American Flyer 4667 Destroyed by UPS

This is what UPS did to my train.

There is no excuse for damaging a box such as this.

These pictures were taken before I opened the box so it's pretty obvious how the engine was damaged.  It did have crumbled paper above and below it and was double wrapped in bubble wrap.  The box was crushed enough to negate the protective value of all of the packing.

Pete I feel for you, like you said now you get stuck in a run around, went through that good luck!! Funny got a notice today that a package was undeliverable due to no location for drop off, we didn't order anything. HAGD

I feel for you. I've had some damage but never that bad. Good luck getting your money back 👍

Have you alerted the auction house to your problem?  They're the ones who packed it and needed to comply with UPS packing standards.

The problem is packing.  They did a poor job.  Several years ago, I shipped an O scale Allegheny and the box looked destroyed upon delivery but the contents were perfectly fine. The locomotive and tender were secured to pieces of plywood that had cut rail “slots” with my router. I wrapped so much bubble wrap around the locomotive and then the tender.  Then they were wrapped both as 1 unit with even more bubblewrap and double boxed it.  Even though the outer box was ripped, crushed and taped by UPS, there was no damage to the items.

Larry

Packing is an art that apparently Cabin Fever hasn't mastered.   I get a lot of shipments in and out, and sadly this is more common than most would like to admit.

My feeling is that anyone who packs and ships for a living should first do an apprenticeship of receiving and unpacking so they can see the results of inadequate packing.

@RoyBoy posted:

My feeling is that anyone who packs and ships for a living should first do an apprenticeship of receiving and unpacking so they can see the results of inadequate packing.

Great response!  on the job training.

Larry

So the latest on this ...... I filed a claim on the UPS website and what a convoluted process that was. I supplied pictures, and information on what I paid.  Next day I come home and there is a UPS pickup tag on my door. No feedback or explaination it's just give us the item. Well maybe they are going to make good on what they did to my package, then I read the small print on the back, liability limited to $100.00. So they want to take the item that cost me about $150, plus another approximately $20 for them to ship it AND destroy it and give me Maybe $100.00.  UPS disgusts me, and they get away with this all day long. If DOJ ever wanted to investigate a company for duplicitous practices this is it.

Then I called Cabin Fever. When I got connected to Jared he was helpful. He told me that it is insured through the auction house and that he will e-mail me a link to file a claim. I haven't seen his e-mail yet but that was just yesterday so I'll wait a couple days and call back if necessary.

@Sitka posted:

...Funny got a notice today that a package was undeliverable due to no location for drop off, we didn't order anything. HAGD

That's a common scam.  Look at the sender - I'll bet it didn't come from a legit address.  Don't open or respond.

@Pete in Kansas posted:

So the latest on this ...... I filed a claim on the UPS website and what a convoluted process that was. I supplied pictures, and information on what I paid.  Next day I come home and there is a UPS pickup tag on my door. No feedback or explaination it's just give us the item. Well maybe they are going to make good on what they did to my package, then I read the small print on the back, liability limited to $100.00. So they want to take the item that cost me about $150, plus another approximately $20 for them to ship it AND destroy it and give me Maybe $100.00.  UPS disgusts me, and they get away with this all day long. If DOJ ever wanted to investigate a company for duplicitous practices this is it.

Then I called Cabin Fever. When I got connected to Jared he was helpful. He told me that it is insured through the auction house and that he will e-mail me a link to file a claim. I haven't seen his e-mail yet but that was just yesterday so I'll wait a couple days and call back if necessary.

It was insured?……I’ve never had an issue with an insured item,…yes the hoops are a PITA, but declared value is declared value,……and eventually I’ve received it,…( that’s as a shipper) as a buyer, or a receiver, I always insist anything of value be insured to me, and agree to pay any additional insurance fees, with the condition met that the shipper will release claim processes to me,….it’s not that hard to do,…..

Pat

That packing job was horrible - unbelievable for a place that is in the business of selling and shipping trains.  A full refund of everything you paid is in order.

It's a real shame when that happens to something that can't be replaced, and repairing it will negatively impact its value.

@Mallard4468 posted:

It's a real shame when that happens to something that can't be replaced,

The most important part.  There are only a finite number available.  Money aside, it really irritates me when carelessness results in something being destroyed unnecessarily.  There are certain train items where only a handful of examples are known.  We can't afford to lose them to situations like this.

