The Steel Guitar Forum

My local counter man at Fed ex said they would cover the value of mySD 10 Emmons steel, $2000.00 because it's not in a new factory box, yet it was in an original ,new, Le Grande box ,with that box in yet another box, surrounded by sheets on one inch syrofoam ,DOUBLE BOXED...10 time better than Emmons ships new guitars to there customers, anyone have any trouble shipping Fed Ex and getting the steel insured for the prorper value ???? Thanks in advance...

Confusing, Bob; you say they would cover it? What's the problem?

It's my experience that they'll accept any figure I'll declare - whether or not that would stand up in the event of a claim I couldn't say; so far the occasion hasn't arisen.

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I just shipped a guitar to the UK and declared a $1,000 value. This was a Fedex depot (not at a general shipping store), and I left with the impression that the shipment was covered at a cost of .35c per $100.00 of value.

Were they being less-than-honest with me, I wonder?

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I will put my couple cents in here as well.

UPS sucks but FED-EX is even worse.
It seems that they think that they invented gunpowder again and are sitting on a monopoly chair that gives them the right to act towards customers like this.

I would ship a guitar with UPS(although they are just as bad) before using FED-EX.
At least UPS is handling their packages with a "little" respect while FED-EX just throws them around the loading docks.(I know....I worked there)

UPS asks $1 per $100 insured.
Now I see (posted by Michael) that FED-EX is holding a different rate.

I have lost about 4 packages with FED-EX that never were retrieved and payed dearly for their mistakes.
However .....the damage has been done and I cannot turn back time.
They never got back at me whether they found my packages or not($1200 worth).

Take it form me Bob....use UPS...or USPS(you pay more but at least they are still a "little" bit honest).

Ron

Yes - when I filled in the 'declared value' part on the forms ($1,000) they told me they'd then calculated the whole charge, insurance as well (at .35c per $100); next to the actual shipping charge. As the total was over $380, the $3.50 or so was insignificant.

I don't think the guitar was worth bothering with - not with those sort of costs - but it was a friend's property and he's paying the charges for repatriating it.

Thanks Guys, very "eye opening" please keep this discussion going,,, any body have there "two cents" please chime in!! Thanks

Ron ! wrote:I will put my couple cents in here as well.

UPS sucks but FED-EX is even worse.
It seems that they think that they invented gunpowder again and are sitting on a monopoly chair that gives them the right to act towards customers like this.

I would ship a guitar with UPS(although they are just as bad) before using FED-EX.
At least UPS is handling their packages with a "little" respect while FED-EX just throws them around the loading docks.(I know....I worked there)

UPS asks $1 per $100 insured.
Now I see (posted by Michael) that FED-EX is holding a different rate.

I have lost about 4 packages with FED-EX that never were retrieved and payed dearly for their mistakes.
However .....the damage has been done and I cannot turn back time.
They never got back at me whether they found my packages or not($1200 worth).

Take it form me Bob....use UPS...or USPS(you pay more but at least they are still a "little" bit honest).

Ron

Funny! I've had just the opposite experience with FedEx being the better of the two.

I think Mike Cass warned us of this issue with the FedEx policy a few months ago.

Benton

I have shipped Fedex for years and never had any problem. Its all on the packing.

I worked for FedEx Ground for a few years and let me tell you..those high school kids who are loading and unloading trucks at FedEx probably work a second shift at UPS. FedEx doesn`t handle their boxes any different than UPS. The fact that FedEx sucks is the other thing. I would never, NEVER, ship my thousands of dollars worth instrument FedEx or UPS... I have never heard a happy ending insurance story with FedEx... I try to bring my guitars from Europe myself, even then they get damaged by retarded airport crews, but mostly there is some tear on the cases, so far I had luck and guitars were not damaged....stay away, if you can, from FedEx and UPS....

Db

I have shipped Fedex for years and never had any problem. Its all on the packing.

I agree. I've been using FedEx only for several years and it's been excellent, no problems. Yes, the packing is important. I have access to heavy duty guitar boxes and good packing material, so that is very helpful.

