Anyone had this problem with Bargate Shipping?

[Debd]

Hi everyone,
Well here's my update:
No update I'm afraid to say.
Bargate has ignored my repeated e-mail for nearly 2 weeks now! It's funny how they were answering my e-mails immediately everytime BEFORE paying them!
I think 6 months is plenty of time to find out why our shipping was a disaster (their own words by the way!)

[MotherBear]

Oh Deb, what a mess. I hope Bargate realise that, with your posting this sort of thing on such a forum as this, it can only do their company harm. I wouldn't want to go with a company that had no 'after-sales service' and left you high and dry. I shouldn't think I'm the only one either. It's just not professional and they've let themselves down.

If you were in the UK, I guess there would be ways of taking them to task, but they seem to be deliberately hiding from you now, knowing that you're thousands of miles away. Taking the easy way out is not the answer if they want to encourage more custom. Shoddy service, that's what it is.

Wish I could make things better for you.

[Taffy]

You should send them a link to this thread!

I have to say I'm suprised by the outcome of this. I've heard nothing but good about them up until now. Shame they are letting themselves down at this stage.

[Debd]

Thanks Motherbear and Taffy.
Well after sending my last e-mail to them at the time of my last post here, Geoff has finally e-mailed me back and has told me that the problem has been that the NZ agent that arranged the customs clearance has supposedly gone into receivership and that he couldn't get confirmation on this so that is why he asked if I could help.
And he's said that without getting the report of my damaged items from them, the insurance claim cannot be settled. He's then gone on to say that his course of action would be for Bargate to settle this, (which is of course what I have been expecting), so to give him a sum I'm happy with, which will then be taken to the board of directors for consideration.
I'm glad that we finally got to this stage so we can move on but I have never had an issue with any insurance before ever!! (Not even for any cars that I've owned!), so how on Earth do I go about adding up all the damage to my furniture and items?
Please can you give me any advice as we had large items damaged and soiled, (the soiling being to the sofa that would not clean off!) plus a couple of missing items, (step ladder and the chrome base of a hood-drier!). For instance, my antique cabinet that had sizeable pieces chipped off it, weren't to be found.
Basically, it's a long list of damages and I'm not sure how to put a sum to it,
Uhhhh hope you can help anybody?? Thanks so far anyway,
Debra

[Glenda]

Hi Deb,

Yes, it is difficult. We had an antique table which had a leg broken - we got a quote and had it repaired and they accepted that. Other lesser value items were damaged, but I just shrugged them off.

In your case, I would have thought that you could claim for the whole sofa unless it is one which is easily re-covered. If your hood-drier is useless, then you must claim for the whole item not just the base. You pay insurance for a reason and if the items are damaged or lost during shipping then you are entitled to a payout.

Good luck!

[Taffy]

It seems like this is an exceptional case where part of the chain has disappeared. If you had insurance on it, I would have thought they could provide an assessor to value the damage.

Basically though, go out and get prices of replacement new items and send them those. I expect you'll need to get an antique repairer to give you a quote on repairing your cabinet, which you can also send to them.

[Debd]

Thanks Glenda,

I will have the weekend to figure something out but I'm finding it difficult. I was even thinking of just asking for the shipping cost to be re-embursed but my items come to more than that and the shipment was way over the scheduled time for arrival so we ended up having to buy so many new things, including bunkbeds for us to all sleep in!! I can't wait for this to be over, it's been so wearing.
Bye for now,
Debra

[MotherBear]

Deb,

Did you have to prepare a list of your possessions and their cost for the shippers? We always have to do this when we shift countries. If you did and you still have a copy, you could use it to base your claim on. If things can't be repaired, then you would naturally have to look at the cost of replacing them. Same for lost items. I've got into the habit of keeping all our receipts for household stuff so we can refer to them if we want to sell something or if we need to claim on insurance.

It must be really miserable for you to have so much go wrong with your shipment. Apart from the huge cost of shipping, this kind of damage is one thing that tugs at you when folks are deciding whether to sell up in their home country and start afresh in NZ or take everything with them.

[Debd]

Thanks Taffy and Motherbear, lots to take into account there.
I still haven't got to a figure, ir anywhere near it - I'm finding it difficult.
To save all the time and effort, I think I will just send a figure based on what is damaged and lost for full replacement value on everything I can think of! The photos I initially sent to Geoff were pretty gruesome in the shipping sense and he seemed quite horrified by them too at the time.
I don't want to come across as greedy because I'm not but I do want to be able to go out and buy replacements or get things repaired at last.
Thankyou all so much for your advice and I will let you know the progress as it happens.
Debra

[Debd]

Hi,
just to update you on our progress with Bargate:
Well I've replied to their request for a sum I had in mind - that was a couple of weeks back now so am still waiting to see if they agree. It wasn't a huge amount so I'm hoping they will agree so we can get it all finished with for good.
Thankyou for your support by the way.