I had a post about a bow that was damaged in the mail when the end cap on a PVC tube broke during shipping. Well the buyer found someone to fix the damage and I made an online insurance claim for the amount of the repair with photos attached about a week ago. Today I was getting ready to send a letter explaining in detail what happened with a copy of the invoice for the repair. I checked my mail and there was a check from USPS. Go figure.

good deal  

You were lucky.      
I just got a letter today on a USPS insurance claim for a bow they broke .  They paid $48.38 for $350.00 worth of insurance on the bow.  Called and the lady did not know why, said it was probably because the bow depreciated.  Have to appeal the claim.  What is the purpose of insurance if they wont pay.       :(

Sorry you guys have to go through this. Sure am glad all my transactions have gone smoothly!  

My bow was insured for $400 but the buyer wanted to try to get it fixed so instead of claiming it as a total loss I claimed $230. I attached pics of the broken pvc end cap with the mailing label in view, the damaged tip and pics of the tips that I took before the bow was sold. I was trying to get a copy of the sales receipt to establish value but it wasn't needed. It's probably easier to get paid for a repair than a total loss.

Thanks again Norm, this was the first damaged bow for me and hopefully the last.  This went very smoothly and it worked out well.  Norm your number 1 in my book.  Take Care.

Burton

Burton made it easy with good pics and a high degree of patience. Thanks      Norm

Good to hear, glad it worked out for you!

I just mailed out, via USPS, some hunting clothes I sold for $450 and my experience there made it very clear why I prefer UPS..who IMO blows away the USPS in so many ways. USPS has turned into a bunch of sales people pushing the higher priced  mailing options and you have to ask for the more reasonably priced options. Then, despite the fact you are paying them to deliver a package in the same shape you presented it to them...they push you to buy insurance in case they damage it...like it is expected that damage will occur. Then, if you want any form of confirmation that they did the job you paid them to do you must pay extra.  Another $1 to get a tracking number for a tracking system that is useless.   UPS includes tracking and their system is incredible...you can see your package move across the state and then to you or the person you are sending it to. UPS does not make you feel like you need to insure your package because they are going to damage it. I know they do have package damage too but UPS is a significant cut above USPS.

No offense intended to our USPS employees but I think USPS  would be well served to get better at the only thing they do.

Steve,

If you search the archives, I think you'll find scads of threads on how UPS refused to pay up on claims, even on LOST items, until the customer took them to small claims court and then UPS never showed up...

I know I personally read dozens of them on this site over the years---which led to the USPS push.

As they face possible extinction or working for a private vendor if USPS is sold, attitudes and dedication have to take a tumble.

Nothing stays on top forever.  All things are subject to change.

The recent stories about USPS failure to pay insurance claims and increased damage, brings back all those UPS claims.

Perhaps it's a bit of a crap shoot regardless?

Seems hard containers that do not ROLL and plenty of pictures both pre and post shipping are critical as well as crossing t's and dotting i's. Hey...it's govt! Everything in triplicate!  

I've all but stopped using UPS. I've found it is less expensive to ship USPS Priority and it has been getting bows to my customers faster. I shipped a bow to NY from CA the other day Priority and it got there in 2 days!! UPS takes 6, for more $$$$. Never had any luck with UPS's claims either....

Glad it worked out. In this day and time I am never shocked when
Services aren't what they should be. It's all about the bottom line not going the extra for the customer. I tip my hat to those few that put the customer first still. I own my own business and money can't buy the good feeling I get when a potential customer says one of your customers told me to call you, and I could trust you in my home and you would do what you say. Just sad sad the way it is nowadays. And the road is getting narrower all the time. Granddad always said "believe half of what you see and none of what you hear".... and you will do fine !!!

Lanier

Last summer I ordered a traditional archery book. I live in the city and park on the street. The day the book was delivered I had to park around the block corner. As I rounded the corner and my house came into view I saw the UPS truck parked out front, Yah! As I walked around the truck in the road I smiled seeing the delivery man trotting up my steps, open the screen and NOT set my book between the screen door and the wood house door, NOT drop it, but rather while holding the screen door open with his right hand he put the book between the two doors with his left hand and spun it end for end up into the air above his waste, spinning to the ground and landing with a thud, clunk, bang as it hit the ground and banged off the doors! My face went blank and I know my mouth was open, I was on my sidewalk and his back was to me. He looked shocked as he turned, I was speachless?! The normal UPS delivery guy greeting line of "you guys are better than Santa" was long from my mind and the best I could do was stare and not say any of the many things that raced through my mind. If they do this in the wide open where anyone could see what would they do elsewhere? Sad! No respect for the service he is providing for the job he is doing!

QuoteOriginally posted by Steve Chappell:
I just mailed out, via USPS, some hunting clothes I sold for $450 and my experience there made it very clear why I prefer UPS..who IMO blows away the USPS in so many ways. USPS has turned into a bunch of sales people pushing the higher priced  mailing options and you have to ask for the more reasonably priced options. Then, despite the fact you are paying them to deliver a package in the same shape you presented it to them...they push you to buy insurance in case they damage it...like it is expected that damage will occur. Then, if you want any form of confirmation that they did the job you paid them to do you must pay extra.  Another $1 to get a tracking number for a tracking system that is useless.   UPS includes tracking and their system is incredible...you can see your package move across the state and then to you or the person you are sending it to. UPS does not make you feel like you need to insure your package because they are going to damage it. I know they do have package damage too but UPS is a significant cut above USPS.

No offense intended to our USPS employees but I think USPS  would be well served to get better at the only thing they do.

Tracking(used to be Delivery Confirmation)are  now free with any parcel over 1 pound and it does show you where the package is.

I ship and receive packages all the time via the Post Office and only rarely have I had an insurance claim and never  was that claim anything less than the amount I had insured it for.

I guess it depends on your USPS office and who the UPS driver is and your experiences with both.  I guess they all have their goods and bads. Our UPS driver at the office I work at 50 miles away from home and the one that delivers here in the town I live in is loved and respected by everyone.