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

[Brett W]

Guys do not ship heavy, awkward, and valuble items UPS. Get a big pallet and strap that shit down and cover with card board or another wooden container. I sent a set of wheels to Florida and it was cheaper than UPS, easier than USPS and the parts arrive quickly and in perfect condition. UPS is for little boxes and smaller items that can be UPS proofed in a solid package. USPS sucks ass for packages they can't seem to ever get my packages anywhere on time. They are great for letters and such but they don't do package tracking and they still act like the governent when trying to find lost items.