| Author |
Message |
Orval (Orval)
| | Posted on Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 1:06 pm: | |
through a comment of someone shipping to me and
confirmed by a fedex ground customer service representative
today. FEDEX Ground will only
cover the first $100 of insured value on non replaceable items
regardless of how much you pay them or what declared value
you assign to it. Please beware that your guitars
are not insured by FEDEX ground even though you pay for it.
contact your fedex agent to get this BS changed. |
Bigmike (Bigmike)
| | Posted on Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 1:43 pm: | |
Over the years I have found that US Postal Service EXPRESS MAIL Service is a far better way to ship guitars and other valuables than UPS or FedEx.
For what it might cost you to FedEx 2nd day something you can USPS Express Mail AND insure it for it's total value. They deliver on Saturday at no extra charge and they do the job well (DHL actually handles the transporting of the box from local to local). AND if they fail to deliver in the time promised you get a full refund.
BigMike |
Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar)
| | Posted on Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 2:18 pm: | |
Thanx for the heads up, Orval. As an added bit of bovine feces, UPS is self-insured. In a nutshell, that means they will do eveything they can to avoid paying a claim.
I use USPS Priority Mail exclusively. I can ship a guitar coast to coast with full insurance for less than UPS Ground service. And, it'll be delivered in 2-3 days! No problems so far.
Cheers
Steve |
Pgrey (Pgrey)
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2003 - 12:42 am: | |
Just a couple of added comments....
USPS has been late a couple of times when I've used 2-3 day express shipping and they have refused to give me a refund. They are cheaper than UPS and FedEx.
Also, I've filed a claim with UPS for damage done in shipping to an amplifier and they paid up quickly with no problems.
FWIW...
Peter |
Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar)
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2003 - 2:08 am: | |
Peter,
If I have ducks lined up, Express mail is the next day service. Priority Mail is the 2-3 day. They don't guarantee the delivery time on the Priority service.
Glad to hear UPS didn't hassle you on the claim. I've heard some horror stories!
Cheers
Steve |
Dennis68 (Dennis68)
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2003 - 7:46 am: | |
Interesting topic, guys! It's easy to think that just because you buy insurance the item is automatically covered against damage. I, for one, wasn't aware about FEDEX policy. Very good to know. I usually ship larger items through UPS and so far (knock on wood) never had a reason to file a claim. I did, however, need to file a claim with the post office for a damaged (non-guitar) item. The post office paid the claim and the insurance check was delivered some 3 weeks after the claim was initially filed.
While we're on the subject, What methods of packing a guitar to prevent damage in the first palce do some of you find to be the best preventative method? i.e extra soft packing materials, with and without a case, etc..? I have only shipped two guitars in my lifetime and both have been without cases. For one of the two I needed a box and checked out the local music store. They were more than happy to give me an empty guitar box they had in the back that would have otherwise been thrown in the garbage. I'm still not sure though what way is the best way for packing a guitar that is not in a hardshell case. The time I did ship, I just wrapped the guitar with bubble wrap and filled the empty space around the guitar with packing peanuts. It was for a guitar worth $300. Had it been for a guitar upwards of $1,000 I feel a HSC would be the only way to go (which should be in a case anyhow, in my opinion).
Best to all,
Dennis |
Orval (Orval)
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2003 - 1:02 pm: | |
an update on fedex, i contacted someone in the presidents office of fedex. they told me that
non replaceable vintage guitars would be covered
by ground insurance by the amount declared and backed up by a receipt.
i have a packaging procedure that i follow and send to those i buy guitars from. anyone that wants the info, email me and i will send it to you. the only problem is getting people to follow the instructions. |
Bigmike (Bigmike)
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2003 - 1:11 pm: | |
Hey Gents,
First of all, the USPS Express Mail thing - Express Mail USED to give you $500.00 of insurance as the default free. Now you get $100.00 and pay for any extra. There ARE areas where Express Mail won't get there in one day - and you should always ask your clerk what delivery time is - the computer will tell them based on the ZIP CODE. In many cases they will tell you, NO it will be two days, and it still gets there in one day. And from personal experience, when told an express mail parcel would arrive in one day and it did NOT I took a my receipt and a copy of the tracking info printed from the USPS Website to the clerk. In 5 minutes I had a full refund. Done that more than once.
Now as for packing. I always loosen strings - if the guitar has a bridge (like an archtop), I scotch tape it down or pack it in the case pocket. I check the guitar in the case sideways and lengthwise for wiggle. If there is wiggle I pack the sides and ends with soft cloths or bubble wrap or foam so there's no play. Also I tape the case closed with wide tape (to avoid it popping open in transit). Then I place folded cardboard, bubble wrap or peanuts in the bottom of the box I am SLIDING the case into. Then fully pad the sides with extra cardboard or bubble wrap to prevent it from slapping around inside the box. Next I tape the box EVERYWHERE like it is going to the moon. Those old box seams especially. Local music stores are more than happy to give up boxes that will work.
I try to avoid shipping anything UPS. UPS once lost a coffin case for a 1906 Martin - I spent $50.00 in phone calls trying to track it down. When it arrived THREE WEEKS LATER it was hosed... UPS is good for a lot of stuff I guess, I just like the way USPS handles my very precious guitar purchases. UPS can deliver a box of cigars from my merchant in Cyprus to me in 2 days - but I'll stick with USPS for guitars.
BigMike |
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