I'm hoping this is in the correct forum. Anyhow, I just purchased some used EDM's and were damaged during shipping. They were insured, but i just spoke to the post office, and they said it take 4-5 weeks to process a claim, and then they would make a decision of whether or not to pay.

The lights look like they are mountable. It's more a question of principal. Do you think i should hold off on installing them, and process an insurance claim with usps? Or, should i suck it up and keep them as is. The damage doesn't seem horrible, it's a rectangular plastic piece on the end of the mounting bracket, not sure what purpose it serves. What do you think? :confused:

Maybe post a picture or two of the area which is damaged - if it doesn't impact function, then I would probably let it slide - it's going to be a long time before the post office takes care of it...

I'd post pics but i'm not sure how to link/host them... any suggestions?

Try www.photobucket.com

I've never uploaded pics before... hope this works
http://photobucket.com/albums/e325/ikhan1999/Broken%20EDM%20piece/?sc=1&multi=3

Thanks Hank3 for the photobucket info :)

I realize the damage doesn't look that serious, but i'm hesitant b/c they were not cheap.

I do believe that the peice that busted off is a clip for the grill. Shouldn't really be a problem since the grill has 5 other clips holding it on but still...

It wont affect how the lights mount. If you feel right about getting money from USPS then go ahead. The damage doesn't hurt functionality.

^^^

If I were you and that piece does just hold the grill in, I'd save myself the trouble, and use some super adhesive you can get at any hardware store to reattach that piece. The mounting holes seem fine, which is important. Maybe you can still roll with them on your car, and file the claim at the same time. Just my .02

hold out and call them twice a day. it doesnt look too bad, but yeah..principle.

So would the insurance pay for a new light? (for what they cost, it would bug the hell out of me for a while - I'd want a new light) If you have pictures showing damage to the box, and the damaged part, you should be all set - they are usually pretty good, it just takes time. You might be able to speed things up with a few calls - you just have to find the right person.

Yep, the section that broke off is the part for the grill to clip on. Headlight is still functional. The same part cracked and chipped off when mine was shipped. I returned it for a new one. It also looks like you are still missing a piece off the headlight. Maybe it was already broken?

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/5148/dsc008245sh.jpg

Yeah, i'm still on the fence on this one... i realize ultimately my decision to make. file_id, what missing part were you referring to? Thanks to all for their input.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/5046/broken25ro.jpg

That is the part that is missing. It should be in the box if it was damaged during shipping. If not, then maybe the guy you bought it from sold it to you being damaged already? I dunno.

Yeah, I had searched for the remaining pieces as they should also be in the box, but did not find them. I just don't want to make assumptions or accusations towards/about the seller, since he's been helpful thus far. Per the pics that were on ebay, and my pm's with the seller he said there was nothing wrong with the lights. I'm just kind of bummed that i now have to deal with USPS.

Plastic weld it... I bet you by the time you get done with the hassle of filing a claim with ANY shipping company, you'll wish you hadn't and just fixed it yourself.

PS how well were the lgihts packaged? I've shipped about 8 pairs of headlights and the corners of the plastic pieces must be wrapped pretty well. I can assume more than half the people shipping stuff on nasioc don't know how to properly package things.

The problem is i can't find the other piece that file_id has circled in the pic above... it does not seem to be in the box, or is lost in the packing peanuts. I personally don't think they were wrapped well, but the seller said he felt they were wrapped well. The lights themselves were bubble wrapped but the plastic parts were somewhat exposed and not wrapped well. I'm not trying to point fingers, it's just my opinion.

So, i found a person on nasioc who can import another pair. My concern is that like infamous has pointed out, it will be a headache to deal with with USPS. How much of a difference does that bracket make? Thanks.

My EDM headlights had exactly the same damage. (except I knowingly purchased them with the damage and got a good deal). Really all it does is hold in the bottem of the grill. Even with one of my clips broken the grill barely wiggles. I would still try to get your money out of usps but if worse comes to worse, they are fine.

My EDM headlights had exactly the same damage. (except I knowingly purchased them with the damage and got a good deal). Really all it does is hold in the bottem of the grill. Even with one of my clips broken the grill barely wiggles. I would still try to get your money out of usps but if worse comes to worse, they are fine.
Teh thing with "trying to get your money out of usps" is that they have to take the merchandise and packaging.. and he said that they told him it would take up to 5 weeks... to be without them for 5 weeks is even worse.

Yup, infamousDx pretty much summed it up. I don't mind waiting a few weeks to get the money, but my concern is that they would come back and say no we won't pay b/c it wasn't packed well, or something of the sort. Do any of you know if that's common?

Yeah, so i decided to send it off to the post office, and did so a while ago. It's been 3 weeks and no word yet, i want lights :(

Yup, infamousDx pretty much summed it up. I don't mind waiting a few weeks to get the money, but my concern is that they would come back and say no we won't pay b/c it wasn't packed well, or something of the sort. Do any of you know if that's common?
Sorry to only answer now but usually they like giving that excuse, which is why I basically never file. There's supposed to be like at least 2" of packing on every side of the item. If the seller did that, hopefully you have a good case.

Yeah, so i decided to send it off to the post office
that just doesnt sound right.....

but id call them. the same person, everyday.

Yeah, i tried calling last week but no one seemed to know the status. I left a voicemail for the person who was supposed to update me, but they never responded :(

Listen, go to advanced auto or any auto store and buy some "JB weld" That stuff is amazing. Mix it up, apply allow, 24 hours to dry and it will hold beeter than the rest of the light. This stuff is ten times stronger than that 30 minute epoxy crap.

that just doesnt sound right.....

but id call them. the same person, everyday.

I agree - why did they need to have you send them the light? Did they give you a receipt or something for it? Too expensive a thing to just send it in blindly...

I would be calling daily... maybe even more frequently at this point....

So, the local post office has to keep the item until the claim is finalized. I've been calling about 1-2 times a week for the last month and getting the run around. Today, i spoke to some jerk who said they were back logged b/c they need another employee and it will 2 more months to process at the local office and send to st louis, and about 1 year til i get my money.

I asked to speak to his manager and eventually did. I then went down to the post offcie after work, and it looks like the original manager who filed my claim put the claim form in the box with the lights, and it was put into storage. Long story short i'm back at square one b/c of their incompetence. I was assured that it was being sent to st. louis priority mail. Sorry for the long post but i need to vent. Worst thing is i leave the country in a week and a half for work for about a month. I was originally told that this would be resolved by then :( Thanks to all who have given me suggestions, i appreciate it.

So i finally heard back from the post office, and they denied my claim. They official letter said there was no visible damage to the articles (boxes) that can be linked to the post office, which is not true.

I then went to the post office and they said the box was not adequately packaged for it's size/weight. There is an appeal process but do any of you have any suggestions on how to fight this? Thanks.

Sorry to only answer now but usually they like giving that excuse, which is why I basically never file. There's supposed to be like at least 2" of packing on every side of the item. If the seller did that, hopefully you have a good case.

By the way you were right. They said that the box should have had 2" of packing on all sides. Do packing peanuts count? If so, i believe it did.