Paying for boxing and shipping

[rottingcorpse]

About to ship an expensive and heavy amp to a friend(important). I have used both FedEx and UPS stores before to box and ship stuff whenever I am going to insure a high value piece of gear. But this one is important.

The FedEx store says they insure for declared value. And since I can show payments for the declared value in my PayPal,I think I am good to go. It's a very heavy amp,and a pain the the back to move around. I would hate to be the people who have to deal with this package.

I am not worried about the deal going bad because of damage in shipping. The buyer is a real brother,and we both know the anxiety of shipping amps. I even have a great tech that can fix it if there is a problem,and I have no qualms about spending bux to make sure my brother gets what he paid for in working condition. I also have no problem playing the exorbitant shipping bill.

My question to those of you that have shipped amps this way (to guarantee insurance paying off in case of loss or damage)..... FedEx or UPS? Both have stores close to where the amp is located. And it's the store itself that ultimately has to cover any costs as far as damage or loss if I pay for the whole boxing/shipping/insurance thing.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Dude I'm gonna text you

 

[splatter]

Insure it double box it and pack it well and they will have to pay if they break it .
If they pack it then even better . I always go with fedex

 

[fek]

I have not had a complete amp get destroyed during shipping so not having to have had to go through all that, my comments may be invalid.

I pack for war. I would trust my packaging over anything that a store could provide. And they over charge the ever loving hell out of you for them to inadequately pack an item.

Sure, might be easier to file a claim if they F it up but, I would prefer to either video or photo document the packaging myself in the event of an unfortunate event.

 

[rottingcorpse]

I don't have the time to acquire the materials or manufacture the boxes and such to do this myself. And even if I pack for war,there is still always a chance the insurance won't pay off. If the store knows they are on the hook and I request double boxing and extra padding on the paperwork to ensure safe shipping,they have no recourse if damage occurs. It's all on them.

If this amp was just another Marshall, it wouldn't be a big deal. This bitch is heavy as hell and there is not many of them. And I have the PayPal receipts to show what he paid for it. I don't care if they charge me $200 to get it there safely.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I received an amp recently that was packed by a FedEx store and it had nothing more than some brown shipping paper stuffed in somewhat loosely around the amp in an oversized box. Couldn't believe it when I opened the box. Luckily the amp was not damaged. If at all possible, I always pack amps myself.

Good Luck!

 

[Racerxrated]

I received an amp recently that was packed by a FedEx store and it had nothing more than some brown shipping paper stuffed in somewhat loosely around the amp in an oversized box. Couldn't believe it when I opened the box. Luckily the amp was not damaged. If at all possible, I always pack amps myself.

Good Luck!

Here's the only problem with that....IF there is a problem, damage to the amp etc....neither UPS nor Fedex will pay any claim period. Unless they pack it for you. No exceptions. I don't care how well you pack, or I pack, or anyone....they will always say the packing was inadequate and no claim will be paid. Stupid but true...they will weasel out of any claim.
Only way to hold them accountable is to have THEM do the packing. I had a double boxed, bubble wrapped combo amp get impaled by UPS a few yrs back....only way to stop that was to have it shipped in a road case....claim denied. Fucking ridiculous.

 

[skullfxr]

I don't have the time to acquire the materials or manufacture the boxes and such to do this myself. And even if I pack for war,there is still always a chance the insurance won't pay off. If the store knows they are on the hook and I request double boxing and extra padding on the paperwork to ensure safe shipping,they have no recourse if damage occurs. It's all on them.

If this amp was just another Marshall, it wouldn't be a big deal. This bitch is heavy as hell and there is not many of them. And I have the PayPal receipts to show what he paid for it. I don't care if they charge me $200 to get it there safely.

You have the right idea. I go UPS. that is just me. But have them pack it, request that they go above and beyond nuclear war. Then it is their liability.

I respect you for the fact that you care so much. Good on you brother.

 

[JerEvil]

FedEx packing is not a guarantee of payment on insurance. Depends on value declared and extent of damage. It has to be visible. Like headshell damage. Anything else and it’s a crap shoot.

 

[cardinal]

I've used both to pack an amp and it turned out alright. It'll be kind of a pain, but it might be worth it to show up at both places with the amp and ask: I'd like to pay you to pack this and ship it; how would you do it? Then just pick the one that gives you the best sounding response.

 

[Racerxrated]

FedEx packing is not a guarantee of payment on insurance. Depends on value declared and extent of damage. It has to be visible. Like headshell damage. Anything else and it’s a crap shoot.

All I know is, if you do it yourself and pack it REALLY well, double box etc, and they still somehow fuck it up they won't pay period. At least if they do it they can't say you didn't pack well enough lol.

 

[lockingtuner]

I don't have the time to acquire the materials or manufacture the boxes and such to do this myself. And even if I pack for war,there is still always a chance the insurance won't pay off. If the store knows they are on the hook and I request double boxing and extra padding on the paperwork to ensure safe shipping,they have no recourse if damage occurs. It's all on them.

If this amp was just another Marshall, it wouldn't be a big deal. This bitch is heavy as hell and there is not many of them. And I have the PayPal receipts to show what he paid for it. I don't care if they charge me $200 to get it there safely.

A prominent person in the biz told me he ships FedEx, surrounds the head in 6 inches of bubble wrap, and hasn't had a problem in 10 years. YMMV.

 

[rottingcorpse]

It'll be kind of a pain, but it might be worth it to show up at both places with the amp and ask: I'd like to pay you to pack this and ship it; how would you do it? Then just pick the one that gives you the best sounding response.

