UPS help needed!

[bep207]

Hi all,
Sorry if i am posting this in the wrong forum, but since it has to do with sales of Macs I found this most appropriate.

I shipped my 20" iMac G5 w/iSight to my friends father in Virginia from Missouri. He purchased it from me for $1200. Just to be safe I ensured it with UPS for $1500 I had them inspect it, pack it, and ship it themselves to ensure that I would not be liable for poor packaging. The lady at the UPS counter verified that I would definitely be covered for $1500 if anything went wrong in the shipping. Turns out, the recipient got the package today. The cardboard box that was on the outside of the original packing, (with packing materials inbetween them ) was tore to pieces. He said it looked like it had been dropped off the truck. He said the computer case looks in perfect condition however upon booting it up he said the monitor displays every other line off centered and staggered. He also said that it took numerous reboots to even get to a point where he could see Finder. And everytime he would click something the display got worse.
Has anyone had any experiences with filing a claim with UPS. I filed one today. I feel as though I may have trouble since the actual outside of the computer shows no damage. But anyone could tell that a computer like this could easily have the insides jossled without the casing being hurt. Im sure if I dropped my iMac on its face onto the carpet, you would not see any damage but I have a feeling the insides wouldnt be feeling to well.

Does anyone have any experiences or advice with dealing with UPS Insurance claims?

Thanks so much
Blake

[ReanimationLP]

Nope, sorry. :( That really sucks though.

PS - The PS2 is working great now. :D I stuck a HDD in it and got HDAdvance fo r it. Lemme know if you have any problems with the software.

[mbl42]

Be thorough. Give them pictures of the machine before it shipped and how it arrived. Include pictures of the box and such. Good luck.

[bep207]

Nope, sorry. :( That really sucks though.

PS - The PS2 is working great now. :D I stuck a HDD in it and got HDAdvance fo r it. Lemme know if you have any problems with the software.

im glad the ps2 is working for you. i just installed the software today and it works great. thanks
let me know if you are ever selling anything, ill be glad to recommend you to potential buyers/sellers

[interlaced]

I agree with mxlews, be very thorough. I've never dealt with UPS claims, but I did open quite a few FedEx claims last year when I worked for a company that overnighted tropical fish across the US. The driver should have noted any physical damage before delivering to your recepient. If your friend's dad took pics of the damage too, that would definitely help your claim. Even if the original iMac's packaging doesn't show damage, they should also know that a computer (or whatever is inside that's insured for $1500) probably won't withstand being dropped off a truck or enduring whatever damage the other outer packaging showed. I hope you win this one. Good luck.

[insomniac321123]

I worked for a UPS store, so I have a little experience if you shipped it through a UPS store. I know that if UPS packed it, and you got insurance on it, they should reimburse you if you show that it doesn't work. That has been my experience with claims we recieved. If you have any questions, feel free to pm me.

[PuNkErX]

i hate to be the bearer of bad news, but good luck on your claim.

I lost over 1200 dollars in UPS claims. Make sure you take good pictures, and call them up and start complaining.

I filed a complaint for a laptop that got broken during shipping, they came and got it for "investigation" and i haven't seen it since, that was over 1 year ago. I call them up and it's still "being worked on" or whatever that means.

That is why I will never ship UPS again, and if possible when people ship me stuff, I use some other service.

I literally watched a UPS guy drop new rotors for my car off the back of the UPS truck about 5 feet onto the ground, i wasn't too pleased.

[bep207]

a little update. the computer is now working?.
im not sure what is wrong with it. i think it is such minor damage from just being shaken up that if i took it to apple it would still be covered by applecare and i wouldnt have to deal with UPS
the recipient is running apple hardware test on it now.

[bep207]

here is what the screen looks like. any ideas?

[mbl42]

Yeah, had that problem with my Power Mac G5. Had to replace the graphics card I think. But in your case I believe it's onboard, so I don't know. You might want to try opening it up and spraying the motherboard with compressed air, although I don't know if it will help at all.

[MattyMac]

here is what the screen looks like. any ideas?


eek!!

Definitely file a claim with UPS.

[hellodon]

one major factor in this is going to be if the package was signed for and the damage was not noted. If it was signed for, and the driver/receiver did not note that the box was tore up as youre saying, then you're probably screwed.

They will most likely use it against you if the package was signed for because that signature assures that the receiver is okay with the condition of the package.

granted, this is a computer, and there was no external damage but clearly some internal damage...so maybe you can explain that everything appeared fine on the exterior, but when turned on, it definitely has some internal damage.

It's going to be really difficult though, I'm sure. If they decide to help you out at all, it will probably be a lot of work including having the machine looked at by a shop and getting repair estimates etc. They wont just buy you a new one, or give the money back for the merchandise, they will probably try to reimburse you for just the video problem.

I really hope it wasnt signed for..then this will probably be much easier.

[bep207]

the package was signed for but the recipient (a lawyer) made the drive note the damage to the packaging. he recieved the drivers id number, truck number, and made the drive note that the package had significant damage
i hope im alright.
on a side note- i understand this wouldnt be covered by applecare. if UPS were to deny my claim,could i take it to apple a play dumb as to the cause ( i guess i dont techinically know the cause being that I didnt witness the damage occur), would they be able to fix it?

[mlrproducts]

I'll discuss your first mistakes last. But,

Document EVERYTHING! Document all numbers, all phone calls, names, who said what, take photos. STAY ON THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY, call until they want to fill the insurance just go get rid of you.

I had a 12" PB damaged by UPS last year (this thing couldn't have fallen off a truck. It HAD to have been thrown UP into the air and driven over with a truck, UPS does this for fun because their job blows soo much. Anyways, the ititially denied the claim. I called, and called, and called, and faxed, and THREE months later I finallly got my check.

Now, your mistakes:

1) Never go through a UPS store, as they overcharge for EVERYTHING.
2) Never use UPS. Please try DHL (they have great hubs here in MO). You can sign up for an account online for free. They'll come pick it up at your house for $3 and deliver to residential addresses for $2. Think that's a ripoff? It isn't. When combining those $5 in fees with their charges for Ground service, it is ALWAYS at least the same as UPS and USUALLY cheaper than UPS Ground even with the fees! Also, its the same with delivery times. They're at least a day earlier with their ground service, and often times it'll deliver in 1-2 days as well!

I live in MO, and EVERY package I've received the last few months has been damaged. Not one package I've received nor sent (I ebay alot) with DHL has had any problem. I can't recomment them enough (they have great rates on heavy items too. VERY cheap. It is just the insurance that costs money, but again the total costs are less than with UPS).

[insomniac321123]

The UPS store does not charge any more for shipping than if you took it to a UPS hub and what you pay for packing is the same as what you would pay anywhere else. Whats more, you are more likely to get a claim on a package if it is shipped through a UPS store and they packed it for you. We almost always took the customers side. Even if UPS did not pay the claim, we did most of the time.

Im not putting an ad in for the UPS store or anything( I don't even work there anymore), I'm just trying to clear up some misconceptions.