|
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | I submitted this to FedEx by email after calling their customer service to confirm:
Seller delivered guitar to FedEx that I purchased in a hard case and box on 10/24/09; minimum value of $2,500 (Takamine EF75, limited issue with Brazilian Rosewood sides and back); submitted my FedEx account for shipping charges; he was told max FedEx liability limited to $1,000. I contacted customer service, they affirmed the $1K limit. In today's market, few worthwhile instruments have a value of less than $1,000. Brazilian rosewood can't be harvested after 1970. If this is correct, I will be unable to ship (or have sellers ship to me) through FedEx in the future. FedEx claims has competent sources such as Blue Book or sales receipt to determine value at the time of claim if damage or loss. Not sure of limitations of other items (i.e., office equipment to my other office in Ohio) but I question my ability to use your services.
-----------------------------
FedEx Customer Service said, "You have homeowners don't you?" |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I just shipped a guitar via fedex home delivery and insured it for $3000 without a problem. This was through my work account but as a small business I would think it was the same as yours.
It did however require a direct signature. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | by Tony Calman:
-----------------------------
FedEx Customer Service said, "You have homeowners don't you?" Uh... And you have coverage that I can purchase in case your gorillas smash my guitar, don't you? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Stephen,
This is the Takamine EF75 from Montana. It also requires a signature. I called Customer Service to confirm - max limit of liability is $1,000.
Hopefully, both our shipments will be okay.
I have been fortunate...
Only problems have been (other than damaged shipping boxes):
damage to the case on the one I sent you several years ago (USPS)
and a 1658 Custom Legend slothead (UPS)...for that claim, had the adjuster at my home twice (helped when he saw my other guitars) and the fact that a big furniture account had actually shipped the guitar. Even then, took 2 1/2 months. Insured for $900, cost to refinish the top was about $350, they decided that they would only pay 85% of Ovation's Customer Service repair. There were more that sufficient photos before and after shipping. It was also obvious they had dropped something heavy on the box. 2 1/2 months for the claim, time for repair, and a dissatisfied customer.
Oh, by the way...in my last shipment rec'd (UPS, dropped shipped from Ovation, two guitars), one of the boxes look pretty beat up and had a substance like oil spilled over about a third of the box (course, it then picked up all of the crud normally found on the bottom of a UPS truck)...fortunately, whatever it was wiped off the case and the case protected the guitar. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Well I paid extra for the insurance so it was on the ticket that it was insured for 3K. Seems strange that you are having this problem.
Course I do all my paperwork online with my Fedex account and it gives me the option so I use it.
Wonder if online makes a difference? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | I believe since Tony initiated the shipping on his account and it's going to him, it is considered a "return" which has a lower limit of insurance. Could be wrong though. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | 
UPS: Unbelievably Poor Service... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Maybe as T28 points out there is a difference between a personal account and a corporate account. I ship everything via my work account and have insured as high as $7000. with no issues. Sorry to hear of your trouble Tony. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 1456
Location: Texas | Originally posted by Tony Calman:
FedEx Customer Service said, "You have homeowners don't you?" Sadly, "Customer Service" at most large companies these days is worse than useless. It seems that the primary objective is to get rid of you, not help you.
Hopefully, your current shipment(s) will be fine, but, if true, it is certainly a valid concern for future shipping for all of us here. I've never heard of any $1,000 insurance limit, but nothing would surprise me. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | I wanted to insure a guitar for $1,200 but person at work that asked for the quote was initially told by FedEx that there was a $1,000 limit. I asked her to call again and they said that it could be insured for $1,200. I'm not sure if it was because it was a corporate account or because it was going 2nd day vs. ground. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Last time I shipped a guitar a couple of weeks ago, I used UPS, entered all the info at work using the business address as the origin, insured for $2K, and printed the label. Also printed a "High Value Item" form that needed to be signed by the person accepting the box indicating that it was properly packaged.
It was too late for a pickup at work, so I took the box and form to the UPS Store near my house. They refused to accept it, so I had to take it to the UPS sorting facility where they had no problem with signing the High Value form and accepting it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Out of curiosity I went into our FedEx PowerShip system. Here's the scoop ...
