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Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Still waiting for USPS to deliver the Tak NV340S Damon traded me for the Snake T-Bolt...I always use their Priority shipping: I have never had a problem with that...it cost me around $45 w/insurance to ship the Snake to Damon...when he went to ship the guitar to me (we shipped the same day: week ago Monday) they wanted double what I paid to send it Priority. Ridicules...so, of course he sent it Standard to save some coin...don't blame him at all; I would have done the same...
But, I am still waiting for the guitar...8 days now (not counting weekends)...They said one week...
Sure hope it arrives intact and undamaged...
Why the difference in prices for the same shipping? Just doesn’t seem right.
SORRY, NEEDED TO RANT: OK, I FEEL BETTER NOW... :p |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Mike, sometimes USPS and UPS like to treat the parcel as a "special guest", and reward them with a little junket around the country before delivering them. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I'm guessing that Damon's box was just a bit bigger. Since USPS goes by DIM weight now, that would account for the higher pricing. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I'm guessing it's more likely MusicMishka's post office doesn't measure, and Damon's does.
I would guess Damon was going to get charged the "right" amount, Mike has been getting a bargain.
There are lots of posts and rants on this. One advantage to UPS is that once that package is labelled, it's good to go, you can give it to a driver even. Once in awhile you get an overage or underage due to weight, but the rules are consistant. The USPS is heading in that direction, but they aren't there yet and hence the rate you pay and the service you get comes down to the post office you use.
UPS is not flawless either. In some parts of the country the service is beyond stellar. I remember from Maryland, pretty much anything from NY to GA and as far west as Ohio shipped UPS Ground was essentially overnight service. Priority Mail would take 3 days.
Out here, Priority Mail gets to BOSTON in two days, and most anywhere else is next day. We ship most of our eBay stuff now (small stuff) USPS First Class, because it's at it's destination the next day almost anywhere west of the Mississippi.
Bottom lone.. they're all crooks. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Mike, maybe they can't find your place so far out in those remote woods you spoke of the other day. |
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Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Aww, I have a signal fire going 24/7...lol |
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Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | I think Miles has it nailed. They took all the measurements and weighed it at my place here.
I've done pretty well with fedex to the other side of the nation. I think I'll stick to using them. I had no issues and could track the whole way and I think it was actually cheaper than or very close to the price at USPS. |
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Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Its funny, UPS Ground has never failed me. fairly fast and reliable. (knock on wood)
USPS (choose a service level) on the other hand... :eek: |
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Location: Jet City | BTW, I shipped in a Martin box. I think the dimensions on it are actually less than the Ovation box that the Snake came in. |
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Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I usually use UPS, because they are one door down from me. I just had a guy from California send me some dulcimers. He sent four, all packed into one smallish box. It cost him EIGHTY BUCKS! I send boxes that are both larger and heavier for about half that price. I'm wondering if UPS' rates are different in different parts of the country. |
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Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I just shipped a guitar from California to Florida via UPS Ground. Delivery is one week out. Used an Ovation box, which had smaller dimensions than a Taylor box I had around. Apparently, weight didn't really matter ... it was all about the size. Shipping was just over $50, but it was another $30 to insure it. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
Shipping was just over $50, but it was another $30 to insure it. :eek: Late August I shipped/insured a git to Italy via USPS for under a C note. Another git went to an APO for $38 s/i in late Sept.
I'll stick with the USPS until I find a less expensive method. |
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Posts: 12758
Location: Boise, Idaho | They probably saw the Martin box, opened it, and gave it to the guy from Deliverance. I think he plays guitar as well as banjo. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
Apparently, weight didn't really matter ... it was all about the size. Shipping was just over $50, but it was another $30 to insure it. They go by weight up to a certain cubic size, then they go by either or both, depending on which is the higher rate. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | . . . sounds like my diet plan |
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Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | A couple of years ago I had a guitar shipped from Hawaii, $40 sent first class mail & arrived with only the battery came loose. I'll never ship any guitar with the battery still in it,(The older type battery holder).
Mike,
I know these posts don't help while you're waiting for a delivery, but at least it gives you something to read while you're waiting. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I love it... |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | The thing I love about USPS is their up to the minute tracking system. The item can be delivered, unpacked, played, and maybe even sold again (in my case) before it shows up on their site as delivered. (insert snide comment here) :rolleyes: |
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March 2005
Posts: 12758
Location: Boise, Idaho | SWMBO is slower. I call after the tracking info shows it as delivered and she says, "Oh, yeah. It's here." At least she brings it in off the front porch. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I use UPS or FedEx, never the post office. It is run by the government after all.......... |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Have I ever mentioned how much I hate UPS! |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | USPS can be cheaper and quicker, But they have NO tracking service worth mentioning.
The thing about UPS... If you buy the sticker online and slap it on the box, apparently no-one checks. When I got the Bleen 1771 it said that it weighed 14 pounds! The TKL case weighs that much.
Fed Ex has busted a guitar on me (Still got it by the door and it still sounds nice, but...) and I still continue to use FX cuz it's convenient and I like the people.
I am sending the 2171 back UPS, but they are paying so it's their choice.
But YES... They are All Crooks! :mad: |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | "Have I ever mentioned how much I hate UPS!"
That's why the made 'Cast Away' about Fed Ex...Who cares about a shipwrecked UPS goon! |
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Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Everyone has their favorites. I use FedEx exclusively because of the price and service. My favorite dealer always ships to me with UPS and never had a problem. I know others have good success with the US Government, such as it is.
Whatever works best for you. I guess the only advice would be to not use DHL.
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From the DHL Website:
- Beginning January 30, 2009, DHL’s U.S. Express business will focus entirely on its international offerings and will discontinue its domestic-only air and ground services.
- In order to meet its financial goals, DHL U.S. Express will close its U.S. ground hubs, and reduce the number of U.S. jobs by 9,500 on top of the approximately 5,400 positions already reduced since January.
- These measures will allow DHL’s U.S. Express business to reduce its operating costs from $5.4 billion to under $1 billion, a decrease of over 80%.
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Coming back to FedEx and Castaway - Ironically FedEx did not pay anything for the product placement but they were heavily involved in the authenticity down to every last detail involving FedEx procedures and labels. The reunion scene at the end was actually filmed on location at FedEx central hub in Memphis. What FedEx DID get out of the deal was unbelievable positive advertising because what happens in the end? The damn package was delivered, wasn't it !
A few quirks that movie and aviation buffs might pick up on - there is no alcohol allowed aboard FedEx flights, but they made an exception for this movie with FedEx approval because they felt it would enhance the viewer emotions. Also you may notice that when the plane is loading (hong kong?) it is clearly an A300. But when it goes down in the water it is an MD-11. |
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Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | On of my favorite films...Tom Hanks is awesome! |
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Shipping Rant
