2-Post Car Lift - Shipping Damage

[AuroraSC]

After completing my shop construction I've finally pulled the trigger on a shop tool that I've lusted after for many years, a 10,000lb 2-post car lift.

The lift was shipped to my work for the ease of removal from the 18-wheeler.

Upon initial inspection once it was inside the building, the sides were quite scratched up and the packaging protection was laughable. Once I was able to unband it and look underneath (where all the forklift drivers had used to handle it) there are gouges spanning several feet into both pillars.

Pictures below of the damage. So far the company I purchased from just wants to give me a some store credit money to get more tools. If the damage hadn't been so significant that would seem more reasonable.

I know I'm particular, but have two 12.5' tall pillars sticking up in my shop with deep scratches and gouges doesn't seem acceptable to me.

Has anyone ran into this before? If so what was the course for resolution? I'm thinking some body work will need to be done and then reprocessed through powdercoate again.

 

[kd3pc]

It appears some of the blame is on whomever "unloaded" the posts...

Even when forked, we use carpet scraps and hardwood between the load and the forks.

As to the damage, one could call it cosmetic, and I doubt that it was powder coated. You might clean up the scrapes and wipe it with some solvent and then wrap the damaged area with some stickers or your favorite "marque".

I await other's comments.

 

[lakeroadster]

That looks horrible. Worst I've seen. And no, you are not being particular... you bought a new lift.

That being said I think unless you pick the lift up at the factory, you'll get some damage.

But the manufacturer skids the lift, and how they skid it makes all the difference in the world.

My 2 post Rotary arrived with very minimal road rash. It came from Madison Indiana and they did a great job of skidding the lift.

My 4 post Direct Lift was scarred up pretty bad. It came from somewhere in China and it was basically wrapped in cardboard and band strapped, piss poor skidding.

Contact Danmar... they need to help you with this.

 

[B_Bimmer]

What they offered sounds more than reasonable, honestly it doesn't look like "damage". What did you expect for packaging, a massive double box with fitted structural foam?

 

[AuroraSC]

I'm sure someone could try to share the blame to the forklift that unloaded at my establishment. At the same time, the "package" has been transitioned from truck to truck from California to Oklahoma. In the grand scheme of things, this handling is pretty minimal.

Due to the way it was packaged, the only way to handle it would be from one of the ends and then the end of the forks would rub against the pillars. I can't understand why there isn't a sacrificial material/surface there to bear the witness marks and alleviate this whole mess.

 

[xin]

You may want to put some primer/paint on that as being up higher (will be more moisture) and rust.

 

[machz]

spray some black on it and take advantage of the store credit.

 

[Buckgnarly]

spray some black on it and take advantage of the store credit.

x2, it's a lift, a tool, not a show piece.

How much are they offering?

 

[nicktomi]

You may want to put some primer/paint on that as being up higher (will be more moisture) and rust.

.....are you serious?

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I would not be content to settle for store credit on new tools.

 

[nes999]

Thats bad enough where I'd want cash back or a new one. You spent good money for a lift it should come in one piece.

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[bsg1]

as difficult as it may be to transport this thing without visible damage, this difficulty should not be the task of the end user to solve or bear the brunt of. safe arrival of the item without damage should be taken into account when the cost of shipping is determined.
when the mission of safe arrival without damage is thwarted with a resulting mess, the end user should not have to bear the brunt of that either. all effort should be made to make this situation right for the OP.

 

[jwdominick]

there is absolutely not any reason any item should be damaged in shipping nor should it be "accepted" as the norm. I lived in the Midwest and bought a lift, came to me all the way from where it was made off shore and the thousands of miles via truck to my garage and was mint. if the are crediting you a reasonable amount, vs waiting and hassling with exchanging it, it may be a hard decision

 

[tin medic]

I would only accept that if I had bought it used, not new from the manufacturer. It’s on the manufacturer to properly package it to prevent any damage.


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[jonesg]

x2, it's a lift, a tool, not a show piece.

How much are they offering?

Is be so happy just to have a lift I could care less if they forgot to paint it,
I'd just rattle can it.

 

[AuroraSC]

The columns were dropped off at the powdercoater this morning. We're submitting a shipping damage claim to the carrier. Fingers crossed they will be reasonable, considering the extent of the damage.

Although the situation I'm placed in is quite frustrating, Dannmar is making an effort to reimburse me for my troubles. We'll see how it all pans out.

 

[550_cord]

If it's just cosmetic and doesn't affect function I would just keep it. Take the credit and be happy. I understand how you feel though.

 

[lakeroadster]

The columns were dropped off at the powdercoater ...

Powder coating.. as in putting the columns in an oven to cure the powder coating?

Or something different?

As for blaming the shipping company... don't let Danmar off the hook.. In this case all they would have to have done was to band strap plywood under the columns with a piece of foam shipping material between the column and the plywood, band straps. They know that this is how the columns will be lifted with a fork truck. Danmar bears the responsibility for the damage... not the shipper.

 

[jsmeece]

yeah, replace lift with car...
But a new car, got damaged in shipment, its ok, the dealer will give you some better floormats for compensation. NO!
If I bought some new, it better be NEW when I get it, with NO DAMAGE.