FedEx Express domestic rate includes $100. of insurance
Insurance between $101. and $500. costs an additional $2.50
Above $500. insurance costs 50 cents per $100. in addition to the $2.50
Maximum insurable amount is $50,000.
Keep in mind that this is FedEx Express, which means overnight. Not 2 day, 3 day, Ground, etc. If you want to insure a high dollar item it has to be with FedEx highest end service which only makes sense because they want to limit the number of stop overs and hands involved.
Also keep in mind that this only applies to direct staffed FedEx centers, not Mail Box shops. Kinkos, etc. Only real FedEx. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Dave, you are probably right as to the Express. In addition, contrary to their marketing spoo of supporting small business accounts, it is the large accounts that get their attention. That is not hard to understand.
Yet, other than some companies burning up investor dollars with consistent losses every year, the companies that are now large accounts started as small business. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | The one I just shipped and insured for 3K was via FedEx Home Delivery with direct signature required. It was on my corporate account but it did not require me to ship overnight.
Of course 3K is a far cry from 50K. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Th Martin I just shipped out to an un-named member here, was insured for 2500.00 via fedex ground with no problems. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Don't know but, since I sent the complaint yesterday, their website no longer recognizes my email address, user name, or password.
Oh well, at least Al still answers my phone calls. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I ship almost exclusively ups in the continental USA and have had few problems in over 20 years.
internationally each country has an insurance limit and that is a mess. I sometimes have to ship guitars with lower insurance because that is all they will cover. as long as the customer is ok with it and understands I am fine with it also |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Gee Tony... You must've pushed somebody's button.
One time when I was sending something with a declared value of $1K or so, the guy wanted to look inside...
I told him that he had a razor knife, and he had tape...
Open it Up! But you gotta pack it back too.
But that one office told me that anything over $500 they want to inspect.
My other nearby office just trusts me.
'cept this one guy who always asks if I loosened the strings.
[And I remind him to put Fragile stickers on all my stuff.]
Yeah, you musta made them mad! :eek: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Originally posted by alpep:
I ship almost exclusively ups in the continental USA and have had few problems in over 20 years.
internationally each country has an insurance limit and that is a mess. I sometimes have to ship guitars with lower insurance because that is all they will cover. as long as the customer is ok with it and understands I am fine with it also +1 It's only been 10 years or so for me. Only two issues in over 500 guitar shipments. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Maybe I'll just keeping buying from Michael...we have lunch, his girls are adorable, he hands me the guitar and I hand him the money...
no hassles, no worry :) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Takamine EF75 arrived just fine and in great condition. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Good information, Dave. Thanks. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 288
Location: New Hampshire, USA | So what's the difference between a "UPS Store" and and a "UPS Authorized Outlet"?
Is a "UPS Store" going to be a lot cheaper?
The last time I sent out a guitar I went to a "UPS Authorized Outlet" and got reamed on the price. They did nothing - tt was all boxed, taped and ready to go on the truck and it cost me twice what it should have. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I believe the UPS Store is an actual store. They sell tape, boxes, etc.. An "Authorized Outlet" can be several things, but as example, the UPS Depot usually has a place to drop packages. If you know when a truck is in your area, you can flag them down too. There are other "Packaging/Shipping" stores that accept UPS packages as well, but they also accept FedEX, and even USPS... they are just all purpose shipping stores. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Office Depot and Staples usually have UPS shipping. Kinko's has Fed Ex.
A "UPS Store" is a franchise that is trying to get as much money outta you as possible.
If you have them pack for you, they are gonna rape your wallet.
[Fed Ex will NOT pack a musical instrument for you]
They best way to deal with a UPS "Store" would be to print your own label through PayPal and just carry it down to the store to drop it off.
Online for UPS and USPS is almost always cheaper than the physical people will charge you.
[I have not opened a Fed Ex account, but those folks keep telling me that I would save money] |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I've only shipped 2 guitars, once with USPS and once with UPS. Both worked find. UPS was almost twice the money, but I used too big a box and it was a bit further.
This is the type of thread that makes it easy for guys like Stephen to convince guys like me to just take the guitar home so I don't have to worry about shipping. Good thing SWMBO wasn't riding along or I would have paid a lot more than shipping. |
|
| |
Old topic but shipping rant - FedEx