J66Bass Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 Hello I’m looking for advice for a postage from a seller to me in London, I never done this before so I like some advice, the seller like me to organise the postage, thanks any advice welcome JM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 Depends on size and weight (and value of course) but I`ve had pretty good service from Parcel2go.com, using either UPS or MyHermes. One thing I would say though is if the item is a musical instrument do not use Parcelforce - their terms & conditions list musical instruments as prohibited items, so although you can pay for extra insurance, there is no payout should the item get lost or damaged. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 Please please please not Hermes, the biggest bunch of inept morons you will ever speak to in your life. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 What're you sending? Royal Mail 2nd class works a treat for me, often as fast as first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 30 minutes ago, Lozz196 said: One thing I would say though is if the item is a musical instrument do not use Parcelforce Fixed for you. I'm currently chasing down a parcel that was out for delivery on Monday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 It's impossible to say because it all depends on the particular driver working for the company - often through an agency. The safest and best way is to hire a man with a van for the job in hand but that's not always feasible. The only thing you can do is make sure you pay for insurance. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 (edited) 3 minutes ago, ped said: It's impossible to say because it all depends on the particular driver working for the company - often through an agency. The safest and best way is to hire a man with a van for the job in hand but that's not always feasible. The only thing you can do is make sure you pay for insurance. Yes, but do read the exclusions in the T&C, as many have found they've paid for insurance which does not apply to the carriage of musical instruments. I also seem to recall one courier would insure a bass if lost but not if it was damaged in transit. Edited November 14, 2018 by yorks5stringer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 Yeah good call. The websites can be impossible to use so call them and prepare for a long wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 Do not use my Hermes, they’re awful. If it’s small enough then you’d have to go a long way to beat Royal Mail special delivery, it’s tracked and insured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 Royal mail stuff goes Parcelfarce over a certain size I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 The most important is the packing and the way it's perfectly done : bomb proof isn't exaggerated. The courier is, hélas, to often a lottery, so put all the chances on your side with the best made package, the address typed and not written, a phone number clearly visible and the same paper inside the box. Think about the usual weather and make it "rainproof" as much as possible. Try to ship on Monday to avoid a long weekend in the overheated or underheated (depending the season) warehouses. The shorter it's in the courier hands, the better it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J66Bass Posted November 14, 2018 Author Share Posted November 14, 2018 (edited) He has a bass for sale and want me to arrange the courier or postage from his to mine ,thanks he live in Manchester I lm in London , I never done this thing before if I sale I arrange the delivery or when I buy , the seller like me to arrange the postage ?im a bit confused thanks Edited November 14, 2018 by J66Bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 I’d tell him to post personally. Much easier for the seller to deal with any issues should they arise. Perhaps you could use it an excuse to visit Manchester? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 (edited) 19 minutes ago, J66Bass said: He has a bass for sale and want me to arrange the courier or postage from his to mine ,thanks he live in Manchester I lm in London , I never done this thing before if I sale I arrange the delivery or when I buy , the seller like me to arrange the postage ?im a bit confused thanks It can't really work like that, if I understand you right. He's sending it, regardless who pays, so a courier can't be booked unless they have the dimensions & weight of the package - which is info he will have. They will also probably require an address/phone no. for each end before they'll even quote. And yes - never use Parcelfarce, and avoid MyHerpes if at all possible. I've heard some horror stories about UPS, but have used them several times myself with no issues. I don't think any of them are immune to disaster, unfortunately. Edited November 14, 2018 by Bassassin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 Direct Courier Solutions offer specific Musical Instrument shipping and I have had in writing on more than one occasion that they insure for both loss and damage. I believe they may use third party shippers, but on one occasion I do know that it was a well known company that did the collection. Worth looking in to further? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PawelG Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 Just to add to the confusion - I’ve used Parcelforce, DPD, UPS, DHL within the UK and internationally and (touch wood) never had a problem. I always pack things super carefully, so I know even if they get dropped or something, they items are very unlikely to get damaged. And then again, I have received acoustic guitars in a flimsy cardboard box or wrapped in stretch without any damage. So, you never know. And it’s always better for the seller to arrange the courier. It’s just much easier. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 If it's in a hard case I think Parcel Force will insure it, I recently sent a guitar via them and looked into it, DPD seem better than average, good tracking and they tell you when it's going to arrive on the day, but they've all got horror stories, depends on the driver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 Musical instruments are not covered more than £100 GBP by ParcelForce whatever you put them in or extra insurance you take. And almost any other courier in the UK does the same. There has been a talk about this here : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 (edited) There used to be something in the smallprint with Royal Mail/Parcelforce that they would only insure musical instruments up to a max of £200, not sure if that is still the case or not. I've used them with no issues though. edit - Hellzero beat me to it. Edited November 14, 2018 by KevB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 Go and pick it up with the understanding that you'll try it out on the day and if it's not right, then no sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 I had this issue when looking into buying a bass at the beginning of this year. The only courier to offer significant insurance on a musical instrument was UPS - a) enchanced cover tops out at £1K and b) a guitar/bass must be in a hard case. None of the other big couriers advertise musical instrument insurance - DHL, Parcelsh*te, TNT, FedEx, MyHerpes or even CityLink when they were still in business. In the end I got on the train - got a cheap 1st class weekend ticket for only £30 more than the UPS quote, and as I was the courier I had reasonable trust that the bass would be OK. The only downside was hat it took the whole day to get there and back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthedog Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 (edited) It may be easier to get a cheap day return by rail and have him meet you at the station. You will lose a day, but a) you will get to see if the bass is what they said it was and b) also be able to get it home safely. Whoops, just seen the post above. Same idea. Edited November 14, 2018 by Bobthedog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 Just catch a train. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted November 15, 2018 Share Posted November 15, 2018 1 hour ago, ambient said: Just catch a train. I'm currently working out a deal with someone for a guitar I'm selling - him being in Brighton & me just outside Edinburgh would involve a 21+ hour return journey costing £162! Think it's going to be £35 with UPS & fingers crossed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J66Bass Posted November 15, 2018 Author Share Posted November 15, 2018 thank you all, that was great help . i did contact the seller and use the wording of some you explain to me and with no hesitation he agreed to organise the postage with proof of insure postage .thanks again for all you help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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