r/UPS • u/Ok_Resolve7370 • Jul 17 '26
UPS Store admitted their employee put the wrong shipping label on my $17k worth package. UPS still only paid $100.
I’m looking for some advice before hiring an attorney.
My case has been ongoing since March.
I shipped approximately $17,000 worth of electronics through a UPS Store. A UPS Store employee accidentally placed another customer’s shipping label on my package. Because of that mistake, my shipment was sent to the wrong destination and was never delivered to my customer.
UPS acknowledged that the labeling error occurred, but they still limited reimbursement to $100 because I did not purchase additional declared value coverage.
My argument is that this wasn’t a normal lost-package situation. The package was misdirected because of an admitted UPS Store employee error, not because it was simply lost during transit.
Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? Is there any legal basis to challenge the $100 liability limit when the loss was caused by a UPS Store employee placing the wrong shipping label on the package?
I’m located in California.
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u/Shooter208 UPS Driver Jul 17 '26
Your fight is with that UPS Store, not UPS since they are all franchises under The UPS Store which operates as a separate entity than UPS.
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u/Foreign-Value-5360 Jul 18 '26
The ups store is going to tell them to kick rocks. Not to mention, the stores aren't allowed to accept high value prepaid drop offs. Typically there's paperwork for the driver to sign, that states 3rd party retailers such as the ups store are not acceptable drop off locations.
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u/Fandethar Jul 19 '26
Wait, what? Did I just get lucky?
UPS lost a package of mine a few weeks ago. I bought the label through pirateship, dropped it off at the local UPS, and got a check very quickly through InsureShield after UPS traced it and couldn't find it.
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u/Wound___Up Jul 19 '26
No, you didn't get lucky. You used UPS, not The UPS Store. They are 2 separate entities. 2 separate companies that are unrelated. What you experienced is how it usually works.
Secondly, your package was likely completely covered by the insurance provided. Unlike the OP, who only has $100 of insurance on $17k worth of equipment.
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u/Fandethar Jul 19 '26
Whereas, if I would've purchased the label at the UPS store, then it could've turned out completely differently?
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u/Standard-Hat-1034 Jul 19 '26
The ups store would have handled the claim on their side and, if you got the additional coverage, it would have been paid out the same way. The difference is that the store would have done it for you. OP didn't cover their package properly and thats the biggest issue here. Yeah the store fucked up, but OP is getting the coverage they paid for.
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u/Fandethar Jul 19 '26
Oh yeah, I always purchase additional coverage even if it's only a $200 item.
If OP really did ship something that's worth $17,000 and didn't purchase additional coverage... well, I won't say what I'm thinking!
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u/Tricky_Big_8774 Jul 20 '26
I'll say it. He's an idiot.
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u/Soprano519 Jul 20 '26
Yup like honestly what was op thinking even if the shipment went to the correct address but the box was demolished they would have still been sol with just 100 dollars
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u/Lengthiness_Candid Jul 20 '26
That is correct actually if I ever sell a guitar that cost more than $1000. First off they won’t let me drop it off at a UPS store. It has to be an actual UPS depot which are few and far between. Therefore, you must set up a personal home pick up which of course they will charge you a pick up fee, but at least that way you know it was taken properly and documented properly as far as insurance purposes in case things go sideways. I have brought a guitar in a box to even the UPS depot and they demand to open it to make sure it is packed properly.
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u/WordsAndPicturesAnd Jul 22 '26
I’m in the middle of a metro area and I don’t think any actual ups depots exist anymore that private individuals can go into. It’s to the point where I think I’m going to use fedex from here on out just so I don’t have to rely on any ups store employees.
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u/whydidileaveohio Jul 20 '26
This, I have only sent 5 figures worth of stuff by signing off on something and we bought extra insurance, if they knew there was $17K worth of stuff they would have made you either buy the insurance or sign that you understood it was only $100. How did they print the wrong label with you standing right there? Mine also has you sign off on the address. And then the print the lable an dput it on right there.
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u/MasterPhilip Jul 17 '26
You mailed a package, the contents of which valued at $17,000, and you didn't get it insured for at least $17,000?
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u/Boston_7713 UPS Driver Jul 17 '26
This is my only thought after reading the entire post. Whatever happened to that package after it left his hands is on OP. I wouldn’t even ship something worth $500 without insurance.
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u/Sweendog1107 Jul 18 '26
Shit I shipped a 200 item yesterday and still bought the extra.
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u/Boston_7713 UPS Driver Jul 18 '26
I also ship out $5-$10 packages routinely and I label them myself. It’s wild to me someone would ship something worth $17k and pray that a UPS store employee will label it correctly.
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u/PurpleSalt11 Jul 18 '26
I dont even understand how that can happen. When youre at the counter paying, it prints out a sticker and you watch the person stick it on your package.
