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UPS strikes again

I sold a turntable here on the'GoN and shipped it to Kansas City, KS via UPS ground insured in the original box/packing with extra padding/foam etc. Sent it from my local Mail Boxes Etc. They have always been very good to deal with. They inspected it before I signed off on it, stating it was well packed. It went out on 12/27, and because of the holidays it did not arrive until yesterday, 1/6. Late last night the buyer emailed me to tell me that the dustcover is cracked, a corner chipped off, the inner platter no longer lines up with the motor pulley, AND the inner platter no longer spins freely, the motor also jams and will not rotate.

UPS must have had to put people on overtime to work it over that bad. This is the second time in 6 months. I bought an ARC SP9 preamp and when it arrived from California, several caps were broken off the PC boards. This made a second trip out for the unit, to ARC for repair.

Back to claims hell for me. Any advice for speeding things up to resolve this? I am going to reimburse the buyer out of pocket first while waiting for the claim. I assume that if UPS decides to inspect the unit, they will send someone to the buyer's home in KC to reject the claim. I am going to begin the initial claim through Mail Boxes Etc.
slipknot1
12 responses Add your response
elgordo
530 posts
 
It is my understanding that UPS stands for "Umteen Pieces and Slivers".
ed_sawyer
588 posts
 
Probably filing in small claims court at the same time as filing with UPS is a good idea. Gets you a definite time line for resolution, one way or another. No cost to you to do so.
aroc
760 posts
 
No UPS stands for "Unequaled Package Smashers" (Aroc is a former UPS employee)
sc53
719 posts
 
Make sure your buyer photographs ALL damage, including the outer box, inner packaging, etc. Take tons of photos, preferably digital if possible. After UPS comes back to your buyer's house to pick up the damaged TT for "inspection," they will tell you via form letter that they find your packaging defective and deny the claim. Start calling whoever signed your form letter and offer to email your photos. I would begin this claims process w/UPS at the same time as you file a claim with Mail Boxes. And you don't need to go to small claims court yet. With constant pressure and phone calls, you can prevail without going to court. Hopefully, you still have your original sales receipt for the 'table. UPS will want to see that too, to corroborate your claim for total loss. And I am assuming, of course, that you insured the package. Make your claim for your full insurance amount. And good luck! I just went through this (my third time altogether) with FedEx Ground and ultimately got a check, though, as usual, it was denied a couple of times at first.
hgeifman
2,187 posts
 
In addition to all of the above, I suggest you ask Mail Boxes Etc for advise on your claim. Make sure you document all damage with many pictures to help you with your case. Good luck. cheers......
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
Sorry for your misfortune Slipknot1. Your experience almost identically mirrors my own almost 1 year ago. A near perfect condition 17 year old turntable shipped after meticulous packing. It also arrived with a broken plinth, frame and completely shattered dustcover. The motor wouldn't turn, the sapphire bearing was damaged and the base of the unit had a crack almost side to side, in other words trashed. It looked as though it was dropped off a 30' roof onto a concrete surface. Better to leave only non breakables in their uncaring hands, certainly not expensive electronics and NEVER, NEVER something as fragile as a tt.

The damages were fully documented on the other end. I sent a check to the buyer for his expenses and received payment from UPS approximately 1.5 months after the incident. The squeeky wheel gets the most attention. Call, take names and document times and keep the pressure on, otherwise it won't we resolved as quickly as you might like. Best advise I can give after 3 bad experiences with UPS is DON'T TRUST THEM WITH YOUR EXPENSIVE ELECTRONICS!! They are supremely incompetent. I am a slow learner but the 3rd time was the charm, shame on me.
avideo
222 posts
 
Sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience. Yes UPS certainly does screw things up - more often than most of us would care to admit. However - FedEx, Airborne, and the USPS are your other options - and none of them have exactly what I would call a "sterling" record either.
Though I maybe shouldn't mention it - but it does seem like a turntable is probably not the most suitable item to ship long distances. Lots of moving parts that can get easily out of alignment, not to mention flimsy plastic dustcovers and small parts that have next to no resistance to breakage. Certainly not an item that I would ever buy mail order.
cylinderking_1
130 posts
 
I really enjoy reading the threads on UPS vs FedEx It truly is interesting in the bussiness that Im in we have had the most problems with FedEx they LOST 3 machines in the last 6 months $600 to $800 and would not pay for any. Like Avideo stated NO shipper is pefect. Sometimes you can package it up that a tank could drive over the stupid package AND you still get a claim. I guess if there are any risk takers out there with say 10-20 milion you could try to start up a nitch type worldwide shipping company or use whats allready out there and cross our fingers when they come to get it.
mfkeleher
146 posts
 
I brought a package to Staples in Pittsburgh marked "Fragile" and the clerk told me her friend at UPS said never to do that, as it marks the package for special destruction. Apparently some of the handlers are unsupervised and angry at their customers. My experience with UPS has been highly unsatisfactory. I've had damage so bad that one could only attribute it to willful destruction.

I've discovered an alternative that seems pretty good so far - Greyhound express. It goes out on busses. I had 3 day service from Pittsburgh to Phoenix. You have serious people handling your package. The only drawback is there are different, and sometimes low insurance limitations. Don't believe the website showing 24/7 counter open hours either, it's more like 7 or 8 to 4 or 5 weekdays. I've used them 4 times so far with complete satisfaction. They also take the largest size packages of the three Fed-Ex, UPS or GPX. There are many more shipping points than bus terminals, if bus service passes thru your area there's probably a shipping location for you to use.
fineberg
151 posts
 
Actually by far the most reliable and safe shipper is DHL even when they go to the third world the package never leave the control of their direct employees and they are amazingly careful. They are also, however, amazingly expensive. I once shipped a laptop computer from France back to the US for repair and it cost over $200 (this was 10 years ago too). But if you need to be sure, they are the way to go.
infinity_audio
186 posts
 
I just received my DVD player from UPS and it was defected! I asked the seller to clam insurance for me. They smashed one corner so bad that a thick layer of cardboard actually tourn out and inside was showing. It's frustrated. I read UPS website and was told that anyting under $100.00 will be automatically be insured by UPS. Is that true? Want to know more about how to get full advantage for claiming insurance from UPS, since they always try to blame on some other BS reasons. What can I do to give them enough reason to approve my claim?
slipknot1 OP
1,423 posts
 
An update to the latest UPS buffoonery: I initiated the action with Atlanta headquarters yesterday. I called to arrange for an "inspecter/rejector" to go to the buyer's house to inspect the damage. The customer service rep asked me for the usual information. She asked me about the value of the item in question and I told her. She responded that her manifest shows an insured/declared value of $100.00. I said, "No, I declared and insured for $500.00. I am looking at my reciept from Mail Boxes Etc." She informed me that the receipt "doesn't count", only the manifest. So, now I not only have a beef with UPS, but one with Mail Boxes Etc. as well. The buyer emailed me photos of some of the damage. The dustcover is cracked all the way through end to end and one inch or larger chunks are broken off the corners. I think it was dropped from some distance, or something very heavy was dropped on it. The platter bearings were destroyed as well as the motor. Stay tuned. As an aside: All AudiogoN members who have had claims against UPS, We should consider a class action lawsuit. Any lawyer/members willing to take up the cause? ;)
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