So you think Fedex is better than UPS? ;) - Page 7

AirGuitar · #91 01-16-2007, 07:20 AM

First time ive spotted this thread.... man thats some horrible damage, I cringed when i saw those pics....

I cant beleive theyre trying to get away with it too! They cant offer insurance and deny it when its clearly their fault!

Dee · #92 01-16-2007, 08:53 AM

First time I looked at the thread too. First, I was like "mmm, nice colour... few broken strings... oh, the bridge popped off... OH SHIIIIIIIIIIIT!". That's truly sickening to happen to such a nice axe and I wish you all the best Matt.

Hikey Mikey · #93 01-17-2007, 02:12 AM

Rich- do you make a habit of photo-documenting packages you receive? Or was this a case (no pun intended) of you saying, "oh sh**, lemme go get the camera" when you saw the damage?

Just curious.

Rich · #94 01-17-2007, 03:24 AM

No picture was taken until after it was opened, and then only taken to show the owner and for claim purposes. This thread was an afterthought

**jaxadam** · #95 01-19-2007, 12:09 PM

Just recieved a package from Fed Ex. Box was beat to hell. Had fragile stickers all over it.

Opened it up, and the glass and frame were shattered.

It's probably not even worth filing a claim.

I used to really like Fed Ex. I'm starting to wonder now...

pauly414 · #96 03-13-2009, 02:34 PM

the only downside to buying online is having something shipped, most couriers don't care about the word fragile.

IbanezFreak777 · #97 03-14-2009, 12:56 AM

So who should one get to ship guitars overseas with ???

There is an Australian shipping company called Pack send, and they have different levels of shipping. there is one level called handle with car, and they explained to me that the package is hand placed during the entire trip. But who knows if thats true or not...

So whats the point of having insurance if they make it so hard to claim. The whole idea of getting insurance is so that your covered if your not happy with the final delivery of the product... Makes you so angry you want to punch someone....

jay ratkowski · #98 03-14-2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

You have to remember that at these depots they have conveyor belts running 3 stories high and when they get jammed up it rains big boxes.

Yep... from talking with one of the regional UPS reps, I found out the Chicago UPS hub has one of the highest drops around (like a 30 foot fall for every ground package). FedEx has drops in their network too.

One thing I see on a regular basis is that people do not package things properly. Something as delicate as a guitar should not just be thrown into a box with no padding (I know they come from manufacturers that way, but guitar stores usually see their share of shipping damage because of that). Also, if you're shipping domestically, use Priority Overnight (the 10:30AM delivery) or the comparable service for UPS. Especially if you're shipping a $1500+ guitar, spend the $50-100 to ship it properly. The morning delivery will put the package on a truck to the local airport, a plane to the recipients local airport and on a truck to the destination. Any other service option will send the package through one or more national/regional hubs where it will get handled and sent through various conveyor systems that expose it to potential damage. If it goes ground, your package will be on multiple semi trucks that are full of packages weighing up to 150lbs or maybe more.

jay ratkowski · #99 03-14-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pauly414

the only downside to buying online is having something shipped, most couriers don't care about the word fragile.

It's more like they can't... UPS and FedEx are doing several million packages a day and in order for everything to arrive on time, there needs to be speed and automation above all else. Most packages are only handled by human hands at point of pickup and delivery, the rest is done by barcode readers, conveyors and automatic sorting systems. Packages have to be shot through the delivery chain at a rapid pace and that means some bumps along the way. Sure, couriers could handle each package delicately and carefully, but then you couldn't move a box from California to New York via truck in 5 days. Consumer demand has shown people would rather have the speed at a low cost above all else.

Rich · #**100** 03-14-2009, 08:15 PM

Overnight early AM is more like $120-$180 these days. paying over 10% of the value in shipping is not feasible. Packing large is much more cost effective.

Problem for dealers is those are the boxes they give us to ship in, and everybody wants the original shipping box also.

Darin · #**101** 03-14-2009, 09:06 PM

Welp, ship a JS insured for $5000 and hope they bust it up.

Send a JS1000 get back a Crystal Planet.

Rich · #**102** 03-14-2009, 11:35 PM

Evidently you didn't read how tough it is to get any claim paid to begin with, much less a fraudulent one.

mike570 · #**103** 03-15-2009, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

First time I looked at the thread too. First, I was like "mmm, nice colour... few broken strings... oh, the bridge popped off... OH SHIIIIIIIIIIIT!". That's truly sickening to happen to such a nice axe and I wish you all the best Matt.

My reaction exactly! DAMN!!! THAT SUCKS!!!!

My guess is something extremely heavy was set on top of it, probably on the body side. It snapped like a pencil on the weakest points; the base of the headstock and the heel joint.

Yup! FedEx blows! They even lost Tom Hanks!

jay ratkowski · #**104** 03-15-2009, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Overnight early AM is more like $120-$180 these days. paying over 10% of the value in shipping is not feasible. Packing large is much more cost effective.

Problem for dealers is those are the boxes they give us to ship in, and everybody wants the original shipping box also.

Yeesh... I've got accounts with both FedEx and UPS. I get a very nice discount with FedEx and a noticeable one with Brown. I knew prices have jumped, but haven't paid attention to retail rates.

Rich, I'm sure you've had accounts forever; but for those who don't, get one. You at least get SOME discount by having an account with either of the two big ones (usually something like 2-5%). (in reality, you pay additional surcharges by not having an account, but the end result is you pay less by having one) Paypal offers some sort of discount for getting a UPS account for shipments related to Paypal transactions.