Damage claims and reasonable couriers?

martindow

maisie_cat said:

How would you defend a courier claim that the items was insufficiently packed? If I send something fragile I package as though it might be used as a football en-route. I bought some vintage glass a few weeks ago, the items were packaged in loads of bubble wrap but one of the items had broken. I could see the dent in the corner of the box where it had been dropped. I felt bad for the seller, but he refunded the one item. It's a risk that you either or use a specialist shipper and pay for it.

I don't think you could claim.  As RFW says it should be able to withstand being dropped - the breakage demonstrates that the packing was not adequate.

custardy

martindow said:

maisie_cat said:

How would you defend a courier claim that the items was insufficiently packed? If I send something fragile I package as though it might be used as a football en-route. I bought some vintage glass a few weeks ago, the items were packaged in loads of bubble wrap but one of the items had broken. I could see the dent in the corner of the box where it had been dropped. I felt bad for the seller, but he refunded the one item. It's a risk that you either or use a specialist shipper and pay for it.

I don't think you could claim.  As RFW says it should be able to withstand being dropped - the breakage demonstrates that the packing was not adequate.

A dented corner and broken item inside demonstrates insufficient packaging.
A first 'defence' is top ensure you meet the carriers basic packaging requirements as listed.

theoretica

Mailboxes etc /mbe will pack and ship fragile items - but at a cost. Or see if your local auction house recommends other local shippers, they often have this information on their websites.

Double boxing and packaging so that the item will be fine even if someone has played football with it lowers the risk and is generally necessary.

emmbrook

As Theoretica says double box glass and other fragile items and make sure there is a gap between the boxes and fill it with packing peanuts or similar, also make sure no pieces could touch each other. You should be able to drop of out of an upstairs window if it’s properly packed. Couriers sort using machinery and delivery drivers throw things about so pack accordingly. Insurance is only worth it for properly valuable things - costs usually exceed value and most shippers don’t cover fragile items at all.

RFW

custardy said:

martindow said:

maisie_cat said:

How would you defend a courier claim that the items was insufficiently packed? If I send something fragile I package as though it might be used as a football en-route. I bought some vintage glass a few weeks ago, the items were packaged in loads of bubble wrap but one of the items had broken. I could see the dent in the corner of the box where it had been dropped. I felt bad for the seller, but he refunded the one item. It's a risk that you either or use a specialist shipper and pay for it.

I don't think you could claim.  As RFW says it should be able to withstand being dropped - the breakage demonstrates that the packing was not adequate.

A dented corner and broken item inside demonstrates insufficient packaging.
A first 'defence' is top ensure you meet the carriers basic packaging requirements as listed.

True. There's probably a rare possibility that it isn't the sender's fault (eg the parcel gets driven over) but it would need to be an item that the courier will insure.
I used to have a warehouse next to someone who regularly sent out glassware. They knew there was no insurance but made sure there wasn't an issue. I was around once when the couriers had crushed several boxes and they were trying to get them to pay up as they were severely negligent, they didn't get anywhere.
I managed once to get a payout on an uninsured product. The driver had admitted to throwing it over a fence and not even the right house. The couriers refused as the items weren't insured, when I pointed out that they probably wouldn't enjoy the publicity of how their representative was negligent with deliveries they were persuaded to cough up.