ot: BIG UPS PROBLEM!!, need (legal?) advice badly- Options

[914ghost]

Okay-
Sold a set of 17" Porsche Cup wheels for a friend of mine. Just trying to be nice.
The price was $600 Delivered.
I wrapped the wheels in corrugated cardboard/tape thoroughly, then wrapped each pair of wheels together with more cardboard/tape.
Used 1600 Inches of tape (2 brand new rolls) total on the packing- 800' for each pair.
The wheels travelled from Washington to San Diego and were DEMOLISHED in transit.
One wheel never even showed up- the box was destroyed there were just the remains of the packing. The wheels that made it are scratched badly.
1st BIG problem:
I used the website and entered the info for the 1st box insured for $400, then hit "duplicate package" which duplicated all but the insurance info- so they say the 2nd box is not insured.
2nd BIG problem: They called me and said cardboard DOES NOT qualify as a packing item- therefore my claim is DENIED.

I said kindly, NO IT IS NOT- YOU WILL PAY ME. And explained the situation calmly to teh person on the phone- she replied they would get back to me and I haven't heard from them.

I feel fairly powerless.
Any advice? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
-Bob O

[mikester]

I used to build cheap computers for family members and then ship them UPS/USPS/FEDEX, I'd have them insured and everything and I would send them in appropriate containers.

UPS was by far the worst in package damage, expense, difficulty in dealing and what have you.

The only company that I make an exception to doing business with that uses UPS is Amazon and that I am still not comfortable with. Recently they have started shipping with USPS and I couldn't be happier - it takes longer but it is cheaper and I feel more comfortable.

My admin assitance used to call and complain weekly about how our packages were delivered becuase she woudl see a jim carey style performance everytime UPS would make a deliver. She'd seen packages dropped so many times it was well passed funny.

In my experience, UPS has not been worth the expense. I have a FEDEX account - they are not perfect but they are leaps and bounds better to deal with than UPS.

My experience and opinion. Brown is shit. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/boldblue.gif)