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<div class="moz-cite-prefix"><font size="-1">We have had all sorts
of issues over the past 17 years but this one is by far the most
ironic.<br>
Had one damaged module....#28 down in a stack of 30. Noted it on
the BOL and initiated a freight claim through the distributor.<br>
<br>
In less than a week, we had a replacement module. And as you can
see in the photo, right next to the Fragile sticker,<br>
are footprints where someone had walked on the module. And
spilled coffee on it as well.<br>
<br>
And no, the footprints were not already on the cardboard before
it was applied to the module....the footprints were<br>
also on the metal banding!<br>
<br>
ABF of course.....stands for Always Bashing Freight<br>
</font>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Roy Butler
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer®
NYSERDA eligible PV & wind installer
Four Winds Renewable Energy, LLC
8902 Route 46, Arkport, NY 14807
607-324-9747 <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.four-winds-energy.com">www.four-winds-energy.com</a>
Join us at the 10th Annual Small Wind Conference
A Gathering of Installers, Manufacturers, Dealers, & Distributors
June 17 and 18, 2014 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.smallwindconference.com">www.smallwindconference.com</a>
Although no trees were killed in the sending of this message,
a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
</pre>
On 11/5/2013 10:09 AM, Chris Mason wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAG6C1qmFni-hpPMMkPwmppoHq2nXWBpLgWBCJcnnb_R9-TUxEQ@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">We had a large well known distributor sell us a
boxed pallet of modules for a project then add four more modules
on another flat pallet. They did nothing to protect the four
modules. Of course they arrived broken.
<div>
My logistics guy showed them the international packaging
standards for shipping goods of this type and pointed out that
their packaging did not meet the standard. They replaced the
panels.</div>
<div>I now don't buy solar modules in anything other than the
manufacturer's packed amounts, usually 24 per pallet, for
exactly this reason. If you think shipping in the US is bad,
imagine shipping by ocean to Caribbean islands.</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Nov 5, 2013 at 10:38 AM, john <span
dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:cvsolar@aol.com" target="_blank">cvsolar@aol.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<font color="black" face="arial">
<div><font style="background-color:transparent"
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Luke,</font></div>
<div> I agree with Bob, Just put it on the pile and hope
it is in tact enough to sell to someone wanting a
"deal". I have had about a dozen modules over the last
17 years broken. They seem to happen in multiple close
events so maybe you are now OK for awhile. The classic
one is stacking a smaller module or two on top and
ratchet strapping it down into the larger module even
after specifically telling the sales person to ship the
smaller one separately if they can't pack it right.
(plywood in between maybe). Lately I have had scratches
on the backing obviously done at the warehouse and the
most recent (third in two months) a nail worked out of
the pallet, went up through the cardboard and into the
bottom of a Solarworld module. Amazingly the module
did not break even though the nail went through the
backing sheet and through the cell so that you can see
the hole from the front. The glass did not break. My
distributor wants me to deal with the shipping company
but I signed off as the pallet looked fine. Now I need
to look to see if it is the original pallet from the
manufacturer.... generally in better shape,or another.
Now that prices are 1/5th what they were years ago, I
have decided to not waste a lot of time chasing
shippers. Even picking up from my distributor myself
doesn't solve the problem as the pallet I picked up
looked OK and I even watched them load it with the fork
lift. Scratches on the backing sheet were prior
damage. I can't see spending the time to
reload another pallet at the loading dock when it is end
of the day an a long drive home. Luke, I hope your luck
improves as I just went through it twice with the second
one being the replacement for the first.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>John</div>
<div>CV Solar</div>
<div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,helvetica">-----Original
Message-----<br>
From: Tump <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:tump@swnl.net" target="_blank">tump@swnl.net</a>><br>
To: RE-wrenches <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org"
target="_blank">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>><br>
Sent: Tue, Nov 5, 2013 6:13 am<br>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Hidden freight damage<br>
<br>
<div>
<div>One thing we find is asking who our supplier is
shipping on we find Fed Ex very careful &
willing to admit damages & also process claims
quickly. Conway "We never damage anything" we don't
use ABF..... always broken freight. Overnight/UPS is
questionable. Self insuring trucking companies will
always deny damaging freight. We also AVOID like the
plauge "interline carriers" again check w/ fed x.
<div>We have our truck freight delivered to a
trucking terminal, while this can create problems
w/ our relationship IF there is damage, they are
instructed to ALWAYS sign "possible concealed
damage" or if things really look bad refuse them
outright & then I will review.<br>
<div>
<div>On Nov 4, 2013, at 11:47 AM, Luke Christy
wrote:</div>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>Wrenches,<br>
<br>
We have been in business for about 8 years,
and up until now, the shipping gods have
smiled upon me, but apparently my luck has
run out, as I've had 2 costly shipping
nightmares within a month, and I'm just
wondering what other Wrenches have done to
protect themselves from the liability
involved in trusting expensive shipments to
the freight carriers. Here's my situation:<br>
<br>
I recently had a pallet of modules shipped,
and it arrived with multiple broken modules,
due apparently to careless handling,and
having had something heavy set on top of the
pallet. I have my freight shipments sent to
a neighboring business which is kind enough
to receive them for me, since they have many
full time staff who are always available
during business hours to fork shipments off
a truck. In this case the forklift driver
did not notice the damage (it was not
immediately evident), and the delivery was
signed for. However, upon picking up the
pallet an hour later, I realized that the
shipment was damaged, called the freight
company immediately to notify them of the
damage, and subsequently filed a detailed
written claim. <br>
<br>
I just got notice that my claim was denied
by the carrier, evidently without
considering any of the photos or the written
explanation I submitted with the claim. They
simply cited that the shipment had been
signed for without noting damage. <br>
It is clear to me that the carrier was
responsible for the damage, yet apparently
because the damage was hidden and the BOL
was signed, they can leave me holding the
bag for a significant amount of money. <br>
<br>
This particular incident could have been
worse, but it is the first time I've had it
happen and it certainly makes me worried
about future deliveries. It suddenly seems
like an unacceptable liability to have
others sign for my deliveries without a
thorough inspection. <br>
<br>
I asked my distributor whether the shipments
have any insurance on them, and the person I
spoke with didn't know the answer. So my $50
Ebay shipment is insured, but my $50,000
worth of equipment isn't? My insurance agent
says that I can make a claim on my
commercial insurance, but advised against it
in this case, since the loss was only around
$1K, and is guaranteed to raise my future
premiums.<br>
<br>
I know that things get damaged or lost all
the time in shipment, and I'm wondering how
other businesses handle it. Businesses that
do larger volume must have damaged freight
all the time. Is it just impossible to get
freight companies to take responsibility for
damage that is not immediately evident,
since they are acting as judge on their own
behalf? Do you just refuse to sign the bill
of lading until you've examined all the
contents of the packages (this is a
logistical nightmare in most cases)? Do you
just chalk it up to the cost of doing
business and/or make claims to your
commercial insurance? <br>
<br>
Would appreciate your thoughts / experiences
with this issue. <br>
Thanks. - Luke<br>
<br>
Luke Christy<br>
<br>
NABCEP Certified PV Installation
Professional™: Certification #031409-25 <br>
NABCEP Certified Solar Heating Installer™:
Certification #ST032611-03 <br>
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