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Topic: 3rd party shipping insurance advice please... |
Greg Gefell
From:
Upstate NY
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Posted 5 Apr 2018 7:15 am |
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I just received a pedal steel in the mail and I want to re-use that box to ship out another I have of an identical steel.
In the past I've had UPS pack and ship knowing (hoping) that any damage claims would be covered because they packed it. I'd like to avoid that extra cost this time and pack it myself and use third party insurance.
Has anyone here used a third party insurance provider and still shipped with UPS, USPS or Fed Ex? I'm looking at third party insurance because I've heard/read that the major carriers can deny damage claims saying effectively that if they didn't pack it then it wasn't done properly.
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https://www.facebook.com/ggefell/ |
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Todd Blair
From:
Richmond Virginia, USA
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Posted 5 Apr 2018 7:26 am
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I can tell you from experience that FedEx “declared value†is different from insurance. If you pack it well (bubble wrapped inside the case, as well as packing material/ foam to prevent unwanted shifting in the case) it should be ok. Fed Ex packing charges vary depending on services. For instance, bubble wrapping the case exterior before it gets put in a box is a separate charge from filling the excess space in the box with packing paper.
I haven’t used 3rd party insurance, rather I’ve been diligent with learning how to pack various instruments for safe shipping.
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Sho~Bud Pro III Custom,Rickenbacker 330, G&L ASAT Special. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 5 Apr 2018 4:07 pm
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I've shipped hundreds of packages, some very heavy including steels.
I never have UPS (or anyone else) pack them. I pack every one myself and follow the guidelines given to me by several UPS, FedEx and DHL warehouse managers:
Pack so whatever is in the box can survive an 8' fall onto bare concrete.
That's the maximum height of the open-sides of conveyors. Nearly everything - unless you pay the hefty premium for "hand-carry only" - except handling by drivers is performed by automated equipment, and the only other dangers are things like forklift piercing that are not your problem anyway.
Then just buy carrier insurance. Which you won't need, but I always buy it anyway. Third-party insurance generally has more holes than the carrier policies - I'd avoid it. Plus then you involve 2 parties - the insurer, carrier and you. That's a potential mess.
Also don't bother with "this side up", "fragile", handle with care" etc etc writing or stickers. Machines can't read them and drivers don't have time to be bothered with even glancing at them.
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Greg Gefell
From:
Upstate NY
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Posted 6 Apr 2018 8:53 am
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Well - that's disheartening to hear third party insurance is no better than carrier provided. If available I'd be happy to pay for "replacement cost" insurance and avoid using "declared value" carrier insurance at all.
I don't know if its considered "properly packed" but the last steel I got was inside its hard shell case and simply wrapped on all sides in taped up cardboard box. No wiggle room in the box, so no bubble wrap, peanuts, styrofoam, etc.
I hate this part of steel guitar commerce! It feels like you ship it and then pray for it to arrive in one piece.
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https://www.facebook.com/ggefell/ |
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Jerry Horch
From:
Alva, Florida, USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2018 2:42 pm Special handling ??
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Another recent post mentioned some kind of Fed Ex fragile extra care ground shipping he said they offer....Ive called Fed Ex and spoke with a delivery driver at work and they dont know what I'm talking about.Said thay dont offer anything other than the different ground and air shipping offered.Any one know what the heck was being talked about in that post? Getting ready to ship an expensive acoustic guitar cross counrty.thanks
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Franklin D10 /Walker Sterio Steel JBL's /DigiTech Quad4/ Korg Toneworks/ Dobro DM 1000 / Santa Cruz Guitar VA |
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