UPS Claim

H

HovisKM

NRA Life Member
Well, I guess things can go ok sometimes. I had shipped a gun in late November to a fellar in California. The rifle was packed in a plastic gun case inside of a cardboard box. I've shipped several guns like this without incident. However, when this gun arrived, (the gun case was a tapered one), it was backwards in the case. The glued-in action was out of the stock and the stock broken (borden) right behind the pistol grip. The FFL holder and buyer sent me some photos and and I filed a claim on 11 Nov 08. Then UPS assigned a company to inspect the gun at the FFL. After doing so, on 4 Dec 08, I received notification that the claim was denied due to insuffiecent packing, saying it was only in a cardboard box without any packing. Well, I disputed the claim the next day and last night, I received a call from the company handling the dispute that the claim had been appoved for repairs.

I have to say that this pleased me and took less than a month to settle. The guy that called me last night said they when they looked into it and tracked the package backwards, it was noted, that at one of the facilities that the package had been trapped in the rollers and that the box had black scuff on it. He said that this was actually noted. I questioned how the gun got into the case BACKWARDS and the phone went kinda silent but I figured I should leave good enough alone and just said thanks and he stated he would get the paperwork right to me.

I especially want to thank Jim Borden for his assistance and support in the matter. Jim was dead on with what would happen and take place....Thanks Jim (Jim has always been helpful, polite, "correct", in every conversation or dealing).

Kevin Hovis
 
Shipping night mares..

I have had one rifle destroyed by UPS, and two distroyed by FedEx. All were packed with more than need protection. One was in a foam filled piece of 8" PVC pipe. The insurance they sell is not insurance according to my states (NC) Isurance Commissioners office. It took a year to get a settlement from UPS and 7 and 9 months to get settlements from FedEx. In both cases I was preparing the subpoenas for a small claims action to get them off their butts. I even wrote a three page typed letter to the President of FedEx and sent it certified return receipt, restricted delivery. He did not even respond to it. They did have to have an attorney respond to the civil summons served on them by the sheriff. Both companies have a maze of obstructions to get a claim resolved. I try to ship US Postal because they are a government entity and someone is accountable. Plus if they loose a firearm you have both the Postal Inspectors and the BATF looking for your lost gun. I know it cost much more but I have found if you use UPS or FedEx you should sent it overnight. They seem to be more responsible with a package that is tracked more closely and in their hands less than 24 hours.

Rustystud
 
For several years I was well involved in buying and selling silver and gold numismatics and bullion and have sent and received packages worth A LOT. Virtually everyone in this field uses USPS (United States Postal Service). I now sell stuff through ebay and don't bother to insure anything unless it's over $200. Hundreds of priority mails with no problems.

One group that I dealt with told me that they have sent several hundreds of thousands of packages via registered mail without incident. Registered is the USPS highest security shipping, it has a chain of custody where a specific person is responsible for the package until the next person signs for it.

I lost one package worth about $250 through UPS and eventually gave up because it wasn't worth the trouble to recover.
 
Let me give you gentlemen........

some (unsolicited) advice. I, too, ship things FedEx. I always ship 2-day air. Some people give me an argument because I want my stuff sent back the same way, I guess they get the discount, but, the refrain I always hear is: "Well, I NEVER have ANY problem w/UPS." Yeah. Right. Thats why something came back to me obviously gotten into & the OUTSIDE was carefully made neat again.
However, I have found one thing, one word, very handy when dealing w/a matter of this sort (insurance). UPS will NOT take responsibility for your gun case & contents UNLESS its shipped in its original cardboard carton (which Doscocil no longer provides). Always try to ship a rectangular case in a box(less chance of getting "caught" in their equipment) that you make up(if you can't get an original, so, EXCEED the strength of the cardboard normally used for this purpose) to closely approximate what would normally be used.
Now, when you are dealing w/them, before things go too far, ASK: "I understand that you will not insure my property (guns or guncases HAVE to be in this type box) UNLESS I have shipped it in a regular cardboard box provided by the mfgr., or better, is this correct??" When they affirm this IS true, let them know, "Well, that is what I did, did I not??" Again, they will have to agree. Then, you tell them, "Well, I have lived up to the contract, haven't I?? And, I assure you, that had I known you would breach this contract I never would have CONTRACTED YOUR SERVICES." Believe me, this little eight character word carries a great deal of CLOUT. I know, FedEx told me they weren't going to honor a claim, because they had a signature release, which allowed them to leave it anywhere on the property. I told the woman, "Hey, your duty is to deliver the package to me as soon as possible, it is MY job to provide your people w/a safe place to put the package, to keep it out of the weather, & safe from thieves. I have told your drivers to instuct this driver on NUMEROUS occasions where to put the package & lock it securely." "Well, we're not responsible......" I said, "Well, I know that, lady, but if I'd known THAT beforehand, I NEVER WOULD HAVE SIGNED THE CONTRACT, so you need to do something." "Well, I'll have to check higher up, I'll get back to you." "You do that, ma'am, I'll be waiting...." Within 20 minutes, she'd called back & said, "We are gonna honor that claim." I said, "I thought you might." I called the supplier & told them to whom I'd spoken, gave him the 800#, told him to call that woman & get everything straightened out, they'd pay for it. Long story short, in three days the $**t was delivered, locked where it was supposed to be, NEVER a problem since. And every Christmas I give 10 bucks & a bottle of some GOOD (NOT Mad Dog20/20, either) stuff to the FedEx AND the UPS guy. Only possibility of problems? VACATION time. CONTRACT, THATS the word, learn to use it MORE often, LESS problems. HTH.
 
