shipment woes...

[VJ]

Of what year?

Hehe...

And then we start the same dance for compensation for your time and costs in recovering this?

I think I'll leave it at that: in the beginning I called with my mobile (to Ireland, where the call center for Belgium is), but my employer gave me permission to use the phone in the office. I'm just so tired of it all and actually was close to giving in: the damages paid would not be sufficient to replace the items - not by a long shot - but I was already thinking of how I could try to mend the case and then gamble/hope that the hardware would be fine (even though I was pessimistic about the blu-ray drive - which in itself costs way more than what they paid - and some other things). So I'm just glad it is all over. As I'm still in Poland and have another computer I can use (not to the full same extent, but I should manage), I won't be replacing it at this time.

When I called on Tuesday to complain about the damage claim, the phone operator said: "It can take up to 5 workdays before they call back. But your dossier is probably still circulating as so many people have been involved with it, so my guess is that you can expect to call them sooner". Oh, he also remembered me from previous calls: I had him on the phone 4-5 times before. And yes: less than 5 hours after that, I was called back.

Basically, anything that could go wrong went wrong: while we paid for insurance, this was not registered in their system (and not on the freight letter) so on the invoice we got some money back. My father called to inquire about this and they said it was a change in shipping rates. The reason why they now claimed it was not insured was because of the freight letter, but I after I called they checked the payments and discovered that we paid for insurance but it got lost in the system: the money they paid back was the additional amount of the insurance.

I wonder if the boxes are treated more careful if the freight letter has an indicated value? People now would not know the value of the box...

I must honestly say that the people in the call center were all very friendly and helpful. Well, I had this one unfriendly lady on the phone once - she immediately went in the defensive and just said I should wait longer, but I'm guessing it just wasn't her day.

It really became clear to me that their internal workings are really what is causing a bad situation to get far worse, which is why I decided NEVER to ship with UPS again (or order online from a store that ships with UPS). I'm willing to accept that a box can get lost, or even damaged, but they should have proper "contingency plans" for this.

Any point in sending a letter describing the whole ordeal to the MD (after it all is over)?


Jörg

[VJ]

This morning they called me: a guy on the phone who only spoke Polish... Sigh... They still don't know I don't speak the language (but if it takes much longer, I might! ).
He hung up as we were getting nowhere.
About an hour later I got a second call, but now in fluent English, to make arrangements to have the box picked up (faster than I expected). I sure as hell want proof, and on the phone they guaranteed me that the driver will bring the necessary papers.

The guy on the phone did make a statement that illustrates why I won't use UPS anymore: "The box will be picked up tonight, and it will be shipped to ... euhm... I don't know... but the driver should have the papers".
Come on! They call me, so surely they must have the case file in front of them as they have my phone number, the call concerns a shipment they initiate and they don't know where it will be shipped to?

I think this time frame is now realistic: the box probably reaches it destination this week (!), should be examined (either this week or the next), and then I think I can expect payment about 2 weeks after that (international payments tend to take long). It would be hilarious if the box got lost again though...

Jörg

[degrub]

Then i guess OOPS would have to pay OOPS

[Umfriend]

It would be hilarious if the box got lost again though...

Jörg

For us, yeah. For you, not so sure.

Be sure to keep us posted! :d

[VJ]

For us, yeah. For you, not so sure.

Meh... I feel confident it will work out now. The speed at which they worked last week (3 calls from them in 3 days) makes me think it has been given priority.

The box was picked up at 17.00; even though they said 18.00 (luckily I was home); and will be shipped to that depot it had been shipped to when it got lost.
This morning I got a phone call in Polish, but I don't even know if it was UPS or a wrong number.

Jörg

[Umfriend]

And the punchline is....?

So how are the Polish damsels? Sufficient compensation for all them shipping troubles?

[VJ]

And the punchline is....?

No punchline... Just what happened.
This morning, I got a call from the claims department: the computer has been delivered to them, and they agree to pay the full price. Expected payment is in 2-3 weeks due to administration.

So how are the Polish damsels? Sufficient compensation for all them shipping troubles?

Well, I've been tolerating UPS for this long and remained quite calm...
Does that answer your question?
(oh, and spring is coming, and for some reason I've been singing this song for days now)


Jörg

[VJ]

It is over! UPS has paid back the damage claim.

I do have the impression the amount they paid back is lower than what they said on the phone, but it doesn't differ that much so I won't spend money on calls for it.

I'm just glad I can put it all behind me...

[Fat Tone]

Woohoo! Congrats on seeing it through.

Shopping for a new rig today?

[VJ]

Well, that is the whole problem: I shipped it here because I didn't want to buy a new rig here (the hardware I look at is quite a lot more expensive here than it is in Belgium). So the whole thing put me kind of in a pickle, and as a result I have to make do with what I have. They really dropped the worst box possible, but at least I don't have financial damage anymore (nor gain for that matter ).

As I'm just here temporarily (and maybe more temporarily than I first thought , but nothing is sure yet) but still need something I thought it easiest to just order a small cheap pc (atom based, ion platform). But it won't be here soon: my parents will bring it when they come over next month.