Has anyone ever gotten paid for their insured item by UPS after UPS lost it? Curious to see what kind of process I am up against.

I shipped my shotgun back to Browning over a month ago and it was never received by them and is apparently lost in the shipping process. I have an open investigation with UPS and at this point I'm just hoping I get paid by UPS if it can't be located. I insured it for $1200 if that matters.

Thanks in Advance!

They lost a few things from my previous job. Never saw a penny. Good luck. I did not handle any of it, so I don't know how much work it takes, only that my old admins didn't do enough of it.

It's been several years, but in short, yes.

I was the shipping manager for a company in Bryan, and we had stuff that got "lost" all the time. And by "lost" I mean that I think the customer got it but claimed to have not received the package (most used reason: left on the porch.)

Here's the thing: The insurance is paid to the shipper. So, unless you have your own UPS account, the payment will most likely go to the company that shipped it on your behalf. You'll probably have to collect from that company.

I've dealt with usps for lost items and currently dealing with them for a damaged humidor I shipped. It's a gigantic pita. Hope your luck is better with ups. It's a good question though if you printed the label or browning provided it, because that can affect things a lot.

Yikes....looks like best case scenario is them just finding my gun. Should be a fun process ahead

I'm actually shocked you could ship it UPS. Last time I tried to ship a scope, I was told by The UPS Store (granted, that's not UPS itself) that they couldn't ship guns or anything gun related.

Did you ship through an actual UPS location or someone that is an authorized shipping center?

A customer shipped us a pump for repair and UPS lost it. Asked for replacement cost and when we sent them the quote, about $15,000, UPS decided it was worth looking a little harder. Didn't find it and the customer got the money and ordered a new pump about 3 weeks later.

wadd96 said:

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I'm actually shocked you could ship it UPS. Last time I tried to ship a scope, I was told by The UPS Store (granted, that's not UPS itself) that they couldn't ship guns or anything gun related.

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I got into a semi-argument with the manager at the UPS Store I frequently use over this. I purchased a scope on Amazon and it was shipped to me via UPS. For reasons I can't even remember now, I decided to return it. Amazon sent me the UPS return label so I boxed it up and slapped the label on it and went to the UPS Store. For whatever reason, the manager was taking care of me and asked me what was in the package. I told her it was a rifle scope. She told me they couldn't ship it because they don't ship anything gun related. I told her that couldn't possibly be true because it was delivered to me by UPS. She told me that UPS would ship it, but that her particular UPS store would not...that I would have to take it to a UPS Hub or have it picked up. The list of prohibited items happened to be taped to the counter in front of me. I read through that list and pointed out to her that firearms or firearm related products were not listed as prohibited. She responded with, "Well, I'm sorry but we just won't ship gun related items."

I still use that same UPS store because it's the most convenient one for me, but now if they ask what's in the box and it's gun related I give them a very vague description that doesn't sound like a gun accessory.

wadd96 said:

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I'm actually shocked you could ship it UPS. Last time I tried to ship a scope, I was told by The UPS Store (granted, that's not UPS itself) that they couldn't ship guns or anything gun related.

Did you ship through an actual UPS location or someone that is an authorized shipping center?

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I had to ship through a designated UPS center. I forgot what it was called but it was in a warehouse type setting that all the semi ups trucks were being loaded

That is called a Customer Service Center, better known as The Hub. The hub can ship guns and live ammo and the ups stores are not allowed to ship those items.

As already noted you can ship a scope but do not let the store employee believe that it is part of a gun.

As far as lost package claims, I deal with them as part of my business and there should never be a problem getting paid. Stipulations are: proof of value must be provided as easy as just copying something from the Internet, and the item must be insured to the amount requested by the customer.

Around 2003, I shipped some golf clubs. I think I used UPS. They were lost -- likely stolen by a UPS or other employee with access. I refunded the amount the buyer paid and got paid a week or two later. Bit of a hassle but nowhere near a horrible experience. I was probably more upset that they could allow something in their possession to (likely) get stolen and the buyer took it in stride.