I use USPS

and have for years. I have never had a problem. I know others who have had problems with USPS but I haven't. They are less expensive and have all the same options the Delivery companies do. Beyond that, I have always believed that UPS is responsible for Hazmat charges so I avoid them, pretty much. I always ask for USPS when I order things from suppliers.
 
I have heard of way too many UPS, Fedex, insurance denials. If it's valuable the absolute best way is USPS Registered-Insured. The insurance is cheaper and in this post 9-11 environment, it must be signed for by somebody every stop along the way. I have also been told this over the last several months by two different dealers that ship guns in the 6 figure value with zero issues. Just remember the brown tape.
 
USPS has a limit on the amount they will insure for..

I ship machined tools in boxes 24 X 24 X 18 and they have to be insured for $25,000.00 The postal service will not insure them. It cost about $165.00 to ship and insure them with UPS. and about $240.00 to ship them with FedEx.

The boxes look like they have been run through a shredder. The drivers and handlers don't give a dam.

I had a $84,000.00 Parker Shotgun shipped from Chadicks a couple years ago. The box was clearly labeled hand with care fragile. The driver threw it out of the truck on to the ground with several other boxes. I told him I would not sign for that box until I inspected it for damages. He said he did not care, "it was delivered". I told him he had just thrown a $84,000.00 shot gun on the ground. Again he said he did not care. I called the terminal to complain and the manager said he "would talk with the driver". That was the last I heard from them.

Rustystud
 
UPS and Fed X specialize in small unbreakable packages with enough packing around the object that it can survive a 42" drop on any corner. Any thing else is shipped at a risk. I have not seen it but I am willing to bet these guys can break diamonds.

Concho Bill
 
I hope y'all are right about USPS, I shipped one to Borden's almost 2 wks ago........ain't heard a peep. First time I've used the Post Office for a gun.

al
 
UPS and even FedEX is contracted with the USPS and handles their packages. I talked to a few gunsmiths and action makers and all advised me to stay away from USPS. They said that they were the only ones who would not pay when it came down to it. I'm glad things worked out the way they did with UPS. Most Class III firearms with the millitary and goverment are shipped FedEx with no special markings and I have only ever heard of one instance where there was a problem.

Once, a state of the art classified night vision scope came up missing out of a box of 4 of them. They were shipped UPS and the box looked like Heck. I talked to the Head NIS (Naval Investigative Service)(it was shipped from a navy base to a army SF group) and he said there was probably some FedEx driver deer hunting with a 10,000 dollar scope and don't even know it. They ended up writing it off.

Hovis
 
Yeahh, Jim warned me. After I told him.

It's insured.......I can't understand how they'd "not pay up".

al
 
Rustystud said:
I ship machined tools in boxes 24 X 24 X 18 and they have to be insured for $25,000.00 The postal service will not insure them.
Rustystud
Click to expand...

Why the devil not? I've sent and received a number of registered packages insured for $25K (their max insurance value BTW). I've never been denied insurance.
 
What I do

I have a take down shotgun case. If I take the barreled action out of the stock they both fit in very nicely.

I have constructed a custom size wooden box that the shotgun case fits into. The sides or edges are of 3/4 inch doug fir the top and bottom of 1/4 inch masonite and screwed to the sides. After about six times through the system I will need to construct a new box.

The package is heavy which adds to the shipping cost; but it does not look like a rifle.

I did all of this after trying to collect on a claim with UPS (broken trigger)

Just got a case of .22 ammo that had been dropped on one corner. The impact sort of messed up two 50 round boxes; but will not file a complaint because no one will even care and it isn't worth the time.
 
I just shipped

A rifle to Wisconsin via USPS. USPS was less expensive than UPS. I used the box my CMP Garand came in. I wired the extra barrel to the bottom of the box, wrapped the dies and rifle in bubble-wrap and shipped the brass in zip-lock bags; one @ each end of the box. The whole thing arrived intact and the buyer is happy with everything.

Nice box, them CMP boxes. Great stuff, bubble-wrap.
 
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