First time trying greyhound

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Scania9s
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Re: First time trying greyhound

Post by Scania9s »

Hi,
Just wanted to share an experience I am having with Greyhound Package Express. I shipped my tuba through them over 3 weeks ago from AZ to MA. Unable to trace or track. No one knows where it is. I included my and the potential buyers address and contact info inside the flap of the box so hopefully someone good will come along and contact us. Should have written its destination all over the outside. So glad it's insured! Bummer for me and the buyer :?
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Ken Crawford
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Re: First time trying greyhound

Post by Ken Crawford »

ValveSlide wrote:So who eats it when "the dog" takes a dump on your tubas? Or "the dog" eats your tubas?

Seller?

Buyer?

"Pfft."

I've wondered the same. What is the proper etiquette when an instrument fails to reach its destination, in one piece or at all? Should the seller eat it, the buyer or split it?
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Rick Denney
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Re: First time trying greyhound

Post by Rick Denney »

kmorgancraw wrote:
ValveSlide wrote:So who eats it when "the dog" takes a dump on your tubas? Or "the dog" eats your tubas?

Seller?

Buyer?

"Pfft."

I've wondered the same. What is the proper etiquette when an instrument fails to reach its destination, in one piece or at all? Should the seller eat it, the buyer or split it?
The last time I shipped a tuba using Greyhound, I did not cancel my Clarion all-hazards-except-termites coverage until after it arrived. None of the shippers provide decent insurance, and I would never count on it. Buy your own.

By the way, the seller eats it. The buyer has no control over shipping, and only the seller can do what it takes to ship it properly.

Rick "which is why when I'm the seller I'm reluctant to ship" Denney
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bort
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Re: First time trying greyhound

Post by bort »

Rick, I've always been curious about Clarion insurance and if it covers shipping. I've thought about asking them, but as with any insurance companies, I would like to 1) not raise any red flags with them or 2) give them any ideas. I seem to remember reading all of the fine print, but can't remember seeing anything in there.
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Re: First time trying greyhound

Post by tclements »

I shipped a tuba cross country for $75. But I hope you are not under any time constraints. ID the bus needs room for the passengers' luggage, cargo gets bumped off and put on the next AVAILABLE bus.
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Rick Denney
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Re: First time trying greyhound

Post by Rick Denney »

bort wrote:Rick, I've always been curious about Clarion insurance and if it covers shipping. I've thought about asking them, but as with any insurance companies, I would like to 1) not raise any red flags with them or 2) give them any ideas. I seem to remember reading all of the fine print, but can't remember seeing anything in there.
When I read the coverage in detail (long enough ago that I may be forgetting some details), it seemed to me that the only hazard not covered was vermin--termites in particular attacking wooden instruments. I would want to make sure that ownership didn't officially change hands until after shipping.

I seem to recall an exclusion for mysterious disappearance, which is when one claims an instrument is missing but has no report of how it became so. If it was lost in shipping and you have the shipping receipts, it's not a mysterious disappearance. Discovering that it must have gone missing sometime over the last two years--that's a mysterious disappearance.

Rick "who has that policy lying around here somewhere" Denney
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Re: First time trying greyhound

Post by royjohn »

After a bad experience receiving a tuba which had shifted in the styrofoam peanuts and had bell damage from UPS, I shipped a big Besson BBb from Tennessee to New England via Greyhound. By that time I had learned to encase the tuba in styrofoam board wrapped with plastic shipping wrap and then in a box with peanuts. There weren't any problems.

What did give me pause was the fact that (as someone alluded to) the maximum amount Greyhoud will be responsible for is, I think, $1000 AND, if you go over 800 miles, that amount is reduced to $300. As luck would have it, the selling price was about $800 and the trip was, of course, just a few miles over 800. If you're close to 800 miles, it might be worth it to drive a bit closer to the next station. In the end, I just sweated it out.

I don't think I would send any tuba costing over about $3000 on Greyhound unless I had some other insurance.

I'm retired and like tubas and trips. If you're in the East and want a tuba courier, give me a call, I work cheap. You might have to let me try the horn, though. :D :D :D
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Re: First time trying greyhound

Post by daytontuba »

Just got a new horn shipped to me via Greyhound - the horn arrived with zero damage and their porter was very helpful in getting the horn into the back of my vehicle. My only issue with the whole process was their non-functional tracking system, which told me the horn was still in Richmond Va. on the day it arrived here in Dayton!
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Scania9s
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Re: First time trying greyhound

Post by Scania9s »

I've gone ahead and reported my tuba stolen since Greyhoind never even scanned the package into their tracking system. I suspect it's way in to Mexico by now! I've been trying to get a hold of the district manager so we'll see...
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edsel585960
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Re: First time trying greyhound

Post by edsel585960 »

Mot recent experience. The horn arrived undamaged. Something had been spilled on the case but it washed off. As usual the tracking was useless. Still showed at the point of origin when I picked it up at the station. Pro, economical way to ship large items. Con, lousy tracking system.
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