posted on September 6, 2001 05:16:01 PM
Just sent out an old piece of pottery for a customer who requested that I send it UPS. I only use them about once per year when requested by a customer. When I went to the counter and requested additional insurance on my vase, the counter person told me not to bother because UPS will not cover broken items due to shipping. She said that their office had filed claims that never got paid. Is this true?? I double boxed and used plenty of wrap, but if the box gets dropped it will most likely break.
UPS can be a little cheaper to send heavier items, but it isn't worth it if they don't pay claims.
posted on September 6, 2001 05:31:52 PM
We use UPS for most everything we ship. One item broken, One lost, and they paid off on both. I think they do have a small list of stuff they don't cover, but I'm not sure.
posted on September 6, 2001 05:47:53 PM
>I double boxed and used plenty of wrap, but if the box gets dropped it will most likely break.<
I'm sorry, but if the item will most likely break just from the box geting dropped then it's not properly packed.
[ edited by rocketguy on Sep 6, 2001 05:49 PM ]
posted on September 6, 2001 06:03:01 PM
I agree with Rocketguy. If it's light enough to be thrown, it will be. If too heavy to be thrown, it will be walked on.
I ship everyday with UPS with never a problem...but I pack really well.
posted on September 6, 2001 06:05:59 PM
UPS will cover breakage, if they deem it is their fault. If, as you say, "if the box gets dropped it will most likely break", this may have been the counter persons way of saying she did not think it was packed well enough without getting into a long conversation. Sometimes people take the easy way out, rather than explain the details.
posted on September 6, 2001 06:33:06 PM
Spittingcamel,
Go back and read marvey's statement again. The UPS counter person didn't say "it will most likely break if it gets dropped". Marvey said that. I still maintain if marvey thinks it will break if it gets dropped it's not packed properly.
posted on September 6, 2001 06:39:47 PM
I thought that UPS would only cover items that could be easily replaced, meaning, you had to be able to walk into a store etc and buy the item. In other words, they won't cover items such as old pottery or glassware or antiques of any kind.
And, if you believe the item would break if the box were dropped during shipping, it wasn't packaged properly. Wrap and box ALL items as if they will be used as soccer balls and car jacks. Think "dropping out of a second story window".
A fragile piece of pottery should have been stuffed with something, then triple wrapped in large bubble wrap, and double boxed with a couple of inches padded with bubble or peanuts or crunched newsprint all around between the boxes.
posted on September 6, 2001 06:41:16 PM
I've been selling pottery, glass & collectables for the past four years and have only had 2 claims for breakage,(knock on wood) so I feel pretty secure in my packing ability folks. What I shipped was a circa 1900's Weller jardinere. I don't care how well it's packed, if it's dropped from say waist high just the force will crack or severe this type of glazed pottery. It's old & fragile.
I am somewhat relieved that claims have been resolved.
The clerk made it sound as if no matter what the cause, UPS did not pay damage claims, because that had been her personal experience
with filing UPS claims. Our local drop-off for UPS is an office supply store, not a UPS center, so she was not an employee of UPS.
posted on September 6, 2001 07:03:22 PM
Marvey,
I hope it makes it through shipping intact. I'm primarily a buyer and I've only had one item delivered broken by UPS. It was a vintage Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, delivered in three pieces. UPS paid the claim after about six weeks of runaround. I learned my lesson there; some things just shouldn't be shipped. Maybe this pottery falls in that classification? It just sounds like you've resigned yourself to the fact it's going to be broken.
posted on September 6, 2001 07:22:30 PM
UPS's official policy is $100 limit on collectibles. They indicated to me they will not pay on items over that amount if damage or lost in transit. Not sure if if the info given to me is correct or if the policy has changed. But, this is the response I got when I call their 800 number couple of years back.
posted on September 7, 2001 05:27:23 AM
I just spoke to my UPS lady yesterday because she was picking up some glassware from me (science beakers and test tubes). She told me they are not responsible if glass breaks. She also said that if there's a jam in their conveyer belt at the station, the only way to get to the front of the line to unjam it is to walk on the boxes. So, yes, they do literally walk on these boxes from time to time. She also admits there's some careless people who stack heavy boxes on light ones, throw boxes around, etc.
posted on September 7, 2001 05:56:58 AM
"...She also admits there's some careless people who stack heavy boxes on light ones, throw boxes around, etc."
Ha ha ha!
According to my friend who is a supervisor at the regional UPS depot...
THEY ARE TRAINED FOR SPEED. So, unloading a truck means getting the stack to the back of the truck quickly... pull a bottom box from the stack and collapse it. Light boxes are thrown. He commented that never once was the topic of breakage raised, except in context of possible hazardous waste.
posted on September 7, 2001 05:59:28 AM
I've shipped many pieces of expensive Arts and Crafts pottery via UPS over the years. On two occasions, the vase was damaged by improper handling and UPS paid off with no questions.
Make sure that you insure your piece for the value you were paid and also be sure to use a "virgin" outside box.
The first thing UPS looks at when assessing who's to blame for damage is the box. If you've re-used a box, UPS can deny the claim saying the box had lost its structural integrity.
If you've used a new outside box, you take away their right to use that argument. Recycling old boxes for the inside box, as well as packing peanuts, newspapers, etc., is OK with UPS.
I have also learned never to use the word "antique" with UPS. Per UPS guidelines, antiques can't be insured. However, collectibles can. While some collectibles can theoretically be replaced, it would be tough to do so. In the UPS world, an antique can't be replaced.
