Courier points system and courier issues

[paul, the]

[size=2]Insurance notes are taken from BC members' experiences with courier firms. Instrument specific T&Cs may not have been confirmed. [/size]
[color="#2E8B57"]It is highly recommend that the Terms and Conditions as well as [b]claims policies[/b] are inquired about [b]specific to the item you're sending[/b] before placing an order with any courier firm regardless of reputation or existing known information.[/color] [i]Added 00:54 19/10/07[/i]

Basses/Cabs etc. may well not be covered. Inquire into [b]official information[/b], don't just accept a "yeah, sure" from the girl on the phone.

Best of luck to you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[indent][url="http://www.apc-overnight.com/"]APC Overnight[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 10
[*]- 1
[b][color="#FF0000"][u]Confirmed:[/u]*NO insurance for non-account holders[/color][/b] -- [b][color="#2E8B57"]*Insurance accepted in some instances[/color][/b] -- ([url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=72928"]no insurance link[/url]) -- [b][color="#2E8B57"]*[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=36625&view=findpost&p=371495"]Kev's insurance woes[/url][/color][/b] *[url="http://www.apc-overnight.com/information.php"]Charging & Volumetric Weight[/url] *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=283006"]Accont advice[/url] *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=59873"]Online tracking=Paypal Sellers' protection[/url] [b][color="#A0522D"]*eg. 20kg cab: £22[/color] | [color="#A0522D"]*eg 40kg combo: £30[/color] | [color="#A0522D"]*eg. (under 10kg) Acoustic guitar: £16[/color][/b] | [color="#A0522D"]*eg. 40kg Ashdown cab from Glasgow to Keighley: £45[/color][/b]
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.interparcel.co.uk"]Interparcel[/url][/indent][list]Interparcel are a forwarding company. If you know the specific 'party used (DHL, UPS etc.), please do mention it. There is no doubt a better way of doing this re. complications surrounding the independence of a company, claims etc.


