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  3. 1214082675

Safe Shipping, Fact or Fiction

I have always purchased gear locally as to avoid the potential hassles of dealing with shippers. I have read some of the threads on this site that discuss the carelessness and mishandling of packages. Worse yet, I have read about the major carriers denying claims. I have found an item here on Agon that I would like to buy. The only hesitation I have is the shipping issue.

Overall, how much of a problem is shipping? What recommendations do you have for reducing the chances of these types of problems occurring? I'm not necessarily looking for a rating of UPS vs Fed Ex. I really want to know the best tactics that can be applied (i.e.: the carrier, the packaging, marking/identifying the package, the covering of one's proverbial ass, etc.).

Thanks.
2chnlben

Showing 2 responses by don_s

don_s
271 posts
 
2chnlben,

You have posed several excellent questions. I am sure there are some horror stories out there but I can report over 40 items either sent or received by me without loss or contents damage. UPS did once deliver an item back to the sender and they came seriously close to damaging the amplifier I received last week. It only traveled a couple of hundred miles but UPS managed to put a large puncture through both boxes. The only thing that saved the amp was the space between the two boxes and the space between the amplifier and the internal box. The "rubbery" foam spacers also helped.

I am not a fan of either UPS or FedEx. They have done some major damage to more than one box but so far the contents have survived. You asked for honest feedback and that is MY experience.

You asked about tactics that can help to protect the shipment. I always insure and require a signature. That way a box can't be abandoned and mysteriously disappear. I always use the factory packaging. That saved my latest delivery and possibly others.

Full disclosure: I have never shipped or received speakers via UPS or FedEx. That could be a whole 'nother story.
don_s
271 posts
 
When I received the amplifier mentioned above the box was obviously punctured in a big way. The UPS driver volunteered to wait while I opened the package. I do not know if that is SOP or if he was just being a nice guy (which he is). He has driven my route for several years and made frequent stops at my place. Maybe I just got "frequent flier" treatment. He knows my gear costs big bucks. He mentioned that as a reason to wait while I opened the package.

Forgot to add above: I have never shipped a turntable either. Another scary-to-ship item.
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