Another amusing UPS rule: Paintings can't be insured unless the artist is still alive. I guess they figure if a painting is damaged in shipment and the artist is alive, he/she could whip up another one as a replacement.
posted on September 7, 2001 06:46:09 AM
Insuring Antiques OR Collectibles with UPS depends on the UPS hub you are dealing with in your city/town/village.
The UPS center in my city will NOT insure *anything* that cannot be replaced via a store such as WalMart.
I spoke to 3 reps & one super about this & was told that "antiques & collectibles" could no longer be insured, except for the shipping amount itself. WoW
As far as dropping ......
UPS uses the 4 ft rule - which simply means that anything that can't survive a 4 ft drop, most likely won't survive, and most likely won't be covered by their insurance.
There's no reason whatsover that a circa
1900's Weller jardinere can't survive a 4 ft drop, if PROPERLY packed.
It may mean you have to triple box an item, but I've shipped items far more fragile than that, and they've all survived.
posted on September 7, 2001 06:49:50 AM
My UPS drivers have always been the best, but those administrators! Mean, nasty, and they HATE to pay a claim.
I had a packing/shipping business once and they have more hoops to make you jump though than a Chinese acrobatic act!
Fedex Next Day is the only choice for artwork and other valuable items. Those packages seem to get the least wear and tear of any shipping method, but you pay dearly for it. But for hassle free shipping of true valuables, it is the best choice.
Because of the off-putting customer dis-service from UPS, I use the Postal Service for the most part, and have had very good luck with them on my mostly smaller parcels. I ship Priority almost exclusively.
(Not that these packages are treated any different than with UPS, but I have only had one missing package and two damaged ones in thousands of shipments.)
posted on September 7, 2001 07:05:39 AM
Just a few of conditions, but not limited to, which UPS have, if you dig into their web site.
And if you need to relly on acuracy, you had better have it in writing, not from a clerk or me or others here.
"Shippers are prohibited from shipping articles of unusual value via UPS. Articles of unusual value shall be
deemed to include, but are not limited to:
Coins (except pennies and nickels, and except proof and mint sets of United States coins tendered by
United States mints of a face value not to exceed $2.41), currency, postage stamps, negotiable
instruments, money orders, unset precious stones, industrial diamonds, human remains, and works of art."
"or of packages having a value of more than $999 (U.S.), shipped as a result of a shipper's request made through the Internet;"
"No service shall be rendered in the international transportation of packages containing jewelry (not including costume jewelry) having a value of more than $500 (U.S.)."
"excess of $100"
I'm sure they would talk about fragile goods somewhere but I can't find it ie. NOT 'USER FRIENDLY'
posted on September 7, 2001 06:12:04 PM
Not to mention that UPS requires 2" of packaging around the product. If your packaging didn't qualify in even one part, they can deny paying.
DJ
http://www.onecentmusic.com/ the best place for everything Music!
posted on September 7, 2001 06:52:22 PM
As a former shipping manager and a former pack-n-ship store owner, I can tell you that UPS will pay most claims for collectibles - assuming they are properly packaged. Fragile items need a new exterior box and a decent interior box to insure this happens. I recommend, at least two inches of bubble wrap surrounding the item on all sides. There should be no movement and any gaps should be filled with packing peanuts. Next, place the interior box into a new box. Be sure that there are two inches of bubble or fill on all sides of the interior box. Again, make sure there is no movement. This should keep your item safe.
In terms of package handling, you are kidding yourself if you think the carriers (UPS/FedEx/USPS) will give your package gentle handling (i.e. no large drops). All of these folks will routinely toss your package into and out of trucks. If you item isn't packaged to handle being dropped from head height, being slammed and jammed against other packages or being stacked with hundreds of pounds of weight on top, then your package is not ready to be shipped.
In terms of the insurance/declared value, I have found all of the carriers will pay if the item was packed properly. However, the Postal Service, which has packing standards similar to all the others, seems to be more likely to cut you a break. Unfortunately, the Postal Service is so bureacratic that it can easily take dozens of hours and months of time to get your claim paid. UPS and Fedex tend to pay legitimate claims within a few weeks. No doubt the best policy is to pack with extra caution. All claims, no matter the carrier, are time-consuming. After a claim or two, the cost of some extra packing materials will look darn cheap.
posted on September 7, 2001 07:02:09 PMAs a former shipping manager and a former pack-n-ship store owner, I can tell you that UPS will pay most claims for collectibles
Um, gee, it might be a bit difficult to file an insurance claim when UPS refuses to insure the antique/collectible.
I've read this same problem on both sides of the US/Canada border, some UPS hubs will insure some antiques/collectibles, and some flat out refuse to.
posted on September 7, 2001 08:42:00 PM
It sounds like UPS might have changed their policy since 5 or 6 years ago. I was in Texas, and went antiquing. Had to have a multi-part antique pottery set shipped, cuz I would not have been able to carry it on the plane. The shipping company of course packed and shipped it. I had $650.00 insurance on it. It arrived with several of the pieces broken. After showing proof of value based on similar items in Antique Price guides, and the original packaging supplies, and a copy of a bill to a dealer from New York who had purchased a very similar set from my shop, UPS sent me a check for $650.00...
Maybe now, they have too many claims?
********
Gosh Shosh! My "About Me" Page
[ edited by shoshanah on Sep 7, 2001 08:44 PM ]
posted on September 7, 2001 09:15:10 PM
Hi Shosh, yes, I was told that too many eBay items were arriving broken, and that UPS was tired of paying out on claims.