[*]+ 14
[*]- 3
[b][color="#2E8B57"]*Provide Insurance[/color][/b] *[color="#2E8B57"][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=36625&view=findpost&p=323352"]*Example insurance claim[/url][/color] * [b][color="#A0522D"]*eg. hardcased bass, 11.5kg (insured to £750): £40[/color][/b] | [b][color="#A0522D"]*eg. £9 for a 20kg[/color][/b] | [b][color="#A0522D"]*eg. Insured Dolphin UK-Canada: £130[/color][/b] *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=60988"]Fast, Cheap (tracked) international delivery[/url] *[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=6411&hl=interparcel"]BC thread 1[/url] *[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=6163&hl=interparcel"]BC thread 2[/url] *[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5415&hl=interparcel"]BC thread 3[/url] *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=282088"]Three positive examples, and good customer service[/url] *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=60988"]Efficient, flexible website[/url] *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=308094"]Fast international delivery (UKtoCanada)[/url] *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=36625&view=findpost&p=376530"]UK-France[/url] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=74030"]Suspect insurance T&Cs[/url] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=238254"]Gear damage[/url] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=247540"]Gear damage[/url]
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=L&ai=BrRgGfZnlRr2IO4KqwgHPtMzTDJPlmCbvqaa8A5etp-oIkE4IABABGAEgtlQ4AFCRqKvV-_____8BYLu-roPQCqoBIHMrb3JnLm1vemlsbGE6ZW4tVVM6b2ZmaWNpYWwrc2ZzyAEBqQLE_J1sUQbBPsgCp5qlAtkD26AxV84SFKg&q=http://clk.atdmt.com/ISP/go/gglkxpar0040000836isp/direct/01/&usg=AFQjCNGipuJ4se5ycZK4dE6h8R5FcFA_ZQ"]ParcelForce[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 9
[*]- 1
*[url="http://www.parcelforce.com/portal/pw/content1?catId=25800694&mediaId=load105018"]Insurance/packing information link[/url] [b][color="#FF0000"][u]Confirmed:[/u]*Don't insure instruments[/color][/b] [b][color="#FF0000"]*Max claim £150 hard-cased[/color][/b] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=716&hl=parcelforce"]PF thread[/url] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=60639"]Poor e-comms&information[/url] *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=60639"]Good telephone comms[/url] [b][color="#A0522D"]*eg. to Denmark 9kg £42[/color][/b]
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.ups-scs.co.uk/"]UPS[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 9
[*]- 7
[b][color="#2E8B57"]*Provide Insurance - high limit '(up to $50000)'[/color][/b][color="#2E8B57"][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=36625&view=findpost&p=323352"]*Example insurance claim[/url][/color] *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=60670"]Fast international delivery[/url] *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color]Flexible with delivery requests [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=60670"]*[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color]take oversized parcels[/url] *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=73831"]Professional recommendation[/url] [color="#A0522D"]*eg 32kg cab: £30 covered to £600[/color] [color="#A0522D"]*[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=36625&view=findpost&p=518822"]£36 for next day with £1K insurance[/url][/color] | [color="#A0522D"]*eg head+rc (29kg) insured for £500, inland 48hr: £37[/color] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=110760"]Delivered to wrong address[/url] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=19770&hl="]Charged sender and recipient. Collection errors.[/url]
[/list] - [indent][url="http://www.postvan.com/"]Postvan[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 2
[*]- 0
*[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color]Size and insurance restrictions (good for entry level heads).
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.interlinkexpress.com/"]Interlink[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 2
[*]- 0
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/jump1?catId=19100175&mediaId=19100176"]Royal Mail (Standard Parcels)[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 2
[*]- 0
*[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color]quick, cheap delivery
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.uksameday.co.uk/index.html"]UK SameDay[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 1
[*]- 0
[b][color="#2E8B57"]*(inclusive) insurance £13 per Kg[/color][/b] | [b][color="#2E8B57"]**extra £1000 insured value costs an extra £10[/color][/b] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=72626"]Insurance link[/url] *Provide more services than same day delivery (3 day etc.)
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.dpd.co.uk/"]DPD[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 1
[*]- 0
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.fedex.com/"]FedEx[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 1
[*]- 0
*[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=75972"]Excellent service[/url] *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=75972"]Punctual International delivery (US)[/url]
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/jump1?catId=19100176&mediaId=19100178"]RM Special Delivery[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 1
[*]- 0
[color="#2E8B57"]*insure up to 2k[/color][/b]*[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=65589"]Dimension limits[/url] *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=301049"]Now take a normal size bass in (cardboard) bassbox[/url] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color]Expensive
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.usps.com/"]USPS[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 1
[*]- 1
*For transactions involving the United States *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color]Good tracking service
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.parcel2go.com/"]Parcel2go[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 1
[*]- 1
*[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=58436"]Poor customer service[/url] [b][color="#2E8B57"]*[url="http://www.parcel2go.com/shipping-items.aspx#unins"]Now insurable with hard case[/url][/color][/b]
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.tnt.com/country/en_gb.html"]TNT[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 2
[*]- 2
*[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=125320"]Late collection, damaged item[/url]
[/list]-[indent][url="https://www.transglobal.org.uk/Default.asp"]Transglobal[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 2
[*]- 1
*[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=36625&view=findpost&p=364997"]example of insurance[/url] *[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=36625&view=findpost&p=337568"]Forwarding company (DHL, UPS) - discount on direct[/url] (-)* [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=36625&view=findpost&p=357042"]Problems[/url]
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.senditnow.com/"]Send It Now[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 0
[*]- 1
*[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=71708"]Part of ParcelForce[/url] [b][color="#FF0000"]*Max claim £150 hard-cased[/color][/b]
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.business-post.com/"]Business Post[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 0
[*]- 1
*[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=69258"]Freelance=poor, unreliable service[/url]
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.senditquick.com/"]SendItQuick[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 0
[*]- 1
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.anc.co.uk/index.asp?bhcp=1"]ANC[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 0
[*]- 1
*[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=72933"]Lost Package[/url] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=72933"]insincere, evasive communication[/url]
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.city-link.co.uk/"]Initial Citylink[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 1
[*]- 2
[b][color="#FFA500"]*Requires business account with minimum weekly delivery limit[/color][/b] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=282380"]A depressing discovery[/url] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=65285"]Poor service[/url] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=65667"]delivered to wrong address[/url] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=72531"]RP1[/url]
[/list]-[indent][url="http://www.dhl.co.uk/publish/gb/en.high.html/"]DHL[/url][/indent][list]
[*]+ 2
[*]- 4
[b][color="#2E8B57"]*Insurable[/color][/b] | [b][color="#2E8B57"]*eg. £9 for £600 cover[/color][/b] *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color]Trackable *[color="#2E8B57"](+)[/color]Good Service [b][color="#A0522D"]*eg. £62 for 20lbs package (insured)[/color][/b] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=79244"]Failure to collect[/url] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=6518&view=findpost&p=69263"]-Left an item unsigned[/url] *[color="#FF0000"](-)[/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=117110"]Slow international delivery[/url]
[/list]---

