parcels2go.com damaged a brand new RS6 wheel

[tintin]

Well, it's pretty hard (i.e. negligent/incompetent) to do that to a new item such as that in bubble wrap, though I suppose it could just have been dropped by whoever was lifting it.

Either way, isn't parcels2go a comparison website that places your goods with the most appropriate carrier?

I'd suggest getting in contact with their CEO, James Greenbury via a bit of sleuthing (he's not on LinkedIn, but there's a short interview with him here: http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/e...y/6875.article). If he's at all interested in his reputation - and the risk to that from shoddy suppers to his customers - then I'm sure he'll be reasonable. Fingers crossed for a good result for you.

[M-A8]

Robertoooooo I feel for you mate, I really fu@king do, I would go mental.

Few things about parcel2go.
You agree to their terms, you don't buy service from the actual courier, they give you options and they will use what you select if you pay the price they ask.

Thats why insurance rates are higher than with the actual courier and I think thats how they earn most of the money because the deals they get from city link, parcelforce and especially from UPS are sometimes unbeatable.

You buy insurance/cover with them, so they will have to pay out as they take the risk hence they rates are higher.

I use parcel2go every month, but:
1. I always, ALWAYS, insure my parcel to the correct value
in your case it would be cheaper buying service from the courier directly. you may see service cost twice more than through parcel2go, but when it comes to insurance, thats where you will save a lot of money directly, so peace of mind.

2. I never use yodel or hermes. I always use UPS. especially drop off option as it cost pennies and local point is local brantano, other shops available and parcels are picked daily and its always next day.
second option and only option in my experience is alwasy parcelforce.

nothing wrong with dhl or tnt, but i prefer not to change something if I'm happy with the service.

Parcel2go is a great website if you use it properly.

I may have big big problems in getting money back, but there is always a little spark on the end of the tunnel, if you get there it will depend how far you will take the things, but there is no guarantee.

thats base on a lot of research ive done about them, and because i used them wisely, two best couriers and I always insure valuable items, and because I never ever had a problems like you have, so can't say more than that.

In regards to the packaging, well, when my wheels came from germany they had not much more but all necessary things. in cases of alloy wheels, they weight of it and height will do a damage to any wheel no matter how packed it was unless it was wrapped in a 12tog super king size duvet.

My wheels had all the warning labels, weight, fragile, etc.
they were wrapped in a ''condom'', then in special material pockets, plus the rim had a plastic protective edging around, like a cap, just clips on.

But, judging by the Gforce which caused the damage to your wheel that wouldn't be even enough.
So fuc@ing frustrating mate

Your only solution was not to accept the parcel and refuse it, but we all know that and its to late

*******s

[PsYcHe]

also looks like Audi haven't packed the wheels sufficiently to protect against damage if they've taken that kind of dent (unless it was dropped from a great height).

[tonupkid]

Frankly we all know bad things can happen to stuff in transit. The thing is to pack it so that it has a chance of surviving abuse, and your wheels had just about zero protection.

A drop from handling height onto concrete has a high probability of your wheel landing rim side down. And a cheap carton and bubble wrap is not up to the job of absorbing the energy of the impact, so your new wheel took the brunt of it.

There are a number of ways in which a wheel can be economically protected so as to have a better than 50% chance of arriving undamaged

If the wheel supplier knew that you were having them couriered and took responsibility for passing them over to be shipped to you, maybe you can expect them to put this right. After all, had they sent them unwrapped, you'd be justifiably asking them to sort it, so what's the difference where they have failed to ensure that they are adequately packed.

Just a thought. How do you know that the wheel was not already damaged when it was handed over to the courier?

[M-A8]

Originally Posted by tonupkid

Frankly we all know bad things can happen to stuff in transit. The thing is to pack it so that it has a chance of surviving abuse, and your wheels had just about zero protection.

A drop from handling height onto concrete has a high probability of your wheel landing rim side down. And a cheap carton and bubble wrap is not up to the job of absorbing the energy of the impact, so your new wheel took the brunt of it.

There are a number of ways in which a wheel can be economically protected so as to have a better than 50% chance of arriving undamaged

If the wheel supplier knew that you were having them couriered and took responsibility for passing them over to be shipped to you, maybe you can expect them to put this right. After all, had they sent them unwrapped, you'd be justifiably asking them to sort it, so what's the difference where they have failed to ensure that they are adequately packed.

Just a thought. How do you know that the wheel was not already damaged when it was handed over to the courier?

