• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

SVT FedEx experience

#41
No assumption was made on my part as to how it was packed. Only offered tips on what would give no reason to refuse service. I am guilty of over packing. If damage was to happen I want the adjuster to think to him/herself "This was packed for WW3, how did the carrier damage this?" Important to me personally on a piece that is no longer available at your local GC. ;) (Mom get the shotgun out of my face, I won't need diapers anymore.)
 
#44
UPS is crazy..... they can break anything, and do. My cousin was actually fired by UPS in Minneapolis for NOT THROWING THE SMALLER BOXES INTO THE TRUCK (he was a truck loader while in school).

I took on a project back at SLM to do UPS resistant packing for several products..... We ended up with formed/molded urethane foam 2 piece clam-shell custom for each product that had a minimum of about 2" all around, and more in corners (corner drop test). And heavy-wall boxes for bigger stuff.

We had the UPS packaging folks explain to us about the conveyors, about employees unsticking hoppers by jumping on the packages ("they aren't supposed to do that, but they will"), the whole nine yards. Even had them do a package for us...... They did a $17 cost package for a $150 retail item.........NOT!

We got it done by doing our own tests, and determining the best trade between bulletproof and economical..... we figured some units would be damaged no matter what we did. But we sure cut down the claims after re-designing a bunch of the packages for the urethane foam (Instapak)

Shipping yourself, you can't do that, although you can get a one-package foam packing kit that has the same stuff in a pre-done bag that you activate, set your item on after it starts to get stiff, , and it forms around it. I think there is a second one for the top. I haven't done it, but I have seen them.

Whoever said that double-boxing with space between was a good plan was right....

Fed-ex is lots safer than UPS, but ground is ground, and ground shipment gets hit. Even DHL has delivered pallets to us at my new place with the container well and truly squashed..... figure on the package getting clobbered... packing is cheaper than dealing with the hassles of claims, repairs, etc.

What price is a mint SVT with the case splintered and the chassis bent?
 
#45
That foam stuff is pretty cool, I didn't know it was available at the home level. I'm assuming you mean the stuff that's covered in like a grey thin plastic film that is tricky to pry off the ends of the product because it fits so well? I've seen glass globes shipped in it with *no* breakage, and that's impressive. Reminds me of that yellow stuff that comes in a can that you use to insulate around windows....

Some of our GM's got to visit a UPS sorting facility and then came back and demonstrated for us what they saw when the supers weren't looking. We had to package 6 wine goblets in 10 minutes in packing we thought would survive. They did the "drop, throw, kick against the wall" routine...and out of 15 teams of people who do packing as part of their job, only one teams' 6 goblets survived. They later confessed to taking 20 minutes to pack em.

Motto: Overpack unless you can replace the item. If your manufacturing plant underpacks and it gets destroyed, you can replace/repair it. If a normal humans' mint Blah brand amp that isn't made anymore gets destroyed, you can't.
 
#46
Ive had good luck with both FedX and UPS, but I think they were just trying to save you a lot of hassle. I've always packed my stuff, and then packed it again. Ther's no penalty for double packing, except a small extra charge for weight. I just got some stuff from Orange and it was boxed and packed, and then put in a super heavy duty box with sturdy styrofoam corners. There was a little damage to the outside box, but the inside box, and most important, the amps and speakers were intact. Orange Club Member #60
 
#47
ups
ups.jpg
 
#48
darkrising said:
OK this is where I would normally just watch the thread but since I am the recipient of the head the thread is based upon I will try to bring in some clarification. While all of you have excellent and valid shipping points they are all your opinions on how something should or shouldn't be packed. Now before any of you try and slam me for what I am saying feel free to check my feedback first as my packing has always been beyond any UPS or FedEx packing and shipping store. What the bottom line being missed here is after personally talking to corporate after my FedEx account was charged $141 for 2 day air, which from N.C. to Tampa via ground is 2 days regardless, is that at no time can "FedEx REFUSE ANY TYPE OF SERVICE REQUESTED EXCEPT GROUND DELIVERY TO A HOME/RESIDENCE". Now this has been capitalized for the understanding that this come directly from a higher up at corporate after what Peter went through. If you want ground you get ground, period. All they can do is advise that if your item is damaged and it's not packed properly your claim may be denied. OK that is understandable but we still wanted ground as was denied. Oh and the counter rep put comments in saying it only had 1" of packing(which was a blatant lie). Now mind you the box was sealed, but she must have been SuperGirl with x-ray vision, my bad.

Also what he didn't tell you was when he went into the FedEx Hub before even bringing the box in he asked the lady at the counter for help as he is a disabled veteran with a bad back. Her reply to that was NO! Not I can't because we are busy, don't have anyone to help, just NO, there is a hand truck over there! Now any of you tell me how this is going to go from here when that's how you get greeted when you walk in and ask for help.Luckily an off duty driver helped him bring it in and put it on the scale.Thanks to that guy!!!! Now beyond all of the obvious that he already mentioned my account has been credited to ground charges and there is going to be hell to pay at that location not only for how they mismanaged the shipping of my package but how Peter was treated.

Now arrival of the amp. The amp was boxed up awesome and there was no concern when I unboxed it and saw how it was packed. There was more than enough packing and he used a grill box which was rated well over 100lbs. So nothing and I mean nothing he did was was wrong and he did a fantastic job ensuring it arrived in one piece. Again I am laying all this out there because it appears some of you are kinda slamming him without really having 100% of the facts. Maybe you use 4" of packing, great for you and your buyer. On the FedEx site it shows the drop tests and how much packing should be used. Well to me if they have to show you crap like that it means they are going to Ace Ventura my stuff and no matter what you do there is always a chance of damage. Now when someone blatantly underpacks then that is on them and I would never deal with them again.

Hopefully whoever reads this will actually read it and not skim through and start bashing me. If you do then so be it. The more aware we all are of these shipping agencies the better our stuff will be sent and arrive.....
Click to expand...

I agree with you, as I said I never had a problem shipping fedex, I think it was the counter lady not the company. They tend to get bitter working behind a counter in all the shipping companies.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back