FedEx Not Shipping Basses Guitars Without Hardshell Case?

[electracoyote]

Anyone else experiencing this?

(I'm in the Denver-Metro area)

The last two times I took basses to FedEx for ground shipping, the clerk actually cut open the box to verify it was in a hardshell and he assured me if it were not in a hardshell he would not be able to ship my bass FedEx ground.

Many times, basses and guitars are shipped in boxes and gig bags. If packed correctly, it is usually okay to do so, I have received many from the retailer or manufacturer without hardshells.

Evidently, FedEx is taking a stand against a high frequency of claims for damaged guitars.

Is this policy affecting your neck of the woods?

[jgroh]

I can see their point, but Ive shipped basses in boxes (packed well) with no problems before. You think instead of possibly turning away paying customers, they would fix the problem (i.e. idiots working loading/unloading trucks and planes and intentionally manhandling packages! I know I worked for a competitor in college and the abuse I saw was unreal)

[KsPiNeSh]

I shipped multiple basses in bags through them recently, so doesn't appear to affect KC ( not my location anyway). Definitely understand the concern though.

[boynamedsuse]

Use UPS. Of course, a cardboard box must be properly padded and reinforced to avoid bending, crushing, etc. A box within a box (plus bubble wrap, foam sheet, etc.) is an alternative to consider.

[bobunit]

Interesting. Is this a FedEx, FedEx Office or a 3rd part shipper?

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by bobunit

Interesting. Is this a FedEx, FedEx Office or a 3rd part shipper?

This was a FedEx Office store.

[Phil Smith]

Many guitar and bass manufacturers ship instruments that are not in hard shell cases. Any made in Mexico Fender you buy at a store has been shipped to that store in a cardboard box.

[Keano]

I recently shipped a guitar in a gig bag out of a FedEx Office, and did not have a problem. The guy was very thorough in checking all the sides, edges, and corners of the box to make sure it was in good shape. He also kinda "interrogated" me about how it was packed inside, though it sounded more out of genuine concern rather than a company policy.

[C.Linton]

Out of the five instruments I own, one MIA Jazz, two Squiers, and an SX bass, and a MIM Strat, only the MIA Jazz was shipped to me in a HSC. Out of the rest, IIRC, only one was sent double boxed. All arrived in tip-top shape. As far as Fedex requiring a HSC, I can understand that, it's actually a good idea anyway. It could be risky, though. Any cost reduction they get out of less damage claims made against them could be offset by business lost to other carriers.

[boynamedsuse]

Originally Posted by Phil Smith

Many guitar and bass manufacturers ship instruments that are not in hard shell cases. Any made in Mexico Fender you buy at a store has been shipped to that store in a cardboard box.

Not just MIM Fenders--almost everything. I was in GC a couple weeks ago for about an hour and they happened to be putting a shipment of mostly guitars but some basses on the floor. It looked like about 50 instruments. I didn't see one HSC, but they all came out of cardboard boxes. A few were double boxed and a fair number had gig bags.

[AJ Brown]

I'm pretty sure that cutting open your pre-packed box without your consent (or at your surprise) would be against company policy. Sounds like an anomaly.

As a previous poster stated, a LOT of manufacturers ship in gig bags. If this is a new policy, they'd lose a lot of business.

[Low Class]

Anything valued over $500 will be opened and inspected for proper packing by the FedEx staff, that's company policy. Personally, I quit declaring anything over $500 to avoid the hassle of having my boxes opened up. FedEx won't insure anything over $1000 now anyway, so I take the risk and be sure it's well packed.

[Joebone]

Ran into this on my last FedEx Ground shipment - was told it was new company policy, and the guy let my well-packed gig-bag pass through. He asked the right questions.

I can see this policy being applied very inconsistently across their system, with the worst outcomes occurring when you have a well-packed item that is not in a hardshell case, but some moronic automaton insists that a hardshell case is required.

I'd rather have them do this and approve the packaging before they take it into their system, so that if there is a damage claim it is clear that they approved the packing before the item went out, rather than make it easy for them to weasel on a damage claim based on allegations of shoddy packing.

[Low Class]

Originally Posted by Joebone

Ran into this on my last FedEx Ground shipment - was told it was new company policy.

It's actually not that new, they've been doing this for at least a year.

[zachoff]

Happened to me last time I tried to ship a bass via Fedex... They simply wouldn't do it. I went with the USPS and everything worked swimmingly.

My guitar player just got a guitar that was damaged in shipping by UPS. He's finding out all sorts of neat stuff about how their "insurance" works. Apparently, UPS will only deal with the shipper, not the shippee. So not only does the shipper have to agree to take the instrument back and refund your money, they also have go through the hassle of taking it up with UPS to get the insurance money for the instrument. So messed up. Screw UPS. At this point, he's basically out $1000 because the neck is broken and it's a '79 Yamaha SG2000 and replacement necks are nowhere to be found.

[pathdoc2]

Sometimes a hardcase isn't enought to protect an acoustic guitar. I shipped a Guild D55 in its hardcase inside the a Guild box with all of the original packing material from the factory. Someone dropped the box on its end (UPS) and cracked the butt of the guitar. I has it insured for $1400 and that's about what it cost to repair it. Even with great packing, anyone can damage your instrument if they try hard enough.

[mcapote]

never had a problem, then again i dont go advertising what is in the boxes, rectangle box can be anything.

[jimc]

I think this must be a new policy. I dropped off a bass at a Fedex store and was asked if it was in a hard case. Never been asked before though they didn't cut the box or anything.

[superdick2112]

Interesting. I live in the Denver area as well, but I use UPS. They have never required a case when I ship a bass, I always insure for full value +, and I've never had to file a claim.

[Burlington]

Luckily, I ship Fedex from my work so I can pack everything myself. Have not heard anything about having to use a case. Never had to file a claim, but I talked to our rep here and he said I would never have a problem if something happened Fedex > UPS