Use the USPS for shipping basses and gear, if you can.

fenderhutz · #1 11-27-2010, 10:07 AM

I was just readin this article and it is pretty significant.

Quote:

"The team used the accelerometer to figure out how many times a package was dropped per trip. As a benchmark, they tested the sensor and determined that because a "moderate jostle" exerted 2 g's (the amount of acceleration from gravity), they could count a reading of 6 g's as a 2.5-foot drop.

After crunching the numbers, the magazine concluded that the USPS had the gentlest touch. While FedEx and UPS averaged three and two big drops per trip, respectively, or the number of acceleration spikes exceeding 6 g's per trip, the USPS averaged 0.5 drops."

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/bla...2244017&page=2

I don't want any basses or amps I buy to average "2-3 big drops per trip".

ggunn · #2 11-27-2010, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

I was just readin this article and it is pretty significant.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/bla...2244017&page=2

I don't want any basses or amps I buy to average "2-3 big drops per trip".

OTOH, the "tracking data" available from the USPS consists only of when it entered the system and when it was delivered.

hdracer · #3 11-27-2010, 10:13 AM

and if you can live with not being able to track your shipment or have proper insurance.

capnsandwich · #4 11-27-2010, 10:13 AM

It's a crap shoot with any one of them. I just just pray, cross my fingers, get a rabbits foot, and hope for the best all while paying for the insurance and letting THEM pack it.

Shovelbone · #5 11-27-2010, 10:17 AM

UPS destroyed a vintage fender amp that I bought and refused to pay for it. The regional manager or whatever his title was actually told me that the biggest thorn in his side was all of these "musician crybabies who complain all the time about their toys". I even went to the customer service 800 number and made a complaint but did it ever get taken care of? No.... so I ended up with busted 1970 Fender twin that I had to have re-conditioned and lost most of its value.

capnsandwich · #6 11-27-2010, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shovelbone

UPS destroyed a vintage fender amp that I bought and refused to pay for it. The regional manager or whatever his title was actually told me that the biggest thorn in his side was all of these "musician crybabies who complain all the time about their toys". I even went to the customer service 800 number and made a complaint but did it ever get taken care of? No.... so I ended up with busted 1970 Fender twin that I had to have re-conditioned and lost most of its value.

That sounds like a court case to me.

fenderhutz · #7 11-27-2010, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnsandwich

That sounds like a court case to me.

No, read the fine print. I think they have a guitar clause, or vintage gear clause where they have limited liability.

Carpediem930 · #8 11-27-2010, 10:27 AM

Fedex and UPS are lightyears beyond the USPS. I've never seen a more consistent disregard for people and their packages by an organization. I don't know how many times the USPS has hurled a box at my door and high-tailed it out of there. Or how rude their employees are. I've seen several different drivers park across the handicapped space in front of my work and refuse to move when a disabled patron arrives. The only thing they have going for them is that they deliver the mail. Never had a problem in the areas I've lived with the other two companies, though I know there are pricks all over the place. /rant

capnsandwich · #9 11-27-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

No, read the fine print. I think they have a guitar clause, or vintage gear clause where they have limited liability.

Are you serious? That settles it. I'll never use them again if this is true. That means they could drop it off a cliff and still not have to pay for anything.

fenderhutz · #10 11-27-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnsandwich

Are you serious? That settles it. I'll never use them again if this is true. That means they could drop it off a cliff and still not have to pay for anything.

Quote:

Fed Ex is now very clear that $500 is the limit of their liability for "Guitars and other musical instruments that are more than 20 years old, and customized or personalized musical instruments." They're also very clear that they don't provide insurance of any kind.

They will try and find a replacement.........riiiiiiiiiiight.

C.Linton · #11 11-27-2010, 10:54 AM

I've never had a problem with UPS or Fed Ex, but I do have a problem with USPS, at least as far as receiving packages. As my apartment is located at the back of my building (basically a converted duplex) and my mailbox is at the front, if a package will not fit in the mailbox, they refuse to deliver it to my door and I have to go to the post office to pick it up, which is a big hassle for me. (I don't have a car, I have to take the bus).
I understand the trick is, with UPS at least, you need to pay the $30 for them to pack your items up for you, then they can't make the claim that it was packaged improperly, which to my understanding, is their go to line when refusing to compensate for damaged items. Even if they could claim it was improperly packed, as they were the ones that did the packing, they would still be liable.

