UPS denies claim - less than 2” padding

[HeyMikey]

A word of warning...

I read a thread on another non-guitar forum about someone who’s guitar was damaged in shipping but UPS denied the claim.

From what I know he gave it to a professional pack-and-ship company who packed it and shipped UPS.

UPS said the box did not have the required TWO INCHES MINIMUM of padding around the inside of ALL SIX SIDES of the outer shipping box.

The packing company claims it was packed properly and won’t take responsibility either.

The seller is now faced with having to take legal action.

 

[F312]

We're gonna need a bigger box.

Ralph

 

[twocorgis]

This is why I prefer FedEx. In my admittedly limited experience, it seems like UPS will fight you tooth and nail on claims, and FedEx generally doesn't. The one (non guitar related) claim I made was handled cheerfully and expeditiously. UPS OTOH, unless you get robbed for packing by a UPS store, seems to be the exact opposite.

 

[richardp69]

One of the reasons a like using Reverb. You get to use their shipping rates and they take care of all negotiations with the seller (typically UPS). When I ship on a private sale it's via Fed Ex. Haven't had a problem yet so I don't know how they'd treat me.

 

[Guildedagain]

Years ago, a collector buddy received a Blackface Deluxe Reverb with some damage. The box was sitting in the kitchen when the UPS guy showed up, he barely walked into the kitchen and denied the claim, the cardboard wasn't good enough. Yep, a driver denied the claim, case closed.

I only use USPS at this point, and they are as reliable as ever and reasonably priced.

This is how a UPS store sent my SF-4, thanks to the TKL case it made it without harm. The case was bouncing around in the box, the bottom of the shipping box was water damaged and split.

It might behoove one to stick around and watch the guy pack your guitar...

I use a whole roll if I don't get bored first, and I use a crown stapler to staple the flaps together like the big boys do.

I bought the crown stapler when I first started selling geetars on feeBay, just make sure there that your product is well out of the way of the staples...

 

[Bonneville88]

Another thing - if you're packing and shipping, suggest you document your packing.
Although even 3/4" thick bead-board / bubble wrap / packing paper on all sides as I typically use wouldn't
meet the UPS 2" padding requirement.

 

[GAD]

If you think that any of the shipping companies are better than the other then you're fooling yourself. I've shipped and received hundreds of guitars, amps, and everything in-between using every shipping company you could name and every problem I've ever seen has been due to poor packing. The shipping companies don't care about what's in your box once it's packed and it doesn't matter how many bright red FRAGILE or THIS WAY UP stickers you put on it. Insurance can work but it's often a huge PITA.

Whatever you ship, pack it like someone will throw it down the stairs. If the guitar can move in the case and/or if the case can move in the box then the guitar is not secure.

 

[Bonneville88]

I think mine will pass at least a round or two on the down-the-stairs test

 

[dreadnut]

I shipped several of my buddy's guitars all over the US last year, all were packed in hsc's with bubble wrap all around, including top and bottom, no problems. All shipped USPS.

 

[Rayk]

I pack my guitars pretty good myself . I have had some with little packing but they made it to me in one piece thankfully.
The Ups packing store near me uses their own boxes that are tougher and meet UPS’s requirements best I can say it .
if I pack it they repack it and charge a small fortune.
If I take the same packed box Direct to UPS they tell me the cost I pay it and they say thank you come again . Lol
I stay a way from packing stores .

 

[dbirchett]

The real question is will they stand up to having a truck or a fork lift run over them.

All courtesy of FedEX.

 

[GGJaguar]

The real question is will they stand up to having a truck or a fork lift run over them.

Ahhhhhhhh!! Nooooo!

 

[Bonneville88]

Don - wow - shocking damage!

 

[Default]

@coastie99 had a forklift prong jammed right through an amp of his.