UPS shipping

[DuaneV]

Has anyone had problems with UPS shipping? I recently received a Pachislo machine from a major dealer on eBay, and the transformer was flopping about and the secondary leads had separated from the power supply cable. I will not reveal the seller's name here - the seller's technician said that they always secured the transformers and it must have detatched during shipping via UPS.
The technican's solution was to send me another pair of crimp terminals...

DuaneV

[ZCore13]

That stuff happens with Ups, FedEx and anyone else sending 90 pounds via train and truck. I use FedEx and have had 3 or 4 contacts about transformers being torn off during shipping. The boxes are turned upside down, rolled around and tossed on and off of transportation. Sometimes no matter how good they are packed they still get some minor damage. Re-atching the transformer and wires should not be a problem and the machine should work perfectly when you are done.

[monaghj]

Have you tried providing feedback to your local office (not the driver).

They will create a stink up the line.

I have found them very responsive to this in the past.

[doodude]

Ive been sooooo lucky not to have had any problems.
But Ive definately heard a boat load of horror stories.
Good luck with your repairs...

[luckydog]

transformers tend to be very heavy and i can see how one could break loose in shipping.

[DuaneV]

UPS will contact me to inspect the damage and then send a claim form to the vendor for the cost of replacement parts (2 crimp connectors). I told the UPS complaint taker that I could fix it myself, but was mostly annoyed at UPS for mishandling a fragile shipment.

Quite frankly, I was expecting a more sympathic, customer oriented reply from the vendor - something on the order of "we will ship you a transformer and connector cable assembly and include a prepaid shipping document for you to return the defective transformer/cable assembly. Telling the customer to do the repair himself, as minor as it might be, is not exactly my idea of "customer oriented".

While awaiting the arrival of the UPS representative, I was able to use a pair of short hookup wires with alligator clips to verify that the machine does indeed work.

DuaneV

[doodude]

Good job! There is life after UPS...

[logicprobe]

UPS will contact me to inspect the damage and then send a claim form to the vendor for the cost of replacement parts (2 crimp connectors).

Well, be sure to save the box and packing, as they MIGHT want you to repack it so they can send it to their local terminal for the inspection. Be sure to repack it EXACTLY like you found it packed, too. Then they will send it to the terminal that got it from the shipper. Then THEY will examine it for a second opinion. They will file reports with each other, and call you asking stupid questions along the way... like "Do you still have the box?", and "Can you provide proof of value of the machine and it's damaged parts?". Each time, of course, they will kick it... abuse it... roll it... and generally give it a "TAKE THAT!!!" bounce.

Then... after a few more weeks or months (and a lot of Rolaids)... your dealer MIGHT get the couple of bucks for the cost of two connectors.

Of course, the machine will now have NEW damage because YOU did not pack the machine properly (according to them) to have it inspected... but your dealer will get that 2 bucks for the connectors. The machine will probably arrive a few weeks later. Smashed, of course. They might even get it right, and send it to YOU, instead of returning it to the dealer.

Save yourself the trouble... just install the connectors that the dealer sends you, and keep the UPS monkeys away from it any further.

OR... ask the vendor for a call tag and a complete refund... and let THEM handle the claim.

[Lddrizzt]

OR... ask the vendor for a call tag and a complete refund... and let THEM handle the claim.

Naaahhhh, the vendor has themselves one of them there fancy technician types to put on 2 connectors. I think they might skip the claim.

[gwarzin]

I've had problems with transformers coming free during shipping IF THEY WERE ONLY SCREWED TO THE CASE. The screws just pull out of the MDF case first time the box is dropped. Never had it happen if the transformer was BOLTED to the case. Sometimes I wonder about some vendors. Seems like a no-brainer. When you're dealing with something as heavy as a transformer a couple of wood screws aren't going to cut it.