- Report: #426763
Complaint Review: Manna Freight Systems - Saint Paul Minnesota
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Manna Freight Systems
2440 Enterprise Drive Saint Paul, 55120 Minnesota, U.S.A.
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651-905-7560
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Manna Freight Systems Hired to deliver 1700.00 bed white glove service. Destroyed bed - refused to pay claim - still charged for the shipping - and trying to charge us to return damaged pieces Saint Paul Minnesota
On October 16, 2008 we hired Manna freight to pick up a $1700.00 bed from our manufacturer and deliver it to our customer. The manufacturer called us and told us that the bed was damaged. To ascertain if it would be repaired they sent us photos which we forwarded to the manufacturer.
After reviewing the photos the manufacturer stated "I have looked carefully at all the pictures and can tell without doubt that in my opinion the Crate itself was subjected to at least one substantial impact at some point during transit. The freight agent's suggestion that, the frame pieces were just floating inside the box and that there wasn't any filler for support is not correct. When we Crate Furniture for shipping - such as this bed -- It is securely, "Braced" within the Crate - to prevent movement during normal transit - and, "filler" is not required, nor practical for furniture of this type during transit. We use the cushioned Bracing method so as to reduce the amount of contact points touching the pieces within the crate during transit. This method greatly reduces the risk of marking the finish on the piece. Also, the images show the Crate is upside down - with the Bed hanging out of the Crate - Storing it this way, of course can only cause further damage to the Bed. It is clear to see that all the bracing which previously held the Bed in place within the Crate is damaged, with some broken away completely. Again, in my opinion this can only have happened after heavy impact to the Crate - which looks to have hit on the top, right corner - suggesting the Crate may have initially fell, upside down" on its top corner. This damage is due to what one can only assume and appears to be, careless handling."
Marissa Petersen, a claims adjuster at Manna denied the claim stating that it did not meet their packaging standards. We informed them that because this was the third or fourth shipment they had damaged combined with the fact that they refused to pay the insurance claim, it would cost them our business and requested that the damaged bed be returned to the manufacturer. We did not pay the invoice for the shipment as it was not delivered. In the meantime, we had another claim that it took them quite a while to settle. When they did issue the check for the claim the settled, they deducted the $375.20 shipping charge for the damaged shipment was deducted from the check.
So we have had a $1700.00 bed dropped and damaged beyond repair, they have refused to pay the claim on it even though it was insured, they have charged us $375.20 for a shipment that was never delivered and as of January 30th, the damaged bed has yet to be returned.
After requesting a registered agents name and address from Johan Boysen, their Loss Prevention Manager, I have been told that this is standard practice and that they are not liable for the freight charges or the damaged goods. He also states that the product is being returned, but they stated that in December.
In my opinion this is at the least unethical and possible outright theft.
Update to 02/20/2009 - Manna has yet to return damaged bed and is now trying to charge us 189.00 for the return.
Valerie
Clevalend, Georgia
U.S.A.
After reviewing the photos the manufacturer stated "I have looked carefully at all the pictures and can tell without doubt that in my opinion the Crate itself was subjected to at least one substantial impact at some point during transit. The freight agent's suggestion that, the frame pieces were just floating inside the box and that there wasn't any filler for support is not correct. When we Crate Furniture for shipping - such as this bed -- It is securely, "Braced" within the Crate - to prevent movement during normal transit - and, "filler" is not required, nor practical for furniture of this type during transit. We use the cushioned Bracing method so as to reduce the amount of contact points touching the pieces within the crate during transit. This method greatly reduces the risk of marking the finish on the piece. Also, the images show the Crate is upside down - with the Bed hanging out of the Crate - Storing it this way, of course can only cause further damage to the Bed. It is clear to see that all the bracing which previously held the Bed in place within the Crate is damaged, with some broken away completely. Again, in my opinion this can only have happened after heavy impact to the Crate - which looks to have hit on the top, right corner - suggesting the Crate may have initially fell, upside down" on its top corner. This damage is due to what one can only assume and appears to be, careless handling."