I agree, was going to say similar thing. Off to Audi as they didn't bloody protect it, it might be pass a bug game, but if you are loyal to Audi, servicing, repairs etc then they will look at this case very differently. Do all you can with Audi first coz parcel2go will be a nightmare if you havent purchased extra insurance

[David's8]

This business of having to purchase "extra" insurance to cover the responsibilities of the provider and the carrier is beyond belief. It means that they can absolve themselves of all the consequences of THEIR actions by making you pay for the cover they should be paying for. If that were the case they would probably take greater care of their products.

How can that work?

[HPsauce]

Something of that size and mass and vulnerability needs special protection.
Audi seem not to have provided it, so that would be my first "port of call".

I'm often amazed just how much packaging is used these days, but having worked in distribution businesses for many years I know exactly why.

I had a package arrive today containing 70cl of some very valuable Scottish fluid (a birthday present to myself) and it would have needed a steamroller going over it to cause any damage!

[Dan]

This is all very interesting. I, like David am of the view that it is wholly unacceptable that, in effect, you're forced to shell out to insure against them not performing the contract with reasonable skill. It's madness. They presumably have public liability insurance. Insurance is a normal expense of running a business, and is reflected in the end price. In short, why should you have to pay extra to protect yourself against their incompetence? This is a nonsense. In a business contract, you can (generally) agree what terms you like, fair or not. In a consumer contract, you have the protection of the raft of consumer protection legislation, including the Unfair Contract Terms Act.

They are obliged to carry out the performance of the contract with reasonable skill. Of that there is no doubt. There can also be no doubt that dropping the box fails that test. They are therefore liable because they have breached a fundamental term of the contract. The remedy for breach of contract is a claim in resulting damages. Here, the resulting damage is the cost of a new wheel. The question is whether their T+C's, seeking to limit liability to £20 or £50, is "reasonable". There are arguments both ways.
If you spend a tenner to send a package of diamonds worth £1m and they lose them, would you expect them to have to fork out £1m? Common sense dictates probably not. It would probably occur to you that you might need to consider specific tailored insurance.
However, in this case, they were aware of the value of the wheels as that was declared. They were aware that no additional cover was selected. Despite all this, they accepted the business. It is at least arguable that in doing so, they assumed the risk up to the value known to them in the event they were negligent. No-one forced them to take the order. They could have refused. They could insist that insurance to the value is mandatory and give you the price. They however seek to limit their liability. The issue is whether to do so is a breach of the Unfair Contract Terms Act. The danger for them is that to test this by allowing a punter to take them to Court risks a finding that it is a breach. That would have serious consequences for their business model, and the industry generally. I suspect a finding at first instance may be appealed, given the wider policy issues. It might be for example, that for such a model to be sustainable, their prices would have to increase significantly. Complex actuarial evidence would be required.

My personal view is that if they knew the value of the goods, and chose to take the business, but did not clearly and specifically draw the customer's attention (despite knowing) to the fact that their goods were only insured to 2% of the value (over and above the usual "tick here to confirm T+C's have been read - 99% don't and they know it) then they ought to be liable if they then damage the goods though their negligence. I think this is a reasonable UCTA argument. I think they would not want that tested in Court. I think the commercially sensible thing for them to do would be to pay for the damage they have caused. If they want to claim that back on their own insurance, that's a matter for them.

[David's8]

There you go Roberto, "pro bono" advice from the forum's legal eagle. It cant get better than that - tho' we havent heard Dezzy's point of view yet!

I would use the points laid out by Dan to submit a claim for a new wheel. Good luck.

[M-A8]

Morning boys

Only thing I would say is the way you place the order for anyone who haven't use them before

You fill the usual until you get to page where you describe in two words your parcel and VALUE of your parcel.

Then you go to next page which says: Standard cover for your parcel is £50, to insure your shipment for the full value of £xxx you can purchase additional cover for £xx. We strongly recommend this option.
If you click NO message pops out saying, are you sure?? If you do not purchase additional cover you would be covered for the full amount bla bla bla being responsible for any damage bla bla bla.

Thast how they try to cover them self.

Same as royal mail, you wouldn't post your passport just by second class without a tracking or a 500quid iphone with a second class or even frist class stamp, would you?? You wouldn't because it does not cover you for the full value of it. Its your responsibility to choose if you want to take the risk or not, that why post office lady will always ask you whats your parcel worth, and give you relevant options and tell you if you choose one which does not cover you for the full amount..
For iphone or passport we use special delivery, why, because it has relevant cover and we know that !!!

You wouldn't come back to this lady if your phone gets damaged or missing and ask for a full compensation if you asked for a basic 41pounds cover, would you??

I'm not saying it is right at all, thats why Audi would be first on my list, they have send you an egg in a jiffy bag.