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.