Anything I'm not willing to just blow off I ship insured. I actually like USPS for shipping, but never ship anything USPS that isn't in a box and that won't fit in a regular mail box. They like to squeeze things in there and I will be sending back to amazon a recent book order due to even slight damage.

Allen76 said:

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That is called a Customer Service Center, better known as The Hub. The hub can ship guns and live ammo and the ups stores are not allowed to ship those items.

As already noted you can ship a scope but do not let the store employee believe that it is part of a gun.

As far as lost package claims, I deal with them as part of my business and there should never be a problem getting paid. Stipulations are: proof of value must be provided as easy as just copying something from the Internet, and the item must be insured to the amount requested by the customer.

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Listen to Allen. He knows a thing or two about this.

Allen, as I have never had to do this from a UPS Store customer perspective, what's the procedure? Does the store get paid for the item and then return that to the customer or does UPS cut a check directly to the consignor? I know, in the past, that it has always been the shipper that had to make the claim (from a direct to UPS shipment, not through a UPS Store.)

When a UPS Store ships for someone, the shipment is made using the shipping account number of the UPS store. The shipper, in this case , the UPS Store processes any claims for damage or loss (lost packages are rare). The claim check goes to the store and the store in turn writes a check to the customer. My wife does this process for me and she is the best at getting paid for a UPS damage claim. Damage claims can be subjective due to inadequate packaging.

Many UPS Stores like us, have the Pack & ship program which guarantees any damage claim payment up to the amount it is insured as long as our store packed it. A lost package is just lost and claim payment is automatically made after UPS has made an effort to ind the package.

There are also some other categories of claim. The next most occurring is "late" which usually applies to guaranteed times of Next Day Air, Second Day Air, and Three Day Select. If no Acts of God (severe weather) have slowed the shipment and it is late, the customer gets reimbursed for the shipping cost. This payment is processed differently. The store fills out a GSR form (guaranteed service refund) and UPS mails a check directly to the customer. In these cases the store never hears from this type claim again unless the customer has moved and the check did not make it to them.

You need to have a description of the packaging and a very detailed description of the contents

You need to ask them to search the over goods warehouse

I may or not have found quite a few packages this way

And as far as packaging.... the most common reason for UPS not paying a claim..... the shipping box must be 200 lb crush test or equivalent, and new not previously used box, and the breakable item must be bubble wrapped with 2" of bubble in all directions. UPS, USPS, and FedEx all have similar rules and similar damage occurrence.

The most common claim denial for damage is inadequate box or packaging. If the claim inspector measures the damaged item to be a 13" cube, and the shipping box is a 14" cube, they will deny the claim simply because there is only enough room for about a half inch of cushion all the way around. BTW peanuts is considered "fill" and it is not considered "cushion".

I would think that a lost shotgun could get a lot of attention from the ATF. You might want to remind the claims center of that fact.

MookieBlaylock said:

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You need to have a description of the packaging and a very detailed description of the contents

You need to ask them to search the over goods warehouse
I may or not have found quite a few packages this way

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Yes this is the only way UPS can find a box that the label has been ripped off. Shipping services still ask for customers to put their information inside the box for this reason, but very few do it. They are pretty good at finding a "lost" item if we can give them a decent description.

It's a lost package not a damaged package

The shotgun is in overgoods if UPS has it

Send me the tracking number and I will find it for u

tx4guns said:

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I would think that a lost shotgun could get a lot of attention from the ATF. You might want to remind the claims center of that fact.

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OP did not specify how he shipped it. But since the UPS stores are not allowed to ship guns, he either created his label online or took it to the hub. The creator of the label is considered "the shipper" and it is the "shipper" that must talk to UPS about a claim. Regardless, if it is indeed lost, then it was probably stolen by a UPS employee, and OP will be getting a check for the shipping plus the gun value up to the amount he insured it. The "lost" shotgun is too easy to find which is why I say it was probably stolen.

I don't have anything to add except memories: My mother in law has a Greenberg smoked turkey sent from Tyler to her in Pennsylvania every Thanksgiving and Wednesday rolled around and she hadn't gotten it and called FedEx. Their records showed that the driver reported it "damaged and threw it in the trash." Hell hath no fury like that woman without her turkey. I imagine that driver sitting around his table in his FedEx jacket carving up that bad boy to this day.

