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View Full Version : Consumer affairs question - damage from shipping company



spajohn
20th August 2010, 17:08
Hi all,

Would appreciate any suggestions on this problem. I bought a second hand wine fridge on TradeMe, which was one of a pair. The other was bought by my brother in law before me. They were both in perfect condition, and his one is testament to this.

I arranged shipping plus paid extra to insure it for what I paid. Other than the hassle with dealing with the shipping company from start to finish, they also delivered it damaged and locked. The delivery guy nicely took away the packaging that his colleagues had the keys attached to!

I immediately contacted them (Saturday) and providing evidence of damage as well as a helpful email from the seller confirming the condition it left, and her comments about concerns with how they were handling it.

It is now over a month and heard nothing more, so followed them up again today. Despite my last contact where she told me she had forwarded the details to the insurer, she today told me she was waiting for information from me?!

Anyway, the upshot is that they will refund me the value of the fridge, not charge me to collect it, and I am left with the $380 shipping cost and no goods. Suffice to say I'm not particularly happy with this. Any suggestions on where to next? Naturally I will be speaking to consumer affairs next week, but would appreciate any bush lawyers out there to chime in!!!

ac3_snow
20th August 2010, 18:14
Bummer! don't know which company you dealt with but I haven't had the best of experiences with main-freight in the past.
And not much help to you current situation but I have learned that when you receive the package most freight companies have you sign the little slip which states "items received in good condition" Recommendation is to always cross this out and write unchecked, or similar, before you sign their nice little slip. Otherwise you very often have little claim against damages.
Good luck tho hopefully you don't get shafted with the full $380 bill!