Beware of UPS for shipping anything

beenjammin

beenjammin

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Aug 17, 2006
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Auburn, Alabama, United States
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#1
Guys, I have used UPS for years and years in my area because there is a nice local hub to pick your stuff up in the even you happen to miss the driver that day. The nearest Fed Ex is about 50 minutes away in another time zone so it sucks to miss them.

Anyway, I sold an APA 6.5 creedmore barrel for an AI here last week. I shipped it in the same tube that GA precision used to ship me my bartlein barrel. Thsi tube has those nice plastic inserts that are stapled secure and then taped up. Well I got a call from Pakmail yesterday that UPS had lost the item and was going start a claim for me. I checked tracking and it turns out that they had the tube ( or tube pieces) and no barrel. And on top op that, they took the liberty of dicarding the tube it was shipped in.

This is the #2 claim I have had to endure in a period of 2 months. The first claim was over a rifle shipped in a hard case, inside a cardboard box was damaged upon arrival somehow.

I dont know what is going on at UPS here recently, but I am just sick about this. Did I insure tha barrel? Nope... I figrued how could they possibly damage a barrel that was as secure as mine was. It also have foam packing to prevent movement inside the container around the barrel. Now there is no evidence of what exactly happened to the container becuase they tossed it to cover their own tracks and said it was my fault becuase I should have known how the heat in my area causes the tape to fail. I dont buy that. I watched the Pakmail lady tape it up and it was GTG.

The pakmail staff here is are personal friends of mine that are firearms friendly. I have been doing business with them for over a decade.

Yea, ill use insurace next time, even if its going down the street, but it is sad that you have to pay extra for a company to do their job the best they can. For me , 2/2, UPS has just struck out.

I only post this to tell you guys to be sure and insure it no matter how well you think it is packaged. UPS apparently has the ability to break a steel ball with a rubber mallet. I now will be paying the buyer out of my own pocket the price of the barrel that I sold him.
 
#2
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: beenjammin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Did I insure tha barrel? Nope... </div></div>

Problem isolated.
whistle.gif
 
#3
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

Insurance is not for just damage its for loss as well. It is sad that people steal and things get lost ... but they do. I am in AZ and when I shipped my rifle to California -- I insured it for $5K just to be sure.

I also take picutes of the item in the box with a copy of the tracking slip to show proof and then I also take a picture of the packed item. But that is just me....

sorry to hear about the issue.

 
#4
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tucker301</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: beenjammin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Did I insure tha barrel? Nope... </div></div>

Problem isolated.
whistle.gif
</div></div>

I've had FedEx, DHL/Airborne, and UPS all lose or severely damage multi-thousand dollar shipments that have been insured. Trying to get any money out of them afterwards would be laughable if it wasn't so pathetically futile. I think we've gotten perhaps 30% of the value from our insurance, and it takes months of constant pushing on them to get that. Given what they charge for the insurance, I'm not entirely convinced it wouldn't be wiser just to save up the costs of the insurance and apply it to excessively over-protective packaging and/or replacement costs for whatever they eventually do lose/break.
 
#6
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

personally I think all three, USPS, FedEx, UPS are bad. Its a matter of choosing which one does not suck the most.

I worked loading trucks in my teens during college. Let me tell you the stories of broken stuff loading those trucks as fast as possible. Really gave me insight into the business.
 
#7
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

I've never had a problem with UPS.
Nary a claim filed, but I still insure anything over $100 for full value.
 
#8
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

They (UPS, FedEx, and USPS) don't care about your packages. They have your packages and your money. You are at their mercy if your package is going to get there on time and undamaged.
 
#9
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

I had UPS "lose" a box of 1,000 rounds of ammo. AFTER it was checked into the Atlanta hub, but it never checked out. It was stolen in the hub.

UPS depreciated the ammo and paid damned little at a time when ammo costs were rising daily. To replace the ammo, it would have cost 166% of the original cost.

------

Last week, FedEx "left the package at the front door". They just neglected to say it must have been the wrong house, because we never got it.

My wife works at home, so even if he did not ring the doorbell, the dogs would have let her know someone was on the porch.

So far, the US Post office has the best delivery record at my house.
 
#10
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

I worked at a shop for a while and had to oversee the shipping of "stuff" we never paid for the insurance either. It was not worth the head ache. Had a few things damaged in transport, but we would always come out ahead.

The first few times we tried to use the insurance it was uphill battle for sure. Pretty sure that they can say it wasn't packaged right and deny your claim. At least that what they always said to us even when it was obviously dropped from height above waist level.

I still buy insurance some times, but that is more for packages getting stolen then damaged.
 