Just read OP again and it says he insured it for 1200 "if that matters". It definitely matters. And this tells me that not much time has passed on this or UPS would have been asking him for proof of value by now. There is a specific time frame for each step. If UPS did not give you a time frame for the current step (looking for lost package, approx ten days) then call them back and ask for the time frame.

On the UPS website there is a " claim tracking bar" which shows you where your claim is in the process. Try to find that which will tell you if you are on the same page with UPS.

I can't fathom how anything at all gets lost. Like...It ****ing disappears? It's scanned pretty much everywhere .... So....Like...Wtf? There are no lost items in 2017..just stolen items.

I had ups lose a knife I bought on Amazon because the delivered it to the wrong address and the couldn't veryfiy where they actually left it. I opened a claim and notified Amazon ans they just sent me another one.,..Then ups found the original. Like I said....No clue how they **** it up. One job. They have one job to do.

BrazosDog02 said:

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I can't fathom how anything at all gets lost. Like...It ****ing disappears? It's scanned pretty much everywhere .... So....Like...Wtf? There are no lost items in 2017..just stolen items.

I had ups lose a knife I bought on Amazon because the delivered it to the wrong address and the couldn't veryfiy where they actually left it. I opened a claim and notified Amazon ans they just sent me another one.,..Then ups found the original. Like I said....No clue how they **** it up. One job. They have one job to do.

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How many millions of packages do they deliver every day? It's really not hard to imagine how one might get lost every now and then.

If the length was over 48 inches and it doesn't get put on the conveyor belts


16million packages a day and the lost package rate is very very low

Quote:

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I had ups lose a knife I bought on Amazon because the delivered it to the wrong address and the couldn't verify where they actually left it. I opened a claim and notified Amazon ans they just sent me another one.,..Then ups found the original.

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This can happen a number of ways. One that I see occasionally is streets with the same name. Lets just say a city has a Smith St, Smith Blvd, Smith Ct, Smith Drive, etc. Then lets say the shipper left off the second word (Street, Drive, etc). The USPS and UPS database will filter out some of the wrong numbers but if some of those streets have the same numbers on the address, then you have a potential error.

Imagine this though.... UPS delivers to the wrong address...... then it is reported because the recipient is looking for his package. UPS looks it up, finds out it has gone to the wrong address, and contacts that address to get the package back. There are definitely people who have received that package and will try to claim that they did not receive it while UPS is running around trying to get it back from them.

As said before, "lost packages" are very rare, and if you have a dishonest UPS employee, they will be caught eventually.

UPS has a tagging system for each route. The little white stick-on tag (1.75" x 2.50") is what they use to help them sort. There is a potential error here. The wrong tag on a box can make a package get delivered to a totally wrong address...... but it does not happen often because all you have to do is look at the real (original) label for the correct information.

Or you could have our driver who, even after repeated instructions, cannot seem to understand that our neighbors are "Unit 1" and we are "Unit 2" and constantly deliver to the wrong house!

I've had two of these lost. (Concaves used to set up the threshing system of a combine) They measure roughly 3' end to end straight across, 18'' wide and weigh roughly 90 lbs. I would ship them insets of 3, each with it's own tracking number. The first time one was lost was when I sent a set to oregon. Two of them made it, one did not. I reported one lost and the ran a trace, and did a "final search" twice. We started the claims process and when they discovered replacement cost was $1500, they suddenly found it.

The second time one was lost, I had to ship 3 sets (9 pieces, 9 tracking numbers) to the same customer in south Texas. They were all shipped from the same location, same day, all going to the same destination, consecutive tracking numbers. 8 made it, one did not. The tracking number made it as far as Houston then nothing. The claims process was a disaster it took over 90 days to get payment, and it was a MMA style fight. We had to prove how much it cost. We got a quote from the Deere dealer on what it would cost to replace, but the problem is we didn't sell them to the customer. We sent them to the customer in support of the machine they rented from us. The idiots at UPS could not grasp this. They wanted to see the invoice where we sold it to our customer. We got paid after they got a strongly worded letter from our lawyer.