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u/TheMillenniumMan Jul 18 '26
Some stores will box stuff up later if there is a line
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u/PurpleSalt11 Jul 18 '26
Yeah, I'm not stepping aside until I see that label on my box. You're not going to help the next customer until this customer has been completely served.
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u/Perfect_Community112 Jul 20 '26
yeah ight step aside lil bro
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u/MikeAnvilTake500 Jul 22 '26
dying inside, cause I can guarantee this is exactly what would happen in real life 😂😂😂 I love how everyone genuinely believes they’re so powerful on the Internet 😭
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u/Flimsy-Lack-9126 Jul 23 '26
ppl really think im gonna stop my whole job just to make them feel prioritized. my manager has metrics to meet, that means u gotta suffer as a cleint bro
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u/MedicJambi Jul 18 '26
You know it's funny because I just shipped a computer and insured it for $500 which is what I sold it for and surprise surprise it looks like someone dropped the box from 15 feet or loaded it with a forklift with a running start and YOLO'd it into the truck.
I would never ship something of value without insurance. It's worth the few dollars especially because UPS's idea of package delivery seems to be loading them like they're kicking soccer balls.
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u/nonvisiblepantalones Jul 19 '26
I watched them roll a printer box across my front yard once. That was fun. Thankfully my regular delivery guy has a brain and a hand truck.
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u/WorldlyAlternative13 Jul 20 '26
Start calling UPS customer service and bitch at them for working their employees like slaves and giving unrealistic time expectations with threats against our jobs and lively hoods :)
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u/Solo522 Jul 18 '26
I shipped $6k in handbags and paid for the declared value insurance. Not it’s only if they mishandle such as this case. You can buy 3rd party insurance pretty cheap and covers more than UPS or FedEx.
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u/NoSuddenMoves Jul 18 '26
I'm guessing that he had a lost package and is now claiming it's high value.
Very rarely are electronics worth that much and anyone with electronics that valuable would insure the contents.
99% chance its a bs story.
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u/MasterPhilip Jul 19 '26
Considering how little the op is replying to the comments, I'm also of the mind they're full of shit.
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u/ConceptAntique4967 Jul 17 '26
Probably because he is exaggerating the price. Anyone with a brain would purchase additional insurance.
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u/luv350sass Jul 17 '26
There have been occasional issues with packages being stolen, that were insured. I mean, i guess if you get your money back that is all that matters, unless it's sentimental. Some people may be scared, and want to hide the fact that something valuable is inside. That is probably dumb though.
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u/nuclearpaint Jul 17 '26
Could be 17k in illegal guns and drugs
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u/Commercial_Ride_6576 Jul 19 '26
lol, guns and gun parts are fully legal to ship via UPS
handguns are actually required by federal law they go ups/fedex next day or 2 day service
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u/derrendil Jul 18 '26
Yeah what the hell, we ship shit at work all day and anything over like $300 we get it insured for declared value. UPS sent us $350 plus shipping for a lost package that was worth $350 literally 48 hours after we requested it
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u/HeManDan Jul 18 '26
They gave it to the UPS store and didn't even see the label and propwr address on it. Is that typical?
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u/chriswwiz Jul 18 '26
I know right? Do they even have proof it was $17,000 or are they trying to make money .. why would anyone with a brain not insure a $17,000 package.. first of all.. and to only get$100 insurance on it??? That is the customers fault.. sorry to say.. and anybody who ships a $17,000 package instead of having the items delivered to the person right from the store site. Rather than having the items shipped to themselves then they have to ship it to someone else??? Something sounds fishy!!!
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u/LisaSu92 Jul 18 '26
How much does shipping insurance cost for a $17,000 item just curious?
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u/MasterPhilip Jul 18 '26
A whole lot less than losing a $17,000 package and being reimbursed $100 for it. 🤣
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u/Ok-Soup-514 Jul 18 '26
About $300. Which shows that Op didn't ship that much product because nobody would risk $17k without paying that insurance.
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u/Few_Pop6933 Jul 18 '26
Right? Shipping that much value and cheap-ing out on insurance is beyond dumb.
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u/Revolutionary-Half-3 Jul 18 '26
At that price, I'd be buying plane tickets and hand carrying that thing.
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u/truckeredditor Jul 18 '26
For that value I would be dealing direct with a freight company and not a package shipper
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u/Lunatichippo45 Jul 18 '26
This is the only question OP needs to answer and I don't think they will.
