doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com filing postal service claim

My Garbi barrels were (at a minimum) significantly dented on their return from the gunsmith yesterday. The US Postal service crushed the box and I'm going to file a claim with them as shipping insurance was purchased. This has never happened to me and I'd like some suggestions as to avoid any pitfalls with the claims process. This gun was in virtually new condition and the whole thing makes me sick.

Keep all of the packing and box. The person that bought the insurance must file the claim. So if the smith bought it, he has to file. This means that you'll most likely have to take it to your post office for them to document the damage. To speed things up, whomever files should have something on paper that documents the value. It's even better to have multiple sources. The process can take up to 3 months. Don't be quick to take their first offer. I refused the first offer and refiled on my laptop. In a week I got the full insurance.

Did you tell the smith how much to insure it for? Hopefully you insured it for the full cost of the gun as a new set of barrels is probably going to run about that much if it's not a current production gun.

You have to decide if you'll be happy with a repair, sounds like dent removal and refinish, or want a replacement. I'd decide first and go from there. If barrel replacement is an option be sure to figure in all costs such as getting the gun to Spain and back.

Like Rob said, it doesn't matter how much it will cost to repair/replace you can only claim up to what it was insured for.

I had the smith insure the gun for it's full value so I am good on that front. I wonder how the postal service determines to what degree they are responsible - or not responsible. The packaging seemed fine to me but I suppose anyone could argue that point.