Here's what you get when using UPS
 

Fresh from UPS (with "Elephant Foot" size dented/smashed-in box...)

Here's what you DON'T get:
Honoring your Insurance Claim

What you DO get:
Hours on hold waiting for a human being

What you DON'T get:
An employee that understands and speaks English

What you DO get:
See below...

:(

That's a shame - hope it works out for you

That stinks, Mark.

I have heard collecting on a claim from the USPS can also be a near impossibility.

My only experience with a claim was over a busted beer light. The carrier was DHL...what are the chances of that?....the claim was paid promptly, with a minimum of hassle.

Do you think you item was packed well enough?

bROKEN ITEM
 

That is a real shame. I have only had a claim with the USPS and I got a check right now. BUT, I didn't take out more insurance, which I should have, so I
am glad they were glad to send me $50.00. Never had a problem with UPS.

ugh that makes me sick. I love the Danbury teamsets. Wish they would make some deadball era ones

Wow Mark...A damaged item is bad enough, the run-a-round with customer service would be difficult to take. Sorry for your misfortune.

Makes me sick just looking at it. Hopefully this will be resolved. Good luck!

Hi Mark,
What a drag! So sorry that this beautiful piece got destroyed in transit...

This sucks. Makes me think: if I get a package with a giant dent, I'm driving it to UPS and opening it right in front of them.

As a former loader for UPS, I know that the boxes go through hell and back. You mostly have college age kids that are working as fast as possible in a fast paced environment. I watched boxes being kicked, punched, thrown - anything you can imagine.

I also deal with UPS on a regular basis at my place of employment now. God help you if you have to call customer service. I've watched mild mannered ladies in my office have meltdowns.

I can only hope that you get a resolution you are satisfied with.

Please keep us posted on how this turns out.

Thanks all... Well I'm afraid there's nothing to keep you posted on.

They denied the claim and the case is permanently closed. They washed their hands of all responsibility.

Lesson learned... Don't buy their worthless insurance, and avoid UPS if at all possible. I know damage can potentially occur with any carrier. But it's the unprofessional (incredibly frustrating) way they deal with it, and the frequency of destroyed packages that really set me off.

I would love to have that 4 hours of my life back!

Can you return it? Are you going to try to fix it yourself?

that sucks!

That sucks Mark. The damage obviously occurred in transit and it should be a pretty straightforward insurance claim. Did you sign for the package? I would guess that if it shipped to you you could have refused the package considering its condition. Usually a box with a hole in it wouldn't even make it to your doorstep. UPS should have notified you or the shipper of possible damage to the contents of the box. Giant gaping hole aside do the players ship mounted to the base or are each figure removable and packaged individually? It almost looks like they ship attached to the base and if so this piece should be packaged very carefully. At any rate, my guess is the shipper packaged it with the care it deserves and UPS just flat out booted it(literally).Hope everything works out for you. Adam

I would not let them get away with it I would keep fighting it

How was it packaged.

was it packed in the original fitted Styrofoam?

I have sold 3 of these over the years but always had the original packaging. Always used USPS for shipping.

Original shipping to me was UPS on the ones I purchased.

30 year UPS employee here.....and former UPS Store owner. How was it packaged is a good question.....I could package that all day and have the worst UPS loader kick it and it'd be fine. But that's no consolation to you. Not sure if you're the shipper or recipient. If you're the shipper, always be sure something like that is bubble wrapped and then boxed with 2-3 inches of peanuts all the way around the outside. Not sure of the value of something like that if it was beyond the $100 insurance included. Maybe attempt to escalate it above the initial person's head? 1-800-PICK-UPS. File a complaint beyond that. No fun on anything like that but looks like it's a very fragile item. Hope you can replace it one way or the other.

Hi Gang:

FYI, Mark originally sent me the piece as part of a trade. I received it packed very well, with no indication of damage to the carton. Once opened I discovered two brims had been broken off.

I contacted Mark right away, sent him photos of the broken brims and he contacted UPS. They asked that it be returned to UPS for inspection.

I repacked it in Mark's original packaging, bubble wrap and styrofoam peanuts.

Got an email from Mark saying they denied the claim because he did not use an "approved" carton!! I assume you like me did not know there was such a thing.

Mark sent me the photo he posted when he got it back from UPS. I asked if he received it in the original packaging and he said: " They sent it back with almost no protection and with a massive dent in box. Looked like they stomped on it as hard as they could".

So all the damaging seen save for two broken brims, that could have been reglued and been "passable" for some collectors, was done by UPS when they returned it to Mark without proper packaging!

Some gall!! They deny a claim then damage it even more in returning it.

I feel so bad for Mark. Very frustrating.

Fred

Sounds like they gave the packaging a "rigorous testing" to determine it didn't meet their standards?

WOW. that sucks! I only use USPS for my stuff. And just found out this week, You cannot insure paper.
Yep. I was sending a multi-signed magazine worth just a little over 100. And place it in one of the magazine folders and placed the program in a bag as well (from water damage) if any occurs. I also taped the corners very well.
Lesson here..maybe place the program/magazine into a flat rate box?? then it be insured. Right?? but if damaged, will they cover it?? is the question

Sorry to high-jack, just passing some good info in case was unaware.

Oops, I used UPS
 

Sad, and frustrating. What a waste.

I avoid trying to use a shipping company that brands itself as "Oops".

I own a few Jeter Danbury Mint statues and love them.

Very sad. That's a nice piece to own.

Anytime I ship anything fragile, I make sure that the contents don't move when I shake the box and I surround the contents with bubble wrap and peanuts.

It's always better to go the extra mile when packing an item.

As for the piece itself, you may be able to repair it for display.

I own a few statues that I purchased on-the-cheap damaged and I was able to repair them using Gorilla Glue and they display beautifully.

Good luck.

Yeah, if I had time, maybe...

But it's already in the trash and on its way to the dump. Not worth the time/effort to squabble with UPS any longer, as they don't budge. The fact that they have no accountability when returning the item is the ultimate double-standard.

For those who still choose to use them, be sure you read the fine print stamped on the bottom of the shipping box. Then check with UPS to see if it's an "approved" carton. If it's not approved, then buying the insurance/making a claim is futile and pointless.

Hope this info is helpful, and saves a few of you some time, money and aggravation.

Was a credit card used in any part of the transaction? If so, cc companies can be very reasonable when making a claim.
I would think a modern retail piece like this could be covered under a standard homeowners or renters insurance policy, but the deductible would probably be too high.

Greg

Ups
 

Mark, Sorry for what happened with your item! The same thing happened to me, also UPS would not pay for the damage! They STINK! I called them and said I would never use them again! Thing is is that they don`t care. Take Care, Marc

Here's what you get when using UPS
 

I have one better than that. I PAID the UPS store to pack some bobble heads that I sent inside the park collectibles and insured it. Some were damaged. They would NOT pay the full amount of the claim, even though Lou wrote the price guide.
Someone told me that your better off taking the insurance money and putting in a coffee can and paying yourself.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep... All true, and aligned to a tee with my experience. They simply don't care.

UPS has so many disclaimers and "outs" within their fine print contract, that the odds of ever cashing in on a claim are "Needle in a Haystack" territory. It's among the most exasperating and hopeless processes I've ever encountered.

I loved the quote above referencing mild-mannered office ladies having meltdowns. Unless you are a robot, that is the exact effect they have.

You are, but then you would have to have the self-discipline to actually do it. Also, if you have a large collection, it could take years to accumulate enough money in the coffee can to cover what could happen during that period. Insurance companies can afford to 'put money in the coffee can' for you, which is why they exist.

This is good information and I would never have thought of it. Thanks.