@Pete in Kansas posted:

This is what UPS did to my train.

   

There is no excuse for damaging a box such as this.

 

These pictures were taken before I opened the box so it's pretty obvious how the engine was damaged.  It did have crumbled paper above and below it and was double wrapped in bubble wrap.  The box was crushed enough to negate the protective value of all of the packing.

This really stinks.

In the last year and a half I've received four packages in the same, OR WORSE (one had the product taped to what was left of a box with UPS tape - they had the nerve to leave this on my doorstep!) condition from UPS.

Dozens of packages sent by, and received from, FedEx, First Class and Priority Mail in the same period of time with zero issues.

I will not ship UPS and will no longer buy from anyone who insists on doing so.

This is not a UPS-only issue.  It is simply the way parcels are handled, have been handled, and will always be handled, especially as we continue to insist on speed, Speed, speed, Speed, SPEED!!  (For a bit of humor, see if you can find a copy of the old RR story of the Baggage-smasher competition.)

You can't prevent it by boycotting sellers who ship UPS--or any other mode.  Boycott the sellers who can't manage to pack well.  FWIW, I leave a comment on the quality of the packaging on every piece of eBay feedback I give.

Just an update on the outcome of this incident. UPS wanted me to release the damaged item to them and pay me $100.00 and be done with it. Not very fair when I paid considerably more than that and they would have taken the item and thrown it away, UPS sucks.  I called Cabin Fever auctions and they put me in touch with the company that insures their shipments. The response was quick, professional and they settled the claim fairly so that I can now repair the item without any financial loss. Cabin fever came through, UPS didn't.    I am in the process of repairing the engine and I'll post pictures when its done.

I'll continue to bid on Cabin Fever auctions and I'll avoid UPS ( Universally Poor Service) whenever I can.

Somewhere I saw a comment that it appeared I was blaming UPS, well, that is correct and let me explain why.  I work for an entity that ships 84 Million packages yearly ( and No it's not Amazon) so I am very familiar with ISTA standard 3A that UPS references. The package I received wasn't perfectly packed BUT I believe it did meet the ISTA standard 3A.  The crushing force delivered to my package was considerably more than would ever be experienced in  ISTA testing.   This box got hit hard enough to bend metal and split the box open so yes UPS is / was at fault. And the part the really annoyed me is that the delivery driver did a ring an run so I couldn't get to the door fast enough to have it noted on the delivery acknowledgement. Most UPS staff I have dealt with both at the corporate level and drivers are honest hard working individuals trying to provide a service but somewhere it failed this time and the driver ducked any responsibility. So I blame UPS for poor service.

@Pete in Kansas posted:

Blue editing mine.  TT

This is what THE PACKER did to my train.

EXCEPT FOR THE SHODDY PACKING There is no excuse for damaging a box such as this.

These pictures were taken before I opened the box so it's pretty obvious how POORLY the engine wasPACKED.  It did have crumbled paper above and below it and was double wrapped in bubble wrap.  The box was crushed enough to negate the protective value of all of the packing.

Whoever packed  this needs to be trained on how to properly ship delicate product IMO.   I have used a variety of shippers over the years and am aware of damage issues.  My shipments are both domestic and overseas.   That box and description simply does not cut it in my experience.

A double wrapping of bubble wrap does not say that much to me.   Real nice product like in the above photos must be wrapped  planning on transit difficulties.

I had a similar UPS problem with a computer which was well packed; but not according to the UPS's "not-our- fault" department.

The computer was built like a tank and packaged similarly. However it did not survive a metal frame crushing drop from what had to be a more than insubstatial height.

The competion, FedEx, repeatedly leaves packages in front of my  office door during severe rain storms.

Maybe I'll try "pony express" next time ... or Captain Kirk can can utilize his "transporter beam."

As with many situations,  it is not so much the company as to the individual performing the duty.

Whether it be Ford / Chevy;  Red state /Blue state;  Christian / Non Christian; UPS / USPS / FedEx;  two rail / three rail;  etc; etc;  It is the interfacing human element that makes or breaks a  responsibiity.

Pete, have you figured out the mechanical parts you mentioned?  The solenoid?

John

yes the solenoid is part of a reversing system. I'D never seen one like this before, the solenoid in conjunction with a lever and a cam actually moves the manual reverse switch.  It cycles like a 2 position E unit.

How my 4667 looks now.