Shipping Equiment

gflowers · #1 06-30-2010, 10:09 AM

I just want to warn everyone about using the postal service to ship musical gear. I've bought, sold and traded tons of gear over the years and the ONLY serious damage that I ever had in shipping was when it went through the postal service. It's no wonder UPS and FedEX have done so well over the years. Today I received an EA cab shipped to me via Canada Post. I was not too thrilled to learn that it would be shipped that way, especially a bulky, 40 lb. cabinet. Well it took 2 weeks and when I got it, the padded cover was damaged and the tweeter driver was bouncing around loose inside cab possible disconnecting the wiring, damaging the driver and possibly the attenuator (haven't had time yet to asses all the damage). I'm not looking forward to filing a claim since I'm sure Canada Post and the USPS are going to drag it blaming each other for the damage. I'll repost with the outcome. MY ADVICE.....pay the professional, private shippers whose employees are held accountable for damages they cause.

bongomania · #2 06-30-2010, 10:42 AM

Yeah, good luck with all that. The fact is, every shipping service has seriously damaged some gear or dicked over customers, and we have a new thread once a month: "Don't use Fedex!" "Don't use UPS!" "Don't use USPS!" "Don't use DHL!".... etc. Another fact: most of them use the exact same planes, crews, and intermediary trucking and handling services, all together. The only thing different, in most cases, is the color of the van that comes to your door.

Oh yeah, and good luck with that bit about "employees held accountable". I'm sorry, but that's a joke.

gflowers · #3 06-30-2010, 11:50 AM

I can only speak from personal experience, but in the hundreds of items I've shipped (and had shipped to me) over the years, UPS and FedEx have had a near spotless track record with me. I have had a problem or two with UPS, but both were handled expeditiously and professionally and I felt like they were at least somewhat interested in rectifying the issue. I can't say the same about the USPS. I've probably never been treated more rudely or unprofessionally than by some (not all) postal workers.

As for everyone using the same trucks, planes, whatever, all I know is that if it had been shipped by UPS or FE it would have gotten here (and possibly been handled less) in 5 days rather than the 2 weeks it took via post. Everyone can do what they like, but I'm sticking with the private parcel companies. Government can't run anything as efficiently as a private business and this is no different.

bongomania · #4 06-30-2010, 01:43 PM

How many packages, letters, and postcards have you received undamaged in your lifetime, via the Postal Service?

gflowers · #5 06-30-2010, 03:01 PM

The postal service does an outstanding job of delivering the mail. My complaint(s) does not refer to mail delivery. I was referring to parcels, not envelopes and small packages. Musical equipment (I'm talking basses, amps, cabinets) usually is fairly bulky, weighs more than a few ounces and cannot be stuffed thru a slot in your door.

Again, this is my personal experience and I am passing this along, not to piss people off or start up a debate. It is merely for informational use only. If you want to ship your $4000 bass through the postal service, be my guest (BTW most hi-end bass luthiers use FedEX or UPS). If anyone out there is a postal worker, I appreciate your dedication to delivering my MAIL in a timely and professional manner and in the future, I will continue to make your jobs easier by not shipping large bulky PARCELS through the US MAIL.