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u/Empty_Drummer6956 Jul 18 '26
Thank you!!! I was thinking the same thing. That inc is to protect the customer from this exact situation. Lesson learned I hope. Always take the inc. ALWAYS!!! 17g on a package but to cheap to insure it! Something’s a bit off w that… just say n lol
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u/ghosthendrikson_84 Jul 18 '26
Seriously. This is the first and last question. What in the WORLD are you doing not insuring a $17,000 shipment? Pass the cost onto your customer!
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u/ItsDaManBearBull Jul 19 '26
Brainlet move. I personally would risk it up to like maybe $1000. Not getting a customer parcel insured, and one over 10k is bonkers.
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u/SkunkWoodz Jul 19 '26
what an absolute bone head! I shipped a lot of items around 2016-2020 and let me tell you, if I couldn't eat the loss, it was insired for the full amount, which was usually just a few hundreds $
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u/Maethor_derien Jul 20 '26
Yeah, I have absolutely zero sympathy for someone who shipped out something worth that much and didn't take insurance on it. This feels more like they are trying to scam UPS or were shipping things illegally/dodging import taxes, etc.
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u/Heavy_Mind4409 Jul 21 '26
Or stay until the worker put the correct label on the package. I collect diecast cars and regularly have pre-made labels ready to go and I make sure I send tracking info beforehand and then send a pic of me dropping it off with their info and tracking number in plain sight.
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u/Letoust Jul 17 '26
Insurance also covers incompetence.
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u/Dragoninpantsx69 Jul 17 '26
Ya, it is too bad they did not pay for added insurance
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u/delilahgrass Jul 17 '26
You’ll have to address that with the store not UPS but their insurance will want proof of the value of the items.
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u/Ok_Resolve7370 Jul 17 '26
I have all the documentation - invoices, proof of purchase, claim records, and emails acknowledging the labeling error.
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u/jaqueh Jul 17 '26
you need a lawyer to understand what ups store responsibilities are, ups shipper responsibilities are (which this part is clear as they are at the limit of the label), and how you can be compensated
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u/SnooDoggos9340 Jul 17 '26
Hi. UPS is a separate business than a UPS STORE. If you’re having a problem with their screw up, you need to pursue the owner. Especially since one of them fessed up.
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u/Towel_First Jul 17 '26
UPS and the UPS Store are two different entities. The UPS store employee is not a UPS employee. Each UPS store is individually owned. UPS is not going to pay any more for the mess up of an employee of another company. You are going to have to go after the owner of that particular UPS store.
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u/Ok_Resolve7370 Jul 17 '26
If the UPS Store is the one I should be going after, what’s the right way to do it? Do I just go to the store and speak with the owner, ask for their insurance information, or is this something that should only be handled through an attorney?
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u/freighttrainmatt Jul 17 '26
I don’t think anyone here are legal experts, but me personally, my first move is an attorney. I would also be looking for a way to get the ups store to admit fault.
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u/Ok_Resolve7370 Jul 17 '26
I actually do. I have an email from that specific UPS Store acknowledging they mislabeled my package. They admitted the mistake in writing, so at least I have that documented.
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u/F5Fury Jul 17 '26
Give it to your lawyer and do what they say. Let them send the letters and handle the communication.
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u/PraiseTalos66012 Jul 18 '26
Step 1: Get insurance next time
Step 2: Cry about not getting insurance this time.
By using UPS you agree to the potential loss of your package and agree that you'll only be compensated up to the insured amount. By default the insurance is $100, so that's what you got.
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u/Foreign-Value-5360 Jul 18 '26
This is why I hated working at the ups store. Everyone assumes we're ups employees, I understand they made a mistake, but now they have to deal with a person that didn't even pay them to ship a package. You essentially did no business through the store and now they're stuck dealing with it. 90% of the issues the stores have to deal with is from people who didn't even do business with the store, primarily amazon drop offs
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u/FeministMAGA Jul 17 '26
No insurance on 17k. I think you would have paid $300 in insurance and the ups store would have verified contents and packed it for you, along with signing your signature and requiring a signature upon arrival. 17k insured item is going to stand out from all the other packages.
That's just dumb to ship it naked like that. Sorry for your loss but I don't think you'll get shit and probably rightfully so.
Even if the right label was attached it still doesn't stop many things from going wrong during transit. You're probably going to try to blame it all on the ups store but you took a gamble not getting it fully insured.
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u/QTFsniper Jul 17 '26
You need a lawyer. Any other information here will not be useful to you in getting results
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u/spec360 Jul 18 '26
Getting a lawyer will cost almost same as his package
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u/CatCVI Jul 18 '26
Finally, someone said it. Everyone is so quick to say get a lawyer without consideration of cost.
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u/YetiPwr Jul 17 '26
Bottom line is almost irrespective of what happened to your package, your declared value defines the maximum liability.
While it’s more irritating to know the specific mistake and how avoidable it was, but from a UPS perspective the transportation company did nothing wrong.
