New FedEx shipping policy? Open box and verify item? What?

SaxBass · #1 02-15-2010, 10:43 PM

Mod- if this is the wrong place, please steer me right! Thanks.

I went to our FedEx (used to be Kinko's) tonight to ship a bass. Had it all nicely boxed up. Got the form filled, and the woman notes my declared value of $2k. She says that their new policy is if the declared value is over $500 they have to open the box to verify the item. I was a little surprised, but said, uh, okay, as long as you get it packed back up as good or better than I had it.

Then she says no, you have to pack it back up. Or you can have us do it, but we'll have to charge you. I was pretty unhappy but didn't land on her- she's not management, and I could tell she was pretty uncomfortable herself and likely hoping I wasn't going to blow up. She did say I wasn't the only unhappy customer regarding this policy.

I'll be going to UPS in the morning...and from now on...assuming they don't have a similar policy...

But has anyone run into this?

MHensleyJr · #2 02-15-2010, 10:57 PM

Wow, that totally sucks...

yellofury · #3 02-15-2010, 10:58 PM

no idea I usually use UPS
but if you send insured doesnt that cover your butt and theirs?

**smperry** · #4 02-15-2010, 10:59 PM

I've run into that with FedEx Ground too. On basses, not cabs or amps.

Moving to Miscellaneous.

Jim Campbell · #5 02-15-2010, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaxBass

Mod- if this is the wrong place, please steer me right! Thanks.

I went to our FedEx (used to be Kinko's) tonight to ship a bass. Had it all nicely boxed up. Got the form filled, and the woman notes my declared value of $2k. She says that their new policy is if the declared value is over $500 they have to open the box to verify the item. I was a little surprised, but said, uh, okay, as long as you get it packed back up as good or better than I had it.

Then she says no, you have to pack it back up. Or you can have us do it, but we'll have to charge you. I was pretty unhappy but didn't land on her- she's not management, and I could tell she was pretty uncomfortable herself and likely hoping I wasn't going to blow up. She did say I wasn't the only unhappy customer regarding this policy.

I'll be going to UPS in the morning...and from now on...assuming they don't have a similar policy...

But has anyone run into this?

nowhere near as inconvenient as fighting them over a claim

**jmattbassplaya** · #6 02-15-2010, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

nowhere near as inconvenient as fighting them over a claim

True, but it`s still stupid as hell and only there for them to make more money.

Stumbo · #7 02-15-2010, 11:32 PM

I'm wondering if when a clerk at the FedX store sees your bass, will they have it appraised? Or are they trained appraisers to know what the value is?

Come, on!

scotty77 · #8 02-15-2010, 11:40 PM

I'll play Devils Advocate here.
I can understand their concern to a point. I'm sure they've had some claims of damage to something (not just a bass, but any big ticket item) that was supposedly shipped in A1 condition but arrived damaged.
And, by charging you if they pack it, it puts the incentive back on you to pack it yourself. Again, it frees them from a claim if they can say that you didn't repack it to a good enough standard. And, if they pack it, then you would really have grounds for a winable claim.
Not that anybody anywhere would ever make a false claim, but ......
JUst my 1 and a half cents. (Our buck is still a little less than yours)

SaxBass · #9 02-15-2010, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

I'm wondering if when a clerk at the FedX store sees your bass, will they have it appraised? Or are they trained appraisers to know what the value is?

Come, on!

Yes, I was wondering this, too. The whole experience took me by surprise. I looked on the FedEx website to see if I could find the policy with no luck. I'm curious enough that I'll call in the morning to see what they say.

SaxBass · #10 02-15-2010, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotty77

I'll play Devils Advocate here.
I can understand their concern to a point. I'm sure they've had some claims of damage to something (not just a bass, but any big ticket item) that was supposedly shipped in A1 condition but arrived damaged.
And, by charging you if they pack it, it puts the incentive back on you to pack it yourself. Again, it frees them from a claim if they can say that you didn't repack it to a good enough standard. And, if they pack it, then you would really have grounds for a winable claim.
Not that anybody anywhere would ever make a false claim, but ......
JUst my 1 and a half cents. (Our buck is still a little less than yours)