**nutdog** · #12 11-27-2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carpediem930

I don't know how many times the USPS has hurled a box at my door and high-tailed it out of there. Or how rude their employees are. /rant

This was hurled at my door by UPS (Brown, not USPS):

It was insured. They paid the claim in about 2 months. Very poor communication in between. To add insult to injury when they showed up with a pickup ticket for the bass (without telling me they were coming to get it) they delivered this:

Because I was the buyer and didn't pay for shipping (although technically I did), they wouldn't talk to me. Had to all go through the seller. They also wouldn't pay to let me get it fixed. They paid full amount and took the bass. Pretty bass, too. Had a few dings on the neck. Probably would have been playable with a couple of new tuners, good as new with a new neck. So I guess someone at the claim center will get a good deal on it.

Silver lining--I found this on craigslist not long after:

Came with a hard case and combo amp. Sold the combo, and if the molded case is worth $75, I got an MIA jazz for the same price as the MIM. And I love the natural.

Delta_Petra · #13 11-27-2010, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutdog

This was hurled at my door by UPS (Brown, not USPS):

It is bad policy that packages need to withstand a 6 foot drop going UPS or Fedex, but shippers need to learn how to pack better. That box the bass came in looks like it went through hell, but it also wasn't packed very well. No added protection by the head let that box get squished.

C.Linton · #14 11-27-2010, 11:51 AM

I think the lesson here is, no matter what shipping company you use, the sender had better assume the worst, and overpack everything.

poorbassist15 · #15 11-27-2010, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shovelbone

UPS destroyed a vintage fender amp that I bought and refused to pay for it. The regional manager or whatever his title was actually told me that the biggest thorn in his side was all of these "musician crybabies who complain all the time about their toys". I even went to the customer service 800 number and made a complaint but did it ever get taken care of? No.... so I ended up with busted 1970 Fender twin that I had to have re-conditioned and lost most of its value.

Oh s@#$, I just sent a bass via USPS. What have I done!?

SOB · #16 11-27-2010, 12:02 PM

Interesting thread. I received 2 basses about 3 weeks ago, one from Newfoundland via CanadaPost and one from California via USPS/CanadaPost. I'm in Hamilton Ontario. The one from NFL took 7 days to arrive, the one from California took 8. Shipping cost was slightly less from CA. Both arrived in excellent shape due to excellent packaging, the CA one travelled in it's hardshell case. Tracking on both.

My problem with UPS and Fedex is they always want me home for delivery during business hours. Hours at their inconveniently located depos are not much better. If I'm not home for CanadaPost/USPS deliveries they leave a card and I pick it up at a postal station near me from 8:00am to 9:00 pm.

Also UPS brokerage fees on int'l shipments are hideous, CP/USPS is five bucks on any shipment regardless of value.

YMMV

Dave

Pilgrim · #17 11-27-2010, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta_Petra

It is bad policy that packages need to withstand a 6 foot drop going UPS or Fedex, but shippers need to learn how to pack better. That box the bass came in looks like it went through hell, but it also wasn't packed very well. No added protection by the head let that box get squished.

Absolutely. Those packages were improperly packed and shouldn't even have been accepted at the shipping point. The seller screwed up. Frankly, the insurance should have not paid because the boxes weren't packaged correctly.

Delta_Petra · #18 11-27-2010, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Linton

I think the lesson here is, no matter what shipping company you use, the sender had better assume the worst, and overpack everything.

+1000

Jim Campbell · #19 11-27-2010, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

I was just readin this article and it is pretty significant.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/bla...2244017&page=2

I don't want any basses or amps I buy to average "2-3 big drops per trip".

take a peek at a ups terminal.....the conveyors are dropping stuff all the time,some by design,others by accident.....when they say pack for a six foot drop they have a reason .....

jgroh · #20 11-27-2010, 12:09 PM

As Ive said before on other threads, I worked for a competitor of FedEx & UPS for a period of time in college, and you wouldnt believe what went on. The people unloading the trucks, which is what I was doing, didnt give a crap about any packages. They threw things, stepped on boxes and freely admitted that they couldnt care less. Now, when I sell things, I make sure it is packed unbelievably well, and I pretty much only use FedEx. UPS has been terrible for me in the past.