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Basses Broken during Shipment

MaddAnthony_59

MaddAnthony_59

Supporting Member
Dec 16, 2006
4,599
708
Columbus, IN
www.myspace.com
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I Channel Surf During Commercials. (Drives my Wife CRAZY!!!)
#1
Hey There Swingin' Bass Cases!

Having Bought/Sold/Traded 100+ basses over the last 5 years, you are bound to have a shipping mishap or 2. So I thouhgt it might be Interesting to have a Thread where we could post these Painful Lessons.

I think the Format of:

A) Shipped By: UPS, FedEX, USPS, DHL, Other

B) Shipped in: Case, Gig-Bag, Other

C) Damage: Neck Snapped, HeadStock Damage, Body Damage, Other

D) Insurance Ammount

E) Result of Claim: Carrier Paid, Carrier Rejected Claim

F) Pictures!!! And what the bass was when it started...

would be appropriate!:hyper::bassist:
 
#2
A) Shipped By: USPS to France

B) Shipped in: Gig-Bag

C) Damage: Neck Snapped

D) Insurance Ammount: $1000 ($65.00 for Insurance!)

E) Result of Claim: Carrier Rejected Claim. France said to ship it back to US (At my expense) and file a claim with USPS.

F) Pictures!!!
This is a '78 Gibson RD that I Hot-Rodded!
Before:
DSC00597.jpg


After:
DCFN0002.jpg
 
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#4
Good idea, fortunately for me I haven't had any basses broken or whatever through post.

Although, I brought a vintage ibanez blazer (strat copy) was listed on ebay as used, and the seller described what little damage there was. The original picture wasn't of great quality, but it only cost me £100. When it arrived it had a few tiny tiny holes, the size of small screw driver, dug deep into some parts of the body....

I sold it a week later on ebay for £110, £10 profit... woo.

Also brought a £30 guitar case of GAK.co.uk, it was 3 weeks late, I emailed them and they sent another one out, that came pretty quick, a week later the other one arrived.. . free case FTW.
 
#5
A) Shipped By: UPS

B) Shipped in: Other, Wraped in Bubble-Wrap, Shipped in Box STUFFED with Foam Peanuts, Box labled This Side UP/Fragile!

C) Damage: Body Damage

D) Insurance Ammount: $400.00

E) Result of Claim: Pending.

F) Pictures!!!
This is a WishBass JB Model...

brokenbass003.jpg


brokenbass004.jpg


brokenbass005.jpg
 
#6
Apparently, if a bass or guitar is shipped it anywhere it needs to be in a flight case surrounded by bubble wrap. The box needs to be full of airbags and packing peanuts. At least that is what I see from the evidence of the pics. That WishBass looks like it was dropped in front of the delivery truck as it was moving down the highway. Ridiculous.
 
#7
MaddAnthony_59 said:
A) Shipped By: UPS - Shipped in: Other, Wraped in Bubble-Wrap, Shipped in Box STUFFED with Foam Peanuts, Box labled This Side UP/Fragile!
Click to expand...

After a couple of very painful UPS experiences in which never received a dime, I found that double boxing, plus stuffing, is the only way to go. I haven't had any issues with that method, although nothing can ever prevent severe mishandling.
 
#10
Bummer. This happened to my Motley Sam wishbass twice without any shipping involved. Result of claim: poor woodwork. ;)

The amazing thing is that even split down the middle it sounded great, and somehow it resulted in lower action!

MaddAnthony_59 said:
A) Shipped By: UPS

B) Shipped in: Other, Wraped in Bubble-Wrap, Shipped in Box STUFFED with Foam Peanuts, Box labled This Side UP/Fragile!

C) Damage: Body Damage

D) Insurance Ammount: $400.00

E) Result of Claim: Pending.

F) Pictures!!!
This is a WishBass JB Model...

brokenbass003.jpg


brokenbass004.jpg


brokenbass005.jpg
Click to expand...
 
#11
So basically the UPS insurance is a sham? It seems like even if you do get insurance its ultimately your fault for packaging it wrong in the end. Does anyone have any bad experiences with FedEX? That's how I've been shipping the basses I've sold. I haven't had any problems yet.
 
#12
I'll go.


A) Fedex

B) BIG BOX .. double box.. shrink wrap.. nuts bubbles etc.

C) Flooded.. Fedex left it in a Florida tropical storm (I Paid extra to have a signature requied)

D) Insurance Ammount - $300

E) Result of Claim: Paid after going through the gauntlet


=============

I also had a Godin implode.. I'll rant on Godin in another thread... it was their cause (of course they never said fault)
 
#13
jonnymac101881 said:
So basically the UPS insurance is a sham? It seems like even if you do get insurance its ultimately your fault for packaging it wrong in the end. Does anyone have any bad experiences with FedEX? That's how I've been shipping the basses I've sold. I haven't had any problems yet.
Click to expand...

I've always shipped UPS because there has always been a UPS store closer to me than a FedEx location. The insurance is usually only valid if they pack it, or they inspect and approve the packing (hard to do when it's already sealed). That said, when I've shipped basses without a hard shell case, I pay the extra money to have them pack it (usually at least $50). It costs me more in the end but IMO it's well worth it to have someone satisfied with a bass than to be out shipping and potentially be out a bass.
 
#17
I've had a couple unlucky breaks. Heres one that happened to this EB3L. Luckily it was a beater to start with, but I restored it fully.

A) Shipped By: USPS

B) Shipped in: stupidly thin cardboard box, very little packaging inside. I took pics and posted them here

C) Damage: Neck Snapped where it meets the body

D) Insurance Ammount: don't recall - I think the seller gave me $100 or something. We didn't claim (or perhaps they did without telling me)

E) Result of Claim: we settled 'out of court'

F) Pictures!!! And what the bass was when it started...

The bass is a main player now
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

but there are pics of beforehand here
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#18
I always use FedEx as a rule. Padded gig bag/hardshell stuffed with foam around the bass, double boxed, foam and air-bags never failed me.

The UPS guy at my last job put it best after we joked with him about all the scrunched boxes. He said "The guys back there don't care. They don't have to go face the customers. They could give a sh** less about what's in the boxes or how they look." Enough for me along with several crushed and damaged boxes that came to my door.

However, I feared for the Ric 360 I bought right after highschool when the box looked like it was hit by a truck. It was okay.
 
#19
sleepytime said:
I worked for UPS. Words cannot express my loathing for that company.
Click to expand...
Here, let me express how much I loathe UPS. :spit::scowl::mad::rollno: Fortunately, I can say I have never had UPS or any other carrier damage any instruments (knock on wood).
The key to a successful shipment is to use proper packing to immobilize the instrument, a hard case, and a box with adequate space to absorb any sudden impact (UPS requires a minimum of 3" pack on all sides; not sure with other carriers). Utilizing the quickest shipping method possible is a plus. The less hands on your package, the more likely it will show up in one piece.
 
#20
sleepytime said:
I worked for UPS. Words cannot express my loathing for that company.
Click to expand...

ive heard this before from a number of people. an old history teacher of mine used to tell us to do good in school so we wont have to work for UPS like he used to..

another friend quit working for UPS when he was getting stomach ulcers from the stress.

back on topic- if probably sent / recieved about 10 basses. never any damage.. i guess im lucky..
 

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