Good points, and I do understand if they've had a bunch of claims that are costing them money. Of course, alienating customers will likely cost them money, too. I do know this really complicates using FedEx for me. I'll be trying UPS in the morning to see how that goes.

superbassman2000 · #11 02-15-2010, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotty77

I'll play Devils Advocate here.
I can understand their concern to a point. I'm sure they've had some claims of damage to something (not just a bass, but any big ticket item) that was supposedly shipped in A1 condition but arrived damaged.
And, by charging you if they pack it, it puts the incentive back on you to pack it yourself. Again, it frees them from a claim if they can say that you didn't repack it to a good enough standard. And, if they pack it, then you would really have grounds for a winable claim.
Not that anybody anywhere would ever make a false claim, but ......
JUst my 1 and a half cents. (Our buck is still a little less than yours)

thats what i was thinking too--with high value items, insurance fraud could be a larger issue, however i don't see why they can't repack it for you, at least for the first time.

Rawkabilly · #12 02-16-2010, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaxBass

Mod- if this is the wrong place, please steer me right! Thanks.

I went to our FedEx (used to be Kinko's) tonight to ship a bass. Had it all nicely boxed up. Got the form filled, and the woman notes my declared value of $2k. She says that their new policy is if the declared value is over $500 they have to open the box to verify the item. I was a little surprised, but said, uh, okay, as long as you get it packed back up as good or better than I had it.

Then she says no, you have to pack it back up. Or you can have us do it, but we'll have to charge you. I was pretty unhappy but didn't land on her- she's not management, and I could tell she was pretty uncomfortable herself and likely hoping I wasn't going to blow up. She did say I wasn't the only unhappy customer regarding this policy.

I'll be going to UPS in the morning...and from now on...assuming they don't have a similar policy...

But has anyone run into this?

Charging you to re-pack it is new as far as I know, but FedEx has had that stupid policy regarding unpacking items with a declared value of over $500 for at least a couple years.
As much as I dislike UPS, I'd rather use them and know that the bass was packed well by me than by someone who has no clue about shipping musical instruments.

SaxBass · #13 02-16-2010, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rawkabilly

Charging you to re-pack it is new as far as I know, but FedEx has had that stupid policy regarding unpacking items with a declared value of over $500 for at least a couple years.
As much as I dislike UPS, I'd rather use them and know that the bass was packed well by me than by someone who has no clue about shipping musical instruments.

No kidding! I've shipped basses and an Aguilar amp from this same storefront over the past couple years and this is the first time this issue has come up. I've always listed the value of the item. Hmmm. Curiouser & curiouser. Policy varies by salesperson?

timmarks · #14 02-16-2010, 08:33 AM

i have run into this from time to time (only $1000 and up, though). it depends on who is behind the counter in my experience. I've shipped expensive basses without issue from the same place.

climb · #15 02-16-2010, 08:41 AM

I have never run into this and have shipped many many basses by FedEx. Never even had it mentioned.

Do you have your own account or do you fill out the paperwork right there?

fretlesswonder · #16 02-16-2010, 08:41 AM

Yeah, I shipped a custom built guitar, it was valued at $1500, they made me do the same thing...once they saw it, they let it go. It was a hassle to put it all back together...they made me pay for the tape...NICE!

DaveDeVille · #17 02-16-2010, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmarks

i have run into this from time to time (only $1000 and up, though).
it depends on who is behind the counter in my experience.
I've shipped expensive basses without issue from the same place.

same here .
the only time they insisted on inspecting the package ,
they also re-packed and taped for free ...

BluesWalker · #18 02-16-2010, 08:44 AM

I have also run into this problem with UPS. I now ship basses via the USPS using Priority Mail. It usually costs about $35 to ship a bass this way (with insurance).

berman3313 · #19 02-16-2010, 08:48 AM

+1 Ain't it the truth!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

nowhere near as inconvenient as fighting them over a claim

SaxBass · #20 02-16-2010, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluesWalker

I have also run into this problem with UPS. I now ship basses via the USPS using Priority Mail. It usually costs about $35 to ship a bass this way (with insurance).

I just checked the USPS website, and it looks like my box fits within their guidelines. How was your experience shipping USPS? Horror stories abound for every carrier, it seems. I just want it to get there unmolested.