It refers to situations where damage to your shipment, or even a portion of the shipment being missing, isn’t immediately apparent upon delivery.
- Unlike obvious damage to boxes or leaking containers, concealed loss/damage is more insidious. It might involve:
- Internal Damage
Products inside seemingly intact packaging could be broken, dented, or malfunctioning. - Missing Items
Discrepancies between the shipment manifest (packing list) and the actual contents can reveal missing items only discovered during unpacking.
- Concealed loss/damage typically comes to light only after the delivery process is complete, during unpacking or inspection at the receiving location.
- Several factors can contribute to concealed loss/damage:
- Rough Handling
Improper handling during transport, such as dropping or crushing packages, can cause internal damage that might not be visible from the outside. - Shifting Contents
During transportation, items within boxes can shift and collide, leading to hidden breakage or malfunction. - Pre-Existing Damage
In rare cases, concealed damage could be present even before the shipment is picked up, due to faulty manufacturing or improper packaging at the origin.
- A thorough inspection upon delivery and detailed documentation of any discrepancies is crucial. Keeping a record of the condition upon receipt strengthens your case if concealed loss/damage is discovered later.