I have problems with Fedex almost every single time.
It is not from damage but they can't find me. Just last week , I go on line to check on a package that should have been delivered and I get incorrect address as reason for non delivery .
I have lived at this location since 1975 and this happens almost every time . There are several Georgetown Tn. but the zip code fixes that . But In The same Georgetown with my zip code there are 2 roads with the same name . They are about 5 miles apart and in different counties . One has 5 digit house numbers and the other has 4 digit house numbers. As stupid as it sound that is the way it is and they can't get it straight. 2 times in the last 3 months I had to call and tell them how to get here after I get the incorrect address on line . Do they change drivers every time you turn around. This has happened over a dozen times and I have told them how to tell by the house numbers more than once.
I never ship with them because if they can't find me , how do I know they will find who I am sending it to.

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I am noticing a general increase in the level of incompetence in alot of businesses recently. I dont know if its because of layoffs or what.

but yes, recently I had a problem with fedex. I wont bore you with the details but they screwed it up every way imgaineable and each time i talked to them they told me something different.

I know where i work they are starting to lay people off and it is affecting the speed and quality of our work. some departments have no staff left to answer the phones even.

Here is some of Fed Ex's handywork. These are 200 feet of stainless pull rods I ordered from Michigan. Martin.

I cannot say if this is a direct result of the new shipping regulations regarding limited liability, etc., but Elderly Instruments has instituted a "no shipping on used amplifiers, store sales only" policy. Maybe a direct result of excessive shipping damage?

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Emmons pedal steels were just sent and received via Fed Ex.
Not a problem.
They were both insured for $3,600 and arrived in excellent shape.

Erv...
How about some specifics? Who shipped? From where? Who provided the insurance? We are talking here about INDIVIDUALS shipping USED or VINTAGE items. Emmons is a manufacturer shipping a new instrument. That's different. They CAN get full coverage. You can get full coverage as an individual at some third-party shippers who will self-insure the shipment but you cannot get this coverage from FedEx at a FedEx terminal. I have a friend who ships at a UPS "shipping store" downtown as he only works a few block away. THEY provide a third party extra value insurance at an additional upcharge that UPS does not offer. If there is a problem with loss or damage he can't deal with UPS at all, only the "shipping store" which is willing to assume the risk for a price which UPS is not willing or able to do. I am sure FedEx is the same with their shipping "partners", if the staff knows about extra value insurance or you insist that they check on it for you most of the larger operations can give it to you AT A PRICE that you may not like. I do not deal with these "shipper stores" at all, my experience has been that they are usually immigrant families buying a franchise and sending the kids out into the alleys and dumpsters to scavenge for packing material and cardboard. They do not know how to pack anything, let alone pack it well. I pack all my own stuff and deliver it direct to an actual FedEx or UPS terminal facility.

These were both used guitars, one an old push/pull and the other an Emmons LeGrande.
One was shipped from Indiana and the other from Minnesota.
I just packed up the p/p, took it down to the shipping place, paid the shipping fee (plus the insurance fee for $3,600 worth of coverage) and it was sent on its way.
I received the LeGrande yesterday in great shape and it was also covered by $3,600 in insurance.

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We are talking here about INDIVIDUALS shipping USED or VINTAGE items.

Most of the time that is true.

A lot of the damage can be avoided by having UPS stores or FED-EX stores pack the item for you.
In case you will have that (hopefully never) claim you can go back to them and tell them to fix this problem.
I always go to the stores and have them wrap it unless the item is not worth it.
The picture of the tube all cracked open and bend is a good example on how "NOT" to pack an item.

My point was only the fact that I have lost several packages and they never found them again(They say), which leaves me to prove if they were ever shipped.
Luckily did I (like Michael) save the slips.
I am still in the process of getting reimbursed for these items.
They will never give you the value back for the full 100% unless you can prove to them that the item was brand spankin' new.

I contacted Fedex and after some pictures and paperwork, I recieved a Fedex check for damages in just a few days..

Hook can you post some pictures?I would like to see how in the world they managed to destroy 2 pickups while the guitar was packed in it's case.

Ron