Someone borrowed one of my bikes for the summer and had their LBS pack and ship it (UPS) back to me. The box is in good shape, but the packer did not put anything around the hubs so one of the wheels scratched the paint job on the downtube. The package was insured for $2000 so the shipper wants me to file a claim through UPS. Anyone have any experience with this? Will they check the box and tell me it’s a packing job and not their problem? Will I get more responses if it’s a cervelo?
Thanks.
Don’t work for UPS, but this is what should happen:
They will issue a damage call tag and come pick up the box from you. Then they will do a damage package report and decide if was packed correctly or mishandled by them. Most of the time it has to be blatently packed wrong for them to say its the shippers fault, like glass vase with no inner packing. You paid for insurance so they should be helpful. The process will not be fast, though. Also b/c the shipper is their client, the shipper will need to file the claim. And the shipper will get the proceeds (if there are any). Also make sure when the shipper files the claim he states that the bike should be returned to you, the recipient, after the damage package report is done.
to be quite honest, from your description, i would deem it LBS’s fault --they simply did didn’t pack it carefully enough! the fact that the box is in good shape definitely doesn’t help your case.
you won’t get anywhere with UPS though. even when they thrash the box and the contents, they always claim it wasn’t packed to their standards…until they’re blue in the face. your beef is with the LBS, not UPS.
That’s what I thought but the shipper is insisting I go through the hassle with UPS before they’ll pay for anything. I’d like to sell the bike before the season ends so I might just suck it up. So much for doing someone a favor. 3 months with a $2000 bike for nothing and this is the thanks I get!
I have a little insight into this as I used to represent in cargo disputes. The post above correctly indicates that the actual shipper or person who paid for the shipping should file the claim. There is difference between insurance and a declared value, basically it allows the carrier to avoid the ramifications of insurance regulations/statutes in every state. Bottom line is they will inspect and determine whether their position is defensible and then pay or not pay. The service guide for UPS should outline all of this in incomprehensible 10 point top that addresses every situation one could come up with.