I found out today an interesting tidbit about UPS insurance. I bought a top from a member and it was drop kicked across the country from the appearance of the package. The top was cracked in two places. The seller purchased $500. of insurance (Their max). The claim has taken on a life of its own it has taken so long. An inspector from UPS came out last week and took photos of the package and top. Today I got a call from the UPS Store in Texas. They sell the insurance and are liable for any claim over $100, not UPS. They are an independant franchise owner. I have a feeling it will not be easy to collect from these guys. On top of all that, any claim paid will go to the seller, not me! I paid for the product and shipping, and they pay the seller? The seller in this case is an honest guy, I am not worried about him forwarding the money, if I ever see any, but come on, what kind of upside down logic is this. Thought you should know this info since I'm sure you all have parts shipped.

 

This all sounds like Dejavu to me. A few years back I bought a used top for my 85. When it arrived one corner of the box was smashed and of course that corner of the top was broken. I call UPS and inform the seller. I paid for insurance. UPS will only deal w/ the shipper not the shippee. I explain that I am the one out $500. They pick up the top, inspect packaging and return top to seller. Now the seller has the top and my money. The seller was decent and said he would call UPS and take care of it. Few weeks go by and I call UPS, they have no record of him contacting them and tell me the claim is denied due to insufficient packaging. Now I'm pissed! and the seller is reluctant to return e-mails. After a few more calls to UPS they agree to review the case. To make a long story short they finally agree to pay. Now the kicker, they send the check to the seller! Now he has my money, the broken top and the check from UPS and it is up to me to get in touch w/ him and get him to send me my money. I found out UPS sent him a check about 10 days before I found out and he never contacted me. He said he sent check. Few weeks go by , no check. Said he sent it to wrong address and it bounced back. Finally got check and it was dated after he said he originally sent it so I know he was lying. He sent me $450 and I think i paid like $482. He said he kept the $32 for HIS trouble. Man now I'm really PISSED! Told him to keep the $32 as I had already spent way too much time on this! It dragged on soo long it was too late to leave neg. feedback on ebay.
Bottom line, I don't agree w/ UPS or the other shippers policies of dealing w/ the shipper. I paid the shipping and Ins. and I am the one who is out money. They need to deal w/ me and what good is insurance if THEIR inspectors are programmed to say it was packaged improperly. If it was packaged improperly why did they accept it? That does not explain the crushed corner on the box that said "FRAGILE GLASS" about 10 times on it. I'm not singleing out UPS, they are all the same. I learned my lesson, never again! Good luck on your claim, you'll need it, Guy

 

So, it sounds like from both of these that one has to worry about "insurance" with UPS, the company, and UPS, the franchisee-owned stores. Oh that's just great.

I will say my last, large transaction (large to me, not even McD french fries to others), I was forced to use escrow.com. And while I shipped the items UPS "insured" (whatever that might mean now), it was up to the buyer to accept or not the items in their as-delivered condition. He could've returned them at his cost (an added cost to the "shippee"), but also had his money returned from escrow. Apparently, not until all parties are satisified is the money released, AND it's all in writing, none of this verbal crap to be rescinded in a few hours or days.

As it turned out, the items arrived uncscathed, mainly because I added enough packing material to stuff a 200 lb. turkey. But that's actually the way my glass top was packed, too, so overpacking isn't such a bad thing, especially if it's well done.

Then, again, basic honesty and integrity of buyer and seller trumps everything else. Including a reluctant shipping company of any brand.

 

Thanks, I'll need all the luck I can get. At least I have the top. I can repair it myself and paint it now that they have inspected it, so I won't come out too bad. Anybody else shipping a top had better pay the extra to crate it in a wooden frame with steel bands after triple packing it. The insurance is a joke. These guys could just about break anything.