[url="http://www.p4d.co.uk/"]Parcels 4 Delivery (p4d)[/url]
[url="http://www.crossflight.co.uk/index.html"]Crossflight[/url]
[url="http://www.amtrak.co.uk/"]Amtrak[/url] - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5572&view=findpost&p=276782"]Potential Problems[/url].
[url="http://www.cyclogistics.com/"]CYC Logistics[/url]
[url="http://www.ajr-int.com/fr_main.html"]AJR International[/url]
[url="http://www.lynx.co.uk/main-CR/jsp/Login.jsp"]Lynx (UPS)[/url]
[url="http://www.tuffnells.co.uk/"]Tuffnells[/url]
[url="http://www.arrow-express.co.uk/"]Sprint[/url]
[url="http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Payperdrop"]Payperdrop (Ebay store)[/url]
[url="http://www.nowparcel.com/"]NowParcel[/url]

Exel Logistics
Grattan
Mercury Speedlink
United Carriers Group
Securicor Omega Express Limited

---

[center][size=4]Packing a Bass[/size][/center]

[b]Common Packing advice[/b] (in progress):

[list]
[*]Deliver in a hard-case
[*]Double walling (see p4d advice link below)
[*]Loosen strings
[*]Use shock absorbing materials (eg.packing chips) as well as denser stabilising materials
[*]Consider strength, cushioning, and durability
[*]Internal packaging inside case (consider a bag to protect against weather/humidity).
[*]NO loose or mobile items (including the bass itself!)
[*]Use a sturdy, rigid (2-layered) box
[*]Never skimp: [b]go overboard[/b]
[/list]

From [url="http://www.p4d.co.uk/terms.htm"]p4d[/url]. When receiving or as advice for sellers to give to buyers:
[quote]The recipient must sign 'UNCHECKED' for all parcels that he/she is unable to check when the driver delivers.

If the box or packaging is clearly damaged on delivery, it is of paramount importance the recipient must sign for as 'DAMAGED' otherwise any claim for damage will be refused. It is the senders responsibility to inform the recipient of these terms and conditions.[/quote]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5341&hl=packaging"]lemoley's 'Packing a Bass?' Thread[/url]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=4441&hl=packaging"]justinlalaland's 'Help! Shipping Advice Please - Packing a bass without a hardcase' Thread[/url]

[color="#00BFFF"][url="http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/Shipping.htm"]Fret Not Guitar Repair Packaging Advice[/url][/color]

[url="http://reviews.ebay.com/Guitar-Packing-De-Mystified_W0QQugidZ10000000000760588"]Guitar Packing De-Mystified by Ashby Allen[/url]

[color="#00BFFF"][url="http://www.p4d.co.uk/packaging_advice.htm"]P4D Packaging Advice[/url][/color]

[quote name='chris_b' post='65715' date='Sep 26 2007, 09:46 AM']I found that a cardboard box from a local bicycle shop is the right size for a bass in a case. You just have to trim the box and fold it over at about half height, add a sheet of expanded polystyrene, £5 from Wicks, and a lot of tape and not even ParcelForce could damage it.[/quote]
[quote name='Delberthot' post='69258' date='Oct 3 2007, 09:19 PM']I am the manager of the Sony Centre in edinburgh and I find that the best boxes to use are the ones that the TVs come in. get one for a 46", fire the bass in and the cut the height down so that it is smaller. Loads of brown tape, an A4 address label stuck to the side that Mr McGoo could read and its good to go.[/quote]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please add (whether sending or receiving) when you've had good and/or bad experience(s) with a courier service and I'll add them to the list. Any company specific information I'll also add.

