Seems to me that at the time of acceptance they should say "Doesn't meet our packaging requirements, can't insure, ship as is at your own risk, or re-package it." If they do in fact accept it, and insure it, then they are saying it passes their requirements, and therefore they accept responsibility. I'm not an attorney and don't even play one on the radio, so whatta I know. I know they got deeper pockets than the rest of us, but I'd guess a good attorney could get them to pay up, and it would probably only take a letter. Might cost you more than it's worth, however, which is what most claim denials are all about anyway.

I’ve shipped several guns in wooden boxes and UPS wouldn’t accept unless we covered the boxes with cardboard . We’ve also had several broken things with UPS and so far (knock on wood) we’ve come out ahead of the game . Not to say that won’t change the next time but so far so good .

Brownell’s used to ship parts in nice white cardboard reusable boxes , then all of a sudden it stopped . Seems they had a uproar with UPS or USPS and they stopped seems they were told these boxes weren’t strong enough . Now they send stuff in FLIMSY sloppy padded envelopes with the parts flopping around inside . But that crap meets specs :eek:

When you purchase insurance for ANYTHING, it’s critical that you understand and follow the terms and conditions exactly (ie the fine print). And sometimes you really need to hunt to find it. This is where they spell out their liability. It’s really the only way you can defend yourself if you have a claim.

Claims and liability aside.

Few shipping companies own the long distance conveyance. It’s contracted out to trucks or rail-truck piggyback & less often airplanes. Trailers are 9 feet high inside and packages are stacked without regard to packing or continents. Your package could be on the bottom or top.

Only defense is good packaging, and the best is not always good enough.

William

but, i think the point here was that the outside packaging was not damaged, but the barrels were

Several years ago I started a thread about a Parker I had shipped UPS on the old forum. I think it was titled They Broke My Gun. The stock was broken at the wrist when it arrived at a wrong destination in the wrong state. I was forewarned my claim would be denied initially and it was. Seems they deny claims out of hand. In fact UPS told me they don’t even ship guns. So, I filed a claim in Small Claims Court against UPS. I won, they paid up. No attorney’s fees.

When shipping barrels only I use a rigid PVC tube with a cap glued on one end and PVC/NPT cap on the other end and when I tighten the NPT cap in place I drill and safety-wire it in place.
Then I put the sealed tube inside a long triangular cardboard shipping box and in the “To” address I never use the word “gun” or “firearm”.... sometimes just using the name of the owner and the business address without the business name.

Sounds like overkill but it has always worked well for me.





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i had a stock broken a few years ago ...i just fixed it myself and hoped it would not happen again so far so good...some times these boys pay and sometimes they dont....i m glad these barrels were able to be fixed....charlie

I use the PVC inside a cardboard box too. Leave space around the PVC for compressible padding like Peanuts or bubble wrap. It’s about the best I can do. Go inside one of the mechanized distribution centers watch conveyor belts & forklifts working fast as they can. Workers are monitored on production something falls off the belt they get no credit for stopping to pick it up. Call a supervisor is the best they can do.

I worked for shipowners in various capacity’s whole career. We never touched any cargo ourselves all handling with contractors one way or the other. Most times little choice available labor or terminals. Many years I had “commercial settlement” claims authority . Some rejected by the claims department elevated to my desk. I looked at who filed the claim & the circumstances. Big customer one thing small shipper or low paying freight another.

One thing that always got my attention was legitimate threat of a lawsuit. Test was would a reasonable person think it was our fault. We avoided lawyers, Claimant or our own, if at all possible. If the claim amount was within my authority level always paid rather than go to court.

It’s a gamble no matter how you look at it.

William