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When I shipped BooBoo to Joe D via UPS the shipping box looked like it hit the beaches of Normandy on June 6th 1944. The AA shipping box that I received from FedEx yesterday from Chris Amato did not have a single mark on the box. Just saying.......both were New Jersey / Calif. ships.
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11-10-2015 11:44 AM
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It's a crap shoot. I have switched among the USPS, UPS and FedEx. Things have gone badly with all carriers. I can't detect a best one among them in terms of gentleness.
A second consideration is getting claims paid. I've gone through all of them at least a couple of times. The USPS seemed the hardest. It was essential though to photograph the packing process with time stamps showing the condition of the guitar and how it was packed. And they need to be contacted immediately when the damage is detected with cell phone pix of the box and internal damage. That has worked in the approximately 10 times I filed claims.
Vinny had the worst experience but still prevailed.
A third consideration is tracking. FedEx gets the nod there.
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+1 FedEx
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Bottom line guitar shipping = STRESS
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I tried to hit the dislike button on your 1st post, but it wasn't there..
Worst experience ever..
One other thing to consider, I know it only takes a split second to drop something and break it but I feel the less amount of time the carriers have your package in their hands the better. Overnight, 2 day or 3 day (across the country) seems to me the best bet. You want to reduce the probability of errors. Don't ship it on a Thursday for Tuesday delivery (dont let it sit somewhere over the weekend) and the most important thing, pack it good and worry about it day and night before it gets there. I know this sounds ridiculous (even to me) but when you stop worrying about something, something bad is gonna happen. I am convinced of that.. I am going to see my Shrink now..
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I have had better luck with FedEx. But as others have stated, ya never know whats gonna happen!
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I've never had anything damaged with UPS, Fed Ex, or USPS, but I've had the fewest problems with tracking and delivery with UPS and a lot of problems receiving deliveries from USPS and Fed Ex. In my neighborhood, USPS and Fed Ex lose stuff and/or don't try to redeliver if we're not home. USPS especially is a major PITA. OTOH, our regular UPS route guy is very diligent and makes sure stuff gets delivered. So in my limited experience UPS is best, but Vinny1k's story tells me not to generalize to much from this.
John
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I have the guitar shipped not to my home but to a large UPS (or FedEx) hub within easy driving distance and go pick it up myself. Increased inconvenience (unless you like the predictability), slightly decreased risk.
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UPS and FED X are merging. They're going to call it FED UP. I once shipped several 1000 dollars worth of jewelry internationally by UPS with the instructions that I would pick it up at their facility. I came home one day and found it all sitting outside my front door. In Oakland, Calif!!! Thankfully all was well.
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It is really luck of the draw with carriers it seems.
Proper paper work is also very important.
I am still not over it how Jack's Tal made its way so fast and smooth in 5 days from USA to Canada.
Just after Booboo incident, I decided it would be with USPS despite their 650$ insurance limit on International shipment lets talk about gambling.
I don't regret, but lets say I barely slept that week...and don't take my experience as typical!
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Good one, I forgot to mention that I had heard about this possibility so I put the center's address on the order form not my address. It still doesn't guarantee a screw up but a little harder for them to bridge that gap.
Originally Posted by mrcee
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When I was unpacking the AA yesterday my heart was pounding out of my chest. Not because I was excited but because I was scared to death (visions of BooBoo). My wife had to use spray and wash on my undies. Bottom line no matter how careful you are it is a big dice roll. JD is right though. Don't ship ground ever !!!
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i always use fedex. Never had an issue ever. Numerous problems with UPS. Originally Posted by vinnyv1k
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Originally Posted by vinnyv1k
I usually pay a bit more and do USPS overnight air. Fed Ex has mangled numerous guitars via ground. It is a different company than Fed Ex air I was told once. They sure treat packages differently. You get better service with Fed Ex overnight but it cost 3 or 4 times as much. USPS Express, if done online, is half the cost Fed Ex air.