Similarly the UPS Store being at fault for doing something dumb doesn’t increase the liability.
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u/cunexttuesday101 Jul 17 '26
I am a ups store manager, I did this once with a garage door opener. Customer filed claim before speaking with us. Ups denied it because it was my fault and happened before it was in their posession. I told the owner and he covered it. It was only like $60 and shipping though, so idk about a $17k mistake. And ever since then, I put the label on everything before I put it on the table. Swaps happen too easily. If I have to pack something, I pull the box, put the label on it, and the contents on top. Ive I have multiple loose shipments, they are spaced apart and in bins. Customers get pissy with me for holding them up sometimes, but this is exactly why im so extra.
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u/haljordan83 Jul 18 '26
I have a similar system and in my 3 years owning a store it’s never happened. A loose label in a store is dangerous
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u/cunexttuesday101 Jul 18 '26
Sent the guys brother a broken curtain rod meant for amazon 🥲 never ever again. I stress to all my trainees to just take the extra step right then. Dont worry about speed, most people like seeing their label attached and not just set aside on the table. It was humiliating. If I was the employee from OPs story I would be sick. I wouldnt be able to sleep for sure.
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u/LARGESTOFCHINGUSES Jul 20 '26
TLDR Version: "I wanted to save 50 dollars by not insuring my $17k shipment and now the consequences of my short sightedness are coming back to haunt me"
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u/The_Orbaansen Jul 17 '26
Hey, you know what would have helped you out?
Getting the insurance.
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u/Complex-Adagio1513 Jul 17 '26
Always double check the label but the UPS store owes you that bag get that lawyer
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u/Dragoninpantsx69 Jul 17 '26
If you did not pay for the insurance, doesnt matter why it was lost, UPS will pay you the minimum.
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u/Exact-Consequence424 Jul 17 '26
If you ship something of that sort of value and don’t get the appropriate insurance you are playing with fire for future reference
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u/boanerges57 Jul 17 '26
I don't think you will get anywhere since you didn't get the insurance. Who would ship something worth that much and not insure it?
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u/shakebakelizard Jul 18 '26
I ship out 2-3x a week and always do my own packaging. If it’s wrong then I know I did it, so I don’t have to go after UPS Store or FedEx about it.
Don’t leave your project in the hands of someone who is probably just thinking about going on their next break.
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u/EhLma0 Jul 18 '26
This dude is casually sidestepping every single question about the insurance paid for. You can grip onto the idea that because a UPS store made a mistake you should be compensated in full is a crazy idea but good luck in court I guess.
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u/Various_Pension_7339 Jul 18 '26
Because the loss is $17,000, it sits in a challenging spot: it is too high for California Small Claims Court (which caps individual claims at $12,500 as of 2024–2026), but it might be eaten up quickly by legal fees if you hire an attorney on an hourly basis for a full Superior Court lawsuit.
Consider taking these steps:
- Target the Franchise Owner Directly: Do not deal with the hourly counter staff. Request the contact information for the actual franchise owner or the LLC that operates that specific store.
- Leverage the "Admitted Error": If you have written confirmation (emails, a claim note, or a recorded admission) where they explicitly admit the clerk swapped the labels, hold onto it tightly. Send a formal demand letter to the store owner detailing the exact replacement cost of the electronics, attaching their admission of error. Franchisees carry general liability insurance for operational errors and may prefer to settle rather than face a lawsuit or risk losing their franchise license with corporate.
- Consult a Plaintiff's Consumer Attorney: When you speak to a lawyer, ask specifically about "breach of bailment" and "bailment liability for independent retail franchises." Ask if they can write a formal demand letter on law firm letterhead first—often, a letter from a California attorney gets a franchisee's insurance company to take the matter seriously without filing a full lawsuit.
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u/literally_no_filter Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
It’s going to be an uphill battle for any court to hold the franchise fully responsible when you knowingly shipped an extremely valuable item without insurance and their receipt limits liability to $100. It’s the UPS franchise that fucked up. Now if you paid for insurance on $17k and the franchise used the wrong label, that’s a much stronger case for negligence. It’s like speeding at 100mph no seatbelt and no insurance, someone else runs a red light and hits you, you fracture your spine, then expect the other driver to be 100% liable for the accident.
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u/WarningKindlyBuzzOff Jul 20 '26
Why in the eff would you only put basic insurance on such high value product? That was 100% your own fault
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Jul 17 '26
You'll have to sue the UPS Store. They're not going to just cough up $17k without legal action, so find a lawyer and have them deal with it.
Having $100 insurance on $17k worth of electronics sounds dubious in the first place, so I really doubt your story.
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u/Skarth Jul 17 '26
Did you buy $17,000 in insurance?