UPS sucks ass. I ordered an e-caller on Tuesday morning from allpredatorcalls.com, and paid for 2nd day air, around $27.00. The item was packaged and sent to UPS that same day, so the item should have arrived no later than today at the end of the day.

I was planning on leaving today after my e-caller got here, so I could travel to the spot we are hunting for the contest this weekend and spend all day scouting tomorrow. I have been following my tracking number and it says there has been a weather delay and my package won't be delivered until the end of the day on Friday. Putting me exactly 24 hours behind where I need to be.

I called UPS to figure out exactly where my package is and they say it is now in Louisville, KY.

How in the f&#k can the package be delayed by a day when it has already been taken from St. George, Utah and flown right over the fugggin top of Texas and has now travelled a few states past Texas to the East? Why is the package going to Kentucky before it comes to Texas?! The lady I spoke with on the phone hardly spoke "engarish" & couldn't tell me why it was going there before coming to Texas.

The new time for the package to be delivered tomorrow was at the end of the day, so I asked if I could possibly pick it up at a UPS location to save myself some time. The lady said that wouldn't be a problem and that I could pick the package up tomorrow. What she didn't tell me was that the pickup location is only open from 4-7 p.m. and that I wouldn't actually be speeding anything up by doing this. They say that I will not be refunded any money either, due to inclement weather. **** UPS, right in the goat ass.

Do you not understand how their hub system works? It isn't a hard system to understand. Fedex does the same thing. It's why they're efficient.

txyaloo said:

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Do you not understand how their hub system works? It isn't a hard system to understand. Fedex does the same thing. It's why they're efficient.

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This, just like how you can mail something to someone in your own city through the postal service up here and it will still go down to Houston before returning and going to said person. Tons of stuff shipped via UPS to me will go into Kentucky first, then Texas no matter where it originated from.

Im surprised at all the UPS hate here, they always are on time, sometimes even a day early, and have never lost or taken forever on a package and I live out in the country. The same cannot be said for USPS or fedex......

Allen76 said:

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Just read OP again and it says he insured it for 1200 "if that matters". It definitely matters. And this tells me that not much time has passed on this or UPS would have been asking him for proof of value by now. There is a specific time frame for each step. If UPS did not give you a time frame for the current step (looking for lost package, approx ten days) then call them back and ask for the time frame.

On the UPS website there is a " claim tracking bar" which shows you where your claim is in the process. Try to find that which will tell you if you are on the same page with UPS.

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So I am technically only in day 2 of the UPS claim deal. I think they specified 8 business days over the phone, but I don't think I have it in writing. They said they will send me updates via email, but I am yet to get anything.

For those wondering, I shipped from a "UPS Customer Center" and I shipped it in the original Browning A-5 Box that was taped like a son of a gun. I expected to get a box to put it in from UPS when I shipped it, but the lady told me it was not needed and could just be shipped like this.

So- anybody who knows about shotguns and works for UPS would clearly know it is a shotgun and could have stolen it. I am fine with somebody stealing it as long as I get my money for it!

Some additional info:
I shipped on January 6th and last tracking update was on January 9th as "Arrival Scan at 11:05 PM in Earth City, MO.
So some hunter who works the UPS night shift in Earth City stole my gun....ha

Now the latest tracking says Exception: we are attempting to verify the package location/lost package investigation in St. Louis, MO.

I guess not, I don't understand why they wouldn't ship it to the Southwest Region "hub" in Dallas. Why fly past one hub to go to another way east of where an item is being shipped? Doesn't seem very efficient to me.



Would it not be more efficient to have some more shipping hubs located in other places besides the Eastern third of the United States?

Yes everyone at UPS knows at a glance when they are looking at a box that contains a long gun, just like most of us on this board.

FYI they know a lot more things too like the appearance of a box from a company that sells sex toys. And of course the drivers can see who receives such packages!

Offer still there to search for you
You might hqve guessed where i work by now