#11
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

Have not had issues with Fedex (yet) and only a couple with UPS. I had my worst shipping experience with USPS. I shipped three factory sealed boxes of Lapua bullets in a package that had plenty of packing filler and was taped very well to WI. Only 17 of the bullets made it and(you guessed it) I had shipped parcel post with no insurance. After all, it was bullets and they were well packed. Who could possible tear them up, right? Oh, and they acted like it was all my fault since I shipped parcel post. In their own words "we don't take care of parcel post boxes at all. Only Priority shipping gets any care."
Beenjammin, I am sorry this happened to you. You're GTG. Hopefully they will find that barrel.
 
#12
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

Say waht you want about the insurance. Sure I should have paid for it. What I am saying it two damages in two months all of a suddend is a bit suspect.

Two months ago , I would have said the same as Tucker here.

Moral of the story.. Be sure to get the insurance.


...I still feel that UPS plays the game "Lets just see if we can break this" I mean I couldnt have opened that tube, if I threw it off a building.
 
#13
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shoot4fun</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Have not had issues with Fedex (yet) and only a couple with UPS. I had my worst shipping experience with USPS. I shipped three factory sealed boxes of Lapua bullets in a package that had plenty of packing filler and was taped very well to WI. Only 17 of the bullets made it and(you guessed it) I had shipped parcel post with no insurance. After all, it was bullets and they were well packed. Who could possible tear them up, right? Oh, and they acted like it was all my fault since I shipped parcel post. In their own words "we don't take care of parcel post boxes at all. Only Priority shipping gets any care."
Beenjammin, I am sorry this happened to you. You're GTG. Hopefully they will find that barrel. </div></div>

Thanks Bro. I think they will find it. I could not imagine someone steal this item as it is pretty limited on what it can be used on. Thankfully my fiend at pakmail is close to some higher up at UPS. At least I now it is being looked into and not ignored.
 
#15
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bacarrat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">They (UPS, FedEx, and USPS) don't care about your packages. They have your packages and your money. You are at their mercy if your package is going to get there on time and undamaged. </div></div>

I always tell them the package has an internal timer and will blow if it doesnt get there on time...... they start laughing and I just stare at them, straight faced. They get kind of worried and then I start laughing. Its awkward but it sure is funny! I think by now they are so used to me that they dont take it seriously anymore. But the first week or so they sure were sweating hard. haha
laugh.gif
 
#16
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kevlars</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Insurance is not for just damage its for loss as well. It is sad that people steal and things get lost ... but they do. I am in AZ and when I shipped my rifle to California -- I insured it for $5K just to be sure.

I also take picutes of the item in the box with a copy of the tracking slip to show proof and then I also take a picture of the packed item. But that is just me....

sorry to hear about the issue.


Very good idea ^

</div></div>
 
#17
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

Here's a little secret that some of you might not know.

A long time ago, when I was younger and spryer, I used to hop in and out of cargo airplanes all night at a UPS hub, loading and unloading them out on the "ramp."

Most of the cargo is loaded into what are called "cans" in the business, aluminum and plastic containers, shaped to perfectly fit inside the upper three-quarters of the stripped-out airframe. They are raised up to the cargo door by what's called a "K-Loader," rolled into the airframe, rolled back towards the tail, locked in place, and then rolled back out at the destination, and lowered to waiting "tugs" that pull them into the air hub like train cars for sorting and placement on the brown trucks that are known as "package cars."

Unfortunately, anything that doesn't make into a "can" is placed individually into the belly of the airframe in the cargo bay that is typically associated with the storage of luggage and other items associated with passenger air travel. The belly is pure metal, and the packages that go there are subject to the effects of terrible condensation as they go up in the air six miles and then back down again to their next destination.

And, invariably, that's where you'll find the poorly packaged (for what it's subjected to) forty and fifty-pound boxes of ball bearings and other incredibly dense hardware, nicely soaked from a plane ride next to the bare metal of the inside of the plane, and ready to rip apart like so much shit in the hands of the guy trying to unload it at 3 am from an uncomfortable squat and place it onto a conveyor belt that's ten feet or more up in the air and a foot out from a multi-million dollar airframe that it isn't allowed to even touch.

Trust me: if you're shipping anything via UPS, package it as if you were counting on it surviving a nice drizzling rain for an hour or so. It's more expensive, but not as expensive as insurance, and you're more likely to have your stuff get to where it's going.
 
#18
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

I shipped a bicycle UPS, insured for $700.00.
The recipient sent it back damaged by UPS. It was crushed.
Long story short, I got the $700.00, and the agent handling the case said he had no use for a damaged bicycle, and asked me to dispose of it! Sure I will...
Parted it out....
 