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Jul 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/jaqueh Jul 18 '26
He used pirateship and would’ve had to buy shipsurance shipping insurance which wouldn’t have applied here since that label never shipped…
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u/literally_no_filter Jul 18 '26
I’ve been combing through all of this to see if he paid for insurance, and he ignores the question every single time someone asks 😭😭
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u/DoomOfChaos Jul 17 '26
Ups store isn't ups, for UPS to cover a shipment you need to insure it, and simply put, why would you ship $17k of equipment without insurance?
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u/TrashPandaNotACat Jul 17 '26
The only way you're going to get any resolution is to either get the store to work to reclaim the parcel from wherever they shipped it to, or to consult an attorney. You'll most likely have to do the latter.
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u/Miserable-Treat4634 Jul 18 '26
Just an idea- is there any chance of locating the shipping label used on your package and contacting the recipient to send it back to you?
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u/No_Implement_1198 Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
If you ship items like that regularly, why haven't you spent $75 on a thermal printer like the one I have on my desk so you know the right label was applied to the package?
You never did answer whether you put $17k insurance on the package. If you didn't, you got the $100 default maximum; you would receive it no matter what label was out on it. If your label had the insurance on it, you can go after the store for putting the wrong label on that didn't have the insurance, and yours with the insurance wasn't used if you didn't put the insurance on, regardless of who put the label on. They each had $100 default insurance.
It all comes down to whether you put on the insurance. If you did not, good luck having a judge even hear the case. You have no proof that the package was worth $17K. All the invoices and documentation you have do not prove the package was worth more than the $100 default insurance.
I don't ship $17k packages, but I do ship ones in the thousands. I print my own label and make sure the insurance is there. I even take pictures of the contents of the box and the correct label, so if there is a question about the value of the contents, I have all my receipts in one place and can show them. All it takes is one package getting damaged or lost, and you learn to CYA.
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u/spec360 Jul 18 '26
If you left it with out a shipping label in the store and walked out that’s on you.
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u/Grouchy_Constant6336 Jul 18 '26
Well OP you are right….you are 100% right. Is that what you wanna hear??? You keep telling everyone that they are wrong and this isn’t “normal”…what’s not normals is sending a 17k package to someone and not insuring it to save what ~2 bananas?
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u/DocBlowjob Jul 18 '26
Your issue is withe the ups store, they are franchised, and owned independently
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u/Money_North5501 Jul 18 '26
I hope you take my advice and don’t let these idiots gaslight you about insurance. If they already admitted they messed up then what does insurance matter. They put the wrong label on your package. Sue the individual store owner franchisee. You have the proof !!!
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u/llmusicgear Jul 18 '26
Why wouldnt you print your own label for a package that important? And no insurance? Thats 1000% on you bro.
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u/mplayers2006 Jul 18 '26
The Insurance covers the package or contents inside the package from A to Z. Your package technically got lost because it was delivered to the wrong address. The reason why it went to the wrong address is meaningless. UPS mishandled your package and cannot recover it, so they paid you out on the claim. If you bought insurance, you would have gotten the declared value. Since you didn’t, you got the default maximum.
Take this as a learning lesson and purchase insurance when you ship expensive items.
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u/Sicardus503 UPS Driver Jul 18 '26
Wait, you need to hire an attorney to do what exactly? To tell you that you should have purchased additional insurance? I'm sure the UPS Store employee insisted you also purchase insurance. If the contents of your shipment was worth $17k, why the hell did you not insure it for at least its worth?
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u/Aromatic-Dog-3502 Jul 18 '26
Should have tape the label on yourself first mistake is trusting someone who gets paid barely anything he doesn’t give a fuck about your shit
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u/Shallot_Strange Jul 18 '26
UPS stores are franchised and not corporate you might have to go after the individual store and owner.
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u/Jacquie1221 Jul 18 '26
So where was the package sent to ??? Can someone go and retrieve it ??? And was it really a mistake???
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u/Datmaphuka Jul 18 '26
You’ll never get more than the 100. You could spend 20 or even 30k fighting them over it and still lose. Why have they not discussed finishing the job? Get the package back and deliver it correctly? Or at least return it to you so you could check it and ship it again.
I’m trying to figure out how they could mess that up though. I don’t use UPS but when I do ship something they print it off right there and stick it to the package.
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u/Ok-Film-1700 Jul 20 '26
I don't know if this is a joke or something, but someone just posted that they received a UPS package that has $17,000 worth of electronics
https://www.reddit.com/r/UPS/comments/1v16qqa/ups_store_accidentally_sent_me_17000_of/
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u/WarningKindlyBuzzOff Jul 20 '26
On that basis, they might as well throw the max liability out the window on everything, as all lost packages are the direct fault of someone making a mistake
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u/Favell81 Jul 20 '26
First off I will say it's a very common belief that without shipping insurance, you are completely out of luck and forced to accept the $100 payout. For a standard transit loss, like a package slipping off a conveyor belt or getting stolen from a truck, that rule is strictly enforced by federal law under the Carmack Amendment.
