Anybody ever had this problem with UPS?

Over the last 10 years I've probably had at least 600 items back and forth in the mail via the US post office, anything from small packages to heavy machine shop related tools. I go overkill on the packing, double-box it when in doubt. I've shipped things in PVC tubing with the ends glued on. EVERYTHING I send is delivery conformation and insured if the buyer wants it, or I'll tack it onto anything over a certain value.

They may have taken their sweet assed time (parcel post...) on some things, but everything got there in one piece.

We shipped a machine shop job locally via UPS, to NYC last year. Nylon parts, 2 boxes, 12 parts to a box. Well-packaged and taped securely. ONE box got there with 3 parts in it with the box mangled. The boss neglected to insure the shipment and the material was customer-supplied, ouch!

Bob

 

I stopped using UPS 5 years ago and wouldn't trust them carrying a turd across the street. Got tired of the claims dept games and the handlers cutting open boxes and taking stuff. Small items I use USPS, bigger items FedExGround. Since FedEx, not one claim needed. Of course your results may vary. I'll let the rest of the sheep keep using UPS and enjoy the misery.

 

Speaking from my experience, I own a business and ship about 30-40 packages a day via UPS. We have only had 3 claims in the last 9 years because of errors. In those cases, the claims were paid AND shipping charges credited, just by filling the paper work with UPS. The advice you are receiving about inflating insurance charges will not fly. One must PROVE the value of the contents shipped in the event of a claim. In one instance, we shipped a specialized lubricant to Boeing and the shipment was lost. The package was insured, and we had to have a copy of the invoice from our vendor showing the actual value of the lubricant. It was $490 and we insured it for $500. The credit on our UPS account was for $490 plus the $8 for freight, not a penny more. While they will gladly accept your value since the premium is based on that stated value and UPS is banking on the fact that they will deliver the package. Just don't expect to collect a $1000 for something worth $30. In the end, they should refund the shipping charges.


Darren

 

Darren
Your customer pays $$ for an item including the cost to ship UPS. Your DECLARED VALUE(it is not insurance read the tariffs) is the cost of the item plus the shipping. You invoice your customer for the item and shipping. You then have the TOTAL DECLARED VALUE of what you are shipping. If the item is damaged that is the amount that you claim. You have proof because your invoice/bill of sale has that amount on it. LOST shipments are different than damaged shipments. A lost shipment was not delivered UPS did not fulfill their part of the contract with you. Therefore, you get the shipping fee back plus the cost of the item.

Nick Leone
Pack & Ship North
80021

 

I bought a power antenna for my wife's O/T Corvette, the part comes in it,it was left at my door. I walk up the steps, I see the package, it's wrapped in plain brown paper. It looks like someone did a war dance on it, of course the antenna is broken. I contact UPS they tell me it didn't have insurance so they wouldn't cover it, I tell them there is no way in the world that they would have accepted a package in this shape, and had to happen in their hands, they repeat no insurance not their problem. I contacted the person I bought it from, he says not his problem it was good when it left him. I told him he didn't have insurance on it, and the buy it now price included shipping, again he says not his problem. I contact ebay, they tell him it is his problem. I get refund but have to ship it back, I tape up the very same plain brown wrapper in all it's glory and don't you know they accepted it and sent it back.

 

I had a Keith Black Hemi block shipped from Wa state to NJ ins for $2000.00 the block gets here and my UPS guy tells me to look at it before he takes it off the truck.
The 1000lb rated box is now round the plywood the block is bolted to is smached the deck on the block is dented the ere for the oil pump is blown off and so is the mounting boss for the moter plate pan rail is bent it was a new stage 6 hemi block.
I call ups to send a adjuster out he shows up at my shop i show him the cost of repair and he tells me they will pay the $2000.00 and take the block i tell him if you whant to take the block the check better be for $8700 to replace it he tells me if they pay the claim they own it. I had to tell hime the 2k will cover the repair not the block he asked me why i only coverd it for 2k and i told him i didnt think they could do that much damage to it boy i was wrong.
It took me 3 months and a lot of yelling to get paid but i finaly got paid.
UPS SUCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Whenever I buy anything from that auction site we all know and love, I specifically ask that UPS NOT be used. When I give my feedback I ALWAYS thank the sender for NOT USING UPS. I personally think the better you package an item, and especially if it has any kind of "fragile" sticker affixed, the more the warehouse guys abuse the package. I've heard the same stories everyone else on here has heard. There's a reason UPS is "brown"; they are full of it. 56sedandelivery is my auction site handle also, read my feedback on purchased items. Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Yup,4 years ago I bought one of those new starters for a flathead from
Joblot in N.Y. got the starter installed it and it was junk so I put it back in the original box and then the shipping box just the way I got it.2 weeks
later they tell me they won't give me a refund because it was damaged
so I contacted UPS who sent an investigator an they said it was not packed correctly so too bad,I told them to send it back to me and I could not believe the damage,looks like it fell out of an airplane.

 

In my 23 years of dealing with shipping and receiving parts and products on UPS, I have seen very few occasions where UPS was at fault with what had happened to a shipment. I have a good feel for timeframe on how long a package should take to arrive from most any part of the continental U.S. I deal with this, with confidence, most every workday and use it as a tool when I call out how long to get parts at the right shipping price.
They will be at fault more often on Next Day Air shipments than on Ground shipments if the weather is bad. Ground shipments will stop if a snowstorm occurs between you and the other address in most cases.
Most of the time it has to do with packaging or addressing by the shipper that will cause problems with time or condition at delivery.
I refuse to depend on FedEx Package because of performance. I'm picky with what LTL truck line I have heavier parts shipped by and from what region in this continent.
I work at a place that the "Brown Clown" pics up packages at our doorstep and with our UPS shipper account number. I'm sure dealing with the UPS store is a different kind of story.
Make a friend at a location that has a regular UPS package pickup and account number, have your stuff shipped and received at the same location. 'Fess up to what headache it's worth to your source for better service. It will probably save you a headache.

 

Sleeping on the couch tonight?

 

Improper packaging is the main reason UPS/FEDEX/PO damages items.
For example the box that Dyson uses to get it to the RETAIL store is made to be shipped freight with the other 50 Dysons on a PALLET. It is not meant to be shipped by itself in the DISPLAy box that you pick up in the store. It needs to be over boxed.
The brand new box used to ship something is considered by the industry to have lost 50% of its stregnth the first time it is used. The dumpster dived box is damage waiting to happen. Small package shipping is a dangerous game for the un skilled.
I am a Certified Packaging expert, certified by 2 national organizations.
I have had about 4 claims for small packages since 1996 and all were paid in full by the carrier. I ship for the public and stand behind everything PACKAGED BY MY STORE.
Nick Leone
Pack & Ship North
80021

 

I am curious as to why a box would lose 50% of it's strength after one use. Is it the structural strength of the cardboard? The tape? the corners?

Two things are clear-First, the box manufacturers must be funding these studies-you don't sell as many boxes if they are being re-used. Second, the shipping people must be beating the crap out of the packaging for itto lose that much strength in a single use.