 

Yea, insurance is a joke. My advice, don't ship these tops. Not worth the trouble. Find a local or maybe someone can meet you halfway and deliver. Guy

 

Then, again, basic honesty and integrity of buyer and seller trumps everything else. Including a reluctant shipping company of any brand.
I agree. Unfortunately this is a problem in our society! Guy

 

Yes, insurance through UPS is a joke. I shipped a $2000 electric piano from the west coast to the east coast. Took it to a package store. They packed it and UPS shipped it. Needless to say it was damaged. UPS blamed the package store and the package store blamed UPS. That was 2 years ago. I have tried and tried. Never got a dime. So much for insurance.

 

Know you know why UPS has chosen the color "Brown" to represent them.

 

I drive for a frieght company. Believe me, all of them are the same. The first mistake is putting "Fragile" on your package. It's just an invitation for some minimum wage dock hand to be as rough with it as possible.

If you're going to send something like a top, just make sure that you pad the hell out of it, especially the corners, and stuff the box with as many styrofoam peanuts, or wadded up newspaper as possible. It should make it ok.

Before I ship ANYTHING, I always take a picture of it, along with the packaging. That way, you have something to fall back on, just in case of the inevitable "It was already broken" excuse.

 

I'm about to go through the same ordeal, Got my top last wed, broke off pass corner. the Box job is too sad for words.

Called Staples claim center an hour ago, answered some questions, now UPS is doing the appt. to check it out. Yeah whatever.

No one gets the top back till i get money. I filed the claim, The top is staying with me till i GETS MINE

Can't we just write all over the box: Don't break another Corvette roof!

 

Yep, same thing happened to me with UPS...they are a joke!

 

Maybe the US Post Office is better...I always use them to ship stuff and have never had any trouble.

 

Ouch to all those horror stories. I hope i never have to deal with this BS

 

I had similar story and ended up getting MOST of my money back. Sent on Grey Hound bus. That was stupid. They only insured for 200. Fed Ex might be the better answer or buy locally like I did last time.

 

The seller that did not return your full amount; Did you post the name here on the CF?

I have been going around with an ebay seller of corvette parts out of VA. Its been two months and the only way to get this guy to return my emails is to make loud noises.

Without going into detail at this point, This forum reaches many members. Rather than leaving negative feedback on ebay just post your story here. It will make a difference.

 

You guys, believe me...these roof panels can be packed so they're virtually indestructable. If the sender just throws it in a box, and sends it, it doesn't matter who the carrier is...it's going to get broken.

 

UPS is an evil corporation in my book. They treat their employees and customers like crap.

 

Is someone baiting Mr. Mojo?

 

i sent one from north carolina to oregon and made it fine. i made a 3/4 plywood frame and glued and stapled heavy cardboard to the top and bottom, i took the top and shrink wrapped heavy duty bubblewrap to it wrapped it in styrofaom wrap, placed it in a bed of peanuts then in the corners i used great stuff the flexible kind then on top another bag of peanuts. it cost approximately 20.00 in material to ship it but it arrived undamaged through fedex. i do have several horror stories through ups and there claims take forever.

 

I'm with Cmy and MyVets: it can be done. My roof didn't go as far, a little less than a thousand miles. But it arrived unscathed in 2 cardboard boxes cut to slip over each other. Both boxes were what I'd call "industrial strength"---no cheap crap, liquor box, thin-wall design, or made for UHaul. The strength rating and burst strength on the round label were very high. Plus, on the inside, there was lots of padding and more industrial strength styro peanuts than I'd ever seen---as with anything, some styro are el cheapos and some are made to protect, really protect. Think of some of your audio gear; I guarantee you that they don't use the same crap styro you'd find with a Mr. Coffee carafe.

My seller worked for a large corp., and took it downstairs to his shipping/receiving dept., which he supervised, and said pack it and ship it UPS (as a matter of fact). Granted, if a truck ran over it, or it dropped out of the jet, chances are, it wouldn't have survived. But short of that, it was packed "for impact" with over 66 gallons of peanuts (I filled well over two large 33 gal. bags with them).

Packaging and wrapping aren't cheap, and doing it properly isn't hard, but you do have to know what you're doing. This isn't like wrapping a gift of fine crystal and handing it to Grandma.