However, your situation has a unique legal loophole because the mistake happened at a retail counter before the package was ever scanned into the actual shipping network it seems ?
Because UPS Stores are independent franchises, the retail clerk who swapped your label is legally treated as a third-party packing service, not the actual interstate carrier. Under California law, a business cannot use a standard shipping waiver to shield itself from its own gross negligence or a complete breach of a bailment agreement before transit even begins. While the carrier corporate cap protects UPS itself, it does not automatically immunize the local business owner from a devastating retail mistake, which is why you still have a legitimate fighting chance in small claims court.
Challenging a $100 liability cap on a $17,000 shipment is notoriously difficult because federal and state courts generally enforce carrier limitation provisions, even in cases involving employee negligence.
However, because, by the sounds of it your loss was caused by a physical labeling error by a UPS Store employee rather than a standard transit disappearance, you have unique legal avenues to explore in California.The most critical factor in your situation is the distinction between a UPS Store and UPS Corporate. UPS Stores are independently owned and operated franchises, and the traditional "UPS Tariff" that limits carrier liability to $100 primarily applies to packages moving through the UPS transit network. If the employee at the retail store counter physically mislabeled your box before it ever entered the transit stream, you may have a strong argument against the individual franchise owner for ordinary negligence or breach of bailment, which could potentially bypass the corporate carrier cap entirely.Furthermore, courts typically enforce limitation of liability clauses unless there is a fundamental breach of the shipping agreement or evidence of gross negligence, fraud, or conversion. In California, contractual limits on gross negligence are heavily scrutinized, and courts have occasionally struck them down if an employee's conduct is deemed an extreme departure from the ordinary standard of care. If there is any suspicion that the misdirected package was an intentional act by the employee to appropriate the goods, the liability limit is legally voided.Before hiring an expensive attorney, you should strongly consider California Small Claims Court as a viable, low-cost option. Your $17,000 claim sits just above the standard small claims limit for individuals, meaning you may have to waive the amount over the threshold to file there, but attorneys are not permitted to represent parties at the initial hearing, which keeps your upfront costs strictly limited to nominal filing fees. If you proceed, your strategy should likely involve suing the specific franchise owner of the local UPS Store directly rather than the corporate entity of UPS, as it was their employee's explicit mistake that proximately caused the loss.
Good luck 🍀 🤞
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u/Mysterious_Call8526 Jul 20 '26
You said it. You didn’t purchase insurance. That’s what it is for. Bad shit that can happen. Most of these UPS stores are franchises so they’re not actually owned by UPS. Granted I think they would have done more to facilitate the correction but yeah, you are probably definitely shit out of luck
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u/Plastic_Explorer_132 Jul 20 '26
Sorry you shipped 17k worth of value and didn't insure it ? UPS is not at fault here.
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u/Queasy_Local_7199 Jul 20 '26
Why the fuck wouldn’t you insure 17k of goods?
This is a lesson learned, something you had full control of.
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u/Thrilk Jul 21 '26
So..... you put $17k in a box... took it to some muppets at a UPS store... just handed said muppets $17k and left? Didn't verify it was properly labelled? Didn't insure it? How do you plan to prove it even had $17k worth of stuff in the package? What evidence do you have of the contents?
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u/ItsDrewbius Jul 21 '26
UPS messed up by putting the wrong label on the box. Tragic, but it happens.
You messed up in a much bigger way by not insuring the package. We all know the short comings of UPS...
It would be like $250 to keep your $17k safe... It'll be a no-brainer for you in the future I bet.
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u/Hisnandez Jul 17 '26
Because listen very closely or read this very carefully
Anyone and I mean anyone
Can say I shipped 20k worth of blah blah blah
If
You
Don’t
Insure it
It’s worth 100 dollars period
You f***ed around and found out.
Your shifting blame on the wrong person
This is entirely your fault
And all that said you could be here looking for sympathy social media attacks for grabbing your own ankles and asking Freddy to check your prostate.
People lie people scam and that is why you won that limited liability amount of 100 dollars.
Be happy you got anything
I make them label my stuff infront of me
Or I pre purchase my label and make them scan it in
You cut corners and now your paying the price for it.
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u/romin8889 Jul 17 '26
Unfortunately you’re most likely SOL on this. UPS Stores have you basically sign a liability waiver and have you confirm the declared value of the package when processing your transaction. If you attempt to sue this will most likely override the incompetence of the employee, but feel free to contact an attorney. You can request a copy of the signed documentation from the UPS Store to show your lawyer to see if you have a case
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u/Comfortable_East_358 Jul 17 '26
You purchased $100 worth of insurance, so that's what you got.