#19
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

I never realy understood the insurance scam.You contract them to deliver a package for an agreed upon fee.They take your money and your item.But if you want the service you payed for guaranteed to be done you have to pay an extra fee.

I can see it now the auto shop does a brake job but if you want to be guaranteed that your vehicle will stop you need to pay extra for that other wise its 50/50.
 
#22
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

I will tell U this if you ship ammo and the box is damaged they can not ship it back to the sender or to the receiver they have to discard it. Sucks I know. Also they have a lot of fucking thieves that work in the loading and sorting area. My wife’s cousin is a lost prevention director and spends every day busting his own employees stealing so beware
 
#23
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

Not only do they damaged nearly everything, they are usually more expensive than USPS. My UPS store quoted me $18.50 to ship a box to Michigan measuring 4"x5"x6" and it only contained an aluminum picatinny rail, the mounting screws, and some newspaper. Needless to say, I just went to USPS and shipped it in the smallest flat rate box for $5.20...ridiculous.
 
#24
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: remau308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not only do they damaged nearly everything, they are usually more expensive than USPS. My UPS store quoted me $18.50 to ship a box to Michigan measuring 4"x5"x6" and it only contained an aluminum picatinny rail, the mounting screws, and some newspaper. Needless to say, I just went to USPS and shipped it in the smallest flat rate box for $5.20...ridiculous. </div></div>

That is very true .. however have you ever tried to collect from an insurance claim from USPS? If you start when you are 10 years old you may see it when you retire.. LOL

With UPS or Fedex yes .. people are people regardless and things are stolen and go missing and yes they are more expensive. But when you insure the item and it does go lost -- they pay up pretty fast, most I have ever waited is 90 days.

USPS ... lost the item that was insured -- and its been 6 months and they just recently came back and asked to close the case even though they have not settled or found the items. I think the best line that was given me "Its the United States Postal Service it will turn up eventually and when it does it will get delivered"

Lessons I learned -- Insure the item - Take pictures and keep receipts to prove the worth. and finally take pictures after it is wrapped to prove that it was in good condition.
 
#25
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

another person here for the "package it like your life depended on it" crew. Sent a K31 from Shreveport, LA to Dallas yesterday. Trying to get the bubble wrap as compact as I could, I took the bolt out and separately wrapped it. Well somehow UPS managed to punch a big ass hole in the box and the damn bolt fell out and is gone. So now I get to refund the money and get a bolt-less rifle back. Go me. And of course, not insured
blush.gif
. Good thing I learned my lesson on a 225 dollar rifle instead of a 2,225 rifle.
 
#26
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

I just shipped some rings via USPS, they left my hometown just out of Denver, were scanned in Denver and disappeared from there. Did I insure this package? No.
Lesson learned.
 
#27
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dmg308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I never realy understood the insurance scam.You contract them to deliver a package for an agreed upon fee.They take your money and your item.But if you want the service you payed for guaranteed to be done you have to pay an extra fee.

I can see it now the auto shop does a brake job but if you want to be guaranteed that your vehicle will stop you need to pay extra for that other wise its 50/50. </div></div>



EXACTLY!
 
#28
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dmg308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I never realy understood the insurance scam.You contract them to deliver a package for an agreed upon fee.They take your money and your item.But if you want the service you payed for guaranteed to be done you have to pay an extra fee.

I can see it now the auto shop does a brake job but if you want to be guaranteed that your vehicle will stop you need to pay extra for that other wise its 50/50. </div></div>

This is what I was thinking as well... There is a fee, and then another fee to do it correctly.
 
#29
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

I figure it's simple. I self insure for the value of the shipping costs. Anything worth more than the shipping costs is worth insuring. Insurance isn't worth anything until you actually need it, and then it's worth a lot more than you paid for it. It's gambling, only this time you don't lose.
 
#30
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

I always ship UPS, and insure for full replacement value. I've made a few claims, and only had to show proof of what the replacement cost or repair cost will be. They've paid out full value every time. It generally works out in my favor, as i don't ever pay retail for much of anything. It's just a time thing when dealing with them.
 
#32
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Veer_G</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here's a little secret that some of you might not know.

, package it as if you were counting on it surviving a nice drizzling rain for an hour or so. It's more expensive, but not as expensive as insurance, and you're more likely to have your stuff get to where it's going. </div></div>

Exactly right. Every package that I ship is completely wrapped with 100% coverage in the wide 2" packing tape. 100% coverage.

They all suck.

I had a real experience with USPS. Had to supply pictures several follow up letters for a claim. Three months later they paid three times the amount of the claim and twice the purchase price of the item. I was stunned. I guess smoking pot is a regular lunchtime practice in the claims dept.
 
