UPS "Grind" Delivery

[dhergert]

I have a theory that the longer a package is in the hands of a carrier, the more likely it is to be badly damaged. I pay to get anything important shipped by either next-day or 2-day delivery. I've received a number of mandolins and other instruments that way. No problems so far.

[Folkmusician.com]

That is a one out of a thousand package. I have received them like this from all carriers. Over the years, USPS has done the least damage by far. They just don't have great tracking and can be near impossible to deal with if something goes wrong. FedEx and UPS have been about equal and vary by region. The real common one is footprints. Something like 30% of the large packages (boxes of cases, etc.) have imbedded footprints on them. I am not sure what stage this is happening.

[Bill Clements]

I didn't mention this, but I had to pay UPS a $40 dollar "entry prep fee" to get the package through customs, over and beyond shipping. Brian explained it as UPS' fee for helping the shipment zip through official customs, which UPS pays to get preferential treatment. ...oh well...
In all fairness, I've never had an issue with bashed boxes like this before with UPS. I guess I was due!

I pay to get anything important shipped by either next-day or 2-day delivery.

Not a bad suggestion, Don!

[Jeff Mando]

I have a theory that the longer a package is in the hands of a carrier, the more likely it is to be badly damaged. I pay to get anything important shipped by either next-day or 2-day delivery. I've received a number of mandolins and other instruments that way. No problems so far.

Great suggestion, Don! I noticed some of the big vintage dealers on eBay occasionally charge $300 or so for overnight shipping within the USA on mega-expensive instruments. Makes sense, less handling time in addition to high insurance value should make the delivery guy pay attention -- or one would think?

In this case, the sender was from Canada sending to the USA, so I'm not sure if overnight service would be possible, considering Customs and the high cost of overnight service.

[mandolin tony]

many years ago I worked for Purolator courier, an in my 6 1/2 years there I only broke one package of light bulbs. not bad for working in Manhattan. plus no accidents.

[mandolin tony]

I like to take pride in my job what ever I do.

[Benski]

Echoing Dhergert's post above, I am also of the mind that minimizing the time the instrument is in transit increases the survival odds.

To that end, I always send/receive instruments via the fastest affordable means possible...and will gladly pay the extra fee for guaranteed early morning delivery, if available.

Relatedly, I have been using Fed Ex pretty much exclusively and have had no issues with dozens of mandolin transactions. (Of course, now that I've said that...)

Cheers

[j. condino]

I received this 1930 ALCOA a couple of years ago from a shipper with the box completely destroyed and the neck sticking out 2 foot and bent sideways. I was charged $500 to ship this domestically about five states away. The shipper refused to pay out a claim. The sender refused to pay out a claim. Paypal refused to payout a claim. 'Extremely frustrating as I already had it sold to another person who was patiently waiting for the delivery; every single person involved acted like it was somehow my fault

The last photo is what it looked like when it left my shop after approx. 150 hours of work later....

j.
www.condino.com

[MikeEdgerton]

Historically I've always tried to limit the time that instruments spend in trucks/trains/airplanes whatever. Beyond the obvious handling issues there are the issues of being bumped along the road for days and the extreme temperature differences inside trailers and rail cars.

[MikeEdgerton]

I received this 1930 ALCOA a couple of years ago from a shipper with the box completely destroyed and the neck sticking out 2 foot and bent sideways. I was charged $500 to ship this domestically about five states away. The shipper refused to pay out a claim. The sender refused to pay out a claim. Paypal refused to payout a claim. 'Extremely frustrating as I already had it sold to another person who was patiently waiting for the delivery; every single person involved acted like it was somehow my fault

The last photo is what it looked like when it left my shop after approx. 150 hours of work later....

j.
www.condino.com

That thing was beautiful when it left your shop. Not so much when it arrived.