New top arrived via UPS...
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 739
Likes: 5
From: Albuquerque NM
New top arrived via UPS...
I bought this top from a forum member, MEXAKNPWR (great transaction by-the-way)...
Look what UPS did to it...
The estimate to fix it is $400...Luckily it was insured now all I have to do is meet with the UPS inspector to see what they say...
Look what UPS did to it...
The estimate to fix it is $400...Luckily it was insured now all I have to do is meet with the UPS inspector to see what they say...
Team Owner
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I feel your pain...we had 2 tops shipped for Yellowvette837 and had similar results 
unfortunately and I do not know your circumstances..but ours was more a result of poor packaging...not saying the seller didn't do a good enough job as I havent seen the box etc...BUT these tops are so fragile it doesn't take much. I ended up buying a 3rd top and personally picked it up at Cruise In....the best way I have heard to pack these is to wrap them in lots of hefty bags and then shoot that expanding foam in the box around the top so the whole package is stiff.
Hopefully it was insured....it took a couple weeks but UPS did pay the claim and both we and the sellers were reimbursed each time.
Best of luck with your next purchase
unfortunately and I do not know your circumstances..but ours was more a result of poor packaging...not saying the seller didn't do a good enough job as I havent seen the box etc...BUT these tops are so fragile it doesn't take much. I ended up buying a 3rd top and personally picked it up at Cruise In....the best way I have heard to pack these is to wrap them in lots of hefty bags and then shoot that expanding foam in the box around the top so the whole package is stiff.Hopefully it was insured....it took a couple weeks but UPS did pay the claim and both we and the sellers were reimbursed each time.
Best of luck with your next purchase
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: The line waiting to see Santa Claus stretched all the way back to Terre Haute, and I was at the end, Indiana
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The ARE going to tell you it was not packed properly. That's what they usually say. I've dealt with them for 20+ years. Be sure to keep the box and packing, especially if there is any external evidence. I had a custom painted gas tank for a bike came in once, very well packed, had a big footprint on the top of the box. The box was caved in and the tank had a dent in the top that aligned perfectly with the footprint. I argued with the claims girl on the phone for days and finally emailed her a photo of the box with "IMPROPER PACKAGING DOES NOT PUT FOOTPRINTS ON THE BOX" in the subject line, and nothing else. I got a check two days later. Hang in there!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 739
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From: Albuquerque NM
Thanks for the replies... I kept all the packing materials but I don't see how they will determine anything from it. I'm waiting on a call from the "inspector" to schedule a time to look at everything.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
The ARE going to tell you it was not packed properly. That's what they usually say. I've dealt with them for 20+ years. Be sure to keep the box and packing, especially if there is any external evidence. I had a custom painted gas tank for a bike came in once, very well packed, had a big footprint on the top of the box. The box was caved in and the tank had a dent in the top that aligned perfectly with the footprint. I argued with the claims girl on the phone for days and finally emailed her a photo of the box with "IMPROPER PACKAGING DOES NOT PUT FOOTPRINTS ON THE BOX" in the subject line, and nothing else. I got a check two days later. Hang in there!
I agree. I just got a radio bezel from Gene Culley shipped through UPS with a work boot print on the crushed in box, but had done no damage to the bezel thank goodness. I'm retired Postal Service and have both heard and experienced our blunders but over the past few years I think the care and expertise we used to take for granted when using UPS has "left the building." We eBay a LOT and other than USPS for the small stuff we have moved from UPS to Fed Ex and DHL with better outcome.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Visalia CA
Sorry to hear of your problem, Rich. I just recently bought a painted (white) targa top off a Forum member myself. My BIGGEST concern was shipping damage. Lucky for me, the seller's best friend worked for a UPS store. He assured me it would be packaged with the utmost care. It arrived in excellent condition. Hope you get your claim settled to your safistaction. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Decatur, Alabama-Bowling Green, Kentucky
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I bought one and it was shipped Fedex. It was broken also.
