I HATE UPS!!!

[pcake]

You're lucky... I had a bass show up with the shipping box similarly damaged. The bass was in a hardshell case and the case was dented so badly that it left a small chip in the paint on the bass. Purely superficial, but the case was pretty bad.

Unfortunately, my roommate was the one they delivered to, as I wasn't home.

I tried chasing down a claim with them, but I kept getting told different things and pushed around by anyone I was told to contact. It got to the point where they said I had to have the seller/shipper file the claim at the location he shipped from. Load of BS.

After about a month, I had started to really like the bass and gave up chasing the claim because it was more headache than it was worth.

as was already stated, it's the shipper who has to report the issue to UPS, not the receiver.

All of the shipping companies have issues like this. Be glad they took care of you so quickly and easily, that is not always the case (or even mostly)

Try fighting USPS for a "lost" package. You never win.

i was paid by USPS a few years ago for a package that disappeared. they even paid me for the cash that was in the pocket of the jacket i sent my son.

 

[2manynotes]

If you are able, I HIGHLY recommend that you have your valuable shipments held for pickup at a UPS or FedEX location. Pick it there, and if possible, open the box there. It's much easier and faster to file a claim. It's very difficult for them to argue if it is still technically in their possession.

Hey guys and gals, like Conan's Dad said, "you can't trust anybody."

 

[pedroims]

You are lucky one, fedex and ups has damaged three basses and I never got a dime from them

 

[MisterEd]

UPS is one of the most reliable carriers...(not affiliation) --If everything goes smooth on life, will be boring-- right?

Oops!!... I meant to say USPS

 

[ZenG]

Typical courier delivery.....only ever used a courier once in my life for a 5000 dollar keyboard that needed to be shipped to be repaired.

Goodbye keyboard....totally destroyed by the courier.

Never again ...ever....

Couriers are a**holes......

 

[electracoyote]

I'm with the OP on the matter of UPS being really careless with their handling. I've had a $1700 bass shipped by them and THANK GOD it was in a hard case because the box must have gotten smashed in transit by them, as the outside of the case was cracked and broken a whole bunch. I tried to file a claim and they denied it. so i go with Fed ex for expensive or fragile items now.

Though I whole-heartedly sympathize with you, there is another reality all shippers face with musical instruments:

They comprise a huge amount of all damage claims, and a lot of it has to do with the way they are packed. At least yours was in a hardshell case; anything less statistically enormously raises the chances of the contents getting crunched when the box does.

And boxes get crunched a lot in the shipping business, by ALL shippers. With musical instruments, it's like transporting eggs, and shippers have a hard time with fragile stuff being shipped in the same manner and compartment as not-so-fragile stuff.

If I am seeing what I think I am in the OP, this is typical Squier factory packaging, and I'm sorry folks, but it is woefully inadequate. If you've ever received a guitar in this packing, you know what I mean. It's way too fragile to endure a multi-leg journey halfway around the world to your doorstep.

Speaking of FedEx, at one point, to lessen the damage, claims, disappointment, hit to the reputation, etc., my local FedEx actually declined shipping musical instruments unless they were packed in the equivalent of a hardshell ensconced in peanuts and bubble wrap, and signing the waiver was your pledge you had done so. Violate the waiver and they could deny the damage claim.

I'm not saying it's the ideal, or that it's not a pisser, but it's the reality. In short, anyone who ships a musical instrument in just cardboard is basically asking for a damage claim, and should count their lucky stars if it arrives unharmed.

 

[mr15x3]

I'm in the lucky minority, so far no memorable issues. That being said, their tracking has been abysmal for me! Seriously, it has literally told me that the CURRENT location of my package was in the origin state, 4-5 days after the day I was checking it... Like it's 7/22 and it's telling me my package is in some alternate reality where it's 7/27... WHAT!?

 

[Watchootognbout]

You haven't been angry until they've left your new bass on the front steps without a signature. In the rain. While you're at work.

Always,always,always take delivery of large items at work!

 

[skruch]

Trade you your UPS delivery for mine.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

Well I think it shouldn't happen in the first place. Have some respect for other peoples property and show some pride in your job. Its not my first bad experience with UPS or FedEx for that matter. No one is going to have to take responsibility for it and I personally think that's just wrong. If I did something like that in my occupation I would be fired.