Marissa Petersen, a claims adjuster at Manna denied the claim stating that it did not meet their packaging standards. We informed them that because this was the third or fourth shipment they had damaged combined with the fact that they refused to pay the insurance claim, it would cost them our business and requested that the damaged bed be returned to the manufacturer. We did not pay the invoice for the shipment as it was not delivered. In the meantime, we had another claim that it took them quite a while to settle. When they did issue the check for the claim the settled, they deducted the $375.20 shipping charge for the damaged shipment was deducted from the check.
So we have had a $1700.00 bed dropped and damaged beyond repair, they have refused to pay the claim on it even though it was insured, they have charged us $375.20 for a shipment that was never delivered and as of January 30th, the damaged bed has yet to be returned.
After requesting a registered agents name and address from Johan Boysen, their Loss Prevention Manager, I have been told that this is standard practice and that they are not liable for the freight charges or the damaged goods. He also states that the product is being returned, but they stated that in December.
In my opinion this is at the least unethical and possible outright theft.
Update to 02/20/2009 - Manna has yet to return damaged bed and is now trying to charge us 189.00 for the return.
Valerie
Clevalend, Georgia
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Robert Masters
Mendota Heights,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
Manna Freight Systems, Inc - No contractual liability to Iron Accents (company) - is it true that if she lies that her pants start on fire?
#2UPDATE Employee
Fri, April 17, 2009
Valerie is representing a business called Iron Accents. Our businesses were working under a contract signed by Shanta Kirves on 8/30/07. The contract explicitly states that a requirement of doing business includes that any shipment be packaged according to this contract which states: _____________ All items tendered to Manna Distribution Services must be banded or shrink-wrapped securely to a standard 48''x 40'' or greater wood pallet in an effort to reduce the incidence of damage. In addition, each item must have a minimum inch Styrofoam covering all sides of the piece and be completely enclosed within corrugated box material before being placed on a pallet. At no time can any piece overhang from any one side of the pallet. If pieces exceed the 48''x40'' pallet then larger pallets must be used. Once banding or shrink-wrapping is complete, please ensure that the furniture is secure and centered on the pallet. Please use caution when adjusting the tension of the bands not to over-tighten and cause the furniture to be damaged. If the shipper cannot palletize furniture then refer to Schedule B for the itemized charge. Manna will palletize the furniture only if requested in Clarity (web based software)or the agreed order-processing equivalent on an order-by-order basis. ___________________ The shipment referred to was not packaged according to these explicit standards and was subsequently damaged in transit and consequently we exercised the very next clause in the contract which states: Manna will not honor any damage claims that occur to any furniture where the shipper does not request palletization at the time of notification to Manna and/or the packaging requirements as identified on this Schedule were not met in full. Additionally the product inside the package was not braced in any way and there was no indication of which side was up. The product shifted within the box and was damaged as a result as noted in the following inspection report: "The crate was definitely not shipping material, it was 4 boards nailed together with cardboard on the outside holding the contents of the inside sliding all over the inside of a hollow box. The box is not marked with any special instructions. Once the box was moved the cardboard pulls right away from the wood due to the weight of the contents pushing against the cardboard. There was a beam of wood going across the inside of the crate, looking at it closely it looks like they thought this would hold the contents in place. As you can see from the pictures that wasn't the case at all. If you have any questions give me a call Rob Benton -- Bros. Transportation" All of these facts are known to the customer already and this is simply an excercise in extortion on their part. In fact this complaint was written 10 days after the Better Business Bureau rejected her complaint to them due to the misstatements throughout. If she wanted to negotiate the terms of the contract prior to shipping so that she could move improperly packaged furniture then she could have and we would have raised the rates accordingly to allow for the damage and subsequent costs that would surely occur. Instead she signed an agreement that she did not intend to honor. Now she uses forums like this one to try to extort money. Despite what she writes here, her product was returned to her. I now respectfully request that you include this rebuttal to set the record straight or remove her complaint as it is not true and borders on slander.
