Usps sucks for package insurance claim - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 07-28-2007, 06:30 AM

I sent a drivers side window through the usps to ohio. It was sent priority mail and was insured for thirty dollars. It arrived in a thousand pieces. The buyer rightfully returned it and I refunded him his money. So we returned it to the postal service and they refused to pay up. First they said that the cash register receipt was not sufficient and we needed the little green receipt with the post mark on it. So we couldnt find that and I called the eight hundred number and they said we didn't need that.

So I went back. The person at the counter was very determined to not make a claim based on some technicality but I stuck with it and finally got him to process it. So he says my check will be mailed to me and I leave.

So yesterday I get a letter saying that first it is more than sixty days and therefore the claim is invalid. Then she goes on to say that they cannot honor the claim because the object was so fragile that there was no way to package it good enough to make it shippable, then she says that I actually needed the little green slip with the post mark and finally she contradicts herself to say that if I had only included a very little packing material the window would have been just fine.

So I am a sucker for lost causes.

I call her and talk through it all as noted above including the part about the eight hundred number and the contradiction about packaging. I say that they asked what it was and accepted my money for insurance, that suggests that they have the obligation. But nooooooooo,

finally she says she will refund my insurance money. great. that is a dollar thirty five.

I am out the money and about three hours of time now.

so I asked for the proceedure for an appeal.

I am sure it is futile.

So I recommend ups or some other real business not the crooked usps.

Did you ever try to break a laminated auto window?

They must have run over it with a fork lift.

Tom W

LaRondo · #2 07-28-2007, 06:41 AM

Terrible.
I have to say, on regular mail delivery, USPS is pretty good. I don't remember any mail as 'not received on either end.
Toi toi toi...

I'd be certain the insurance part is better with UPS.

I once had an airplane ticket sent via UPS/overnight or so. What an ordeal.
My travel agent had to arrange for an electronic check-in, because the ticket came about 3 months later...

... with serious rubber marks on the envelope, indicating multiple forklift overruns.

Medmech · #3 07-28-2007, 07:08 AM

Its a shame that an ignorant postal worker is willing to make her stand on $35 but fed ex and ups can be equal in the pia department.

G-Benz · #4 07-28-2007, 07:17 AM

Depends on the package...

...you wouldn't believe how many folks come in to file claims for damaged contents on packages that have no exterior signs of damage, but the contents therein are destroyed. 99% of the times it's improper packaging.

While many services offer to pack for you, most folks show up with the item already packaged to save time...it's amazing how so many of them survive the trip!

While I don't work on the ramps, I do visit often. There is a LOT of handling going on, including automatic sorters that catapult packages to different conveyors in a similar manner as a person with a baseball bat would!

Factor in packages tossed into the trucks...while that is a somewhat gentle operation, if you ever decide to send a fragile item via a package carrier, pack the item in the same manner as you would if you were trying to get an "A" for the "egg-dropping" experiment in science class.

There is a REALLY GOOD reason why PCs and audio/video equipment come packed with those really humongous styrofoam molds!

t walgamuth · #5 07-28-2007, 07:48 AM

I asked her what it meant when you mark a package fragile. She said nothing really. I asked so you would put it on the bottom of the truck and stack four hundred pound packages on top of it, cause that is about what you would have to do to smash it so comprehensively, and she says no they would put it on the top. I said if you did that it would not be broken.

Tom W

Mistress · #6 07-28-2007, 10:09 AM

Tom- Very simple, let the post office know your contacting the postmaster general...

t walgamuth · #7 07-28-2007, 10:22 AM

how to do that?

Tom W

Medmech · #8 07-28-2007, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

how to do that?

Tom W

https://hdusps.esecurecare.net/cgi-bin/hdusps.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=8001&p_sid=EJFinKHi&xssl=1

TheDon · #9 07-28-2007, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaRondo

Terrible.
I have to say, on regular mail delivery, USPS is pretty good. I don't remember any mail as 'not received on either end.
Toi toi toi...

I'd be certain the insurance part is better with UPS.

I once had an airplane ticket sent via UPS/overnight or so. What an ordeal.
My travel agent had to arrange for an electronic check-in, because the ticket came about 3 months later...

... with serious rubber marks on the envelope, indicating multiple forklift overruns.

Some one sent me money for my foglights I sold.. It has yet to show up.. he had to send me it via UPS priority mail for it to arrive... I've had nothing but bad luck sending or receiving anything to CT/RI/PA

SwampYankee · #10 07-28-2007, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

Some one sent me money for my foglights I sold.. It has yet to show up.. he had to send me it via UPS priority mail for it to arrive... I've had nothing but bad luck sending or receiving anything to CT/RI/PA

Say it ain't so, Joe!

We ship on average about 1000 packages a week (very seasonal, we'll have 100-200 a week this time of year) via UPS and generally have had good luck with them. If the shipments are packaged well, we haven't had any problems collecting. They automatically insure up to $150 so if you need more you pay extra for it. This time of year we routinely ship packages to golf courses with several thousand dollars worth of fungicides or insecticides so handling is very important. There have been a few claims denied for products shipped in the manufacturers packaging, though.

Johnhef · #11 07-28-2007, 12:55 PM

I've had two experiences with auto glass being shipped. First, a few years ago I bought a rear window for my coupe, the guy even charged me extra for the "special packaging". It arrived with a split right down the middle. UPS came back to pick it up and I never heard from them or from him again, lost $150 on the glass and whatever it cost me for shipping.

2nd time was a SL drivers window from a member on here sent though fed ex. It never arrived, but their website said "damaged in transit." It took about two months after I made the claim but a check for $109.03 finally arrived. We had originally sent $100 for the glass and shipping, but I didnt want to complain. At least Fed Ex came though and sent the refund.

Juck · #12 07-28-2007, 01:23 PM

I ship several hundred packages containing Antique glass every year,, average insured value is probably $1000 ish but I ship many worth up to $5000. I always ship USPS priority insured and I have never once had an item arrive at a customer damaged.

Sure there's some luck there, but IMO it's all down to how it's packed. I always use plently of 1" bubble wrap and packing peanuts. Glass should always be double boxed with at least 3" of peanuts between the object and wall of the inner box (more if the object is heavy). I place a red FRAGILE label on each facet of the outer box.

I've had several glass items shipped to me by USPS that have been damaged due to rough handling & poor packaging, and on the whole, USPS have paid the insurance claim. When they didn't, and the seller refused to refund my money, I have always been able to file a successful chargeback with my Credit Card company.

I would never ship a fragile item by UPS,,, they carry much heavier objects in their trucks than the USPS and even well-packed glass objects have arrived at my house utterly crushed. I know of at least one large auction company that has completely dropped UPS due to their rough package handling and refusal to insure ANY international shipment of Glass or Pottery against damages in transit (correction,, they will insure it,, they just won't pay any claims).

Someone once gave me this advice about shipping glass: When you pack something,,,, ask yourself if it would survive a 10-foot drop onto concrete from any angle.

That advice has served me well I think, and I rarely have to deal with the beaurocracy of the Post Office over claims.

t walgamuth · #13 07-28-2007, 01:56 PM

That sounds like good advice.

Wish I had heard that before.

Tom W

t walgamuth · #14 07-28-2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howitzer

https://hdusps.esecurecare.net/cgi-bin/hdusps.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=8001&p_sid=EJFinKHi&xssl=1

Thanks, Med.

Tom W

TwitchKitty · #15 07-28-2007, 03:50 PM

A good rule for customer service is to not waste time with a reluctant representative. If you don't get the answers you want, hang-up call back and talk to someone else. After a few tries you likely get what you want.