L-munition or Thank Heavens for Insurance (USPS)

Received this today attached to my new (used) 20D via USPS in a box that looked like it was run over by a car. The 20D is fine, I have run it through it's paces but this lens is now an 18-55mm Tilt&... BROKEN.

At that angle the zoom is rough and it won't rotate to focus. I knew these were cheaply built, but I had no idea.

I am filing a claim with the USPS, but it is just a pain in the backside.

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that's nasty - why don't the postal services take more care with the stuff. It beggars believe sometimes.

Yes, accidents do happen, but most tend to be due to hamfisted staff who don't give a monkeys to how the items are handled - grrrrr.

Hope you get it all sorted to your satisfaction

Gary

Geez...that's unfortunate. Thankfully it's not an expensive lens, but it's obvious they didn't handle things carefully, or the item was already faulty to start off with.

are you sure the lens wasn't broken before it was shipped?

Sorry to see that, hope it gets resolved

I was in a crowded electronic store today and saw a kit lens exactly like this one on a demonstration camera.
The kit lens is definitely cheaply compared to L lenses and even other non-L canon lenses. But it is a cheap lens .

Hope you get some money back and invest it in a real lens

Sebastien

ogbyte wrote in post #3038970
that's nasty - why don't the postal services take more care with the stuff. It beggars believe sometimes.

Yes, accidents do happen, but most tend to be due to hamfisted staff who don't give a monkeys to how the items are handled - grrrrr.

Hope you get it all sorted to your satisfaction

Gary

Because to do that they would have to slow service down a lot, that alone will cost the mailing services more money. Then people will complain that shipping takes a day or two longer, etc. With how they do it now it's not only faster service, it's cheaper to deal with a few damaged packages than it would be to slow the service down.

Ogrt48 wrote in post #3040592
Because to do that they would have to slow service down a lot, that alone will cost the mailing services more money. Then people will complain that shipping takes a day or two longer, etc. With how they do it now it's not only faster service, it's cheaper to deal with a few damaged packages than it would be to slow the service down.

This particular service was not exactly fast (parcel post from FL to CA) took 8 days. I doubt that it was damaged beforehand, the 20D had a CF card in it which had numerous pictures on it dated the same day that it was listed for sale.

Here's a picture of the box it came in. Even had "FRAGILE" stamped on it.

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Reason why you ALWAYS detatach your lense when sending a kit through the mail. Glad the 20D is ok, it a great camera!

I wouldn't ship anything of high value or fragile in nature using Parcel Post. It's exactly as it sounds - USPS treats your stuff like parcels rather than care like "1st Class" or "Priority". I hope you do get some compensation - boy is that a pain. I would try finding a price for the 18-55 from somewhere as expensive as possible like Best Buy to show comparable value - then use the money for something better. Good luck!

look on the bright side, now you can take pictures around corners!
combat camera might want a piece of that :P

cjm wrote in post #3040826
Reason why you ALWAYS detatach your lense when sending a kit through the mail. Glad the 20D is ok, it a great camera!

definetly, I would never ship it with the lens attached

If you want another kit lens, best place to look is in the market place on POTN or try ebay - they go for reasonable money, and much much less than any of the so-called better lenses. That parcel looks like it was drop-kicked. Are you really sure the camera works OK - there is so much inside that could be out of alignment now. I'd be inclined to claim for the whole camera - just put the lens back on it to show for the claim - after all unless you send it in for assessment there is no way you are going to be sure it all works properly now.

This really is bad luck for you. We are lucky in the UK that we have something called Special Delivery - guaranteed next day, and it includes insurance. If you pay a bit extra they guarantee delivery by 9am. sometimes it's great living in a country the size of a postage stamp!

Ouch, glad the camera came through OK. I got a kit lens for sale HERE if you want to give the USPS another try.

mshill wrote in post #3038911
Received this today attached to my new (used) 20D via USPS in a box that looked like it was run over by a car. The 20D is fine, I have run it through it's paces but this lens is now an 18-55mm Tilt&... BROKEN.

At that angle the zoom is rough and it won't rotate to focus. I knew these were cheaply built, but I had no idea.

I am filing a claim with the USPS, but it is just a pain in the backside.

If that was me I would INSIST on a replacement for BOTH. You have no way of knowing what caused it , but if it was a drop froma height the camera may be OK now but could show problems later

Nice of them to give you a free tilt& shift lens though:p