OT: Shipping Basses in US = Insurance

[Moondog]

While shipping a bass to a fellow forumite last week,
Fedex Ground informed me that I can no longer insure
guitars for values over $500 (New Policy they say).
Can anyone validate this?

Also, if anyone has any recommendations on how
to go about getting insurance outside the carrier
and/or have any better ideas? Other carrier info, etc.

Thanks.

 

[Eggman]

I haven't had that problem with UPS - though if you take a box to a UPS store and ask them to ship it - and it contains high value stuff - they might require you open the box so they can make sure there is actually a high value item in the box. Or they want to pack it themselves.

You might call The Perfect Bass. They use FedEx. Maybe they can shed some light on this. Sure hope it isn't true - TPB is supposed to ship me a 20th SR5 and I would like to have it fully insured!!

 

[Fred E.]

I ran into a that $500 FedEx limit last year. I don't know if it has been modified by a new policy, but this was the policy in their FedEX Service Guide of January 2, 2006: The maxium declared value for carriage & limit of liability is $500 for "Guitars and other musical instruments that are more than 20 years old, and customized or personalized musical instruments." Now, depending on your reading--does this mean all guitars (with the 20 year old qualifier applying to "other musical instruments") or does the 20 year qualifier also apply to guitars...i.e. the rule makes you wonder why it did not simply read: "All musical instruments that are more than 20 years of age." It also is poorly defined as to what is meant by "customized or personalized musical instruments". If I've replaced the strings by a brand/guage that was not originally on the guitar or if I've added stickers to the pickguard, etc., does that mean that I have "personalized" my guitar.

I guess the answer is that FedEx will interpret their policy to maximize their own protection & to limit their liability. I, myself, do not ship guitars valued over $500 via FedEx. Recently, I declared the value of a bass that I shipped to be $500 in a $125 case.

 

[Moondog]

Thanks guys.

Fred, who do you use out of curiosity . . for items > $1k ??

That wording is certainly up to interpretation

 

[silverburst]

I have used UPS before, and have not run into insurance limits. Although items over $1000 have to go to the customer counter, or a driver has to sign for them.

Getting UPS to pay a claim, however, is a miserable experience.

 

[Kristopher]

Two months ago I shipped my Stingray via FedEx with $1500 insurance. I didn't have to open the box, and I did tell them it was a bass.

 

[Michael777]

Safe Shipping Using Any Service

Guys,

I am Speaking from Expierience when I say the Safest way to ship a Bass is to Know the Rules and Regulations of the Carrier you are using. Follow them to the letter as far as packing requirements and you will be fine. Remember even though it is Typical for most of these carriers to deny insurance claims( This is Standard procedure) if you have all your ducks in a row, they will pay the claim.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

I ran into a that $500 FedEx limit last year. I don't know if it has been modified by a new policy, but this was the policy in their FedEX Service Guide of January 2, 2006: The maxium declared value for carriage & limit of liability is $500 for "Guitars and other musical instruments that are more than 20 years old, and customized or personalized musical instruments." Now, depending on your reading--does this mean all guitars (with the 20 year old qualifier applying to "other musical instruments") or does the 20 year qualifier also apply to guitars...

If that is a direct quote, based on the location of the comma I would interpret that to mean 20yr applied to the guitar. They probably specify guitars because they are shipped more often than accordions (I use UPS for the accordions).

I have used UPS before, and have not run into insurance limits. Although items over $1000 have to go to the customer counter, or a driver has to sign for them.

Getting UPS to pay a claim, however, is a miserable experience.

It takes about a month, 3 faxes, a copy of the original invoice, and estimated repair/replacement cost - not to exceed original invoice value.