W4XKE
09-02-2007, 01:32 PM
I recently had a lightning strike here and several pieces of my gear was destroyed and damaged. #I sent one unit out for evaluation to an authorized repair service that is only 130 miles down the road. #It was double boxed, wrapped in bubble wrap and surrounded by 3 inches of foam and marked “FRAGILE.”
My homeowner’s policy was covering the cost since the loss had exceeded my out-of-pocket deductible. #A few days after it was shipped, the repair service called:
“Sir, we received your radio today and wanted to let you know the case is smashed. #I’m sure you didn’t send it that way because it was so carefully packaged. #We all remarked at how big a box it was in. #Let us know if you want to file a claim with FedEx or if you still want us to try to fix it.”
I drove down to the shipping office and explained what had happened. #They told me,
“Well even though it was insured, you will need to provide proof of its actual value and the age. #You can do that with a copy of the original purchase receipt. #That value will be depreciated by the age of the unit. #Also, if we determine that it wasn’t packaged properly, we won’t be held responsible. #We’ll have one of our trucks to pick it up and take it to a center to be appraised.”
Naturally, I no longer have the receipt and the radio is no longer a current production model. #The best “proof” of value I could come up with was a printout of a few completed eBay auctions. #Is this "proof?"
I haven’t heard back from FedEx lately and have no idea how much (if any) value they intend to place on my radio. #I can’t turn in the claim to my homeowner’s policy until I complete the claim from the FedEx evaluators. #This whole thing has become a complicated mess. #I wish I’d have just put it into the car and had driven it over to Nashville myself.
Next time it thunders, I’m disconnecting everything that has a wire on the back of it! #
Johnny
My homeowner’s policy was covering the cost since the loss had exceeded my out-of-pocket deductible. #A few days after it was shipped, the repair service called:
“Sir, we received your radio today and wanted to let you know the case is smashed. #I’m sure you didn’t send it that way because it was so carefully packaged. #We all remarked at how big a box it was in. #Let us know if you want to file a claim with FedEx or if you still want us to try to fix it.”
I drove down to the shipping office and explained what had happened. #They told me,
“Well even though it was insured, you will need to provide proof of its actual value and the age. #You can do that with a copy of the original purchase receipt. #That value will be depreciated by the age of the unit. #Also, if we determine that it wasn’t packaged properly, we won’t be held responsible. #We’ll have one of our trucks to pick it up and take it to a center to be appraised.”
Naturally, I no longer have the receipt and the radio is no longer a current production model. #The best “proof” of value I could come up with was a printout of a few completed eBay auctions. #Is this "proof?"
I haven’t heard back from FedEx lately and have no idea how much (if any) value they intend to place on my radio. #I can’t turn in the claim to my homeowner’s policy until I complete the claim from the FedEx evaluators. #This whole thing has become a complicated mess. #I wish I’d have just put it into the car and had driven it over to Nashville myself.
Next time it thunders, I’m disconnecting everything that has a wire on the back of it! #
Johnny