PSA: Insure your packages!

When you ship parts, make sure you insure them! It's cheap, but covers you in case anything happens.

Last week, I sold a member a TRD tow hook. Payment was quick , I shipped it out that Monday, and we both expected everything would be fine.

Unfortunately, all that arrived was a torn, empty, box - and a note from USPS saying it was damaged.

The buyer sent me photos of what he received (if this happens to you, take photos and send them to the seller, it makes things much easier), I refunded his money that day (not his fault something happened, don't be a dick), and filed the insurance claim.

Their website explains the process pretty well: https://www.usps.com/help/claims.htm

Today I received a check in the mail from USPS for the claim amount. Woohoo! A pain in the ass, yes, but much better than being out the hook and the postage.

 

I'm glad it worked out for you. I always add it when I'm shipping and have been fortunate enough to not need it but I've known several people that have claims denied on high dollar vintage bike parts since they didn't have an original receipt.

 

I didn't have the original receipt either, since it came with the truck. To establish item value, I used a Toyota dealer's parts website.

 

I shipped my tow hook priority mail flat rate envelop $50 insurance included. Heavy items needs to be in something that wont slip thru I used Amazon prime bubble bag (these come in handy). Its more of the packaging really. When I dropped it off at PO the guy said this is pretty heavy, I told him its all good flat rate $50 insured he replied with not if its not packaged properly. Though he was being a dick I just went on my business.

 

WELL SHIT. hope usps doesn't steal my package too.

 

how slow do you have to be...
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...rginia-storage-unit-mail-he-couldn-t-n1126586

 

My mother was a postal carrier for a LONG time. During her tenure, several coworkers were fired for not delivering mail and storing it somewhere. In my experience, postal workers are a VERY lazy bunch. They rely on their union to keep them employed and try to do as little as possible, complaining all along the way.

Similar to Boeing employees. My step father works for Boeing. They're a perfect pair.

 

Sounds like my type of place great benefits and all the bs holidays off

 

I avoid USPS whenever I can. I sent a package December 17th and it has been lost in space ever since. No insurance. We have done all we can from our end to resolve but talking to these people has been an absolute nightmare.

 

I think its important to pack your items appropriately. I worked at a Bike Manufacturing company and riders would pack their goods in inappropriate ways and the items would disappear during transit.. We would get the packaging but no goods.

Boxes are typically weight rated and common sense needs to come into play.

 

This guy gets it.

 

Let's not ignore the fact USPS lost 4billion in revenue last year and on track for 7 billion this year.
Complete waste. But some people need to send checks and get those coupons every Tuesday.

 

USPS public service they operate at lost regardless most of it goes to cover pension

 

My question is how did they manage to damage a cast steel tow hook?
Edit: I can't read. Just the box showed up.

 

At work the UPS shipping insurance is like .50 cents for a declared value of $100.00
So, $200.00 bucks of shipped goods cost a dollar for insurance. It's a no brainer for shipping Insurance.

 

I hang out here and at several gun/hunting forums and have read horror stories from every shipper. I've shipped and received stuff from USPS, UPS, and Fedex and can't tell any real difference. Bad stuff happens with all of them, all of them have at times gone out of the way to help. It really comes down to the individual who makes the delivery to your home. The USPS carrier and UPS delivery guy are people who live in my neighborhood and I consider personal friends. The closest Fedex hub is quite a drive and I don't know their people, but I've never had an issue with any of them.

They didn't damage it, it wasn't in the box when it arrived. Chances are good the person who packed it did so improperly.

The only truly bad USPS experience was with a rifle stock I mailed to a guy in NC. It was insured for $500 and tracking said it was delivered. The guy I sent it to did not get it. I refunded his $500 and filed an insurance claim. But was told that since tracking said it was delivered I had no claim. I then contacted LE in NC to file a theft report. I figured the box may have been left at the door and stolen.

The investigator I spoke with made some calls and USPS suddenly "found" the box and delivered it 10 days AFTER they claimed it was delivered. All turned out well. That was on the Raleigh NC USPS though, not mine. And I've seen as bad or worse from both UPS and Fedex. I generally prefer USPS because it is a lot more convenient and usually cheaper.

 

I personally never had any issues, ever, with USPS even with all the shit I bought from and sent to all over the mainland.

Of course now I just jinxed it and will receive a copy of Playgirl instead of Playboy

 

My experience is that USPS insurance will eventually pay out, but UPS and Fedex insurance is a total scam. They'll demand photos and an appraisal, then stall for three months before denying the claim.

I once had a package arrive crushed and torn open, with forklift tire treads across the top. Fedex ultimately denied my claim because the item was "improperly packaged."

 

Hahahaha say no more fam

 

However if you’re on the cover of the Playgirl issue I’ma enter that into next year’s TW calendar