The seller faxed a release allowing Fedex to pay me directly and I had the top repaired. Oh, well.
It's really a bad idea to ship tops.
The seller faxed a release allowing Fedex to pay me directly and I had the top repaired. Oh, well.
It's really a bad idea to ship tops.
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Too bad about the damage they did. Hope they come through for you with a quick settlement.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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UPS paid the claim.....I thought it was gonna be a battle....
They came out and picked it up..wanted it re-packed and they took it back and looked at it....contacted shipper/seller and it went from there...I wasn't feeling real good about it but we got paid...
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,407
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From: Tampa FL
I went to the UPS store and had them pack my top when I sold it. It cost about 55 bucks and the other UPS store wanted more. The guy was very professional and I had a receipt for his packing services, the shipping cost and the warranty. So no worries.
I used to sell computers and they would get broken in shipment all the time. The only way to do it is to overpack! Assume they will pull a Pet Detective on the box. My friend works for UPS and he says that they walk on packages all the time in the truck too.
I used to sell computers and they would get broken in shipment all the time. The only way to do it is to overpack! Assume they will pull a Pet Detective on the box. My friend works for UPS and he says that they walk on packages all the time in the truck too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Paradise Valley Alberta
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ups- orr oops as we call them
I had a 2500.00 r/c fleabay helicopter shipped to me, paid the buyer, UPS shipped it, got here crashed, they picked it up, sent the helicopter and 2500.00, plus the 150 to ship back to the seller. He laughed and told me to gfms.
I know where he lives, hes gonna get it bad when I get to the States.
I know where he lives, hes gonna get it bad when I get to the States.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
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From: Midland TX
I have never had UPS pay a single damage claim - even with insurance. I finally realized that the only semi-guarantee that the packaging will meet their standards is to pay them to pack it - which has always cost me more than the shipping. They must take more care handling their packed boxes - never had any damage yet when they did the packing.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 739
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From: Albuquerque NM
UPS update...
After being told an inspector would call, come out and inspect the damaged top I haven't heard a peep.
Went down to a local UPS Customer Service Center and was told all the supervisors and managers were out, the inspector was at lunch... I did receive an email saying someone would call me by the close of business today, but of course they didn't call...
Does anyone have any contacts at UPS that could possibly help? All I want is for UPS to pay for the damage they did...
Thanks!
Went down to a local UPS Customer Service Center and was told all the supervisors and managers were out, the inspector was at lunch... I did receive an email saying someone would call me by the close of business today, but of course they didn't call...
Does anyone have any contacts at UPS that could possibly help? All I want is for UPS to pay for the damage they did...
Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,018
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From: Conroe Texas
been there, done that, and got the chump award. i sent a top ( insured for $400 ) and a column ( insured for $500 ) and they both were damaged by ups and got the run around for months. right now i have a small claims suit against ups and am waiting to get a court date. good luck trying to collect.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
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From: Midland TX
I had one shipment about 5 years ago that I paid extra for a local UPS Pack-n-Mail service to double-pack and insure just to be on the safe side since I was shipping several pictures in frames to a corporate client. They all were destroyed. The Pack-n-Mail filed claims and it went for months until I finally gave up. I had to purchase all new frames and photos to replace that shipment - so instead of making $500 on that job, I lost over $2000. Since then I have been able to reduce my annual shipping costs by over 80% - I just now refuse to accept jobs that involve shipping.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,172
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From: Sartell Minnesota
i had a hood shipped freight and they do the same ****. They threw the hood off the truck and dented all up. This was off my '96 Camaro Z28 but the hood was PERFECT with only 13k original miles on the hood. Well i got it and looked like it had 300k miles on it. Beat up and dented. You could CLEARLY see where the truck dropped it on it's corner and bent it over. They tried to deny the claim but i fought and fought and they paid me. But i was still out of a hood. I HATE shipping fragile stuff. Hopefully they do ya right and pay ya...