A Damaged Lamp Delivery: What to Photograph Safely

If a lamp arrives with visible damage, leave it unpowered. A clear record can help explain what arrived, but photographs are not worth handling broken pieces or moving an unstable object. Begin with what you can see safely and check the current Returns page for how and when to report the problem.

You do not need to identify the cause of the damage. The aim is to show the condition of the parcel and lamp, not to prove what happened during transport. An accurate description is more useful than a confident guess about where the damage began.

Photograph the parcel before rearranging it

Where it is safe to do so, take an overall photograph of the box as it arrived. Include any visible crushed area, tear or opening in a separate view. An overall frame gives context that a close-up alone cannot provide.

Record the shipping label clearly enough for support to match it with the parcel. Keep this image private: labels can contain identifying information. Send the original through the support route rather than posting it publicly with your question.

If the box is already open, photograph it in its current state. Do not reconstruct an unopened scene. Note that it had been opened before the image was taken. A straightforward record of the actual sequence avoids confusion later.

Show the visible issue without handling it

If the lamp is safely visible, take one image showing the whole item in context and another showing the damaged area. Do not pick up loose fragments, rotate a damaged shade or reach into broken packaging to obtain a better angle. Explain when a detail could not be photographed safely.

A photograph of the inner packaging as found may also help show where the lamp was sitting. Leave the arrangement alone if moving it would create a risk. Do not try to expose concealed components or separate parts that are not already safely accessible.

Use a separate room light if needed. Do not power a damaged lamp to make the damage easier to see, test whether it still works or produce an illuminated photograph. Do not open the lamp or attempt a repair before contacting support.

Send a short factual account with the images

• Identify the order and the model or variant shown on your order record.
• Describe the visible damage in plain language, keeping packaging damage separate from damage to the item.
• State whether the lamp has remained unpowered and mention any handling you had already done.
• Explain any image you could not safely take rather than trying to obtain it at a risk.

Avoid editing images to make the issue more dramatic. If you crop a detail, retain an overall view too. Check that the files show what you intend before sending them, and keep the originals available for clarification.

Keep the packaging and contents available where safe while you seek guidance, without moving broken material for the sake of this checklist. Check the current Returns page for the reporting process and any requirements; this article does not set them. Send the account through the published support route and ask for the next step rather than arranging a return on your own assumptions.