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Shipping Stories

BigBallz

BigBallz

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 6, 2006
Messages
822
Location
Sacramento, CA
I'm just wondering out loud, has any one here had as many problems with shipping companies as I have? I have some pics that I will try to get posted later of just the most mishandled merchandise I have ever received in the last year.

When I received my Sting Ray a few weeks ago, as the driver picked it up and handed it to me, it slid out of the bottom of the box with a nice "clunk" as it hit the floor. Examining the bottom of the box, it had been slid or dragged causing the shipping tape to tear apart.

Last night, the doorbell rings. Another delivery, this time my Ovation Guitar case..(they shipped the guitar separately?) The box had three seperate tape strips around it lenghwise, all three ripped, and the flap open, and there was the case and packing material hanging out of the box. The driver did a "drop and run" delivery. He was nowhere to be found.

What is going on with our shipping companies?
 
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Thank you Randracula. This was delivered, the driver said, "that's normal wear" and left. The 810 bottom was crushed on one side...internal bracing broken. I reordered it...the second one arrived with a 3inch hole/gash in it, right into the cabinet.
 
BigBallz said:
What is going on with our shipping companies?
Click to expand...

I'll probably get bashed for this, but I say Unions. UPS used to be great. Then they went Union, and, no great suprise here, the prices went up, and the service turned to crap. My best bet these days is FedEx ground. Faster and cheaper than UPS, and just about everything I get shipped from them has nary a mark on it when it arrives . . . .

- Tim
 
My 1994 pristine Trans White (and pristine case for that matter) came to Australia from North Carolina via UPS. The packing box had a round indent in the side the size of a golf ball. I was lucky. I thought the neck would have been damaged but it was at the other end. The case had a 1/2" gap when closed. I was able to fix the case. I often wonder about the situation if the case damage was at the headstock end :(

My next Bass came from Virginia via USPS and that was fine :^))
 
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I've found that DHL seems to be one of the best right now.I sold a bass to Freedok earlier this year. I shipped it via DHL on a Saturday and it was delivered intact in Michigan on Monday. (BTW it was just shipped regular ground)
 
>>>I've found that DHL seems to be one of the best right now.

DHL...who are they? What does DHL stand for. I'm always open to options :)

Unfortunately, the only ones of heard of are UPS, USPS and Fed X
 
Rod Trussbroken said:
>>>I've found that DHL seems to be one of the best right now.

DHL...who are they? What does DHL stand for. I'm always open to options :)

Unfortunately, the only ones of heard of are UPS, USPS and Fed X
Click to expand...




"In 1969, Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom and Robert Lynn (D, H, and L) founded DHL as a service shuttling bills of lading between San Francisco and Honolulu."
 
Rod Trussbroken said:
Do you know if they're they a shipping option to Australia?
Click to expand...

Dunno about Australia, but they have sent stuff to me to the US from Iceland, so they are definitely an international carrier . . . .

- Tim
 
I've never had a problem with UPS . Fed Ex has always screwed up , damaged boxes, failure to deliver on time etc

Perhaps I just got lucky with UPS . Bass central sent my SR5 via UPS , had no problems whatsoever
 
The opposite for me...till last night......it was a fedex 3day delivery that was ripped open....:(
 
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This one time I got a package from UPS delivered on time and in good condition! Of all the nerve!
Fedex is even worse, with their early deliveries and friendly delivery people. Gosh








:p
 
I used UPS exclusively for a time with nary a problem. Then things went south and I don't know why. Damaged stuff. Claims which they made as difficult and time-consuming as possible. Then they completely lost a bass - an expensive bass, shipped to Europe. One of a kind, baby, and it was never found.

Noticing that EBMM was using Fedex and using less packing than I ever did and with seemingly few problems (I'd be interested to hear how Dargin feels about this), I switched to Fedex and have - knock on wood - been perfectly pleased, and I ship more than the average guy, I guess.

Fedex is generally faster, too, and that may be the explanation. They simply have less time to destroy things.
 
I’m hoping when my Bongo is ready BP will bring it with him in his Lincoln the next time he goes golfing in Hilton Head, SC. I could drive down and he and I could get plastered at this little fish house I know, sober up then he and I could swing by my place for a few days and jam and stuff.




















A man can dream can’t he?
 
I've had a few basses shipped from Japan and the US to Australia.
UPS is always twice the price but twice the speed.
USPS has been fine so far but juststrings has some interesting notes on shipping on their website.h
 
I've had many bad UPS experiences dating back to the mid 1980's.

I've never had a mishap with FedEx or DHL.

Of course, I realize that all of the couriers smash things now and then. My theory is that this is a result of former UPS workers jumping ship to other companies. ;)
 
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