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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
glory's avatar
glory
1,373 posts
 
What is it that you want to buy?

It makes a big difference on giving you the right response.
don_s
270 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.
jig
160 posts
 
Make sure the seller is willing to double box and that he/she knows how to pack well. Usually someone with high feedback is an experienced shipper/ packer. I read the feedback to determine thier packing skills. I personally have never had a piece damaged in transit. OTOH, large speakers require a whole different strategy.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Electronics, including amplifiers, preamplifiers and source machines that are shipped with their original inner packaging and outer boxes have always been safely delivered to me. Double boxing is helpful, but has not been necessary.

Speakers shipped via UPS, Fedex and Bax Global in their original boxes have been damaged. I do not recommend shipping speakers unless it's only within one shipping zone or between two zones. A cross country shipment of speakers is a problem waiting to happen.

Shipping via air has less possibility of damage because it's handled fewer times. This is also why ground shipping within a zone, or between two zones is safer...less handling.
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