Please allow a comprehensive list to accumulate before using it as a resource. And even then: only as a guide. Companies change terms, conditions, policies etc. If no one mentions it, it's not going to be edited here (read=information may be out of date).

Cheers

Paul.

Edited June 21, 2009 by paul, the

[kjb]

Don't use Parcel2go..........basically they are crap.

They don't turn up and collect the parcel when they're supposed to, and their customer service is an absolute joke, the customer service helpline closes at 5.15pm, very handy so you can't phone up to complain that your parcel hasn't been collected.

When you email them they don't bother to answer.

[paul, the]

Cheers kjb, added.

[MB1]

MB1.

Dont have much experience in this area as i like to have the buyer collect, or i collect the item, or deliver it whenever possible.However OLD GIT on the forum might be the man to ask regarding the Royal mail.

[charic]

Maybe it would be an idea to rate amps and bass delivery seperate? Id trust parcelforce with an amp (and theyre not a bad price for high quanities. But for a bass.... not gonna happen buuuuudddy

PS... get this pinned

Edited September 11, 2007 by charic

[paul, the]

[i]Updated[/i], cheers dlloyd. Let us know how it goes phatmonkey.

[quote name='dlloyd' post='59873' date='Sep 13 2007, 01:53 PM']This should be a sticky.

[b]APC Overnight[/b]

Used them three times.

First for a Trace Elliot 1153 cabinet... 20 kg or so, £22 or thereabouts, overnight delivery to Portsmouth... didn't quite get there overnight, due to me sending it late afternoon, but still gets a +1
Second for a Trace Elliot 7210 (which I note the buyer has up for sale at double the price they bought it at and aren't mentioning the work that's been done on it, but that's by the by).
Overnight delivery to Hampshire 40 kg, cost £30. Economy would have been £5 less. Another +1.

Sent a very expensive acoustic guitar this morning. Less than 10 kg, overnight delivery cost £15.86. Paranoia/sense made me insure it for its full new replacement value of £2000, at a cost of £5.87 (which would insure it for up to £13,500). It's a bit soon to give them any points, but I can't imagine anything going wrong.

So that's +2, pending +3.

For those who are into such things, they also have online tracking, which qualifies them for the Paypal sellers protection.

Friendly guys too. Carried the amp from the car for me without me asking.[/quote]

[b]About APC[/b]

I didn't place an order with them (for unrelated reasons) but I did inquire about sending a guitar with them after your recommendation. The communications were excellent - I loved the way you ring up your local depot and immediately speak to a real human being. You ought to be able to get to the [url="http://www.apc-overnight.com/information.php"]volumetric weight page[/url] easier though for a more efficient phone call. The price I was quoted was very reasonable also.

[misrule]

I've just had a bass handled by ParcelForce -- not through my choice, but because it came from the United States Postal Service.

As it turns out, they were pretty good. Their website gives next to no info about how the system of paying customs charges and getting your package works. And they never answered by email query.

But, following previous threads on this site, I decided to collect it from the depot myself and pay the duty over the counter because it would spend less time in their hands.

I rang their customer service line, who could not have been more helpful. They routed the package to their Gatwick office so I could pick it up two hours later.

So -- negative points: £150 maximum claim, as previously mentioned, poor online information and response.

Positive: Good telephone customer service and a reasonable delivery time, bearing in mind that I did the work.

Cheers

Mark

Edited September 15, 2007 by misrule

[Shockwave]

UPS +1.

Great service, Really fast, Did exactly what i wanted them to do and dropped the parcel off at a local shop. took 2-3 days to get from germany through customs to my shop door.

