Tranny Arrived Via FedEx with Apparent Mis-handling - suggestions?

[joesgt281]

Well the transmission came to my house yesterday while I was at work and my wife signed for it.
When I got home I could see that the box was partially taped up in a hap-hazard manner and none of the staples for the flap were doing their job.
Opening the box I found about half of the cardboard pieces that hold the tranny in place were out of place.
My guess is that the lid came open in transit and the tranny either fell out or at least came out of place.
I need to pull it out and look for obvious damage but there may be some internally that I can't see.
The vendor was pretty clear about once I accept it, any transit damage is not their responsibility.
Not knowing if this is a problem or not, I hate to make a big deal about it.
What would you do in my case?
Should I make a claim with FedEx?

 

[66gt350]

OH...a transmission. I thought that you received a...well nevermind. :craz :craz

 

[red70fastback]

What's up Joe?

For a start I'd notify the mfg. I get a lot of shipments here at work and even though most manufacturers or distributors say the same thing about receiving a damaged shipment I've never had an issue with a return. They still have an obligation to you as a consumer and hopefully a good reputation to uphold. Customer service is everything

 

[buening]

I'd be calling the shipping company ASAP to let them know how it arrived. At least they will know about it and you can go from there if it indeed was damaged.

 

[joesgt281]

well i've since contacted the mfg and I think he will help where needed. As suggested, he also said it'd be a good idea to contact FedEx to get this on the record.
the mfg gave me a number of easy things to check on the trans so I can get to a quick determination.
i'm probably just being over protective, but for all I know that trans fell off the back of a truck mg
thanks guys.

 

[67rtmcshelby]

Hope it goes well for you.
We received a toploader by FedEx ground without any problems.

 

[67TXStang]

I may be paranoid but when I order something expensive and it arrives in a damaged box, I start taking pictures. I take pictures of the box before I even open it. This way I can then prove the condition of the box when it arrived if necessary. I don't want to give the shipping comany any out in taking responsibility.

 

[daveSanborn]

I may be paranoid but when I order something expensive and it arrives in a damaged box, I start taking pictures. I take pictures of the box before I even open it. This way I can then prove the condition of the box when it arrived if necessary. I don't want to give the shipping comany any out in taking responsibility.

I guess I'm paranoid too because I do the saem thing. Taking pictures nowadays is so simple. Why not document a questionable shipping container?

Since it was Joe's wife that signed for the box we can cut him some slack.

 

[joesgt281]

Lousy pic but the loose cardboard pieces are designed to center the tranny in the box. This is just how it looked when I opened it up for the first time.
The next 2 pics show that the tranny bounced around in there and the input and output shafts were hitting the inside of the box, which to me could be the equivalent of hitting the floor.

 

[daveSanborn]

Yeah I'd be a little concerned too Joe. Looking at the holes that the input shaft punched into the front of the box..... that doesn't look like the tranny was just "rubbing" anything...... in order to punch through that much cardboard that many times would have required a great deal of force. Force much greater than the tranny just being "loosely packed". It looks to me like the whole box got dropped a few times on the nose end.

 

[B67FSTB]

I may be paranoid but when I order something expensive and it arrives in a damaged box, I start taking pictures. I take pictures of the box before I even open it. This way I can then prove the condition of the box when it arrived if necessary. I don't want to give the shipping comany any out in taking responsibility.

+1 here

 

[n_pieces]

I hope you gave the wife a good chewin' for accepting the shipment in a torn box.

 

[Johnny M]

Whenever i get a shipment that looks any way damaged i take pictures before i even touch it.

I've learned the hard way.

 

[guruatbol]

Hehehe, I shipped a valance one time in a box screwed together and made from dog eared fencing and wrapped in cardboard.

I would raise heck about that one...

Mel