Well, my VA76 sent out got destroyed by UPS. My packing was excellent. The pictures suggest actual breakage, which means they threw it around in an aggresive manner.

It's not the first time. I asked the clerk to put on more fragile stickers and she said that just draws attention and makes it more prone to damage by disgruntled UPS employes. So another claim filed and knowledge that getting money from them is like pulling teeth.

I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER do business with UPS again.

Had to get it off my chest.

zuki

I do a lot of shipments thru UPS and I was told that it is difficult to get claims. They will try their best to prove that it is not their fault.

Hopefully things will change with UPS. I had bad experience with keyboard shipment thru UPS although I have to admit that the shipper did not do a good job in packing the keyboard.

I took three keyboards to the local UPS store and had them inspected and even though they were in the original boxes and packing, I told them to add any more cushioning they deemed necessary. They were then shipped to the East Coast and I understand one was almost totaled, the second badly damaged and the third minor damage.
DO NOT USE UPS is my advise.
Bebop

Anyone have any recommendations as to who to use?

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Bill
SmallGig.com

DHL, FedEX are both better than UPS....IMHO
TR

I've been using fed ex, I tried dhl and the shipping was OK but even when I took it to their terminal, after I paid, a week later they would add some kind of surcharge that no one knew anything about and no one could help me with. Maybe the problem was because I had an acct. I should've just paid cash.

Folks:

I don't have a lot of experience w/the others, I just know that UPS is scary. Two years ago I ordered a pair of the "Quiet Comfort" headphones for listening to movies on airplanes. I received a tracking number and tracked the package through delivery. The problem was it never showed up. UPS said it was delivered and there was no package. When I talked about a claim, they said I had to wait 90 days to see if it "shows up". Two weeks later I was walking around the neighborhood and (on a whim), I walked out of my way to go to a house with a similar number than mine (off by 100). Guess what? There was my box sitting outside the door of this house (vacant). It had been rained on and sitting there for 2 weeks!

This week I received a 250 GB USB hard drive and some software (2 separate packages) via DHL. They required signatures for both and left them with the neighbors.

I don't like it when I come home from work and find stuff that has been sitting in front of my door for 6 hours or so.... If I am given a preference, I am going to opt for DHL over UPS.

They pretty much all suck when it comes to filing a claim. I've been shipping high end merchandise all over the world for many years and no matter what shipper I use I always overpack everything (this is a must). If you haven't packaged it well enough to survive Armageddon, you may want to think twice before using any shipper. I package things so well I've yet to ever have an item I sent damaged. I've had some that were stolen, but never damaged. I can't say the same for items I've received from others... Some people simply don't know how to pack expensive or fragile items well.

UPS is the most known for damaging goods, but with either carriers, if you use the 3 days [or less] delivery (which usually means via AIR), damages are minimal ... it's worked for me, but it means shipping charges are slightly higher!

Thanks,

AJ

What about the good 'ol US Mail Service?

I agree with AJ. I used to use UPS and they distroyed too many keyboards.
I now use FED EX Ground for almost everything. It is less expensive and they generally handle everything better than UPS. However, I still get some boxes with holes and cuts. 2nd day air and next day are the best. There are fewer people handling the boxes.


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George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566
www.kayesmusicscene.com

I recall a few years ago, just after we had hosted a music workshop at our church, UPS came to pick up the 10 Roland XP-50s used for the workshop. I stood and watched in horror as the UPS guy stood outside the back of a large UPS truck and literally lobbed (overhand) each keyboard (in its hard case) all the way to the front of the trailer. I instinctively let out a yell at him, asking him to take it easy. He grinned and proceeded to throw them only half as hard. I will never ship by UPS again.

Tim

[This message has been edited by CoasterTim (edited 12-19-2006).]

Well, I filed a claim and will see if UPS thinks my packing was sufficient. Another stress for the upcoming weeks, especially after I ordered and received my board, based on this sale.

I feel someone is telling me to keep the E-50, which I really think is absolutely TERRIFIC.

Don't tell the wife!!!!!

zuki

Most music companies are now using FedEx. It is cheaper, quicker and safer. Even the ground service is generally quicker than UPS and often arrives before the estimated delivery time meaning less chance for stuff to happen.

The last keyboards I sent I also had them label the package so that they would have to strap them on end against the walls.

I quit using UPS about a year ago. Fed Ex is quicker, less expensive and better.
One or two experiences with DHL have been good also.
DonM

Once we're on the topic, don't touch USPS either! I sent three boxes containing a Tyros, sattelite speakers and keyboard stand. It was supposed to arrive within 10 days. Instead, one box arrived after six weeks, the second after 2 months, and the keyboard after THREE months!!!

Even though I bought insurance and they told me straight out that if it hadn't arrived within 2-3 weeks, it was lost, they refused to work with me.

I think the best solution is just load it into the back of the van and deliver it personally. That way we can visit awhile and maybe jam with the new owner!

DonM

i am sorry to hear that zuki.

donM, you're right! or at least, find some friends going in that direction (this is how my keyboard arrived to me, from over 1500 miles away)
quite a travel!

