When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Well, I ordered my z06 front grille and front splitter from gmpartsonline (dot) net for a very reasonable price, and what do you know, I get back to my hotel from working expecting to see 2 large boxes and this is what I find.
1 box and it's all busted up... The front splitter which was shipped with the grille didn't even come in, and UPS tracking shows that it was shipped...
Called Angel (salesman) who sold me the items and explained what was going on and thankfully he is emailing me a return label for the damaged grille (free of charge) and is going to investigate why the front splitter wasn't shipped.
Thankfully these parts aren't needed, unfortunately I'll probably have to wait a month before getting everything so I can get my car into the paint booth...
Never use UPS if at all possible to use any other carrier. I speak from experience...
They all suck. I think they have a competition - which service can drop a package marked Fragile from the highest distance on the customer's porch. I literally hear packages hitting the brick entryway at my house. Only difference is time of day. UPS comes very late. FedEx is earlier. USPS is unpredictable.
UPS is the worst. I used to do a lot of ebay sales (and quite a few purchases, too), and UPS smashed far more packages than anyone else. The bad old postal service is far better, but UPS make life easier for large volume shippers, so this is what you get.
The only UPS problem packages I have had are ones that came through the Dallas sort center, they must let the longhorns trample them there. I have been surprised how few FedEx boxes I have received where there is any sign of rough handling but there is an occasional exception.
Although it isn't something that you can do with commercial suppliers I have found the safest shipping for large, heavy, odd shaped items is Greyhound. I collect and restore vintage ham radio gear and have used this service several times with excellent results. But I wouldn't drive a Corvette there even if the package would fit because the terminals generally aren't in the nicest part of town
When I picked my grill up at the dealer it was in a box large enough for 4 grills. Same for the splitter except that it was in it's own smaller box inside another huge one. UPS charges for the boxes would have been substantial.
Sorry to hear about the damage to your grill. The parts could have been packaged better by GM though. Those long packages don't travel down conveyor belts very well and are subject to bending or being crushed with other boxes when loading.
For a individual to collect on a UPS claim (if you've ever read the rules) You have to supply a photo of the box contents before shipping to show you have adhered to there recommendations etc, etc....good luck with that!
I hate to say it but UPS is careless - the way their sorting works, catwalks and package carrier belts are designed and loading/unloading of their trucks on the primary invite this stuff. They are way behind FedEx and always have been unfortunately. I've had tires, wheels and other stuff torn up via UPS. You have to make it bullet proof for packages to make it through their hubs undamaged. Bummer!
I have exactly the opposite experience where I live. UPS much better than FedEx. I have a gate on my property. Both have gate codes. UPS will come in an leave the package on my covered back patio. FedEx throws it in the driveway rain or shine. Won't even ring the call button. Wife has had several items damaged by water. Thankfully, it doesn't rain much here.
I handle all freight for my company, small package, LTL, TL, ocean, rail, etc. and have for years.
FedEx and UPS both damage items. If you look at their claims reporting they're virtually identical. In the grander scheme (and I am NOT defending them here) if you just take the volume of packages that they handle daily on a global basis the loss / damage ratio is very, very low. It's just that every time it does happen it seems to be something that is important / hard to replace / time sensitive.
It's the same with all the carriers, a lot of it depends on the local terminal and ultimately on the final delivery driver if a package is delivered damaged or not. (The way they push drivers to make more stops in the same time frame is another story of course). The conveyor systems, sorters, etc., they both use are pretty darned close to identical. Software that runs it is different but the hard parts are pretty close.
my business receives and ships packages nearly every day. very few are damaged or lost but it does happen. The best insurance against damage is good packaging.
Both are good when you consider how many packages sent. Generally a damaged package is due to it's packing. Was in retail for 17 yrs and the same shippers continually had damage, while most didn't. Was always the shipper- poor packaging, and not the shipping company.
UPS AND FEDEX are much better than trucking companies.
Dirty rotten UPS!!!!