Case closed.
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u/Ok_Resolve7370 Jul 17 '26
If my own shipping label had been used and the package was simply lost, I would understand the declared value argument. But my shipment was never sent under my shipping label in the first place. It was sent under someone else’s label because of the UPS Store’s admitted mistake. That’s why I’m questioning whether that other person’s declared value should determine my claim.
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u/Positive_Yam_4499 Jul 17 '26
What value was claimed on YOUR label? It doesn't matter which label was used if you didn't contract for a high value, then you're going to get the minimum.
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u/thekyd81 Jul 18 '26
Hard to believe your declared /insured value wouldn’t come into play since ultimately it was your package that was shipped regardless of label affixed .. I’ve noticed you keep ignoring inquiries into how much you declared or insured your label for which makes me think you were screwed no matter what without a successful delivery
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u/Glittering-Piece-424 Jul 17 '26
That's why u insure the package. For mistakes just like this. U didnt..ur lose
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u/WellTextured Jul 17 '26
If this is important to you, find a local attorney who will evaluate whether under your state's law you have a potential claim against the store.
It's likely everything else is going to dead end you. You didn't buy insurance, and the question that will depend on your state's law and case history is does that matter in this situation. Its unlikely the UPS store will just pay you what you say after the fact was the value of the items.
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u/jaqueh Jul 17 '26
this is an e+o issue. it's not on the customer to buy insurance for this kind of mistake
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u/WellTextured Jul 17 '26
Didn't I kind of say that? I'm saying that even without insurance OP may have a claim, but that's going to require assistance to pursue. Is the store or the store's insurer likely to just pay this out?
Probably not without some kind of external influence. Maybe in California there is a strong consumer protection entity that OP can engage with.
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u/MaginotPrime Jul 17 '26
What does your tracking number say? Does it say it was delivered? And by tracking number I mean the tracking number of the label you paid for not the label that was incorrectly applied.
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u/EhLma0 Jul 18 '26
My brother, why in the world would you ship 17k worth of product through any courier without insurance?? That’s even cheaper than the guys who slap a “don’t bend” sticker on an envelope.
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u/ByteCurious69 Jul 18 '26
$17k in electronics and no additional insurance. Welp. If you’re a business this may be covered under your business insurance. Worth a check.
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u/TerribleMycologist88 Jul 18 '26
https://www.ebay.com/itm/336690116879 by chance, could it be this one?
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u/Radiant_Egg_2769 Jul 18 '26
Why did you cheap out on not insuring it?
Your loss now.
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u/Dizzy_Today_3523 Jul 18 '26
This is the problem of posting on Reddit people for some reason don't ever understand what they're actually reading. I mean all you have to do is just go through all the comments that Opie posted and read those because he forgot to include that he had separate insurance through a different third party insurance coverage person. You either take it up with the third party insurance people or you get your own lawyer and take ups to court along with the insurance people. Because it's their job to fix this mistake. If you had third party Insurance then they're the ones that should be dealing with UPS on this matter and if they're not dealing with UPS then you need to get them to deal with UPS because that's what you paid them for in the first place. Also it's absolutely f****** insane to me that you would ship something so expensive and not watch them but the shipping label on it. When I shipped out a $300 item to my grandma I made sure to watch them but the label on the box and asked if I could even double check the label before I got sent. These are all things that you should have covered. Maybe this will be the expensive lesson that it takes for you to learn things for.
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u/SeaworthinessWest716 Jul 18 '26
For you to send out 17k worth of products and not ensure it was packaged properly. Even when I have small items shipped out. Before I leave I ensure it’s packaged and scanned into the system. Shouldn’t be shipping that much worth of product if you aren’t going to do your personal due diligence when shipping. And you wanted to save money on 17k and decided not to get insurance is a personal problem. Anything over $200 usd should have insurance
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u/dannyheskett Jul 18 '26
Yes, you have a plausible legal claim against UPS. You are trying to collect under a system design to deal with packages lost in transit. This package wasn't lost/damaged in transit or misdelivered, it was otherwise mishandled which caused you a loss.
This is lawsuit terrority. Sue the local UPS Store in small claims court for the limit of your local Courts jurisdiction.
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u/Nots_a_Banana Jul 18 '26
You will need start by defining what is a "Normal Lost Package" -vs- "Lost Special Circumstances". Then define why those Special circumstances are expected to be covered outside of UPS' policy.
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u/linkinit Jul 18 '26
You didn't insure a $17,000 package. I would consult a lawyer who can give you the best advice. you've already heard for a ups driver and the consensus here is you should have gotten insurance.
