by Peter Daley
Well what a merry-go-round I've been on! I had a 17” LCD monitor delivered by courier, the cardboard box looked a bit pressed in at the top, near the carry handle but nothing suggested that it was damaged inside.
You know what it is like. The courier rushes to the door carrying a new delivery, sweating profusely, and you feel you should take it, and sign for it as quickly as possible. Big mistake! It was late in the afternoon when it came in, so I didn't open it until the next morning, only to find one very smashed monitor. See picture.
Well I rang the wholesaler, took lots of photo's, and sent them to the wholesaler. Who said it had nothing to do with him. Why? Because the box had a mark on it , and I should not have accepted it, I should phone the courier. So I call the local office of the courier, who says it had nothing to do with them. Why? Because it was delivered by the courier in Brisbane, and they are a different franchise.
So I phone the franchise in Brisbane, It had nothing to do with them. Why? because I signed for the goods and by doing so, I accepted them. I was told this is clearly stated in the company's legal policy document, which I could have read on the Internet! The representative said you are supposed to open every box, and inspect it before you accept it, while the courier waits.
Well that was news to me. I said “Are you people crazy? If your couriers have to wait around until all the deliveries are unpacked and inspected, your business will go broke!” I was then given a get out of jail free card, when they said, Well you can sign every delivery slip from now on, “Subject to inspection”.
I know lots of members are now purchasing items s on the Internet that have to be delivered by courier, so make sure you have the courier wait, while you open up the boxes and inspect the contents, before t you sign for them, or write “Subject to inspection”.
Note: I have not had the opportunity to test the “Subject to inspection”, card yet! Also most of the couriers are now using electronic signature devices as delivery dockets. So write “STI” after your signature. If you don't take these precautions, you could end up wearing the cost for some expensive item, or being put on a merry-go-round trying to get recompensed for something that was clearly not your fault.
Well since then, the Brisbane head office told me to contact the company head office, which I did. After I told the young lady at the company head office my story, she said she would get back to me in 24 hours. After waiting another couple days I rang back n to be told the young lady had become ill, and the young man I spoke to would check it out and get d back to me. I am still waiting for his call.
This company has been paid to deliver goods safely and in good condition. I will now contact the, department of fair trading. Don't hold your breath, too long for the end of this story! I think that the community should be educated in the finer points of courier deliveries, that no one told me about, until I received a smashed monitor. So even though the monitor was smashed by the courier, I am supposed to grin and bare the cost, because I signed for it. The state of the box did not indicate the damage done inside.
© 2010 Peter Daley
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WELL! very interesting information and thank you for pointing that out Peter, although your article was written some time ago I have only just seen it and will certainly remember that when next I get any delivery to the door. Even if it was opened it would not necessarlly mean it worked (if electrical)
May your days be filled with abundance and blessings, janet