Ever seen this from UPS?

forthe4unofit

Check out this status:
COMMERCE CITY, CO, US 12/08/2010 10:42 A.M. THE PACKAGE WAS DAMAGED IN TRANSIT. UPS WILL NOTIFY THE SENDER WITH THE DETAILS / DAMAGED MERCHANDISE DISCARDED, BALANCE BEING RETURNED. UPS WILL NOTIFY THE SENDER WITH THE DETAILS


Damaged merchandise discarded? That sounds a little shady to me. It was a large framed autographed Bagwell and Biggio lithograph.

What do you guys think?

itzagoner

broken glass? may be what they disposed of and hopefully it was insured for more than the standard $100.

forthe4unofit

<< <i>broken glass? may be what they disposed of and hopefully it was insured for more than the standard $100. >>



Let's hope it was just the glass. It was insured for its value. I've never made an insurance claim before. Does anyone know how that works? If they give me a check, do they take the item? I'd hate to lose the piece, but I want to get my money out of it.

itzagoner

i'd call 'em up with a tracking number and ask for all the details from a live person.

forthe4unofit

Thanks.

UPS says that the glass did break and they are shipping the frame and art back to me. I'll have to work with the claims department to figure out some sort of settlement. Let's hope everything is still in good condition!

Thanks for the ease of mind!

itzagoner

they are a bit easier to work with on claims that the USPS......ok, a LOT easier.

good luck.

EagleEyeKid

I got the same exact message once years ago when I purchased a 20 box case of 90 score baseball.
I called UPS with the tracking # and they said the tape had become unraveled (was not doubled box)
from being old and loose. Therefore some of the wax boxes came out and mysteriously disappeared? lol

I contacted the seller and explained what happened and she said I would have to take it up with UPS regarding
the insurance that she purchased....I told her to bite me! She had a contractual agreement to use their service;
I had a contract with her to get me my goods. All in all it worked out as she sent another case out several days later.

Good luck!

WinPitcher

<< <i>If they give me a check, do they take the item? >>




If you accept the check.....

If they pay for the entire item, yes they do.

If they simply pay for the broken glass/frame than they simply take that only.

Surely you would not expect any insurance company to pay out for an item and also

allow you to keep it as well.

itzagoner

i'd be more concerned if they attempt to infer that the packaging was not enough to protect the security of the item.

i had to fight such a claim once, stuck to my guns and defended my packaging........and still lost.

WinPitcher

I always love that excuse, the 'poor' packaging did not stop them from taking your insurance money though.

itzagoner

we cried about it to the manufacturer.

they replaced it.

DeutscherGeist

You can keep the lithograph. Just tell UPS to document the damage and take a photo while its in their facility. Tell them that you will take the lithograph for repair estimates. Go to a friend that deals with sports memorabilia and have him write up a detailed damage assessment and remedy with a dollar amount. Be sure this dealer includes, name, address of business, business lic. and signature on the letter. Bring letter and lithograph back to UPS office and then tell them that it can be repaired back to original condition and all you want the that amount to repair it as per professional assessment. They will give you that amount.

This has got to work. Its true that each UPS office has its own nuances and attitude and it really matters what mood the particular worker is in. This is not an exact science. Try it and see what happens.

pdub1819

I once shipped a framed Michael Parkes painting home from college and the glass from the frame broke. I had to file an insurance claim and from what I remember, I had to get the frame fixed first, then bring the receipt into the post office and THEN they gave me the amount that I spent. This was about 10 years ago, so things might have changed since then.

WinPitcher

Andre

If the cost of the restoration exceeds the value of an item I doubt they will do it.

In any event the item was not damaged only the glass from what I understand.

DeutscherGeist

Steve,

You are correct. That is all I was implying that the repair cost (if it does not exceed value of item) could be obtained.

As pdub mentioned, one may have to get the thing repaired first, then bring in the reciept and then finally get reimbursed. It is important to ask first and then do it without delay. The more this is delayed, I am sure the UPS workers will just give more hassle.

I once got a damaged, but not cracked PSA case in the mail. It was insured at the US Post Office. I brought them the PSA website print out to show them how much reholdering was. They said I have to get it done first and then I can get reimbursed. I guess it does not work like car insurance where you can get an estimate first and then collect money (the insurance companies accept diminished value).

forthe4unofit

I just wanted to give an update on this just in case anyone was curious:

I received the lithograph back and unfortunately the glass did break and scratched the surface pretty badly. I waited a day or two and called UPS claims department. The guy told me the claim had already been denied due to "improper inside and outside packing". The box literally looked like an accordion, and they did not return any of my original packing items in the box. Just the box, and the framed item. It was a bad case. I continue to complain to the guy about how I packed it fine and this wasn't going to work blah blah blah. He told me he would have someone call me the following day.

Well today was the day, and they did call me. I talked to the guy for a few minutes and he proceeded to tell me that my claim was overturned and that I would get my money! All I have to do is submit a copy of the invoice proving I sold the item, and a copy of the refund receipt showing the buyer got his money back, then I'll get my check.

On top of that, it looks like I get to keep the item. (Doesn't really matter because it's trashed though.)

So, if you ever get a claim denied, complain! I think it's a practice they use to just deny everything and hope people don't pursue it.

Thanks to everyone for their help on this!

WinPitcher

Congrats!

Steve

divecchia

Thanks for the update and I'm glad it worked out for you.

Donato