#33
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dmg308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I never realy understood the insurance scam.You contract them to deliver a package for an agreed upon fee.They take your money and your item.But if you want the service you payed for guaranteed to be done you have to pay an extra fee.

I can see it now the auto shop does a brake job but if you want to be guaranteed that your vehicle will stop you need to pay extra for that other wise its 50/50. </div></div>

+ 1 billion. There should at least be a reasonable amount of insurance included in the cost of shipping.
 
#34
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ubet</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I usually insure things for 3 times what they are worth, cause I figure at best they are only gonna pay 50% of what I insured it for anyway. </div></div>

I always insure for replacement cost of the item I am shipping. Just because I sold it for 75% of what a new one costs doesn't mean it can be replaced for that. Plus, it covers (if needed) the cost of insurance and shipping.
 
#35
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ratbert</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tucker301</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: beenjammin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Did I insure tha barrel? Nope... </div></div>

Problem isolated.
whistle.gif
</div></div>

I've had FedEx, DHL/Airborne, and UPS all lose or severely damage multi-thousand dollar shipments that have been insured. Trying to get any money out of them afterwards would be laughable if it wasn't so pathetically futile. I think we've gotten perhaps 30% of the value from our insurance, and it takes months of constant pushing on them to get that. Given what they charge for the insurance, I'm not entirely convinced it wouldn't be wiser just to save up the costs of the insurance and apply it to excessively over-protective packaging and/or replacement costs for whatever they eventually do lose/break.

</div></div>


So very true... Good example... Shipped a grandfather clock that my grandparents had in their home in Florida and after they had pasted on, the movers shipped it back up to Ohio using UPS...(god knows why they did that)

Well long story, 18months later they handed my parent pennies for the repairs and damage that this 125year old clock sustained in their travel... UPS sucks ass.. they all do...pay em and hope for the best.. because they dont' give a shit if it breaks or not...
 
#36
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

I should have known better but I used UPS when I should have waited for FedEx.

So GAP completes my rifle and against my better judgement I asked them to ship it back to me using UPS, since the driver has known us for so long he usually makes our house his first stop. The shipped it Next Day Air early AM because I am having to do jury duty almost every morning. It did not show this morning and I was not happy. Well I track the package and it was held up for "adverse weather", so apparently they cannot drive in the rain. The bad weather that they were scared of blew out of the Louisville hub around 12:50am, they stopped the hub at 2:50am for the weather. WTF!?

But this is the kicker..... my next day air order from triad shipped the same date and taking the same route was delivered ON TIME. Now UPS will deliver the rifle on Friday morning by 10:30am?!?!?! WHAT THE HELL is going on? They are a day late and still will not get it to my by the time I paid for.

UPS SUCKS. I will never use them again. I am closing my account with them.
 
#37
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

Here's how you get your full value insurance claim.

Lawyer writes a letter stating claim ammount and what not. Deliver it to Myron Gray @ ups.
Why him?--> http://www.ups.com/pressroom/us/bios/bio...ray.syndication

Wait however long. Ignore anything other than a full value settlement. Then file in magistrates court where you live against him ($10k cap here so keep that in mind that it should cover most claims). Then send another letter from lawyer notifying him of suit and the reason for it.

Then settle for original claim and fees.

This is the ONLY way to get all your insurance claim on firearms or other high dollar stuff. You have to sue them directly. Look at the link. It says he is directly responsible for your lost items.
 
#38
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

I ship 100-150 items each week with UPS, and have for several years. I cant think of any year when I had more that 1-2 items lost(as in never found). I have to have 4-5 chased down each year, but most are found. I cant remember a single claim for a"damaged" order.

All UPS packages include up to $100 dollars in coverage. I have never had a big issue with UPS on paying the claims. Start the claim, let them search for it, prove the value, wait for check. Ya it takes a little time, but never more than 3-4 weeks for me.

USPS? Not my choice. Ya a little box ships for $5-6.00, but add delivery confirmation and insurance (USPS insurance in expensive), and your little box is now $9.00. I ship a fair amount with USPS and they loose more than UPS and the claim process sucks for sure.

My .02, Ill stick with UPS. Yes they may screw up every now and then, but it not chronic.
 
#39
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KYS338</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

But this is the kicker..... my next day air order from triad shipped the same date and taking the same route was delivered ON TIME. </div></div>

I put some Sniper-Fu Dust on it!!
 
#41
Re: Beware of UPS for shipping anything

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Triad</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KYS338</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

But this is the kicker..... my next day air order from triad shipped the same date and taking the same route was delivered ON TIME. </div></div>

I put some Sniper-Fu Dust on it!! </div></div>

Well now your in the running to best Larue. Can I get a bottle of the sniper Fu dust?
 
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