I switched to fedex when my fist logitech z-5500 arrived with a forklift hold through the side of the box. The fork actually went all the way through the box, exited the opposite side, but fortunately, didn't damage any of the contents other than some foam packing material. My Fedex packages always arrive when they are supposed to, and I have not had anyone say they have been damaged.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

this has been a very valuable and informative thread for me. thanks to all who input here. wish all threads were like this instead of the axe-grinding ones.

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Miami Mo

I second the advice to avoid the USPS. I received a shipment (of speakers) that looked like it had been run over by the delivery truck. Filed an insurance claim ( they gladly took the money for the insurance). DENIED...Poor Packaging. After months of frustration and the intervention of my congressman, I was finally paid.

Fed-X is my shipper of choice from now on

Fedex is the way to go.

I to have had one disaster with UPS and with all the stories on this thread that tells me this is way too common and is a serious trend. I've nicknamed UPS the Gorilla Squad!!!!

I had a shipping account with DHL and all kinds of surcharges and misc. charges showed up. If you do ship internationally I think DHL is hard to beat in that arena especially to Australia from the East Coast.

Jerry

It's interesting that you say to avoid the USPS because many of their packages are subcontracted to FedEx and DHL. Chances are your package sent via USPS was transported by FedEx or DHL to a local hub, then turned over to USPS for local delivery.

When it comes to filing an insurance claim with any of the major carriers, they are all atrocious. Their first response is to deny any and all claims then make the shipper fight their way to get a payout. In the cases where they absolutely refuse to pay, you'll most likely have to threaten to or file a lawsuit before they will pay.

FYI... most UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL, and other carriers 2 and 3 day air packages are actually transported via truck and train (not air). Only in cases where a package is going from the East coast to the West coast or vice versa, is air transport used. Sometimes you never know how your package is going to be tranported even if you did pay for a particular type of shipping service.

[This message has been edited by Ensnareyou (edited 12-20-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Ensnareyou (edited 12-20-2006).]

Folks, this really surprises me! We ship hundreds of packages monthly via UPS, and, in 11 years, we've never had a damagesd shipment or one that was lost. We rely heavily on next day air. I have shipped $5,000.00 plus banjo's for my friend J.D. Crowe, camera equipment, etc.

Recently, I got a Casio piano from George, shipped via FedEx and the box had been damaged so badly it looked like it had been through a war.

We have one person who just packs and ships, and have custom boxes built for some regularly shipped items. UPS has occasional meetings to discuss problems, packaging, etc.

We must be lucky...

Russ

When I purchase an expensive keyboard or accordion, I always pay extra to have it shipped via air instead of ground (usually 2nd day air or 3 day). It is more expensive but the item being shipped is handled way less. The more a shipping company handles an item, the more likely something bad will happen.

I use fedex and have been very happy with their service.

A few years ago I shipped a keyboard via ups and it was damaged. I paid to insure the keyboard for the full retail price, but ups refused to pay for the damage. They said it was not packed properly. I used the factory box and used more packing material then the factory uses. I also double boxed it by placing the factoy box inside another box. UPS tried every way to avoid paying for damage that was their fault. I will not use them for expensive equipment.

Russ,

When shipping overnight, two day or three day air via UPS, very few handlers are involved. Ground shipments, on the other hand, are loaded and unloaded several times at up to 10 locations, each of which is on a tight schedule. Consequently, the chances of having something damaged shipping via ground is much higher. The irony of this post is my son-in-law worked for UPS for more than 15 years, and he now works for DHL. He is in upper level management, and because of the problems at UPS, he took a hefty pay cut to go with DHL. He says the number of customer complaints are much lower with DJL.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

I've shipped and received dozens and dozens of packages via UPS over the years and have never had any problems. I just recently shipped a Roland VK-8 keyboard and received a Hammond XK-3 keyboard. No damage or delays of any kind. I've also used USPS countless times without any problems at all.

I'm really surprised everyone else has had so much trouble.

I guess I have been lucky too.

I have shipped via UPS for more than 20 years..Pretty much without problems..I think I recall a customer complaint, but I think it was a fraud issue on their part[customer]..

I have been using UPS and DHL [60% and 40%, respectively] without incident.

Maybe a year or two ago, I shipped a keyboard to DonM, that had some physical damage..I don't recall the Shipping service we used..We did not file a complaint..

I recieved a parcel from a fellow SZ member a few weeks ago, that had some damage, but I was able to fix the damage without a hassle..Just checked the box, that was from UPS...

Fran, you shipped the Casio via UPS. Just a crack or two in the case as I recall. It still works great, even with duct tape over the name!
DonM

My new Rocknroller R10 cart was shipped via UPS. The box had two holes where the axles had punched through. One of the end caps was broken. It had to be handled EXTREMELY roughly to do this.
Nothing serious, but another reason not to trust anything valuable to UPS, in my opinion.
DonM

If this is true, I would think someone could sue their you-knows off for false advertisement. Really. Are you sure?

Hmmm... I used to ship a ton of stuff... if what you say is true, then why are those big planes loading out every night for UPS and FedEx? What do you know about this that I don't know?

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Bill
SmallGig.com

Did they eventually pay? If not... I'd sue them in small claims court.

Your story makes it to where you'd best take pictures of each packing step you do when you pack the box for expensive items.

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Bill
SmallGig.com