[RE-wrenches] Hidden Freight Damage AND theft

Wed Nov 6 14:39:11 PST 2013

And watch out for theft...I once had ordered -12- two-volt cells from by
battery dealer but only -11- were on the pallet. They were delivered to a
neighbor business who has a forklift and signs for me. No damage was noticed
but somewhere along the way a battery was removed(most likely to sell for
the lead) and the pallet re-wrapped. There was nothing I or my distributor
could do for recourse. 

Kirk Herander

VT Solar, LLC

dba Vermont Solar Engineering

NABCEPTM Certified Inaugural Certificant

NYSERDA-eligible Installer

VT RE Incentive Program Partner

802.863.1202

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Allan
Sindelar
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2013 1:43 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Hidden Freight Damage

Luke,
When you first posted I forwarded your request to our warehouse manager,
who's quite experienced. He didn't receive any of the responses from other
Wrenches, but sent this to me this morning:

.  Inspect it immediately for obvious signs of damage. This means walking
around the whole delivery or moving the boxes around to view all sides for
potential damages..... 

.  Compare the number of shipping units received to the number listed on the
delivery receipt. 

.  Sign the delivery receipt. I always sign the papers or the scanner with
the number of handling units (or boxes if its parcel) then my signature. 

While the driver is there, compare the pieces you are receiving to the
delivery receipt. If the condition and quantity of your shipment is
acceptable, the driver will ask you to sign the delivery receipt. The driver
will give you a copy and take the original signed copy with him/her (as
proof of delivery).

A signed delivery receipt with no exceptions is called a "clear delivery."
Clear deliveries mean there were no shortages or visible damage at the time
of delivery.

A shipment invoice will be sent to the paying party soon after pickup or
delivery, depending on whether the shipment is prepaid or collect.

If a shipment is short or damaged, you can still accept the delivery with
notes on the shipper papers.  If the shipment is too damaged and will
require extra resources in time and reshipment - refuse the whole shipment.

It's the duty of the shipper and the consignee to mitigate the loss. After
you accept the shipment, take steps to protect it from further loss and
promptly file a claim for the actual shortages or damages involved.

Allan Sindelar
 <mailto:Allan at positiveenergysolar.com> Allan at positiveenergysolar.com
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Founder, Positive Energy, Inc.

A Certified B CorporationTM
3209 Richards Lane
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
505 424-1112 office 780-2738 cell
 <http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/> www.positiveenergysolar.com

On 11/5/2013 8:58 PM, Luke Christy wrote:

Wrenches, 
Thanks to everyone who responded to my Freight Damage post. 

I wouldn't wish freight nightmares on anyone, but it is somewhat comforting
to hear that most folks have run into this problem over the years. 
The major takeaway seems to be that there is no substitute for a thorough
inspection of every delivery, even though that's often logistically
difficult. Also pushing back on the denied claim to see if the carrier will
come around to some kind of settlement. Given that the carrier in question
is Con-way and they are generally surly even at the local office, I don't
have a lot of hope for that, but it seems worth a try. 
I'm thinking in the future it may be worth it to pay extra for lift gate
service with a call-ahead so that I can receive the deliveries personally at
my shop. It has been convenient to have my friends with a loading dock take
delivery of my shipments, but there is only so much I can ask them to do in
terms of looking for damage. In the past I have tried the tactic of having
the person signing for the freight put something like "Subject to Inspection
for Damage" on the BOL, but it's hard for that to work well when you never
know who will actually sign for the item. Of course, with this latest broken
shipment, the disclaimer didn't get on the BOL. 

Thanks again.  May all your pallets arrive intact. 

-Luke

Luke Christy

NABCEP Certified PV Installation ProfessionalT: Certification #031409-25 
NABCEP Certified Solar Heating InstallerT: Certification #ST032611-03       
CoSEIA Certified PV Installer 

Solar Gain Services, LLC
PO Box 531
Monte Vista, CO. 81144
 <mailto:SGSRenewables at Gmail.com> SGSRenewables at Gmail.com
719.588.3044
 <http://www.sgsrenewables.com> www.sgsrenewables.com

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