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Post by soundout on Nov 10, 2014 12:09:16 GMT
Hello all Most of you will be aware that trying to. Booking a courier who will insure a guitar in transit is akin to shopping for a mobile phone. Confusion reigns and it is hard to get anyone to deliver a guitar with insurance. Last time I sent one it was by Fast Lane Couriers. Instruments are not on their exclusion list so I booked it. I then got a call from them and thought they were turning me down but no, they just asked me for a small extra premium for insurance. I'm proposing to use them again but wanted to ask you first, in case anyone has any current, up-to-date carrier recommendations. Looking forward to hearing from you. Alistair Russell
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Nov 10, 2014 13:02:45 GMT
Hi Alistair, I'm always looking for recommendations for this as well! If it's any use, it would appear that UPS will carry musical instruments as they do not seem to appear on the exclusion list (restricted or prohibited items). You can arrange it through their agent, Interparcel for around a tenner (give or take). The downside is that additional insurance is only available up to £1,000 (so it wouldn't cover very expensive guitars) and would cost an extra £25 or so. You'd also have to package the guitar in a case, then inside a box etc. Anyway, I aim to use this service for the banjo I've currently got on sale (if it sells!!)
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Post by colan on Nov 10, 2014 14:31:02 GMT
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Post by keithambridge on Nov 10, 2014 14:49:35 GMT
I used UPS through Interparcel to send my Hofner bass to the US. It cost around 60GBP plus 20GBP for 1000GBP insurance, plus VAT of course. UPS collected it from my address on tuesday lunchtime and it was signed for in Upstate NY on thursday evening, tracking showed me where it was through the whole journey. All in all I was very happy with this service.
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Post by ianlp59 on Nov 10, 2014 15:43:08 GMT
Whoever you choose to use, remember that it's all about the packing. A decent, durable hard case is a must, as is providing enough packing within the case to prevent any movement, particularly around the headstock area.
Cheers,
Ian
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Post by soundout on Nov 10, 2014 16:05:59 GMT
Thanks for recommendations so far. Recent enquiries have taught me two things: Booking a delivery via a broker (eg Fast Lane) is always cheaper than direct with UPS or other brand names (unless you have a volume business account). But the brokers almost always charge much more for extra insurance above the basic level. Obviously that is where they make their money. On top of that, lots of them just make blanket exclusions for instruments so they are useless for our purposes. Until I make the final booking I won't have an exact figure but it's looking like Fast Lane will come out around £40 including insurance for a £1000 guitar within the UK. In the end it would travel via one of the brand name couriers anyway. But as two of you have recommended UPS via interparcel, I'll take a look at them too. In the meantime, keep the recommendations coming!
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Post by nkforster on Nov 10, 2014 19:09:58 GMT
NOT parcel2go.com They are another site like interparcel who act as broker for several firms like UPS then sell insurance on top of the service. They only cover guitars up to £1000 (costs£47) and that turns out to be up to £1000 for it being lost or stolen. If they smash it to pieces they will only pay out £100. Nice. Nigel www.nkforsterguitars.com
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Post by soundout on Nov 10, 2014 19:45:50 GMT
How are you Nigel? Haven't seen you since years ago at Stefan's! Following your progress of course via Ian Stephenson and Denny Bartley. Your story sounds like bitter experience. Must be heartbreaking to spend weeks on an instrument and then have it smashed. So have you got a recommendation of someone with REAL insurance? All the best, Alistair
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Post by vikingblues on Nov 10, 2014 20:34:25 GMT
I've used Fast Lane mostly when I've sent a guitar of any reasonable value.
They are a bit expensive but I believe from what I've heard / read they do actually do a proper job on the insurance side. Assuming you do a proper job in packaging.
Certainly a better bet than ParcelFarce - limited insurance (£100 I think even if it's in a hard case). There was also a bunch I encountered who called themselves specialists in guitar deliveries - turned out in reading the small print they not only didn't insure for damage, but didn't even insure for loss either!
Mark
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Post by nkforster on Nov 10, 2014 22:52:50 GMT
How are you Nigel? Haven't seen you since years ago at Stefan's! Following your progress of course via Ian Stephenson and Denny Bartley. Your story sounds like bitter experience. Must be heartbreaking to spend weeks on an instrument and then have it smashed. So have you got a recommendation of someone with REAL insurance? All the best, Alistair Very good, back at the bench after a long trip away. Opening a case to find a brand new smashed instrument must be very upsetting for the customer. It's not the thing anyone wants to experience. But, when insurance doesn't pay, I do, the customer pays for an instrument, and that's what they get, even if I have to make two! Basically, whichever shipper you use, my advice is to check the terms and conditions every time when shipping a guitar as they can and do change, and rarely in our favour. nigel www.nkforsterguitars.com/luthier-book/
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Post by soundout on Nov 11, 2014 12:12:14 GMT
Ta Nigel Well, after all your contributions it seemed like Fast Lane Couriers were the best way to go so I have just booked it. It will be delivered by DHL. The delivery within the UK cost me £41 including £1000 insurance against loss AND damage. I'll keep you all posted as to how it went.
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Post by soundout on Nov 12, 2014 22:55:45 GMT
Delivery via Fast Lane/ DHL went absolutely smoothly. Suoerfast service, no phone calls asking for more insurance. The insurance element for £1000 against loss and damage was £14. For the time being ( until they change their T&Cs) it looks like this is the way to go.
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