UPS just destroyed my new BM-59

[ilbob]

I have had pretty good luck with UPS, but I also worked at UPS years ago loading and unloading trucks. Back then they did not take the heavy packages they do now. I can understand how a heavy package could damage lighter weight packages when it is dropped on it.

I would not ship a rifle of any substantial value UPS unless it was in a solid case. In fact, several gun sellers I have seen of late actually charge for a hard side rifle case as part of the s/h. Makes sense. You can buy them these days in bulk for a few dollars more than a cardboard box.

 

[JNewell]

UPS said the radio wasn't packaged properly and refused to honor the insurance.

Beat me to it. Heads-up for the OP. Odds are high this is why UPS is going to refuse to pay him, even though it's nonsense.

 

[trbon8r]

I'm already prepared for the "it wasn't packaged properly" battle. I'll be surprised if they don't try this tactic.

If they refuse to pay I would like to see UPS explain to a small claims court judge, why the factory packing is unacceptable. When I bought the rifle UPS didn't seem to have a problem getting the rifle to my FFL using the same box. I haven't seen the rifle yet, but was told the stock was broken. The amount of stress that would be involved to break the stock would be considerable. Also, if the package wasn't wrapped properly, why didn't the driver refuse the package when I handed it to him?

Judgement for the Plaintiff, thanks for coming.

I just hope they pay me and it doesn't even come to that. Like I said though, having been through the headache of a claim with Fed Ex, I would be shocked if it was as simple as them honoring their agreement and writing me a check.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Get the weapon repaired to spec by SA. THEN push the claim on UPS for the repairs.

Get a statement on arrival condition from SA. Take notes. Doccument.


At the end of the day, my bet is that the repair cost will be less than the 2k.

You won't get the 2K. They will explain (ad naseum) that what you bought isn't insurance but a declared value of the item. And at any rate, they won't pay the 2K AND let you keep the weapon also.

Or maybe I'm off base. Maybe get their internal security people involved as this was a weapon that was damaged.

I wish you luck--you have a gem (Beretta receiver built up bt Genesso, right? Almost as rare as hens teath. Sweet).

 

[zoom6zoom]

You can't spell "fragile" without "Frag".

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

The problem with UPS and others is when they see "fragile" they think it means to handle it like a russian tank. They don't care, just like a lot of other Americans. They just want their paycheck!

 

[Neo-Luddite]

I asked early on at FedEx--but WHAT is the 'fragile' sticker for if it is handled the same way anyway?

Customer Comfort.

I'm sure UPS is the same deal--it all goes flying down the belts and is hit by the hydrolic rams in the sort process. Oddly, what they worry most about is something gumming their works. The legendary story is that a box of machine screws broke open and shut down the hub for hours at the cost of millions of dollars. Like five bucks worth of poorly packed screws.

 

[trbon8r]

The legendary story is that a box of machine screws broke open and shut down the hub for hours at the cost of millions of dollars. Like five bucks worth of poorly packed screws.

Any idea what size those screws were and exactly how they were packed? I might have to take a late night run for some screws and envelopes.

Why couldn't this situation have at least involved my 200 dollar Taurus .22 instead of the BM-59? Damn, and with the holiday and all I have to wait until Tuesday to even start the process of sorting out this mess.

I nearly need to be medicated at this point, I'm so mad.

 

[Avenger]

I've sold a lot of car parts over the years, and my experience with UPS is that they can probably crush an anvil. They'd have to work at it, but believe me, they'll put the time in!
I ship everything USPS now, or Fed-Ex if it's neede quickly. I won't use DHL either, not after watching their drivers leaving the hub in Wilmington, OH. I'd never realized that it's even POSSIBLE to hang out the rear end of a 20ft panel van.....

 

[Shipwreck]

Man, that sucks!

 

[cracked butt]

The UPS guy said "It's a gun isn't it?" with an expresion that dripped with disgust bordering on hate.

I had the exact same experience a few weeks ago when I had to pick up a rifle I ordered from a UPS center.

 

[foob]

I'm already prepared for the "it wasn't packaged properly" battle. I'll be surprised if they don't try this tactic.

If they refuse to pay I would like to see UPS explain to a small claims court judge, why the factory packing is unacceptable. When I bought the rifle UPS didn't seem to have a problem getting the rifle to my FFL using the same box.

I'm wondering why you think the packing is acceptable just because it's factory packed.

With poor packaging, just because it didn't break going one way doesn't mean it won't break going back.

Was it just a box? Was there bubble wrap, peanuts, or foam to absorb damage?

I have shipped quite a few firearms and a crapload of other stuff and nothing has broken yet, or been lost. I only go UPS because Fedex refused to ship my ammo once. Also a lot easier to type the info on a UPS computer at the customer center than to write hard on a fedex form.

