All FedEx products. No excuses. In my case, don’t tell me or McIntosh about packing, I think they do a great job considering what they are packing. McIntosh owners know this. My final thoughts and I hope upper management of FedEx and UPS hears this! Since took money from me (to me this is considered steeling) if I was the consumer, I would not waist my money purchasing their insurance. To me it is a scam for them to make money. Both of these companies have very poor customer service and most likely will not honor your claim especially if it is a high dollar item. Take that same funding they charge you and freight ship it. You will be happy you did it. Hopefully this will help them change their views and provide training for their employees. I doubt it unless there profit drops.

When I mean by freight, I mean put it in a pallet even if it is 40lbs and it is an electronic item, and ship it with a real freight trucking company. They do a much better job than UPS & FedEx. After a while I think they will get the point. 

I used to have a coin company.  Shipping coins requires a very high percentage of success or you lose your a$$.  I never had a domestic shipment lost.  I never bought insurance.  With a small package, a high insurance value can just say "steal me".  

With coins and with stereo equipment, your best insurance is tape and padding.  Package correctly, ensure the outer container is impervious (with various types of tape), and use a barcoded label covered in clear tape and it will be very unusual for a package not to arrive undamaged.

Buying insurance does not change how a package is handled.  If you think buying insurance relieves you from packaging correctly, then you are just choosing to sell your component to the insurance company after a long red-tape battle to collect.  

Jerry

@ozzy62 - Incorrect in your case, perhaps, but I've gotten 'Delivery Date Unknown'  many times since deliveries were slowed down and inconsistent with most carriers for the past couple of years. Nothing was ever lost, just delayed for a day or so. 

Small, double boxes well packaged items ie. CDPs, CD transports, etc I’ve had good luck with.

Several years ago I bought, from a seller with a record of good feedback, a pair of B&W 802, Matrix II Speakers, to be shipped half way across the country. I bought insurance for $2K, my cost of speakers, plus I had the extra expenses of professional packaging (through UPS) and shipping. When I received the speakers both boxes, as well as the speakers miid range and tweeter sections were crushed, as if dropped upside down 6’ from the back of a truck and completely destroyed. At first UPS refused to pay anything and after several days of haggling said they would settle with seller for $1K, half of the insured amount. My lawyer informed them that once I paid for the speakers, insurance and shipping, they became my property and they would deal with either me or we would file a suit for their willful mis-handling and destruction of my property. I received a check within 10 days for the full amount of insurance - $2K.......Jim

I’ve never had a damaged item with FedEx or Ups. And check this out. I’ve shipped some 95 different delicate Jazz archtop’s. Before that I bought and resold high in audio gear of all types.  I’ve 450 feedback from just the items I’ve sold here. 
 

So the question is, how I’ve been so lucky while others have not?

@coltrane1 Even with very good packing, trusting the shipment of high dollar Jazz Archtop guitars to Fedx or UPS and never having an issue, I would say not only were you lucky but maybe charmed.

Except for the speakers mentioned, which were totally destroyed, I've had relatively good luck both sending and receiving electronics. When I ship I always double box with component in its original box, with foam packing between inner and outer boxes and insist the seller shipping to me does the same. I have, on a few occasions, received fragile marked packages that had holes pocked through or corners crushed on the outer box, while the inner box and component managed to survive.

I will no longer ship or receive any fragile electronic component (no matter how well packed) weighing more than 50 pounds through FedEx or UPS and will never ship speakers with them.

For larger heaver electronics and speakers I'll stick with Global Air or ground freight  and have items boxed and crated......Jim

coltrane1

Sometimes it just depends on your area. My packages from FedEx to me has had that happen a couple of times but it has been in the last 2 years. UPS on the other hand is worst. I’ve heard stories of them kicking packages around like a soccer ball. FedEx sometimes hire subs to deliver. But at the end of the day what your eyes and camera see’s doesn’t deceive you. Trust what you see, not what you hear. As far as timeline goes, I’ve been doing this since the late 80’s and I’m sure McIntosh as well as other companies have been doing it longer. I like that McIntosh was smart enough to put instructions on how to repackage and ship their items. Genius! 

Jim, I agree with you 100% I am doing the same because they can’t be trusted and believe me, don’t waste your time on insurance. It is a total scam to make money. Take that extra cash and pay for Global or freight shipping on a pallet.