UPS package arrives empty

[anomander]

UPS might have surveillance video in their stores and processing centers. If they’re taking your claim seriously and give a hoot, they should have a security team for these types of incidents.

I would suspect internal theft and deterrence thereof is a big thing for any shipping company. Not to mention false claims which they’d want to disprove. Keep in touch with them for sure, but give them some time if they indicate they’re actively investigating. For 2k insured value, if they do find the culprit they’d likely involve law enforcement.

[Publisher]

Last week, I received a package containing two books that I had ordered from the publisher. The package was delivered jointly by FedEx & the USPS. It arrived opened & retaped shut. The retaping was loose & poorly done. There was no postal inspection sticker so I believe that the package was opened by someone with bad intentions. Nothing was missing even though the two books cost a total of $500. Fortunately, the packing slip only contained information regarding book titles & quantity, and did not list the price of the books.

[toledo]

So sorry this happened to you. I sell on eBay and this scenario happens a fair amount. When I ship valuable items, I print the shipping labels without the postage. That way no one along the way can see the value if I purchased extra insurance. Chances are it was the framer or the UPS store, so keep an eye out in your local area. Also, make sure you meet all the UPS claim dates. They look for any reason not to pay.

[doschicos]

“UPS might have surveillance video in their stores and processing centers.”

Many UPS stores are independently owned. I would imagine that if someone wanted to steal something out of a package, they could find a place to do so within the UPS store that wasn’t under surveillance.

[VeryHappy]

I have no suggestions, but this really sucks.

[snowball]

It was not the framer, although I did call her once we knew the package arrived empty. The initial shipping weight at the UPS store and the delivered weight were different. The tape at the end of the tube on arrival was not taped the same way from when I picked it up. There is nothing on the label that indicates my insured value, so like @Publisher said, seems like only the shipper would know the value.

@toledo any tips for dealing with UPS? I am dealing directly with the shipper at this point; my daughter submitted the claim and photos. It took a while for UPS to receive the photos as she would send all in one email, and then days later UPS would said they couldn’t see them. After she had the baby, she ended up sending all 6 picture of the tubing in separate emails. They finally have every thing and were sending it along to the shipper. When I spoke with him on Friday, he said he had just received what he needed. Sounds like UPS searched for the painting and did not find it. The claim info I see online is listed as damaged which seems odd, but the shipper said that was correct. I was out visiting the baby all last week, so hope to go by the UPS store on Friday; due to work I can’t get there any sooner. Maybe being there in person will help, but not holding my breath.

[powercropper]

My only thought is that UPS might claim the tube was empty when it was given to UPS store. You picked up the tube from the framer, but it was already sealed? Do you recall details of how the tube was sealed when you picked it up, vs. how it was delivered to your daughter?

[snowball]

@powercropper The weight at shipping and the weight at delivery were different. I guess UPS could said we were lying about the tube being empty, but sounds like they believe us. The tube was absolutely taped differently once it arrive to my daughter vs how it was when dropped at the shipper. While I don’t have picture prior to shipping, my daughter has pictures once she opened the tube. Different tape was used on the poorly taped end, and just two pieces in an X; it was originally taped fully around the end and across the endcap.

I am sure this will not work out well for us as it will be a he said, she said. The little person rarely beat the big corporation.

[doschicos]

"The initial shipping weight at the UPS store and the delivered weight were different. "
I would think that would help you a lot with your claim.

[BunsenBurner]

So sorry, snowball. I too suspect the package was emptied at the store or even before that.

I would not be counting on any surveillance at a UPS store (independently owned). Some places do have surveillance; luxury department stores apprently have protocols for handling more expensive merchandise and surveillance in their shipping rooms because some thieving employees used to “legitimize” fake goods: in the shipping room, someone would swap that real Gucci bag for a fake one and ship the fakery to the customer. Then the thieves would sell the real deal on a resale site, and the customer will have to prove to the store that they have not swapped the item themselves. I once ordered a black designer dress that was deeply discounted, and the package came in with a black nightgown inside, even though the shipping slip said there was that black designer dress in the package. Took it to Neiman and got a few glaring stares from the clerk who refunded my money and said they would look into who could have possibly done it.

