Regarding the shipping of basses (Official UPS/Fedex/USPS word on the subject!)

ElBajista · #1 07-24-2007, 01:01 PM

I was informed by my local pack'n'ship company that the all of the major shipping companies (USPS, Fedex, UPS, DHL) will take into account whether or not the bass (or guitar) was shipped in tune.

The official word from the books is that all stringed instruments must be completely relieved of tension prior to shipping. I was informed that these companies will take this into account, and be less likely to pay out a claim if the item was shipped at anything above nil tension (i.e. not even loosened by a half/whole step). Basically, to ensure item safety in the first place and security of making a claim if an accident should occur, you must ship stringed instruments at no tension.

The shipper said that in his experience it is a good idea to remove the strings entirely, that was if there is a claim to be made the companies can't try to say that you shipped at tension.

Up until now I shipped at full tension, but the last few basses I've sent out have been at no tension. What do you guys think?

DaveDeVille · #2 07-24-2007, 01:03 PM

i always ship my basses in tune ,
never had any problems ...

incognito89x · #3 07-24-2007, 01:09 PM

I think Instruments are designed to have a certain amount on tension applied to the neck to ensure the neck stays straight, and dropping the tension (especially to nil) of the strings is going to cause more problems than it alleviates.

joeybcdt · #4 07-24-2007, 01:30 PM

I always loosen the strings. Every guitar and bass ever shipped to me had the strings loosened. Even though the neck "may" change over time with the strings loosened it will change back once the same guage strings are brought to pitch. It just may take a couple of days.

Jim Carr · #5 07-24-2007, 01:36 PM

Sadowsky ships basses FED-EX with the instrument in tune.

Mon Rominee · #6 07-24-2007, 01:40 PM

If you slack the strings to ship, you have to slack the trussrod too, or the tension it is still excerting could crack the wood or pop throught the fretboard from a shock.

ElBajista · #7 07-24-2007, 02:51 PM

I understand what all of you are saying. In fact, I agree! It makes more sense to send a bass with full tension.

All I wanted to mention was that Fedex/UPS/USPS states that the instruments must be completely out of tuning in order to be awarded the claim. Why do you think they require this?

spudmaster34 · #8 07-24-2007, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElBajista

Why do you think they require this?

Because alot of people seem convinced that they need to do it, and the more rules shipping companies have, the less cash they have to shell out for their mistakes.

God of Rapture · #9 07-24-2007, 03:39 PM

When I bought my Spector from Nino it arrived FedEx ready to play.

Gard · #10 07-24-2007, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

Sadowsky ships basses FED-EX with the instrument in tune.

We do the same, but use UPS.

I find this difficult to believe, as I have never had our account rep mention such a "rule" to us.

As I've pointed out over and over on these forums, NO builder ships their bass de-tuned in any way, as it will certainly compromise the setup, and possibly cause permanent damage.

Also, when I was at Bass Central, we had several damage claims on basses, and we always shipped at pitch. Never had that mentioned as a factor in recieving compensation, and always won our case (although sometimes UPS made us work for it....

).

Dave · #11 07-24-2007, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mon Rominee

If you slack the strings to ship, you have to slack the trussrod too, or the tension it is still excerting could crack the wood or pop throught the fretboard from a shock.

Exactly, so why do anything to begin with? Ive shipped several basses, always in tune, and never had any issues with the necks messing up.

bassman10096 · #12 07-24-2007, 03:57 PM

I'm not surprised that shippers have chosen this way to go, despite the fact that experts might offer the opposite advice on what to do.

Consider that shipping company risk management folks are not experts about most of the articles their companies ship, yet they have to come up with rules that appear to address problems. I'm guessing that shippers really hate guitars because, between the mechanics of strings, necks, etc and the prevalence of fragile, glossy finishes, guitars damage more easily than other articles. Now, if I'm a shipping company risk manager (not a musician), one of the things that appears logical to me is that one of the sources of neck cracks, could be string tension, combined with bumping in transit. I have no expertise in the matter, and my bosses don't either. It's far simpler for me to take the apparently reasonable path of refusing to pay claims unless strings are fully loosened than to ask any more questions. Why should I? I've already won the battle of guitar shipping. I look prudent to my ignorant boss (Hey, I'm somebody's boss and I know I'm ignorant...). If I happen to know that most guitars will be shipped with some tension on the strings, and if I'm morally challenged, I may feel really smug that now my company will almost never have to pay a guitar claim.

For me, as a risk manager, life is good. Guitar shippers beware...

Nino Valenti · #13 07-24-2007, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mon Rominee

If you slack the strings to ship, you have to slack the trussrod too, or the tension it is still excerting could crack the wood or pop throught the fretboard from a shock.

+1.

Nino Valenti · #14 07-24-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

I find this difficult to believe, as I have never had our account rep mention such a "rule" to us.

+1 I think your local pack and ship guy need to know what he's talking about.

PocketGroove82 · #15 07-24-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElBajista

I was informed by my local pack'n'ship company that the all of the major shipping companies (USPS, Fedex, UPS, DHL) will take into account whether or not the bass (or guitar) was shipped in tune.

This one makes me laugh.
The only thing the shipping companies take into account is the size, weight, and destination of the package.
I especially love the companies which try to charge triple for shipping to an APO address, even though APOs are zip coded in the states. It shows how much Fedex and UPS support our troops.

jazzenfunk · #16 07-25-2007, 09:51 PM

I work for DHL. This is utter nonsense. If a claim is filed, no one is going to ask if the bass was shipped "in tune". I ship all basses in tune.
I ship them through my employer (DHL). Never had a problem. This guy doesn't know *** he's talking about.

JimmyM · #17 07-25-2007, 10:36 PM

Last week, a 20 year old girl at the airport tried to convince me to tune down the strings on my bass because her boyfriend said you should. And she added, "The airline may not pay for a claim if you don't." RIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!

BTW, angled headstocks, I think, can benefit from loosening strings. You hardly ever see Fender style headstocks breaking in transit. It's mostly headstocks like Gibsons and Gretsches that are angled back that you have to worry about.

**Ryan L.** · #18 07-25-2007, 10:43 PM

Every bass I've ever shipped has been shipped in tune. Never had one problem.

Jim Carr · #19 07-25-2007, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElBajista

...The official word from the books is that all stringed instruments must be completely relieved of tension prior to shipping...

I'm sure the guy who told you this meant well, but I believe you have
been misinformed.

Because of shipping my P/J to Oregon for a recording, I have actually
recently studied in detail the Fedex document that explains all their
terms and conditions (rules). In it, I saw nothing about this.

http://www.fedex.com/us/services/terms/us.html?link=4

There are limitations affecting declared value that do impact bassists
shipping vintage instruments or highly customized/personalized
instruments, but that is a different thread.

lpdeluxe · #20 07-26-2007, 08:57 AM

All the basses (except one*) and other instruments I have had shipped to me have arrived in tune, including the Fender '51 P RI that was basically mailed from Japan it its box. These have arrived via FedEx, UPS and DHL.

I have watched the manager of the local music store unpack deliveries, and I've never seen one that was detuned.
____
* The single exception was a bass from a trade with another TBer, and he insisted on my removing the neck from the Tribute L2000 I was sending, and he did the same to the Jazz fretless he sent in return (it so happened, both basses were bolt-ons).