What do I do with a FedEx claim denial?

Maybe, as some of you have pointed out, this is entirely my fault and I should have done something more to protect the remote from damage, but I am still having some difficulty understanding just how the remote came loose without the box being significantly jarred in transit. It is possible for a box to be mishandled without there being visible evidence of damage on the outside. The amount of packaging that is considered sufficient can be a matter of opinion and that is what companies use to deny claims. I didn't carelessly package the unit for shipment and I am not trying to ripoff FedEx. Maybe a good question is just what are we buying when we pay extra for insurance coverage? It sounds like the insurance that is sold by these shipping companies only has value if it can be absolutely proven that the company was 100% at fault. Things can get damaged during shipment and it doesn't have to be someones fault or maybe its a combination of less than absolutely perfect packing and less than perfect handling. I apparently misunderstood what I was buying when I payed for the extra insurance coverage but I thought that it was to cover this sort of incident.

Sorry unless the remote was securely taped in place and FEDEx had to drop the piece 20 feet for it to pry loose, it sounds like its the packers fault . We all know that UPS FEDEX USPS are not going to baby our precious audio cargo. It is our responsibility to overpack our gear to avoid the anguish and hassel of claims when shipping out stuff. Double boxing with extra stuffing to hold things in place (like your remote) extra cardboard in corners etc.
A 25% discount is generous from Manufacture. The cost of the remote is not Thetas only expense. like many businesses each sale may cost them $ 50.00 or more ! to process, so they are not geting rich selling replacement parts at discount. BTW what is your time worth? It is probably worth more than your spending on this issue. If you bought the piece on audiogon you saved more than the $ 150.00 anyway !

Justlisten,

Quite frankly, I am a bit perturbed at your answer. You illusory scenario is down right rediculous.

Again, I believe carriers who are qualified professionals with specific knowledge of their trade and craft are assuming a duty of care when they accept the considerations of their clients under specified circumstances.

In other words, they have no excuse to deny claims when a product is not in the same condition from when it leaves the departure point to when it arrives at its destination.

Don't give me the logistical nightmare scenario. If FedEx can ship a package from NY to Tokyo in 24 hours, they can check a damn package.

I also think that Viggen is way off base on this one. If FedEx paid on anything damaged no matter how it was packaged, they would either soon be out of business or insurance would be very, very expensive.

People would go into business just shipping stuff to be damaged to collect on insurance. Let's see how we can make some money.

1. Go to antique stores and buy damaged porcelain at a low price. Put it in a box with a very heavy item with no padding and insure it for the value of perfect piece. When it arrives in small fragments, collect!

2. Buy TV sets that don't work and then put them in flimsy boxes with the picture tube facing down. When it arrives with the tube broken, collect!

Don't think that wouldn't happen. People rip off insurance companies for millions of dollars annually in false claims. This would just be too easy to pass up.

However, Mchd1 makes a very valid point. They sell this coverage as insurance but it is not insurance in the usual sense of the word. Most people consider insurance as something that covers losses no matter what. Even if the car wreck is your fault, your insurance company has to pay. They may cancel you later, but they have to pay. The shippers should do a better job of explaining what they are selling.

I prefer to use UPS because they offer a packing service for about $20. They put it in a heavy box and surround the component with that expanding foam in plastic. The beauty is, they cannot deny a claim for improper packing because they did it. Maybe $20 is a lot for insurance, but if you need a box and packing anyway, it is really pretty cheap.

I do not intend to pursue this any further. I will either buy a new remote or go without. I have shipped many items in the past without any problems but I guess that I have been lucky. I have learned from this experience but I think that we ultimately do ship things at our own risk with or without insurance no matter how well packaged. This is a bit concerning considering the value of the components that we ship. From the other threads that I have read here on Audiogon it sounds as though these companies initially deny all claims as a matter of process and they seem no more likely to want to pay a claim even when something is completely smashed and it is clearly their fault. I understand the insurance fraud issue but I sure am glad that the other insurances that I purchase do not provide the same type of coverage as the insurance sold by the shipping companies.