[Knowsstuff]

First off… Make a real police report where you live and where your daughter lives. We have used the same framer over year BUT unless you saw them package your painting personally sometimes great companies have unlawful employees. This to me would make the most sense. The police can see if they have cameras and no legit framer would ever want this to happen. They would also be the ones having a clue on the price but you have to ask yourself and everyone involved with a rhetorical question. Regardless of “your” value on it. On the open market it might be worthless unless it’s a known artist… Right?
So then the question would be why.
Even along the delivery chain I would just doubt someone would open it and take it not knowing if it had any “street” value. Yes, I am actually giving some credit to the potential thieves. ?.
Once again, once it got to your hometown… Why would they take itt. So one thing you can look at is the timings of the transfers. Just bring up your ups and follow the handoffs. It might be very different for me since being in Chicago it’s a main hub and things get timed stamped pretty quickly and loaded to the delivery trucks. So if it comes in at 2:05 am, it’s like on its next move within like 15 minutes. So…
See once it started on its travel were there any places that it just sat for an extended period of time? That’s where I would look. If it was accepted and like immediately time stamped to a new location then there would not be time to do anything there. Of course they can always scan it for the time stamp then take the painting but I am giving them to much credit at that point.
Really sorry that this happened with the other life changes in your life. Congrats on your new grand baby ?. Hope it’s happy and healthy.

[Knowsstuff]

I just saw the difference of weights and tape job. Yes, our framer also would tape it like you said. … Yikes that really sucks! Why can’t people just respect other people’s stuff.

[toledo]

Stick to your guns on the $2k value. You paid for that insurance, so you deserve every penny. I think you have a very good case. Best of luck.

[somemom]

I used to ship my wedding ring to my old jeweler in my old town, he’d check stones etc. The last time I sent it, it went missing somewhere between the large main city in our state and my local office. The local manager actually had the conveyor taken apart, found 4 other boxes, but not mine. The worst part was that they let me pay for the insurance, but then I had to prove the package met that value, luckily it went missing on the way from the jeweler so he could do the official appraisal.
I am sure it was internal theft as it was in my new state where the box went missing.
Some jerk stole it.
I would start searching online for similar works, maybe his estate can give you a valuation?

[momofboiler1]

I second filing a police report. I’m sorry!

[GnocchiB]

Any update, @snowball ?

[Publisher]

Curious as to who weighed the package at its destination.

[snowball]

Still fighting with UPS. Everything is handled by the local shipper, and he has not been responding this week. I am going to stop by his store tomorrow and hope he is in. I can not go during the week, and it is not near my home.

To answer the question about who weighted the package on delivery, UPS had my daughter weigh the tubing and send pictures to them. I thought they were sending someone to pick up the package to examine, but this is what they wanted to do. The tubing is still sitting at her home in the event they want the proof.

My daughter had her baby a couple of weeks after the package arrived and has been a bit busy. I have checked in weekly with the shipper, and my email a couple of weeks ago was a bit direct in demanding a resolution.

[snowball]

I finally received my check from UPS, over 3 months since we made the claim. I do believe my local shipper dropped the ball at the beginning; as my daughter had her baby, we didn’t follow up other than by email to start. While I insured the painting for $2K, I had no idea of the value; I pulled that value out of the air! It was a good guess, as it was purchased in 1971 for $400, and $400 then is worth $2424 now. My dad had in his files the original receipt which was hand written on a legal pad! I was able to find another painting of the artist online that sold for $2000, and after speaking to the artist’s wife, she said that sized painting of his would be valued between $2K-$2500.

I really would have preferred the painting back, and asked about putting up signs in each hub it traveled through offering a reward, no questions asked; that went no where. UPS has it listed as damaged, and after speaking to my local UPS driver at work, his thought was that it was indeed damaged. Again, this was in a 4 foot tall tube; not something someone could slip in their pocket! As one of the ends was retaped, our guess is that it fell out somewhere along the way, maybe without notice, and someone taped the tubing back, not knowing it was empty. I don’t really buy that store, as if it fell out, someone would see it and it could have been retrieved as a lost item as i gave a complete description as how it was wrapped.

Oh well, the story is done and I now have a check for a bit over $2K. I still am inquiring about the shipping refund as I don’t think I received the full shipping amount back. I know I don’t get the insurance back, but there were two shipping charges on my receipt, so I believe I am owed another $23 dollar, but it might not be worth the fight :neutral: