Shipping a 60 lb tube amp - UPS or Fedex?

walknbluez · #1 05-09-2009, 03:34 PM

Just wondering if its about equal in terms of risk damage?

xgator4u · #2 05-09-2009, 04:42 PM

I have always been pretty happy with UPS. Fed ex is good for smaller/lighter packages. Fed ex is probably quicker, ups is more accustomed to the heavier stuff. IMO

JTE · #3 05-10-2009, 01:04 PM

FedEx without question. Given the sheer volume they both ship, neither one screws up any more often than the other. But, it's what happens if they do screw up. UPS seemingly just absolutely REFUSES to accept any repsonability. I've had person experience with them claiming to have left a package, and then actually delivering the day after I called to track it. But there's more....

I've been in the logistics biz since 1990. One of our operations packed and shipped service parts for a large agricultural tractor company, (the red ones, not the green ones). They used Useless Parcel Service for the small shipments. But after too many damaged products for which the claims were denied due to "insufficient packaging" the customer dropped UPS and went to FedEx. We had three boxes (ranging from about the size of an external DVD/CD drive to the size of a shoebox) with tire tracks across them, and UPS said they weren't packaged to survive normal shipping.

UPS picked up my Pilot Bass from Guild around 1993 (the last of the original Pilot series). They drove a truck across it and trashed the neck and the case. They sat on it until Guild contacted them to find out the delivery status three weeks later. They had no intention of contacting the shipper to report the damage.

There's the huge difference. UPS has Wal-Mart or GC level customer service. Fed Ex is more like Lakland or D'Addario.

jte

Jeff K · #4 05-10-2009, 02:17 PM

^^^^^^^

Sounds eerily familiar, JTE. I'm going through a dispute with UPS right now. One of my sons is in the U.S. Border Patrol Academy. He was going crazy without a guitar, so I shipped him one of his Guild acoustics. It was inside a Guild hardshell case and bubble wrapped inside the shipping box.

When he got it, it had a huge crack along the face of the guitar. I called UPS that evening. The woman on the phone was very nice, and said it sounded as though I did everything I could to ensure proper packaging. A few days later, the guitar arrives back on my doorstep. No note, no explanation.

I call UPS to find out what I have to do next. I'm on hold for awhile, then the woman comes on and says, "I'm sorry. Your claim has been denied." I ask why, and she says it wasn't packaged properly. (If you check my feedback here on TB, I've been commended several times because of the extra care I use in packing.)

I was livid, because I had purchased $1,000.00 extra insurance. Replacement value for that guitar is $949.00 + tax. I asked her what's the point in buying insurance if they won't honor it? I'm now in the process of appealing it, but I figure I'm probably screwed. They have so much fine print in their packaging requirements that they can always find an out.

JimB52 · #5 05-10-2009, 02:40 PM

I've had crushed packages from both companies show up at my door, but I think fedex takes a bit more care in handling their shipments.
I've watched UPS employees literally kick a package out of the truck.

MadMan118 · #6 05-10-2009, 05:01 PM

FedEx.
All Said.

Stumbo · #7 06-22-2009, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff K

...."I'm sorry. Your claim has been denied." I ask why, and she says it wasn't packaged properly...

And they won't tell what "proper packaging" is.

Chipsonfire · #8 06-22-2009, 12:48 AM

I've had my share of FedEx packages be late/trashed/missing ("my share" being about half the things I have shipped here, as a conservative guess), but that's only because I refuse to deal with UPS as they are MUCH worse. Go with FedEx or maybe greyhound.

Hawaii Islander · #9 06-22-2009, 12:55 AM

Whenever I get heavy/expensive items shipped via FedEx, they deliver it in a small delivery van almost as a special delivery rather than in their larger trucks. Pretty good service.

I haven't had any serious problems with either company.

