UPS. Friend Or Foe?

I was a UPS driver for 23 years and could spend the next week telling you stories. For the most part the drivers do care and try their best. Most of the damage is system logistics and how they build their sort centers snd conveyer belts. Rule one pack it like it’s you child then pack that inside another package and then inside another. Rule two never buy the insurance through UPS always use third party insurance. Rule three over insure by 1 1/2 total replacement cost. Rule four and most important, upon receipt of delivery and there is noticeable damage DO NOT OPEN PACKAGE CALL UPS TO PICK UP AS REFUSED DELIVERY! As soon as you open it is yours. By refusing delivery it goes back to sender and the damage is their issue not yours. Then you get your money back as never received product. I use to let people open and check for damage and if it was we would seal back up and send back refused delivery. Final rule never use UPS for anything valuable unless there is absolutely no other option.

No one has mentioned our beloved United States Postal Service (USPS). Here they go under the bus.  Had to ship my XA25 to Pass Labs In Auburn, CA for a minor repair.  $276 later including $5000 insurance, it was shipped on Jan 3, with arrival expected Jan 6.  A couple of weeks later my dealer got a note from Pass that they hadn't received the amp yet.  In the meantime I tried tracking and it was in the Auburn PO.  I go to the PO that I shipped it from to try a trace without any luck. I called Pass Labs and was told that the USPS won't deliver unless it fits in a mailbox.  Also the PO won't answer the phone when they call.  Sure enough I tried and after 4 two minute rings that ended in a disconnect I surrendered and tried the dreaded 800 number call.  45 minutes and two service complaints later I was told that I would be contacted within 3 business days.  After two business days on a Sunday night I get a call from USPS that the caller was looking at my package and that it would be delivered the next day.  Sure enough it was...3 weeks late.  In one piece however. The question now is how does it get shipped back to me.  It will be interesting to see who Pass chooses.  

I’m sorry to hear of your experience. I would agree double box or triple box audio equipment…with adequate packing inside. The UPS stores I am aware of only sell plastic peanuts or bubble wrap for packing. As these are 99% air they have limited use. They are for light items and heavy items will typically not survive if they are the only packing. UPS guidelines require that packages be able to withstand a 3ft drop on any side, corner or edge.
If you paid a UPS store to pack and also insured an item, I would think the store is responsible to meet the UPS packing requirements. So if UPS doesn’t pay for the damage, then they should. Since they’re local for you, small claims court should be an option.

For any claim there has to be visible damage to the box. I would also guess that any damage to the contents that is not visible - like a rattle - wouldn’t be covered by insurance. I would add that to me it is very logical that UPS would require the shipper to adequately pack an item to receive an insurance claim. So I wouldn’t consider that to be ‘buried in very fine print’. To me as a shipper it is extremely crucial that I pack an item adequately to make the journey safely under normal circumstances. I try to go the extra mile. But then I don’t usually buy insurance.

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