They also take really oversized parcels such as my BC-Rich ironbird with hardcase!

Edited September 14, 2007 by Shockwave

[Deep Thought]

[quote name='dlloyd' post='60675' date='Sep 15 2007, 01:00 AM']Was the £150 maximum claim not with Royal Mail Special Delivery?

I have sent a bass and a bass neck by Parcelforce... no problems other than the price, which was more than double what it would have been with APC who I've used subsequently.[/quote]

Had my Trace Elliot 7215 combo sent by APC from Edinburgh (by Eude) to me in Cornwall. He spoke highly of them, and I was pleased, about £36. Although missed the deadline for next day delivery, was with me by 9.30 on the next working day. I plan on using them to ship amps in future.

[paul, the]

[i]Updated[/i], thank you all.

[quote name='dlloyd' post='60675' date='Sep 15 2007, 01:00 AM']Was the £150 maximum claim not with Royal Mail Special Delivery?

I have sent a bass and a bass neck by Parcelforce... no problems other than the price, which was more than double what it would have been with APC who I've used subsequently.[/quote]

Do you know if APC insure and what the terms are?

[misrule]

[quote name='dlloyd' post='60675' date='Sep 15 2007, 01:00 AM']Was the £150 maximum claim not with Royal Mail Special Delivery?[/quote]
Well, it's in the ParcelForce terms and conditions.

Cheers

Mark

[tredders]

Recommend www.interparcel.co.uk - sent a reasonably cheap (£175) bass to Portugal, and it arrived safe & sound. Website gives an instant quote, and allows you to book which day you want collection on. Tracking (certainly for my foreign shipment) was available online.

Mark.

[paul, the]

[i]Updated[/i], cheers guys.

[thewalruswaspaul]

DONT use Initial citylink, ever to courier anything. They lose things , damage them , send them to the wrong address. I have had first hand experience of this many times and do not recommend them at all. If someone ships your goods with citylink , you need to start praying

[paul, the]

[i]Updated,[/i] I've just sent a guitar via royal mail Special Delivery. It's next day, fully insured (they will insure upto £2000), requires signature and expensive at £19 for 5kg.


Royal Mail standard parcels would have cost £9.35.

Edited September 25, 2007 by paul, the

[OldGit]

[quote name='paul, the' post='65402' date='Sep 25 2007, 03:51 PM'][i]Updated,[/i] I've just sent a guitar via royal mail Special Delivery. It's next day, fully insured (they will insure upto £2000), requires signature and expensive at £19 for 5kg.
Royal Mail standard parcels would have cost £9.35.[/quote]

Ha ha well how about that! They are not supposed to accept things that are longer than 1 metre for Special Deliver Next Day..

"You can use Special Delivery™ Next Day to send items weighing up to 10kg.
The maximum dimensions of a rectangular item are 610mm x 460mm x 460mm, and the maximum length of a rolled item is 900mm.
If you’re sending rolled items please also note that the length plus twice the diameter of your item must not exceed 1040mm."

I am sure it will be fine and the Post Office Special Deivery stuff is insured, as long as you sent it in a case, and the case was then inside another cardboard box with loads of internal padding. ...

Edited September 25, 2007 by OldGit

[OldGit]

[quote name='dlloyd' post='60675' date='Sep 15 2007, 01:00 AM']Was the £150 maximum claim not with Royal Mail Special Delivery?

I have sent a bass and a bass neck by Parcelforce... no problems other than the price, which was more than double what it would have been with APC who I've used subsequently.[/quote]

£150 is parcel forces maximum.
Post Office Special Deliver Next Day you can buy much higher value insurance, if they accept your parcel. But it has to be wrapped "correctly". andthat means in a case and then in a box.

[paul, the]

[quote name='OldGit' post='65589' date='Sep 25 2007, 10:39 PM']Ha ha well how about that! They are not supposed to accept things that are longer than 1 metre for Special Deliver Next Day..
I am sure it will be fine and the Post Office Special Deivery stuff is insured, as long as you sent it in a case, and the case was then inside another cardboard box with loads of internal padding. ...[/quote]

The box is 102 cm

So they may not take basses.

