Members WoodenDuckMaker Posted March 31, 2009 Members Share Posted March 31, 2009 +1I use the online system to send/ship and then drop off at kinko's. The rates are cheaper for FedEx Ground, as well--especially when you add insurance. do you have a special shipping scale? or do you just use a bathroom scale? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Heel Posted March 31, 2009 Members Share Posted March 31, 2009 do you have a special shipping scale? or do you just use a bathroom scale? You can find a good (used) digital postal scale on eBay for less than 50 bucks. If you're going to be doing a lot of shipping, I would highly recommend one. I use mine weekly, and the convenience alone has paid for this thing times over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted March 31, 2009 Members Share Posted March 31, 2009 Normally Fedex Ground is a little cheaper than UPS. For me, UPS is noticeably different since I get a deal from them. Either one has been stellar for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted March 31, 2009 Members Share Posted March 31, 2009 Same service for UPS would take 6-8 days.UPS is NEVER slower for me, usually a day quicker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted March 31, 2009 Members Share Posted March 31, 2009 FedEx is who I use. Not only are the prices better, but when I walked into the shop the first time the guys working there treated me like an old friend and we've become friends since then. At UPS, the interaction was extremely inpersonal and I was paying more for what I felt was an inferior service. I like FedEx's tracking system better as well.I think UPS' tracking is superior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shredtilurded Posted April 1, 2009 Members Share Posted April 1, 2009 I always ship UPS and have never had a problem.I rarely insure because if you don't let them pack it (big $$$$) they will not cover it,from what I'm told.I sent a guitar from South Jersey to Tennessee in less than 3 days.I always pack as if I'm sending it to Iraq though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted April 1, 2009 Members Share Posted April 1, 2009 I always ship UPS and have never had a problem.I rarely insure because if you don't let them pack it (big $$$$) they will not cover it,from what I'm told.I sent a guitar from South Jersey to Tennessee in less than 3 days.I always pack as if I'm sending it to Iraq though.I've never had them turn down a legit request for damage when I've done my own packing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fusion1 Posted April 1, 2009 Members Share Posted April 1, 2009 UPS is NEVER slower for me, usually a day quicker. You live in MN, I live in Florida and everytime I buy a guitar or amp from the west coast it is 6-8 days minimum from UPS. Fed Ex less than 5 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members grickie Posted April 1, 2009 Author Members Share Posted April 1, 2009 Wow lots of interesting responses. Here is what happened: I go to Fedex ground ( at Kinkos) I stand in line everything filled out 10 minutes later or so I put the box on the scale hand the guy my paperwork. He says if the insured amout is over $500 has has to open and inspect the item and packing. I have shipped a 100+ guitars with no problems in past years ( although none in the last 1yr or so). I spend a lot of time packing and the guitar was bubble wrapped in a hard case and double boxed then all air voids were filled with peanuts and paper. Then every seam of a very heavy box was taped. No way I'm gonna open it. I told him I was going to UPS. No response from them. I drive to the UPS ( in a staples right down the street. Walk in put the guitar on the scale and was out the door in minutes with no problem, just under $40 to ship a Gibson Explorer across county ( to arrive in 4 days). I walked out very happy and will not go back to Fedex ground until things change with one or the other. It seems that the rules for both Fed ex and UPS very at each location. So I guess there is no one best place. Thanks for all the responses! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steev09 Posted November 11, 2009 Members Share Posted November 11, 2009 my UPS delivered in 2 days fedex tracking track number ground Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members adrianne42 Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 Fantastic post thanks for it.... fedex tracking track number ground Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zuzuman Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 I tend to use FedEx Ground because it's usually cheaper. I have used UPS, usually with no problems, as well. The key is to pack carefully. Your package will be going through several depots along the way, some of which are more careful than others. I had the "pleasure" of seeing what can happen to your package in one of these sorting centers. There are places where packages can easily fall 15-20 feet from conveyor belts. I am no longer surprised that I had two Elitist SGs arrive with snapped headstocks despite the fact that they were in hard cases inside a strong cardboard box filled with crumpled newspaper. On the other hand, my current UPS hub seems to be pretty careful. I got a semi-hollow recently that was sent in a 20 year old Epiphone case with nothing but a cardboard box wrapped around it. Almost unbelievably, it arrived intact. I had to contact the seller about another issue, and I mentioned the inadequate packaging. She said the UPS store packed it and charged her $100 for packing and shipping. Now THAT is a crime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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