2. misc-audio
  3. 1041953895

UPS strikes again

I sold a turntable here on the'GoN and shipped it to Kansas City, KS via UPS ground insured in the original box/packing with extra padding/foam etc. Sent it from my local Mail Boxes Etc. They have always been very good to deal with. They inspected it before I signed off on it, stating it was well packed. It went out on 12/27, and because of the holidays it did not arrive until yesterday, 1/6. Late last night the buyer emailed me to tell me that the dustcover is cracked, a corner chipped off, the inner platter no longer lines up with the motor pulley, AND the inner platter no longer spins freely, the motor also jams and will not rotate.

UPS must have had to put people on overtime to work it over that bad. This is the second time in 6 months. I bought an ARC SP9 preamp and when it arrived from California, several caps were broken off the PC boards. This made a second trip out for the unit, to ARC for repair.

Back to claims hell for me. Any advice for speeding things up to resolve this? I am going to reimburse the buyer out of pocket first while waiting for the claim. I assume that if UPS decides to inspect the unit, they will send someone to the buyer's home in KC to reject the claim. I am going to begin the initial claim through Mail Boxes Etc.
slipknot1
aroc
760 posts
 
No UPS stands for "Unequaled Package Smashers" (Aroc is a former UPS employee)
sc53
720 posts
 
Make sure your buyer photographs ALL damage, including the outer box, inner packaging, etc. Take tons of photos, preferably digital if possible. After UPS comes back to your buyer's house to pick up the damaged TT for "inspection," they will tell you via form letter that they find your packaging defective and deny the claim. Start calling whoever signed your form letter and offer to email your photos. I would begin this claims process w/UPS at the same time as you file a claim with Mail Boxes. And you don't need to go to small claims court yet. With constant pressure and phone calls, you can prevail without going to court. Hopefully, you still have your original sales receipt for the 'table. UPS will want to see that too, to corroborate your claim for total loss. And I am assuming, of course, that you insured the package. Make your claim for your full insurance amount. And good luck! I just went through this (my third time altogether) with FedEx Ground and ultimately got a check, though, as usual, it was denied a couple of times at first.
hgeifman
2,263 posts
 
In addition to all of the above, I suggest you ask Mail Boxes Etc for advise on your claim. Make sure you document all damage with many pictures to help you with your case. Good luck. cheers......
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
Sorry for your misfortune Slipknot1. Your experience almost identically mirrors my own almost 1 year ago. A near perfect condition 17 year old turntable shipped after meticulous packing. It also arrived with a broken plinth, frame and completely shattered dustcover. The motor wouldn't turn, the sapphire bearing was damaged and the base of the unit had a crack almost side to side, in other words trashed. It looked as though it was dropped off a 30' roof onto a concrete surface. Better to leave only non breakables in their uncaring hands, certainly not expensive electronics and NEVER, NEVER something as fragile as a tt.

The damages were fully documented on the other end. I sent a check to the buyer for his expenses and received payment from UPS approximately 1.5 months after the incident. The squeeky wheel gets the most attention. Call, take names and document times and keep the pressure on, otherwise it won't we resolved as quickly as you might like. Best advise I can give after 3 bad experiences with UPS is DON'T TRUST THEM WITH YOUR EXPENSIVE ELECTRONICS!! They are supremely incompetent. I am a slow learner but the 3rd time was the charm, shame on me.
avideo
222 posts
 
Sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience. Yes UPS certainly does screw things up - more often than most of us would care to admit. However - FedEx, Airborne, and the USPS are your other options - and none of them have exactly what I would call a "sterling" record either.
Though I maybe shouldn't mention it - but it does seem like a turntable is probably not the most suitable item to ship long distances. Lots of moving parts that can get easily out of alignment, not to mention flimsy plastic dustcovers and small parts that have next to no resistance to breakage. Certainly not an item that I would ever buy mail order.
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