FedEx Ground Issue

mophead · #1 12-10-2007, 03:05 PM

Just returned from another unsuccessful visit to FedEx (FedEx location, not a Kinko's or off site place rather real live FedEx people) trying to ship a bass via ground and was once again told they will not insure a guitar for more than $100 ground or $500 Express.

I then called the 800 number and was told that that was a mistake and they would accept and insure, so I return and they call the 800 number and the person says that the $100 figure is correct. They then pull out some brochure that shows in fact that they will not pay more than $100 on a guitar.

Their website says they will not accept "Guitars and other musical instruments that are more than 20 years old, and customized or personalized musical instruments." Now the Tobias I was trying to ship is not 20 years old, or customized or personalized.

So, we have two different documents from the same company that are at odds with each other. Anyway they would not accept the shipment and show a declared value of more than $100.

Beware if you use FedEx to ship ground or Express.

Has anyone here ever had a claim with Fedex?

Not what you heard or what cousin Jethro said happened to him and Elie Mae, but an actual claim that was handled due to damage on a bass?

**DeanT** · #2 12-10-2007, 03:08 PM

That's why I ship basses UPS. They let you insure it for as much as you want. And they pretty much ship anywhere (with some exceptions).

flakeh · #3 12-10-2007, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mophead

Just returned from another unsuccessful visit to FedEx (FedEx location, not a Kinko's or off site place rather real live FedEx people) trying to ship a bass via ground and was once again told they will not insure a guitar for more than $100 ground or $500 Express.

I then called the 800 number and was told that that was a mistake and they would accept and insure, so I return and they call the 800 number and the person says that the $100 figure is correct. They then pull out some brochure that shows in fact that they will not pay more than $100 on a guitar.

Their website says they will not accept "Guitars and other musical instruments that are more than 20 years old, and customized or personalized musical instruments." Now the Tobias I was trying to ship is not 20 years old, or customized or personalized.

So, we have two different documents from the same company that are at odds with each other. Anyway they would not accept the shipment and show a declared value of more than $100.

Beware if you use FedEx to ship ground or Express.

Has anyone here ever had a claim with Fedex?

Not what you heard or what cousin Jethro said happened to him and Elie Mae, but an actual claim that was handled due to damage on a bass?

Hmm...this doesn't sound like fedex at all. I've had nothing but GREAT experiences with all branches of fedex.

I have made a claim with fedex..kinda. I ordered some auto parts that came to a total of around 500$. When they got here the box had a small 1/4'' hole, which had damaged abou 75$ worth of stuff. They kindly gave me 75$. I didn't report it, they delivery guy told me that there was some damage in shipping, and he already filed the claim. That to me is great customer service.

r379 · #4 12-10-2007, 03:12 PM

If they are unwilling to ship guitars that are over 20 years old, it sounds as though they may have a problem with their employees stealing them.

D.A.R.K. · #5 12-10-2007, 03:12 PM

i just went through this today...
tried to ship a really nice bass out to a buyer but they wouldn't insure it.
i ended up shipping via ups....
unfortunately, i've had ups smash an instrument to bits in the past.
oh well, it's insured at least....and packed well...

RADUB1 · #6 12-10-2007, 03:23 PM

i have shipped many basses worth more than $1,000 and it has never been an issue, although I have had good luck and never tried to file a claim. I need to look into this for future shipments.

Jim Carr · #7 12-10-2007, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mophead

Just returned from another unsuccessful visit to FedEx (FedEx location, not a Kinko's or off site place rather real live FedEx people) trying to ship a bass via ground and was once again told they will not insure a guitar for more than $100 ground or $500 Express...

...Their website says they will not accept "Guitars and other musical instruments that are more than 20 years old, and customized or personalized musical instruments." Now the Tobias I was trying to ship is not 20 years old, or customized or personalized.

So, we have two different documents from the same company that are at odds with each other. Anyway they would not accept the shipment and show a declared value of more than $100.

Beware if you use FedEx to ship ground or Express.

Has anyone here ever had a claim with Fedex?...

I used FedEx Express. Their policy is a bit ambiguous, but I have managed to ship a $4K several times to the west coast for recordings.

I had no problems, but discovered that they write the value of the instrument on the airbill mounted on the exterior of the box.

FedEx Express was NOT cheap, so I may not be doing it anymore. Basically spent about $400 for each round trip, which ate up a lot of my fee.

Sadowsky uses FedEx Ground. I wonder if we could get Nino or someone from another builder to comment on this? It is a big issue, as the airlines are such a nightmare.

msquared · #8 12-10-2007, 03:25 PM

I always ship UPS. They are no more or less likely to break stuff than FedEx is and if you insure it for a lot, they baby it. I suppose that's essentially the same thing as bribing them to not break your stuff but I don't care because I've had a 100% success rate so far.

Juniorkimbrough · #9 12-10-2007, 03:38 PM

ditto, I only ship UPS.

I don't like using FedEx for the sole fact that their tracking info on the web is worthless.

