UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

[StuTDavis]

One of my regular guitar trading buddies who runs a little business out of his house just told me the unthinkable: FedEx (and soon UPS) will no longer insure a guitar for over $100!

Has anyone else heard anything about this? I'm afraid of what this could do to the guitar industry as a whole, all the way from mfr/seller down to us little guys. I sure wouldn't feel confident shipping a guitar anymore if this is the case.

[charvel750]

Re: UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

I'd be cornswaggled if there was any truth to that.

[StuTDavis]

Re: UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

Yeah, that's what I'm HOPING, maybe he just got confused or misunderstood. Thought I'd plop it up here and see if anyone's heard anything like this, before I call and verify it with the companies.

[OnlineStageGear]

Re: UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

That sounds like bad info.

Matt

[Soloist1]

Re: UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

I just shipped one through FedEx and they insured it for 1500. The only thing the girl at the counter asked is whether it was that popular brand that the necks always break on. Not sure which she meant but I told her those were those Ibeenhad guitars and that it was a Jackson, so no problem. lol

[nor]

Re: UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

I thought the standard insurance was "up to $100", with the option to purchase more...?

[BigDaddyD]

Re: UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

It is actually true. It especially pertains to instruments that are no longer in production. If you press either company they will break it down for you...but it is true. They will sell you insurance but try and collect. Give them some what if scenarios and they will tell you.

[charvel750]

Re: UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

What?! I don't believe it's true. I have shipped over 500 guitars in my day. Only two sustained damage and needed claims filed. One was in early January of this year. After 11 business days I had the full $928 refund (the sale price of the guitar as verified through PayPal receipts and credit card statement of the buyer) plus the $22.50 shipping fee. So if this is not a recent thing it's bogus.

[iron_monkey]

Re: UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

Seems like they couldn't lose the business. Last time I went down to UPS to ship a guitar, there were 2 other guys there also shipping a guitar. The UPS workers were very familar with people shipping guitars and only asked me some details about exactly how it was packed. Maybe they are refusing to insure guitars that aren't shipped in a hard case? They specifically asked me about this...

Beyond the stories we have all heard about examples where people had a hard time collecting the insurance when something happened, I don't see where UPS or FedEx could cut out the business.

[ May 14, 2003, 02:17 PM: Message edited by: iron_monkey ]

[xenophobe]

Re: UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

UPS won't pay claims to guitars that aren't shipped in hard cases. They hardly pay claims at all, but if you want to guarantee that you don't get paid if something happens, ship in a gig bag or not at all.

I dunno about these rumors, but who knows... it could be true.

[wodka]

Re: UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

UPS never pays claims. I've argued with them several times and basically their stance is this: you can't prove it wasn't broken before it was shipped so we won't pay. Buying insurance from them is simply a scam. I've basically stopped selling on eBay because I can't handle the stress of wondering if the instrument will actually make it.

[Newc]

Re: UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

If FedEx says it's true when you call them, ask them to mail it to you in printed form, then scan it and post it on every online music board you can find, and create Ebay listings with that info in all guitar brand categories.
Or mail me a copy and I'll post it on Ebay [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Newc

[StuTDavis]

Re: UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

Well, I don't know how recent it is. I've in contact with the person who mentioned it to me off and on for a few years, and this is the first he's mentioned it. Basically said, FedEx's policy to not ship guitars insured over $100 is in effect now (he preferred and used FedEx) and UPS is expected to follow suit soon.

As far as collecting from UPS, I've had my only 2 claims with them ever just in this past year--some lost speaker cables and a busted guitar headstock. The speaker cables were no problem, got my $ pretty quickly, there was no issue to question, they lost it and that was that. On the guitar, it took a while, requests from the Shipper Interest Program for info and pics from UPS, and a letter from myself, but I just got my full insurance amount for it yesterday.

[RacerX]

Re: UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

Yeah I'd want to hear from FedEx on this. Straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

[syrinx]

Re: UPS/FedEx not insuring guitars anymore?

Hey, if they try it, everybody use USPS
until UPS and Fedex realize they're losing a boatload of cash. That is pure
discrimination to not insure guitars for
their full value, when they will insure other forms of merchandise.