|
|
Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 56
| I hope to buy an Legend 1867 in the near future from a private seller. The guitar would be shipped from Texas to New York.
Can anyone share tips on how the guitar should be prepared for shipping, and/or if it is better to ship UPS ground or air.
The guitar will be shipped in the original Ovation hardshell case, which would be packed in a box for shipping.
Thanks!
Alina |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 51
| Avoid UPS!!! Use FedEx instead.
I have bad experience with UPS several times.
(1) They never showed up but claimed that they tried to deliver. I had to pick up the items at UPS center several times.
(2) UPS charges a lot more for the same service. For example, FL to CA, $52 (USP Ground) vs $32 (FedEx Ground). Approximately $20 more.
(3) FedEx delivered many guitars this year with problem. One of my guitars was not supposed to be delivered on Sat (ground service), but FedEx was flexible enough to deliver on Sat.
(4) FedEx staff is more polite than that of UPS.
Sunny |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Shipping in a hardshell & a box is usually safe. Ask the seller to loosen the strings and make sure the consignment is insured to the full value of the guitar. UPS have a bad reputation worldwide. I stopped using them years ago. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | Sunny and Paul
I ship guitars via UPS every week. In the past 20 years I have never had ups break a guitar. Sure they damaged cases but never broke a guitar and the reason is because you must pack the item correctly.
UPS is set up for packages Fed Ex is NOT. When I go to fed ex and there is a door that opens in the wrong direction no hand carts and when I plop a 70 lb amp on the scale they look at me like I am from outer space. UPS does this every day and are prepared but so must you be prepared.
Loosen the strings of the guitar.
ship it in a hardshell case.
if the guitar is loose in the case make sure you put newspapers or bubble wrap so it does not slide.
never ship on friday the guitar will only sit in a hot or cold truck or warehouse for the weekend.
make sure the box is filled with newspaper packing peanuts bubble wrap etc so that there is non movement in the box.
I like to stuff some extra cardboard in there to protect the sides of the case in case the box is damaged.
follow these instructions and you should not have any problem with UPS.
I ship about a dozen packages minimum a week via ups and I have only had 3 damage claims this year. UPS is EXCELLENT when dealing with damage. I waited a year and a half for the USPS to settle a claim and I can barely get anyone from fed ex on the phone.
I have always found UPS costs to be the most reasonable for the service. The USPS is good for overseas but it is a crap shoot whether it will get there or not.
So I guess the morale of all this is that we all have different experiences with different carriers and should go with whom we feel most comfortable. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 56
| Thanks Al. That was exactly the information that I was looking for (the packing instructions).
Alina |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 56
Location: Alabama | I've used UPS for many years and never have had a problem. My new Elite was purchased online and shipped UPS not in the case but packed in a regular shipping box with packing apparently from the factory, the case was delayed and shipped seperatly. Not so much as a blemish, clearly handled with care and the folks here at the local center are great to do business with. ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I only use FedEX if I need it there (or here) tomorrow. Usually ship and receive guitars via UPS. Lisa works at a fulfillment company and they ship 100's of 1000's of items a week ranging from letters to pallets. They use UPS, FedEX, USPS and independant Frieght companies... I hear horror stories about ALL of them. But, as Al stated.. UPS is the one designed for shipping "Parcels" and your best bet.
THe USPS is reliable, but IF there is a claim, that's when it gets annoying. Also remember that shipping overseas, it's best to use UPS (or FedEx if it's small or a letter). Using the post-office, drops it into the LOCAL POSTAL system of most coutries, which are in many cases not as reliable as ours. UPS exists world wide.. In some of the towns I visited in Germany, there were so many of those small UPS trucks running around.. you'd think they WERE the local mail service. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Al pretty much hits the nail on the head. The key is to PACK IT WELL! You don't have any control of how the carrier will handle your package after it has left your hands but you can make it as resistant as possible to any mishandling. I too, use UPS.
My only real horror stories come from using Fed Ex Ground service. I used them twice and they were UNBELIEVABLY sloooow and there was damage both times and no compensation.
That being said though, Al, do you remember the time I bought my Glen Campbell Barcus-Berry Classical prototype from you and the shipping label fell off along the way? UPS decided to drop my guitar of to a lady in Montreal along with whatever parcel she was waiting for. Fortunately for us, my contact info was on a piece of paper inside and she was honest enough to contact me. UPS picked the guitar up the next day and brought it the rest of the way the next day...no charge of course!
Wayne |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | Absolutely Wayne I do remember that and Oh man did it make me crazy.
With no disrespect to out canadian friends My worst international shipping problems have all been with Canada and it started with that guitar. I had some tube stereo equipment destroyed at the border by the customs people. I even know of some vendors that will no longer ship to Canada.
Even with our probablem, Luckily I had your phone number on the box, I still use UPS for Canadian sales it goes much better than uSPS |
|
| |
How to ship an Ovation?