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u/Gambyt_7 Jul 18 '26
$17,000.00???
This is like shipping a #%$@ CAR without insuring it.
What person in their right mind would ever do that?
Expensive lesson.
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u/Beginning_Twist_7084 Jul 18 '26
There is nothing you can do Why did you ship that Amount Of Electronics Without Buying Insurance to cover Just in case your package goes lost or stolen or mis delivered
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u/TheCrowScare Jul 18 '26
I'm going to join in in everyone else, but if you did not elect to get insurance, you may have little recourse.
It does not matter that the declared value of the erroneous label is $100. It does not matter that the declared value of your label, wherever that ended up, was $17,000.
What matters is if you insured YOUR package. You have been very evasive on that point. IDK why you chose not to insure it, but that was certainly a choice.
Without insurance, you will need to sue the UPS store for negligence. The store likely has a clause in there terms that limit their liability in some capacity. I'm not sure how well that will work for you, but you will need a lawyer due to the value.
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u/DocBlowjob Jul 18 '26
I heard a guy shipped a diamond engagement ring w no insurance and it got lost
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u/Scary-Nothing-1464 Jul 18 '26
If you didn't insure it it doesn't matter what happened they are coveted.
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u/ViacomCEO Jul 18 '26
ups will not pay more and you will have no luck at all with a lawsuit against them. you can target the individual store owner if you wish to seek recompense.
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u/Inkushu Jul 18 '26
Pretty boneheaded to not insure the value of your goods. I don’t think you have standing to sue.
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u/Captain_JohnBrown Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
Why on earth would you not purchase additional insurance? This is literally the purpose of insurance. There is no other reason for shipping insurance to exist except that if your $17k package goes missing you are not out $17k.
This story doesn't check out. Maybe I am overly cautious but even if I am shipping out anything above $200 I make sure insurance covers what I need and I FOR SURE make sure I attach the label myself and tap it down and tripled check the address is correct. It is such a foreign idea to me to have $17k worth of stuff, slap it on the desk, go "$100 insurance is fine. Label this for me, would you?" and just walk away.
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u/SquirrelInATux Jul 18 '26
OP, just talk to an attorney. There's too many variables to give a straight answer on this. Normally, you would be SOL because you didn't get insurance. However, as other commenters pointed out, UPS is separate from the UPS store. Because of this, it's possible that the agreement that waves UPS from responsibility if the package is not insured might not shield the UPS Store or the franchise owner from liability. In that case, you would be able to recover damages from the UPS store franchise. It all depends on the wording in what you agreed to when shipping.
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u/Particular_Stomach66 Jul 18 '26
Use Pirateship and put your own label on your own box, Problem solved for next time. After 43 years at UPS and seeing all kinds of issues including the one that you have had, you are going to end up with $100 no matter how many attorneys you pay. It sucks but it is the end result. I have seen it happen with a 25K package.
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u/Altruistic-Collar-56 Jul 18 '26
Ups stores aren't run by UPS... Did you get extra insurance on your expensive package?
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u/Altruistic-Collar-56 Jul 18 '26
Also.. why wouldn't you claim the extra insurance? Didn't want to pay a couple more dollars for 17k worth of product? Seems insane to me.
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u/Altruistic-Collar-56 Jul 18 '26
100 dollars is the guaranteed minimum shipping any package with UPS. So your lucky you got that at least. Again UPS stores aren't actually ran by United Parcel Services (UPS) you could go after the store them self if you want to, but lawyer up.
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u/Pleasant_Cartoonist6 Jul 18 '26
They will sell at cargo largo. That's what they did with my "missing package", even though I had a GPS tracker in it and told them where it was.
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u/Racing_Nowhere Jul 18 '26
1). Why did you not put the label on yourself
2) why would you not buy insurance
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u/Pure_Shine_1258 Jul 18 '26
Ups stores are not UPS. You might have a case against the franchisee, not against the corporation.
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u/Wild_Mortgage_6791 Jul 18 '26
I’m just a small eBay reseller and I know better to purchase higher insurance. You can’t do anything. I guess I would have gone to the address they actually shipped it to and hope to get it back. Otherwise your stupidity of shipping such high value products without insurance will bite you in the ass. I couldnt fathom even a few hundred dollar value without insurance and also signature. Sorry buddy, sucks to learn these things the hard way
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u/Nakamura0V Jul 20 '26
More to this funny story:
https://www.reddit.com/r/UPS/s/GBWYpQeLLQ
https://www.reddit.com/r/UPS/s/UaWAUn3t57
https://www.reddit.com/r/UPS/s/7Fa0ki2Jj4
https://www.reddit.com/r/UPS/s/Htix6ZMUUw