The OP is exactly right. Is this the way everything works now? "We're allowed to screw up anything, as badly as we want, as many times as we want, just so long as we fix it all in the end. News flash: that's not how it works folks.

Edit: btw, from the looks of this box, this wasn't just "oops" an accident, this is just negligence.

 

[Rocky]

Well I think it shouldn't happen in the first place. Have some respect for other peoples property and show some pride in your job. Its not my first bad experience with UPS or FedEx for that matter. No one is going to have to take responsibility for it and I personally think that's just wrong. If I did something like that in my occupation I would be fired.

Its a shipping business.. Things happen all the time, and as important as this package is too you so is everyone elses to them.. The UPS guy was cool (your words) and they are sending it with priority handling.. What do you expect? Perfect service all the time? Sorry, but I think your being a bit unreasonable.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

I heavily prefer USPS

 

[FrenchBassQC]

I never had an issue with the packages and the instruments inside of them, the only issue I have with UPS is the astronomic fees they charge for packages coming from the States to here in Canada, like they never heard of the free trade between the two countries... Enough, I'm going back to sleep...

 

[JustForSport]

All of the shipping companies have issues like this. Be glad they took care of you so quickly and easily, that is not always the case (or even mostly)

Try fighting USPS for a "lost" package. You never win.

Very true- too many packages lost, even when tracked thru the local office and they 'knew' the carrier on the route. Total BS.

But, then, again, a bass was just delivered this morn, and the box was a mess- took photos at every angle before opening it- and the bass was only in a padded gig bag inside the box. NO damage by shipping, tho.
BTW: The bass arrived before the tracking # showed that it had been received at the carrier.

Fed-Ex delivered a bass to a neighbor (few blocks away)- left it on his front patio (same number, way different St/Ave/Rd address), and thankfully, he brought it by. It was not signed for, to the wrong address, on the wrong road- good as gone, except for the integrity of my neighbor.

Haven't had a problem with UPS yet, but hey- things happen, and not everyone in their employ is as careful as they could be. And then, there's those conveyer belts...

 

[skatecyco]

This is the case, the claim must be filed by the party who is paying for the freight, the party who is paying UPS. So, even if you paid MF for shipping, MF is still the responsible party and they must file the claim. This is the case with all types of shipping companies, not just parcel. A lot of bitching goes on about these companies, but it is amazing that there are not MORE damage issues than there really are.

Maybe I just have Bad Luck. I have a list of crap that's happened to me since I decided to start playing. Is someone trying to tell me something?

 

[jaysbass2002]

I once purchased a custom bass cab and it was sent UPS. They destroyed it!! Stress cracks and all. They had obviously dropped it out of the back of a truck or some height and landed on the top corner. Then they said that there was only 2 and 1/2" of cushion and no the recommended 3" and would not go good for the total destruction of the cab that 10" of foam barrier would not have helped. I stay away from UPS as much as possible. Also my local UPS driver is a bass player and was awe struck at the carnage.

 

[skatecyco]

It happens to all of us, they made it right, when you are out a grand, then you can complain. Think of this as a learning experience. Shop locally if you aren't a internet shopper.

So when I know that the package is out for shipment and I am outside of my house waiting for the UPS guy and he stops at my neighbors house and drives right past me and I have to chase him down and get the package you're telling me if I hadn't done that he would have come back yeah right. I think the majority of them are jerks.

 

[skatecyco]

So when I know that the package is out for shipment and I am outside of my house waiting for the UPS guy and he stops at my neighbors house and drives right past me and I have to chase him down and get the package you're telling me if I hadn't done that he would have come back yeah right. I think the majority of them are jerks.

It's happened more than once. Sorry we're totally off topic here. I love UPS.

 

[skatecyco]

Did you open the box? Im curious to see what happened to the bass inside...

I peeked inside. There's no way I would accept it.

 

[jaysbass2002]

So when I know that the package is out for shipment and I am outside of my house waiting for the UPS guy and he stops at my neighbors house and drives right past me and I have to chase him down and get the package you're telling me if I hadn't done that he would have come back yeah right. I think the majority of them are jerks.

They got me for about $300 bucks.