JBull

Hello fellow cyclists,

I recently sold a 2004 Stumpjumper on ebay. I took the bike to a local bike shop for packing and shipping. They packed and shipped it for about $55 using UPS. It was spotless when I dropped it off.

When the buyer received the bike there was a 2 inch dent/gash in the down tube. The buyer sent me a picture of the damage. I can only assume that it was damaged by UPS during shipment. It was insured for $700. I have contacted the bike shop and they said UPS is pretty good about handling insured damage claims.

The buyer wants to ship it back to me and get a refund. I think that is a reasonable solution but I'm worried that UPS will try to get off without paying.

Anybody had a similar experience or dealt with UPS damage claims for insured packages?

Thanks,

Jeff from Houston

dan828

I've dealt with UPS at work a couple of times with stuff that they damaged and it wasn't a problem-- call the phone number they have posted for damage claims and tell them what happened. You'll also likely need to provide some sort of evidence of the cost of the bike and what it'd cost to be repaired or replaced.

djtrackie

tell your buyer that whatever they do, don't throw away the cardboard box. UPS uses that as "evidence"

R900

You can file a claim on line, UPS will pick up the bike and inspect it. I forget the timeline to get a check, I think 6 weeks. UPS will keep the bike and send you a check for the purchase price (auction listing should be enough proof).

John

CastIron

Kill the messenger.

AndyGrow

Don't take it back. That's the reason you had it insured...have the buyer take care of it, it was his at the close of the sale.

EricDJ

If the buyer is otherwise happy with the bike except for the scratch, is he willing to keep it. Could save a lot of hassle if so. You could make a claim for the needed amount to have it repainted. Would save UPS some money too.

Dahon.Steve

You are correct. If he takes the bike back, UPS will probably not give him the money. If he does not take the bike back, the seller will post negative feedback making future sales difficult or impossible.

JBull

The buyer does not want to keep it. The dent looks like someone took a crowbar and whacked the frame.
Picture:
https://67.10.79.245/Big%20Bend/sj_damage.jpg

I contacted UPS and they are going to inspect the package and contents on Monday.

Part of the problem is that I can't afford to be out the $700+ to refund his money and wait for a possible payment from UPS. Also I don't want the negative feedback on ebay. I sell things about once every couple months and plan to continue using ebay. I was hoping someone with UPS experience could tell me that they cut a check within a week or so. Wishfull thinking I guess.

JBull

BTW
Anybody know what it costs to replace a Stumpjumper M4 frame (2004 model).

Blue Order

Not sure, but maybe these will help:

Bad Shipping News 1

Bad Shipping News 2

koine2002

A number of my colleagues while I was working on my Master's degree paid for school working for the UPS Hub/sorting facility in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Apparently, It's a mess and they just throw stuff around. They tell me that sometimes an employee(s) up top will hold the boxes and let them all come down at once to play a prank on the guys at the bottom. Hence the damage. It sounds like poor leadership within that company to me.

Dahon.Steve

I knew someone who worked at UPS for a short while. What you described happens frequently as boxes marked fragile were tossed harder since the dock workers considered this statement an insult forcing them to work harder for the same pay.

tom cotter

Advise? Don't use UPS in the future. My son worked for them as a part time truck loader. Mostly, he loaded/unloaded tractor trailers coming from and going to Philly International airport. All they cared about was speed. Throwing boxes was a common everyday practice to get the freight moved. I asked about fragile packages. His reply, Who has time to look? The supervisors were standing on the line with timers in their hands measuring how quickly his line moved freight from truck A to truck B. All packages were handled with the same lack of care. Good lesson for both of us. Bottom line, UPS workers are humps just collecting a paycheck who could care less about your package, your satisfaction, or customer service.