[dub_junkie]

I have shipped well over a dozen guitars and basses (and lots of other stuff too)with APC Overnight and never had a problem. My local depot is just 5 mind from me and it always one of the same two friendly faces that answer the door when I ring the bell
+1 from me for APC


conversely I'd never ever use Citylink.the bastids delivered my MM Sterling to a house down the street. I was still waiting at the end of the day and only after ringing Dawsons music I found out what had happened. couldnt believe it,the house was across the road,the bass in its case had been pulled out the box and the woman was "waiting on her husband to come home to see what it was all about" WTF! did she expect him to say he'd just taken up bass guitar even though the address was for my house across the road. Bad couriers,bad neighbours!

Big -1 for Citylink

DJ

[chris_b]

I have just sent a bass from London to Glasgow via DHL. This is my first courier experience and they were very good. The cost was £62 for a 20lbs package including vat, fuel charge and insurance, which was £9 for £600 cover.

They were helpful on the phone, the driver turned up 2 hours later and the bass was delivered 22 hours after that, in an undamaged condition. They give you a tracking number and you can follow the progress of the package online. I'm Impressed.

ps
How does everyone package their basses?

I found that a cardboard box from a local bicycle shop is the right size for a bass in a case. You just have to trim the box and fold it over at about half height, add a sheet of expanded polystyrene, £5 from Wicks, and a lot of tape and not even ParcelForce could damage it.

[thedontcarebear]

If you read parcel2gos info, they don't insure guitars unless they are in a hardcase, and even then it's only up to a small amount.

[OldGit]

[quote name='chris_b' post='65715' date='Sep 26 2007, 09:46 AM']a lot of tape and not even ParcelForce could damage it.[/quote]

Oh I reckon they could



One snapped neck courtesy of Royal Mail

My local misic shop gives away or sells the boxes basses get delivered in. Put it in one of those and then inside a bigger cardboard box with lots of wrapping ...

Edited September 26, 2007 by OldGit

[paul, the]

[i]Updated.[/i] I've added a [b]packing[/b] bit. If anyone has any other suggestions, I'll quote them in.

I can't believe I missed DHL.

I want to find a way of incorporating relative prices and also specific preference for amps or basses as charic mentioned. There are lots of variables such as weight or insurance and I need to be sensitive in terms of adding a company and then mentioning they've been grafted a relative £20. (Hopefully the thread will stop that).

Perhaps a £ per kg/volumetric weight basis or finding an average. Maybe I'm going to far into it.

Anyway, thanks for all the input.

paul.

----

That picture always makes me cringe OG.

Edited September 26, 2007 by paul, the

[Viajero]

I recently sent my Hartke head to Wales with the Post Office / ParcelForce and, I believe, it turned up safe and sound. That was a fairly large, 20¡odd kilo parcel with 150 quid insurace (undervalued slightly to get a cheaper postage rate), and it cost 21.39.

Good value, I thought, and it turned up on time, tracked, and seemingly in good condition. Jase can give you the story on how it arrived, I would think, but from my end I have no complaints. One thing worth noting, however, is that the 30kg individual parcel weight limit drops to 15kg if you take it to the Post Office rather than have it collected.

+1s all round, I think.

[Delberthot]

wow. I can't believe all the negatives for Citylink.

I have send around 30 - 40 basses over the last couple of years and every single one has got there so far (touch wood)

I've also sent 2 or 3 cabs and a few amps as well.

I am the manager of the Sony Centre in edinburgh and I find that the best boxes to use are the ones that the TVs come in. get one for a 46", fire the bass in and the cut the height down so that it is smaller. Loads of brown tape, an A4 address label stuck to the side that Mr McGoo could read and its good to go.

My nightmare company to deal with is Business Post. Round my way a lot of the drivers are freelance, don't give a monkey's - "9am delivery, well 2pm will do them then". i absolutely hate dealing with them and cringe when someone says that they are sending me a parcel using these guys because I know that they will get it wrong