ten foot fall for a bass?!!!

eyeballkid · #1 09-14-2009, 02:19 PM

I just got back from Fedex to ship a bass like ive done dozens and dozens of times... I should point out that i used to ship glass for a living so i know how to properly pack things and have NEVER had an instrument get damaged in shipment.. the conversation went like this:

Fedex lady: "whats in it that youre insuring?"
Me: "a bass."

Fedex lady: "Did you pack it properly?"
Me: "yeah, its double boxed, with packing between the boxes and its in a hardshell case."

Fedex lady: "Can it survive a 10 foot fall?"
Me: "WHAT?! NO! are you kidding?!!! its an instrument!"

Fedex lady: "Then it is not properly packed sir."

SERIOUSLY!! this happened!!.. i then explained to her that the guidelines have always been can it survive a 3 foot fall in case it got dropped while being carried or loaded off the back of a truck. But that even with 3 feet of foam around it i wouldnt feel secure dropping an instrument 10 FEET!!!!

she said Fedex recently changed their requirement to 10 feet in case it falls off one of their converyor belts... TEN FEET!!!!

i said perhaps they should put better guard rails on their converyor belts..

so my question fellas... CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?! and JUST HOW MUCH PACKAGING WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE A BASS COULD DROP TEN FEET AND NOT GET DAMAGED?!

be warned when shipping! and good luck.

DeluxeRed · #2 09-14-2009, 03:06 PM

I thought that's what DROP tuning was for!

*Ba-dum-PA!*

BurningSkies · #3 09-14-2009, 03:19 PM

She's right. If it can't take at least a 10 foot drop, then you haven't packed it correctly. UPS and FEDEX boxes fall that distance regularly. That's probably the least abuse they'll get on their trip.

xzzy · #4 09-14-2009, 03:23 PM

I always figured that science class project to build a capsule for an egg so you could throw it off a building and not break it was to illustrate some basic physics.. not serve as training for using the postal system.

eyeballkid · #5 09-14-2009, 03:43 PM

well it USED to be 3 feet.. which is reasonable.. but TEN!!!!.. no way!!! NO REASONABLE person would say it is OK to drop their package TEN FEET no matter how well its packed!! especially on heavier items!! that is Fedex trying to get out paying for them being COMPLETELY CARELESS!!! i dont pay for the expectation of carelessness!

Fassa Albrecht · #6 09-14-2009, 04:40 PM

10 feet sounds a hefty amount for a package, much less a bass guitar.

BurningSkies · #7 09-14-2009, 05:11 PM

Its not carelessness. It's how long the fall is from conveyors to trucks in many facilities.

iamlowsound · #8 09-14-2009, 05:42 PM

I would drop a bass that was packed like that from 10 feet, shouldn't have any problems there if it is in the hardshell case. In fact, I put my mom's acoustic in its case and dropped it off the roof to test to see if the case manufactures claim that not only would the guitar be in perfect shape, it would still be in tune. It was.

lowsound

Loel · #9 09-14-2009, 06:11 PM

Ten foot fall and broken...

outrageous!

BurningSkies · #10 09-14-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

I would drop a bass that was packed like that from 10 feet, shouldn't have any problems there if it is in the hardshell case. In fact, I put my mom's acoustic in its case and dropped it off the roof to test to see if the case manufactures claim that not only would the guitar be in perfect shape, it would still be in tune. It was.

lowsound

After a show once I threw my 1993 Fender Jazz (in case) more than ten feet, and it was fine.

eyeballkid · #11 09-14-2009, 06:22 PM

and if there is no barrier or buffer to make sure that packages dont FREEFALL ten feet from those converyor belts, you are being sorely neglectful of the items put in your care. Imagine the force behind a 40lb object meeting concrete from that height.

eyeballkid · #12 09-14-2009, 06:23 PM

yeah, that is possible... but not the way to treat something and to EXPECT it to be intact.

BurningSkies · #13 09-14-2009, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

and if there is no barrier or buffer to make sure that packages dont FREEFALL ten feet from those converyor belts, you are being sorely neglectful of the items put in your care. Imagine the force behind a 40lb object meeting concrete from that height.

They intend for items to drop off the conveyor belts...that's how they get into the trucks.

megadan · #14 09-14-2009, 06:35 PM

I would feel safe dropping my bass 10 feet double boxed and in a hard shell case. What're you gonna do if it falls out of the back of the van on the highway?
Still, pretty stupid.

FedEx told me when I went to ship an amp a few days ago that it could be considered 'personal goods' and not be sent out. Gimme a break! Didn't happen, though, so I guess the guy was just being overly cautious.

Getaway Driver · #15 09-14-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

and if there is no barrier or buffer to make sure that packages dont FREEFALL ten feet from those converyor belts, you are being sorely neglectful of the items put in your care. Imagine the force behind a 40lb object meeting concrete from that height.

That could put a serious dent in the floor. Heck, if basses are falling 10ft, they should change their policy to protect their freakin' employees from heavy freakin' shtuff falling on them. That should come BEFORE their concern about the precious cargo they are trusted with... and apparently neither of those things have any importance to them.

Jim Campbell · #16 09-14-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

well it USED to be 3 feet.. which is reasonable.. but TEN!!!!.. no way!!! NO REASONABLE person would say it is OK to drop their package TEN FEET no matter how well its packed!! especially on heavier items!! that is Fedex trying to get out paying for them being COMPLETELY CARELESS!!! i dont pay for the expectation of carelessness!

since there is little competition in the shipping biz they feel they can get away with this crap.......not careless,just greed

Auzzie-Phoenix · #17 09-14-2009, 11:45 PM

Hate to tell you this, but the conveyors are much higher than 10 ft... they do, however have guardwalls. Also, the company doesn't really care much about the employees.

TOOL460002 · #18 09-15-2009, 12:54 AM

hmm... is that why my 6mo old tv is about to get free replacement because it broke? **** ups...

iamlowsound · #19 09-15-2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

and if there is no barrier or buffer to make sure that packages dont FREEFALL ten feet from those converyor belts, you are being sorely neglectful of the items put in your care. Imagine the force behind a 40lb object meeting concrete from that height.

400 ft-lbs. That would hurt, but not do a whole lot of damage. If you were talking impact force, that is harder to figure out.

lowsound

Stanley Design · #20 09-15-2009, 11:11 AM

Get them to pack it, it may not be packed as well as how you packed it, but at least it'll be insured. Fedex sucks.