This is exactly my plan. Both stores are within 4 miles from me, and I have used them both before. Tomorrow afternoon I plan to get both info and quotes from both companies. Thanks for all your responses and texts(damn,how many of you guys have my phone number?). Will advise how it went tomorrow night.

Then I am sure my bro will post about the amp when he gets it.

 

[RedB4Black]

Lowes sells packs of foam insulation (5 sheets for $10-12 or so) that are perfect for cutting down and lining an amp shipping box. Much better than bubble wrap. I've probably shipped nearly 50 amps and never had any damage. Double boxing or multiple layers of cardboard on the sidewalls is a must. I would usually blame any shipping damage on the quality of packing - though you can't do much about a forklift through the side.

 

[LP Freak]

I’ve shipped countless amps and guitars, packed all of them myself and never had an issue. I’m allot more confident in my packing job over some $10/hr kid I’m paying to pack it for me.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I received an amp recently that was packed by a FedEx store and it had nothing more than some brown shipping paper stuffed in somewhat loosely around the amp in an oversized box. Couldn't believe it when I opened the box. Luckily the amp was not damaged. If at all possible, I always pack amps myself.

Good Luck!

Here's the only problem with that....IF there is a problem, damage to the amp etc....neither UPS nor Fedex will pay any claim period. Unless they pack it for you. No exceptions. I don't care how well you pack, or I pack, or anyone....they will always say the packing was inadequate and no claim will be paid. Stupid but true...they will weasel out of any claim.
Only way to hold them accountable is to have THEM do the packing. I had a double boxed, bubble wrapped combo amp get impaled by UPS a few yrs back....only way to stop that was to have it shipped in a road case....claim denied. Fucking ridiculous.

So the last 5-6 amps I've shipped this last year and packed myself weren't truly insured then I guess; that's fu@ked up! I pack it, take it to FedEx with the box top still open and let them inspect, pay for the full value of the amp insured, and they tell me I'm covered. Can't trust anybody these days I guess.

 

[Racerxrated]

I received an amp recently that was packed by a FedEx store and it had nothing more than some brown shipping paper stuffed in somewhat loosely around the amp in an oversized box. Couldn't believe it when I opened the box. Luckily the amp was not damaged. If at all possible, I always pack amps myself.

Good Luck!

Here's the only problem with that....IF there is a problem, damage to the amp etc....neither UPS nor Fedex will pay any claim period. Unless they pack it for you. No exceptions. I don't care how well you pack, or I pack, or anyone....they will always say the packing was inadequate and no claim will be paid. Stupid but true...they will weasel out of any claim.
Only way to hold them accountable is to have THEM do the packing. I had a double boxed, bubble wrapped combo amp get impaled by UPS a few yrs back....only way to stop that was to have it shipped in a road case....claim denied. Fucking ridiculous.

So the last 5-6 amps I've shipped this last year and packed myself weren't truly insured then I guess; that's fu@ked up! I pack it, take it to FedEx with the box top still open and let them inspect, pay for the full value of the amp insured, and they tell me I'm covered. Can't trust anybody these days I guess.

There have been other threads about this subject, and the main point was you really aren't covered unless they pack it themselves. I only have the one UPS experience personally, and whatever metal piece impaled a Jubilee combo that I had double boxed, the amp didn't stand a chance..yet they turned the claim down. Others had similar stories from Fedex as well.

 

[rottingcorpse]

Racerxrated has it right. The shipper will always try to deny the claim. That's basically how the stores really make their money, by providing the service that assures the stores insurance will pay off.

To you guys that say "I pack for war. Never had an issue with over 1 million pieces of gear shipped." I get it. I have shipped a lot of stuff I packed well myself. Never had an issue either. That wasn't the point of the thread. I used my last boxes and shipping materials I had available. I don't have the time to get the materials needed, and this particular amp and bro is special. All of these add up to me needing to use the stores boxing and insurance services.

 

[Racerxrated]

Racerxrated has it right. The shipper will always try to deny the claim. That's basically how the stores really make their money, by providing the service that assures the stores insurance will pay off.

To you guys that say "I pack for war. Never had an issue with over 1 million pieces of gear shipped." I get it. I have shipped a lot of stuff I packed well myself. Never had an issue either. That wasn't the point of the thread. I used my last boxes and shipping materials I had available. I don't have the time to get the materials needed, and this particular amp and bro is special. All of these add up to me needing to use the stores boxing and insurance services.

Listen, I would never tell anyone that they HAVE to have the shipper box it, that's a bit of cash, when we can all do it well ourselves...I haven't ever had them pack. I still trust my packing, and really everyone else here does a great job...if not, we'd hear about it..
All I'm saying is my one bad experience taught me that they will absolutely weasel their way out of paying any claim, based on my impaled combo that was double boxed. One thing I learned is NOT EVER ship anything around Xmas...too many temp workers hired just for the holidays and they just don't give a fuck.

 

[glip22]

Pay the store to pack it and use their account to ship it fully insured. Instruct them how you want it packed and stand there while they pack it. If they tell you they can't do it now, wait until they do.
If you pack it and use their shipper account it will not get you denied. If you use your own account and they pack it, you will be denied and lose. Best to let them do it all. It will cost you retail shipping and packing which is about double what it would cost on your own account. It depends on how far it's going and how much you insure it for. A 60 pound amp box going across country at the store will probably run you 200-300 which you stated.
I would use Fedex. UPS denies every claim. It then goes to an outside contractor named Crawford who works for UPS. Fedex I'm not sure about but I think they process their own claims.