Doc Dosco
Doc Dosco -- Jazz Guitar
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Only good experiences with FedEx, one horrible experience with UPS (broken headstock, UPS didn't pay although the shipment was fully insured, generous seller took it back nonetheless).
For international shipping with USPS you have to consider that the shipment is turned over to the local post delivery company as soon as it arrives in the country of destination. In Germany it's DHL.
After what I have experienced and read in ths forum I will never again ship a guitar with UPS or buy one that would be shipped with UPS.
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Nothing but problems with FedEx for me! Ill stick with UPS and the USPS. Bob
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I've shipped delicate, and high end $, audio gear since '97, guitars since 2010. I've not yet had an issue with FedEx. I stand by them...knock on spruce
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with all the different answers, this would be a good thread for a poll.
Last edited by feral guitar; 11-10-2015 at 09:01 PM.
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I have used both many times. Think about the worst thing they could do to your guitar and pack accordingly. I spend a lot of time and money packing guitars correctly, but it's been worth the effort.
I have had quite a few guitars shipped to me and never seen one that's packed as well as it should be.
For me FedEx ground has been reliable, has good tracking (usually) and delivers on time. And they deliver on Saturdays.
If I had to ship a very valuable or fragile guitar I'd ship overnight to avoid some of the handling and bouncing around in a truck.
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UPS offers packing service. Should I trust them? I have an amp i wanna sell but no box.
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In my experience paying UPS to pack before shipping is the only way to get around their "not sufficiently packed" out for insurance claims should an item be damaged in transit. But you don't want to have an amp stuffed into a plastic bag and sunk into a 2" layer of peanuts either. Many times the packers of these mom and pop shipping stores are young part time employees with little experience of packing expensive electronic items. So in answer to your question I'd say yes with the caveat I'd be there to oversee the entire packaging and free to point out obvious trouble spots in their packing. Good luck. Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
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+1 on it being a crapshoot. I've had bad experiences with all shippers - even DHL back in the day.
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I've had good luck with FedEx, mostly: About 8 years ago I shipped a Bogner Metropolis head to Canada and on arrival the head shell was cracked and the choke was loose (screws snapped). Took a couple months for FedEx to eventually honor the insurance; first Fedex claimed the amp sustained damage due to insufficient packing, when I provided pics showing 4" - 5" padding Fedex claimed the amp was so well packed it could not have sustained damage in their possession.
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I was getting a delivery of a guitar via UPS and the box was badly damaged. The driver confided that drivers routinely stand on any box they can to get to another package. My git was OK, but I'll never use UPS again.
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My favorite FedEx tale is this one. About ten years ago when the store was going balls to the walls I had quite a few international buyers that would ask me to find guitars for them. I found a great Historic LP for a gentlemen in the Netherlands and he love it an wanted to know if it could be shipped in 48 hours. The guy I was buying it from was someone who I had dealt with for years and assured it would be ready to ship that day. I paid FedEx an additional $70 I believe to have the guitar overnighted to my home the next day before 10:00 am so I could reship it to him before I went to the shop. Well the next day at 10:00 no guitar. I call Fed Ex and they said the package is at their hub but they dont have anyone to deliver it and its Ok if I want to come by and pick it up myself! I told them I paid like $70 extra to have it delivered to Me at My address by 10:00 AM. The person says well it was delivered here in the state ,so if I want, I can pick it up myself or wait until they can get someone to deliver it! It was delivered the next day after noon at some point . I called the 800 # to see about getting a refund since it was NOT deliverd next day and was told "NEXT DAY meant it would be in the state it would be delivered in but not actually delivered next day?????? It took six monts to get my $70 refund. I called quite a few times just to see if anyone at FedEx could explain how "Next day didnt mean "delivered next day" and everyone of them said "Id use another shipper" or something to that effect!! Shippers, gotta love em. Bob
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