 

[mindwip]

A friend of mine worked in the shipping business for years. Told me three things

1. Any writing on the boxs, plan for it to be ignored. Fragile, this side up, dont mean anything. Its just a feel good sticker for the paying customer.

2. Plan to have your box survive 4 different 6foot drops onto cement. Meaning your box may be dropped by a human or conveyor.

3. Double boxing is good, pack your item in one box. Then put that box in another with padding

If you keep that in mind you should be good.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

If it's going and coming back--you can always just ship it in an airline-approved hardcase that's taped up. The case will get beat up pretty bad but the weapon should be OK.

 

[Dockery]

You need my UPS guy; he has been doing this route for years and knows my dad fairly well, and always takes good care of the packages when they are on the way to my house.

On the way to the distribution center, though, is where it can get nasty. My computer case wasn't packed very good and got a few dings and dents.

Just ask my brother, he said they tossed the packages no matter how heavy or how expensive it seemed, just so they could get the job done faster.

The drivers are generally very good and very nice, though.

Cheers.

 

[RSVP2RIP]

I've pretty much given up on ups for gun shipping. I went to a UPS store and they wouldn't ship one because when they asked what was in it I told them (idiot). They said they could'nt ship it because it was illegal?!? They told me to go to the Dist. Center to ship. I called first this time and they said they can't ship guns from there. (outrageous) I went back to the UPS store and when they asked what was in the package I said skies.(i kan lern). Now I ship everything through the USPS insured, signature required. Never had a problem and even the BATFE said thats the way to go.

 

[slzy]

60 minutes placed impact recorders into parcels and sent them to the various carriers. ups had the heaviest hit,the post office the lightest. that was many years ago,things may have changed. post office has probably caught them by now.

 

[blackhills]

UPS. What can brown tear up for you?

 

[cracked butt]

I was talking about this with a friend the other day who used to load trucks for UPS. He told me to pack every item as if you expect it to be thrown 6' and as if another guy's parcel is a 100lb truck axle that will be thrown on top of your package- because both are likely to happen.

 

[JNewell]

There is some vendor, I forget which one, that strongly encourages you to pay $20 or so to purchase a cheap but sturdy plastic/foam lined hard case for shipment. Seems like a good idea, better than cardboard and styro or similar packing material.

 

[Caimlas]

Oh, wow. You got hosed, man. I'm sorry to hear your rifle was destroyed.

There is no possible way that an M1 could be destroyed in shipping short of dropping 200+ pounds of weight (or so) on it, with one end propped against a tree or other solid object and the other on the ground (similar to what might be done to break up medium sized firewood). At least IMO.

I've got this conspiracy that, given UPS's anti-gun stance (no handgun shipping, etc.) that they try to intentionally destroy firearms.

Or anything in general, really. I won't ship through them, just through Fed Ex and USPS. I've had too much stuff damaged and then not had he insurance paid off, the first of which was a $1500 computer in an old-school (modified) steel case, packed in solid foam, surrounded by some loose packing peanuts, and then double boxed. The motherboard was not only cracked, it was split, and the cards that came loose (all screwed down firmly) looked like they'd been dragged behind a car for a couple miles, they were so banged up. Insurance claim guy came, took one look, and said he couldn't do anything for me because it wasn't packaged properly... if I'd known better at the time, that'd certainly have seen a small claims court.

 

[Avenger29]

I went to a UPS store

The UPS Stores are a seperate part of UPS and do not accept guns. You have to go the actual UPS depot/receiving center to drop it off.

And I think they will accept handguns, but only by 2nd day air...

 

[trbon8r]

I'm wondering why you think the packing is acceptable just because it's factory packed.

With poor packaging, just because it didn't break going one way doesn't mean it won't break going back.

Was it just a box? Was there bubble wrap, peanuts, or foam to absorb damage?

The reason I think the packing was acceptable is because it was. Two heavy corrugated cardboard boxes should be enough to prevent any breakage short of outright abuse. We are talking about a military type rifle here, not a crystal vase.

SA sends out thousands of rifles every year. I'm pretty sure they would design their boxes differently if they found their rifles were consistently being damaged during shipping. I guess I should have wrapped the rifle in kevlar, or maybe invested in some reactive armor for my package, eh?

 

[foob]

Sorry I just thought you assumed wrongly. Two cardboard boxes isn't any better than one without anything else in them to absorb any shock.

Springfield is a business, they factor in X amount of packaging will result in Y failures, and minimize X for acceptable Y.

Anyway I can understand how you must feel. Hopefully you get back the value of the gun. Even then it would piss me off to no end to not have one right now.

 

[SpeedAKL]

I typically use FedEx for personal stuff. Always found them to be pretty good. I worked in a warehouse in shipping and receiving for four years as a summer job in high school and I can tell you that UPS gets there on time, but it wasn't a shocker to see boxes beat up or damaged or the contents affected negatively.