James Hart · #10 12-10-2007, 03:40 PM

I NEVER ship Fedex ground EVER!!!!

between broke stuff, delayed deliveries (my house was built in the 40s and they said they couldn't find me once), misdeliveries (I got a package left at my door with no knock last week... not for me, not addressed close to my address)... and to top it off, I've heard from 2 local shipping places that stuff has been stolen and they suggest against FedEx Ground locally.

davedamage · #11 12-10-2007, 03:51 PM

from some very, very personal experience, i worked at the fedex indy hub for four years and saw lots and lots of damaged guitars. hell, damaged everything, for that matter. i am almost postive that i was the only person who didn't throw a long cardboard box that is obviouly an instrument as soon as i saw it. that being said, my dad worked at UPS for about 25 years and once he saw how much i spent on my basses and how much they meant to me, he said his center never had another damage claim on an instrument again...

Kenny Allyn · #12 12-10-2007, 04:56 PM

... Never had a problem

This is the procedure atleast at my FedEx drop off, they ask me the value; if it IS over $100.00 they actually open the box and check what it is and reseal it. Next I get a receipt with the tracking number.

The box check insures that what value I have listed is not a brick or something IF a claim is made for the value I have listed ... this according to the folks at the one I use.

... 387 boxes shipped as of today 99.5% using FedEx ground no issues yet.

DWBass · #13 12-10-2007, 07:12 PM

That's odd. I've shipped 3 basses and each time I've paid for insurance on the value of them (granted I did all my own packing and labeling through my online account). All 3 basses arrived in the same condition as when they left my hands. All shipped Fedex Ground.

Thunder Pulse · #14 12-10-2007, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msquared

I always ship UPS. They are no more or less likely to break stuff than FedEx is and if you insure it for a lot, they baby it.

Maybe it looks that way when you hand it to them over the counter, but when it gets inside the building it's treated like any other package unless it's insured for over $10k.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juniorkimbrough

I don't like using FedEx for the sole fact that their tracking info on the web is worthless.

I've never found any difference between either company when tracking packages.

All of the above said, I personally use FedEx for shipping and suggest it when I'm having something shipped to me... and I've worked at UPS for a long time. They're cheaper, and at least for me they're also more convenient since I live close to a Kinko's. For those who might now know Kinko's IS FedEx, they're not just an 'authorized' shipping location.

'Wrap & Ship' places like The Box Shop and Mail Boxes Etc. are ripoffs because they charge you double whatever the FedEx or UPS shipping rate is. They'd be working for free if they didn't.

mophead · #15 12-10-2007, 07:26 PM

I use FedEx exclusively when shipping things to and from work and have shipped basses and had good luck and no damage, but I was trying to ship a $2000 plus bass and just couldn't take the chance, so I went to UPS and shipped it.
I can't tell you how much stuff UPS destroys for us work wise and I have never had one issue with FedEx.

Just thought this should be brought up.

Pickebass · #16 12-11-2007, 08:04 AM

I have shipped numerous things via fedex ground. In the last year I have probably shipped over 10 basses via fedex ground valued from 100 to $4000. I actually had a problem with two and Fedex paid the claim without complaints.

I purchased a Sadowsky and they ONLY ship Fedex (2 day)

Dirk Diggler · #17 12-11-2007, 08:52 AM

I'm often amazed at the love for Fedex and UPS, only ever had trouble with both and they never pay claims either.
USPS is my preferred shipper, they are fast, insure big ticket items and actually pay claims.
Also USPS can actually ship a guitar coast to coast in 2-3 days and a good bit cheaper than the other 2. And the others usually take anywhere from 5-8 days for ground for more money. To me the longer it's in the system or on trucks the more chance of problems.
Good luck,
Dirk

mophead · #18 12-11-2007, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

I'm often amazed at the love for Fedex and UPS, only ever had trouble with both and they never pay claims either.
USPS is my preferred shipper, they are fast, insure big ticket items and actually pay claims.
Also USPS can actually ship a guitar coast to coast in 2-3 days and a good bit cheaper than the other 2. And the others usually take anywhere from 5-8 days for ground for more money. To me the longer it's in the system or on trucks the more chance of problems.
Good luck,
Dirk

Checked with the Post Office on this one also and they wanted to charge $83 to ship and insure on their website whereas UPS was only $59.

Go figure.

Thunder Pulse · #19 12-11-2007, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mophead

Checked with the Post Office on this one also and they wanted to charge $83 to ship and insure on their website whereas UPS was only $59.

Mophead, how much was that proposed shipment insured for? I just shipped an empty bass case last Thursday through FedEx, $16. It was in a typical box a case (or a case with a bass in it) would be in, 50" x 18" x 6". I didn't insure it for any more than the $100 standard amount of insurance you get with any shipment since there was no bass in it. Even so, the insurance costs roughly 50 cents for each additional $100 of insurance you want, so going from a $100 empty case to a $1500 instrument is about $7 more.

So yeah, it can add up if you're talking about a really expensive instrument, but I just don't understand where some of these insane shipping costs come from.