Safe Ship - Debary, FL Safe Ship - DeLand, FL misled, and overcharged me for shipping services which resulted in a broken Item and a roughly $210 loss for my decision to have them send my package instead of USPS directly Debary, DeLand FL

This store markets itself as the friendly neighborhood packing and shipping store while running a dishonest business and significantly overcharging its unsuspecting customers while not providing the "services" that it seems.  I came into this store on the way to work one day because I was in a hurry and needed to ship a package containing an Acura CL headlight housing from a 2003 model. 

I double boxed the item and packaged it using the packaging that I recieved my new headlight housings packed in from Honda when I purchased new headlight housings to replace the cloudy old ones.  I paid $492 for 2 lights because there are no cheaper options.  I sold my old lights for $130 to make some of the money back.   I asked what the cheapest method would be which I guess in hindsight was were I went wrong. 

I was qouted $55 and change and I asked to add $200 in insurance to my package.   It took nearly two weeks for the package to reach Colorado from Florida and the light in the package was broken.  A piece was chipped off of the side which wouod cause moisture in the housing and bulb failure.   I went online to the USPS website to file a claim only to find the package had NO insurance!

I called usps to confirm this and also asked how much postage was for this package to find it was only $32.   I was a little upset at this point.  To make matters worse the method was shown as Parcel Select Ground which I had no idea what it was at the time but noticed the highlighted warnings on the USPS website mentioning that packages sent this method would be jostled and handled and should be packed well....etc. 

 First of all they asked me what was in the package and I told them headlights for a car.   I recieved no warning from this business that they were sending my package using a method not as safe as regular mail.  Also I was not offered the Priority Mail option for only $4 more.  And then on top of it I paid $2 to insure the package for $200 thinking I was paying for insurance through USPS. 

It was sent uninsured through USPS and when I called to find out what was going on I became to realize that I had been tricked and taken advantage of probably just like the other customers that stop by to send something to somebody while in a time crunch or on a lunch break. The Manager of the Debary location was very rude to me on the phone and basically informed me that I asked to send the package the cheapest way and that this Parcel Select was in fact cheapest.

  I was told It was my responsibility that it was broken because I packed the item and didnt pay them to do so.  When asked why I was charged $57 for something I could have done for $32 at the post office I was told they reserve the right to charge what the please.  When asked aboit the insurance I was told they use their own insurance provider and to call "her mother in law" for info on how that works.

Her mother in law happened to be the owner of this location and the Safe Ship DeLand office.  I tried to explain my concerns only to be met with the same rebuttals.  Basically I was told that I could file an inaurance claim and would need to provide photos of the package when recieved by the recipient along with photos of the damage, a reciept, and proof of value. 

It hit me:  what if they threw the box away?  When I asked I was told it was required to do a claim.  This bothered me but there wasnt anything I could do.  I contacted the recipient and found that they in fact still had the packaging and everything and I requested photos. I called and was told to email the photos to their email adress to initiate a claim. 

On 4/11/19,  I emailed the business photos of the item before I sent it as well as the damaged item once recieved, a photo of the package, the reciept,  a screenshot showing the amount I sold the item for, and a screenshot of what a replacement would cost from Acura.

In 4/12/19 I recieved the following email back:                     

Thank you for the requested photos and documentation to start the claim process. It looks like we are just missing photos of how the item was packed. We are required to include photos showing the packing materials used and the actual dimensions of the item before packing material.

Also, The insurance company may need the damaged item and materials used for disposal and the claim process. If you can have the recipient of the package hold on to everything and take pictures of the packing for us. We will then follow all required steps in hopes to get your claim approved by the insurance company.

As stated on your receipt you are responsible for any damage if  you packed the item yourself and it does not meet industry standards. We look forward to hearing from you soon so we can move further.

 Thank you,

Safe Ship Debary   

I sense that this is just going to turn into a bigger problem although I have requested more photos from the recipient in Colorado. I am posting this on this website and am also filing a BBB complaint against the business and the ethics in which the operate.  Although they may not have lied or broken a law, they did grossly overcharge me to simply put a label on my box. 

I was charged $2 when I requested to add $200 in insurance and was not told that the package wouldnt be insured through the carrier.  And lastly, I was charged for an incompatible service for the nature of the item being sent and its fragile contents without knowlege or warning.  I was not offered the regular mail option for $4 more. 

As of right now - I am out $57 and change in fees to ship the item and I will have to refund the buyer to avoid a paypal dispute and most importantly a happy customer.  As of 4/11/19 I have asked for a refund and for my insurance claim to be paid in full and have been met with excuses and have had the blame pointed in my direction.

  This business has made no effort to satisfy me as a customer other than what they legally have to do and has not attempted to make things right in any way other than being "willing" to file a claim on my behalf and will not take any responsibility for the incompetance as a postal and packing service to send my item in a safe manner. 

They also brush off the fact that I was drastically overcharged and misled as to the services I thought I would recieve and the insurance that I thought I had.   The owner told me "I suggest next time you go to the post office to send your package" I will be updating this report with any new developments on this matter and how they handle this from here forward. 

Im also going to be sharing this with the DeLand Nexdoor community as well as the better business bureau and my friends and family and social network both online and through my business. I tried to recoup some of my costs associated with buying new headlight housings for $492.  I went from being paid $130 to $73 in profit due to unusually high prices. 

I now am about to lose $130 more because I must refund the customer.  By stopping at SafeShip in Debary FL I ended up losing more money than I stood to gain.  I hope that they will attempt to accept some kind of responsibility in this matter and will Update this post if they do so.