 

[AuroraSC]

I spoke with the Dannmar warranty representative yesterday at length. Basically their two options are giving me some dollar amount of free Dannmar equipment or file a shipping damage claim. I like tools, especially free tools don't get me wrong. But I'm also very particular and want these two 12.5' columns to look good.

The satisfaction of free tools would soon be forgotten while I had to look at the scratched up columns. I have very high standards for aesthetics and I understand that not everyone has this mindset.

When asked about why they package the way the do, the response was "that's how it's always been done".

I work as an engineer for a manufacturing company and this would never be deemed acceptable. At this point, I'm taking the path that will hopefully reimburse me for my time is disassembly/assembly, transportation, and re-coating costs.

 

[anndel]

That's not how you pack products no matter if that's the way you've been doing it. I ordered a 10 ton Dake benchtop shop press from Zoro and chose free shipping to a freight fowarder in California then it ocean shipped to Hawaii. When I picked it up at the docks, the box was torn and the forwarder used duct tape to patch up the box. When I opened it at home, I was expecting scratches on the frame but none was to be found. It was a made in china press so from china to Zoro to California to Hawaii. It was packed well. If the scratches will bother you then file a shipping claim and if you can wait for another to be shipped to you. That packing in your photo is unacceptable.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

How much in tools are they offering? Can you smooth/fill/paint the columns for a couple of bucks and get some tools you were going to buy/could use anyway?

Tough decision. A few hours in paint and bondo to fill those scratches might be a good exchange depending how much they're offering. If they file a shipping claim, and end up shipping another lift, there's no guarantee this won't happen again.

 

[AuroraSC]

The columns are being recoated this week at a local shop. They won't be sending me new columns, the shipping company would be sending me a check to reimburse me for the damages.

They were offering approx. $150-200 in free tools.

 

[kn51]

They were offering approx. $150-200 in free tools.

That is a laughable amount.

The older I get the more I don't tolerate BS but at the same time I am aware on what hill I want to die on when fighting a battle. This would be said hill.

Sounds like this is quite upsetting to you (understandably so, this isn't like you received a coffee mug that was chipped).

So good luck. I wish I had better advice on how to pursue besides sleep on it, be firm but polite, etc. but yeah this will be a bear to deal with.

 

[WittHay]

It sounds like the company you are dealing with is reasonable and you will get some compensation.

My opinion is that the importers of tool boxes and lifts are passing the buck for damaged goods onto the trucking company and customer. If you read the fine print, it is the customers product as soon it leaves the warehouse. The customer has no way of knowing if the product was damaged in China or at the warehouse or during transportation. But the customer has to deal with the freight company for reimbursement

Recently bought a Mac tool cart. The top of it got crunched during shipping from Ohio to BC. My dealer noticed the damaged and he did all the work, ordered me in a new one and he is the one you deals with the insurance claim.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

The columns are being recoated this week at a local shop. They won't be sending me new columns, the shipping company would be sending me a check to reimburse me for the damages.

They were offering approx. $150-200 in free tools.

Given that amount, I would have gone your route as well. ***** that it happened, but having the shipping company pay to recoat the columns sounds like an ideal solution.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Unless they offered a large damage discount, I would have sent it back.. If that was the hood of a new pickup, or the lid of a new toolbox, would it be any different?

The $200 in tools should be for Your troubles + the refinish job...
The way some of that stuff is packaged in pathetic. Adding an extra $50 for proper pallets and banding would be fine with Me

 

[finn]

It sounds like the company you are dealing with is reasonable and you will get some compensation.

My opinion is that the importers of tool boxes and lifts are passing the buck for damaged goods onto the trucking company and customer. If you read the fine print, it is the customers product as soon it leaves the warehouse. The customer has no way of knowing if the product was damaged in China or at the warehouse or during transportation. But the customer has to deal with the freight company for reimbursement

Recently bought a Mac tool cart. The top of it got crunched during shipping from Ohio to BC. My dealer noticed the damaged and he did all the work, ordered me in a new one and he is the one you deals with the insurance claim.

Not exactly.

When my BendPack was delivered, the truck driver did a visual on the lift before he released it to me.

He also had paperwork verifying that there was no damage when he picked it up from his home terminal.

I also know that, for example, the contract carriers that deliver building supplies for Menards or Lowe’s, or appliances from Best Buy have to sign a manifest and note any damage before they leave the gate.

Upon delivery, the customer has to note any damage on the paperwork.

The op should have refused delivery of the damaged lift.

Same routine at our factory. Receiving has to check for damaged components before accepting a delivery.

 

[AuroraSC]

Parts are back from the powdercoat shop. I got lucky and they were running black all day yesterday so they were able to process them quickly.

 

[lakeroadster]

That was quick! Congrat's.

 

[AuroraSC]

I purchased one of those fancy pants oil drain tanks with the lift. It was supposed to ship with the lift or at the same time as the lift (1/15).

I contacted the vendor when it didn't arrive with the lift on Monday. He said he would get it coming with tracking that day. I called back today, and apparently it isn't shipping until today. Seems about par for the course.

 

[AuroraSC]

I was able to make lemonade out of the whole thing. Hopefully I'll hear something on the shipping damage claim this week.

The lift is up and operational.

 

[lakeroadster]

You gotta be stoked.....

Doggie approved, too

Looks good. Did you use mechanical anchors or epoxy?