UPS Store #4513 MAC DISTRIBUTION, INC Shipped expensive LCD TV with insurance, UPS damaged, store refuses to help as required Tampa florida

I shipped an expensive Sony LCD television to my father in in another state as a gift when I bought a new one. This was June 24, 2013. I purchased a TV-specific box which met the UPS standards for burst-weight rating and size and packaged the item using corrugated cardboard spacers, kraft paper, and bubble wrap. I took it to the UPS store to ship and purchased insurance for the value of the item. I asked the store clerk to verify that the item was sufficiently packaged, he stated it was. I sealed the item, paid over $250 for shipping and insurance alone and left.

I traveled to my dad's state during the item's transit to visit him and arrived the day the television did. The box was severely damaged (and left with our neighbor as we were at the airport) in such a way that it should not have been delivered, it was clear the item was damaged.

I contacted UPS (on June 28th) to file the claim and packaged the TV up only partially because after removing the TV and seeing the damage, the box was so badly damaged I was not able to repackage the item the way it was when it arrived.

UPS initially denied my claim stating ONLY that packaging material was insufficient and the box used was not strong enough. I appealed this decision and picked up my TV from the UPS store after several weeks as a courtesy to them; it was in WORSE condition than the first time. There was almost no shape to the box, there was a new hole and an extraordinary amount of damage and because the television was NOT repackaged properly by the inspector in the delivery state, the TV was damaged WORSE than when initially delivered (cracked frame, external speakers snapped off, etc). To top it off, it was repackaged UPSIDE DOWN in the box, delivered RIGHT SIDE UP. It was very clear to any reasonable person that NO amount of padding inside would protect the contents from the abuse, negligence and mistreatment the package was subject to.

Because the UPS store owns the shipping account, neither UPS nor their adjuster Crawford & Company would speak with me, noting their privacy policy and stating I had to get the store to do this. The owner dodged calls, refused to help stating "this isn't our issue" and the store manager did the same knowing FULL WELL they are obligated to present the claim and any appeal. In SEPTEMBER I was finally contacted by a manager of the UPS store who had ignored DOZENS of emails and calls to his email address and every of the three stores he works at near me (I have documentation of this) and he provided me only an email to submit photos to and CC'd the store owner claiming ignorance as to why I was trying to blame him because he initially forwarded me the adjuster's request for photos (but FAILED to provide an email or a working phone number). The # for the claims adjuster went to voicemail each of the nearly two dozen times I called and I was never ONCE called back by that adjuster despite numerous voicemails.

The photos were submitted September 17th, 2013 and after a week of no response I continued to call the adjuster, finally giving up today and calling Crawford & Co's corporate line. While they would not discuss the case, the agent DID state that the adjuster had been contacting the owner of the UPS store, telling them to get a hold of me with the decision. I called the owner and she passed the blame to the same manager who initially failed me, stating that he was supposed to have contacted me weeks ago. To top it all off, my appeal was DENIED. I was not contacted once without pressure or threat of legal action on my part and was never given the final notice of decision. Over and over, they denied any involvement and in one email told me that they were no longer a responsible to the claim (assuming because they gave me information to contact the adjuster, who refused to speak with me). At once point they called the adjuster, instructing her to speak with me. I was later informed that due to their contractual agreement, they do not have the authority to make such a request.

After everything was said and done, the manager (John Masters) offered to extend my private box contract at his store for one year, a whopping $200 value to settle my claim for the $1500 television and the $284 I spend on GROUND shipping service + insurance. Not only this store and the manager in particular but UPS as well have acted negligently and in bad faith selling me insurance they did not intent to deliver on and are in breach of contract for refusing to perform their duties as the account holder to represent my claim against UPS and Crawford to completion.

AVOID the UPS stores in Tampa Palms, Cross Creek Blvd and Wesley Chapel on Bruce B Downs, they are ALL owned by the same person (MAHTANI, SUNDRI M) under the corporation MAC DISTRIBUTION INC (http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail/EntityName/domp-p98000075171-ca39f2ec-bd0a-4ad5-a1d2-dc2fea66a407/Mac%20distribution%20inc/Page1)