USPS insurance on Corvette parts

[Harmon C.]

I purchased a smog pump complete setup online. The shipper had good pictures on line and the pump looked fine. It arrived with a bent pulley and a fresh crack on the elbow. It was wraped in bubble wrap as all parts were. The cardboard box had the lid pushed in and the box was soft from the beating it took. The seller had insured it for the price I payed and I filed a claim. USPS said tough we see no damage to the box and bad packing must have been the problem. I only ask for $50. for the elbow and the pulley. I now think the only claim they will pay is a complete loss of the package. I will not buy insurance from them any more and need to look for a new shipper but the choices are few. It may not have happened if the pump was sent in a seperate box or boxed inside the larger box.

Lyle

[William L.]

Re: USPS insurance on Corvette parts

UPS sux!! I will never use ups again they ar nothing but trouble and are much more expencive than Fed X.
Bill

[Joe L.]

Re: USPS insurance on Corvette parts

Lyle-----

Was it shipped via USPS PARCEL POST? I NEVER opt for Parcel Post. It usually takes WAY too long and VERY OFTEN the package receives rough handling and the box arrives just as you described. For most packages the cost of Priority Mail over Parcel Post is very small. For heavier packages, I use UPS or FedEx. I've never had a problem with USPS Priority Mail.

I recall the last problem I had with Parcel Post, though. Some fool sent me an NOS parking brake console via Parcel Post packed in a flimsy oversize box WITH NO PACKING MATERIAL, AT ALL. The box was shipped from within California to me and took almost 3 WEEKS to get to me. The part arrived in 4 pieces. It was insured, though. The post office said that it looked like a case of bad packing (and, they were absolutely right about that), but they paid the full actual value, anyway, when I documented what I had paid for the part.

[Verle R.]

Re: USPS insurance on Corvette parts

I have a recent experience with FedEx. They "do not insure" packages.
You can declare a value but that means nothing to them.
They damaged some Corvette parts that were double boxed and packed with Styrofoam, crushed the box and still refused to pay. They wanted to "repair" the part and finally denied the claim.

I have had damage with UPS shipments but they will pay.

Verle

[Henry S.]

Re: USPS insurance on Corvette parts

Most of us have proably shipped or received several packages from one shipper or another. I ussually use UPS and never had a problem UNTIL two weeks ago. I had bought a set of saddle seat belts for a 67 from a very reputable, 100% feedback seller on Ebay. The 67 we bought last year had the passenger side outer seat belt AND housing stolen while the car was at Bloomington Gold last year. Anyway back to UPS, the belts were scanned in at the Hodgkins, Illinois hub on February 7th and haven't been seen or heard from since. Any UPS worker I have seen is attached at the hip with a scanner so you would think if it moved from Hodgkins it would have been scanned. They said 8 days after a claim for lost item is placed they have 8 days to "search" for package. 6 days after the claim was made I received a call that UPS was STARTING their search for the item and should be completed within 36-48 hours. I asked what happened to the 8 day physical search and that question fell on deaf ears. When told if they weren't found UPS would reimburse for the belts. I told the rep I'd just run down to AutoZone since I'm sure they would have a set for the 67 on the shelf. She said THAT wasn't very amusing so I told her neither was their ability to lose a my set of seat belts. If anyone knows where I can get a set I'd appreciate the information.

Shooter
P.S. Oh, the seller told me he also lost ANOTHER set of belts the same day he shipped mine and he hadn't changed how he packaged them, identified them or shipped them from any other packages ge shipped with UPS. This was the first problem he's ever had.

[Michael S.]

Re: USPS insurance on Corvette parts

Lyle,

I have had 2 experiences with UPS where I was the shipper and the parts were destroyed. I immediately refunded the customers money and fought with UPS for 3 months on my shipping damage insurance claim. In discussion with others the standard UPS policy MUST BE to always blame the damage on "inadequate packaging".

My latest claim was for a glass t-top. I asked the customer to open the package upon delivery in the presence of the UPS driver which he did. The top was destroyed! The customer stated the UPS driver said quote "It certainly was packaged properly". The box was mutilated. Per our agreement, the customer refused the package as "damaged". Unfortunately the driver took the package and listed it as "refused" with no mention of damage although he was well aware of the damage. I immediately refunded the customers money through the Paypal refund process.

End result is after 3 months of working with UPS insurance claims I was FINALLY paid in full for the item. With the help of the customer, the driver was reprimanded for not properly reporting the refusal and I no longer use UPS.

Insurance is a BIG PROFIT CENTER for UPS. Unfortunately you should have opened the box in the pressence of the driver and refused the package at that time as "damaged". The only recourse you have in this situation is with the seller. Since you did not "ship" the item you have no recourse with UPS. Most seller's will NOT do the right thing in this instance and refund the whole amount or a portion of the amount for damage because they already know what a pain in the ass UPS is to deal with and they will unltimately lose money because it's too much work to fight UPS. Although it is a pain in the ass, the seller can and should pursue this claim with UPS and refund your money due to damage.

Fat chance of that happening!

[Harmon C.]

Re: USPS insurance on Corvette parts

Mike
My claim was with USPS not UPS. But I have had a similar problem with UPS. I think I will not buy insurance and pack any parts I sell in two boxes and refund the price of the item if damaged out of the money saved as insurance is a joke. I would never ship glass and a smog pump like I recived damaged would have been ok if the pulley and diverter valve were removed from the pump. I may pay more for the weight of extra packing but no more insurance for me UPS or USPS.
Lyle

[Michael S.]

Re: USPS insurance on Corvette parts

Lyle,

I apologize that I missed USPS. I guess when I see shipping problems they always seem to be with UPS. Next time I will pay better attention.

I have never had a problem with USPS.

Mike

[ed styczynski]

Re: USPS insurance on Corvette parts

I just one month ago sent my alt. to Pirkle for refreshing - sent USPS return receipt request, insured, etc. Two weeks go by and no receipt. I get a letter from the postal center in Atlanta - they found an empty box with my labels on it and would i fill out the enclosed form to discribe what was in the box, which would enable them to look through their inventory of loose parts. Still waiting to hear from them. The labels they sent back are in great condition with my very strong clear tape over them - by the way the letter they sent did mention that most times this happens from poor packing. I wrote on the return form that if they ever get a bomb scare they only have to jump into the box i used and everyone would be safe. I did go back to my local Post Office and asked if all the tags i had put on only serve to be neon light saying " I'm over here ". I am interested to see how easy it will be to collect the ins. This will be the last time I send something out with out getting a good idea what a replacement will cost, even with getting full ins. I find a correct replacement is much more then I put in for.

[Harmon C.]

Re: USPS insurance on Corvette parts

Ed
Good Luck
I would like to know what they do in your case.Please post or E-mail me when you find out what way they take care of your missing alternator. They are allready setting you up to claim poor packing.

Lyle

Lyle