JimmyM · #10 06-22-2009, 02:26 AM

UPS does stonewall people making claims, but they all do. And they all damage packages as well. The best thing to do if you want your package to be 100% claim proof is no matter who you take it to, take it to one of their pack and ship stores and pay the extra money for them to pack it. It's expensive, but if their store packs it and it gets broken, they'll pay the claim. Also, if its value is over the high value item minimum, ship it as a high value item. They treat those packages like they're shipping babies.

**jmattbassplaya** · #11 06-22-2009, 03:22 AM

I`ve had nothing but great survice from both companies(Two basses shipped via Fedex, and a head and cab shipped via UPS).

Then again I do live in Memphis TN, so I would assume they`d take special care since people can easily go to Fedex`s HQ and one of UPS main hubs and complain.

Anyways, I`d go Fedex. That`s a company that stands firmly behind it`s service.

LeonD · #12 06-22-2009, 05:44 AM

I've used both and haven't had a problem with either.

UPS is much more convenient for me so that's who I use the most. Plus, I think UPS's tracking system is far better than FedEx's.

That said ......

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

UPS does stonewall people making claims, but they all do. And they all damage packages as well. The best thing to do if you want your package to be 100% claim proof is no matter who you take it to, take it to one of their pack and ship stores and pay the extra money for them to pack it. It's expensive, but if their store packs it and it gets broken, they'll pay the claim. Also, if its value is over the high value item minimum, ship it as a high value item. They treat those packages like they're shipping babies.

Any guitar or amp that I ship, I let UPS pack it. Face it, the biggest fear is not that the package is going to get lost or broken. All the carriers do that. The biggest fear is that the shipper won't honor the insurance. And the number one reason they won't honor the insurance is because it wasn't packed correctly.

My UPS will pack almost anything for an additional $35 (approx). And that includes materials. Now there's two ways to look at this.

If I'm already paying $50 to ship something, the packing is almost doubling my cost. True.

Or, I'm sending my $2,200 bass across the country and for an extra $35 I can eliminate my number one shipping fear. It kind of seems like a no brainer to me.

On top of that, almost everyone that's received a package packed by my local UPS told me it was one of the best packing jobs they've ever seen.

LeonD

Spector_Ray · #13 06-22-2009, 05:51 AM

MadMan118 · #14 06-22-2009, 02:47 PM

Funny this thread came upagain, seeing as my new phone I was supposed to get 4 weeks ago has been "misplaced" by UPS

stflbn · #15 06-22-2009, 02:54 PM

Responses to this thread will go back and forth every day depending on the random experiences of those responding.

Shipping anything is a complete crapshoot any way you ship it because there is no way to predict the level of competence of the person handling it on that day or days, weather, possible tragic occurances, and random crap that could just 'happen' to your order and none after it for days like randomly getting hooked on some conveyor and flipping off and taking a drop, etc.

It's roulette.

.

stflbn · #16 06-22-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chipsonfire

I've had my share of FedEx packages be late/trashed/missing ("my share" being about half the things I have shipped here, as a conservative guess), but that's only because I refuse to deal with UPS as they are MUCH worse. Go with FedEx or maybe greyhound.

heh, he's had his fair share of packages late/trashed/missing with FedEx, but refuses to use UPS.

That's humorous.

Pilgrim · #17 06-22-2009, 02:58 PM

FedEx Ground, because it's usually less expensive then UPS. I've had no problems with either one. OVER-pack.

unclekebm · #18 06-22-2009, 03:50 PM

+1 FedEx ground

90% of the time I've used UPS the package got damaged
FedEx 0% (knock on wood)

+1 to "OVER-pack"

popinfresh · #19 06-22-2009, 03:59 PM

Where's it going to? Why not use something like Greyhound? You can drop it off at the depot/stop and the guy can pick it up in person too. IME less handling off the actual package and handled better.
Or if it's a high price amp, use a smaller courier who actually looks after their stuff.

The Growler · #20 06-22-2009, 08:02 PM

In my experience shipping computer and other electronic equipment, FedEx had less damage and less loss (theft).

No flames, just experience.