Fedex and Ups Damage thread

Insurance WILL NOT insure anything!

Rule #1- overpack it with the right packing material. If you're not sure, ask the manufacturer. DO NOT trust the guy at the UPS store. They don't know electronics.

Rule #2- NEVER EVER pay or arrange shipping for an item you're buying. This makes YOU the responsible party if damage occurs.  

Rule #3- NEVER ever sign for a damaged package if it's through a freight company! Even if you write "damaged" on the BOL, you're still responsible for returning the item ON YOUR DIME IF returns are accepted. If you think it's insured, you may be right. Freight companies pay 19 cents per pound for freight claims! Third party insurance sounds like a nightmare to me. 

Rule #4- hold your breath until you receive, or the buyer receives the item and leaves you positive feedback. Control is all with the buyer unless they surrender their rights by being ignorant or too lazy to learn the rules.

Rule #5-  If an item is that important to you, drive there if possible!

I learned these things through experience. Hopefully you'll avoid some of the headaches I've endured. Joe

I stopped using UPS insurance when I learned that the insurance only covers LOSS or THEFT, NOT DAMAGE caused by UPS. Not sure if FedEx is the same.

I think FedEx insurance may cover damage caused in transit based on this experience:  I set up my FedEx system to automatically receive an item without signature.  They chose not to honor my insurance claim because the default is that I accepted the package as if I had signed for it and they cannot be responsible for what happens after that.  I can’t argue with that logic, but maybe the increased use of photos showing proof of delivery will be helpful.

When I bought my JBL L300 from the east coast for delivery to California a freight company was used. No problem. Sender used Forward Air. I had to pay extra for them to deliver from LAX to the High Desert. They arrived OK. I would not trust FedEx or UPS.

I bought a Carver amp and another Carver piece on eBay. Shipped in same box. A small amount of crumpled newspaper was used as packing. The amp had a bent mounting flange and the other piece was a write off. Items were packed by a UPS store. UPS denied claim.

A pair of PBN Montana SP2 speakers packaged by the UPS store and shipped to FL from VA. Both speakers arrived completely destroyed. Claim payed.

A VTL ST-150 shipped to GA from VA. Fedex lost the label off the box. Someone thought it was a good idea to send it back to VTL in CA after seeing a reference to that address on the box.  I only found this out because I did the detective work to figure out where it was. It took 3 weeks to get it to the buyer and Bea Lam was a complete pain in the ass to deal with.