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Re: UPS is Going to be the Death of Me....
Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 12:54 pm
by fatcat
schoolside wrote:
My post is missing, ....I'd like to point out that the conveyors at UPS don't know your package contains an expensive Rickenbacker and knocks them about, drops them and then drops another package on top, this process could be repeated several times. I have received many guitars delivered by UPS and about half have carton damage (always if it is a soft large box with lots of air inside). Thankfully in those cases my shipper double boxed. Knowing the conditions your carton may face, we should all pack accordingly. Sorry that I was not clear in my first post, but I take offense when a Company like UPS gets blamed for damages that were the result of false expectations of the shipper. I learned this firsthand when I had to refund buyers for shipping damage. No offense intended to David, whoever that was.
Happy Holidays to all

I've recieved 3 Rics with damaged cases, and 2 were in the original factory box only, the third was not very well packed in a Gibson box.
I feel it was the sender's fault and not the shipper.
Re: UPS is Going to be the Death of Me....
Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 7:23 pm
by bottom4
that's a good idea, Gary!
Re: UPS is Going to be the Death of Me....
Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 9:38 pm
by ram
Maybe I'm the odd man out here, but I have never had a bad thing happen or my directions not followed by UPS or FedEx (I am knocking on wood right now). Maybe it's the location or the way the start align but they have always come through for me. Not to say I am not scared whenever shipping (bad things do happen from time to time) just that I have just never had one happen to me.
Re: UPS is Going to be the Death of Me....
Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 11:40 am
by lyric_girl
I ordered my husband a didgeridoo from Australia a couple of years ago and they left it on the front porch in a similar condition. I hate UPS and avoid buying anything from anybody who ships UPS.
Re: UPS is Going to be the Death of Me....
Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:39 pm
by jingle_jangle
That's a bit of overkill, IMO, Lynda...I've shipped hundreds of instruments UPS and had only two damaged, and only slightly.
I stopped using UPS except upon request, though, due to price increases and rule changes. I ship everything FedEx now, though they get a bit wacky around the Holidays...
I once had a vendor ship me a pricey 12-string acoustic guitar from Maine, via FedEx Ground...it was bagged and floated in an oversized box only half-filled with foam peanuts.
What I got was sickening--a neck, some strings, and Guitar Kibble. Only damage to the box was one slightly-crumpled corner. All it took was one careless drop, I guess. To his credit, the vendor immediately credited my Paypal account and settled with FedEx himself.
Re: UPS is Going to be the Death of Me....
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 10:19 am
by 86kubicki
In my opinion the two keys to a successfully delivery are proper packing on the shipper's part, and having the package delivered somewhere where it can be properly received by someone rather than being left unattended. Accidents will occasionally happen, but if these two rules are followed its should minimize "issues".
Re: UPS is Going to be the Death of Me....
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:13 pm
by jps
I agree, proper packing is king.
Re: UPS is Going to be the Death of Me....
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 1:17 pm
by ricmic
I sent a V63 to PW via UPS. He said it arrived in good order. We did pack it as well as we could, and someone did sign for it when it got there.Yea, I guess taking the right steps helps. Mark