a GOOD UPS shipping experience; TIPS

[Casey Tucker]

Hi all,

I thought it would be a good idea to post my most recent experience with shipping my tuba. I had entertained several options including Amtrak and Greyhound. The nearest shipping location to me (Houston) was San Antonio and Greyhound wanted to charge me $200 to ship standard and they wouldn't insure it and they couldn't guarantee a delivery. I ended up choosing UPS after being persuaded by my uncle. My uncle owns a shipping supply company so I had an advantage as far as supplies are concerned but everything else is certainly obtainable by the 'average-joe'.

Packing:
I used a number of packing materials that are easily purchased. I first packed the horn inside of its gig bag with bubble wrap to compress the valves so there was no chance of a bend and I stuffed a pillow in the bell. The idea behind the pillow is to re-direct any bumps and add support so there wouldn't be a wrinkle. After packing the bag, I put together a DOUBLE WALLED cardboard box. Why double walled? it's WAY stronger and not flimsy but also lighter to cut shipping costs. We sealed it with reinforced packing tape (packing tape with metals strands). On the inside we lined the entire box with 1" shipping foam. This foam doesn't has much 'give' as memory foam but more than cardboard. Companies dealing in computer components use this foam to pack their large electrical boards. We then wrapped the horn-in-bag with about 2-3" of bubble wrap and then stuffed the box with more bubble wrap. Why not peanuts? Peanuts shift during shipping so it might seem good when you're packing but you might not have put enough due to settling. We then closed and sealed the box with the same tape and then 'heat-synced'/strapped the box. This is the same stuff they strap around a box of printer paper. Any commercial shipping company is able to provide this.

Shipping:
We shipped just general UPS and it arrived fine. Now, I'm not sure if the UPS Store will do this but through his company we were able to insure the horn for $9k. And because of the size of the box I have a feeling it required more handling by hand other than the UPS conveyer belts. With the size and insured value clearly displayed on the box I'm sure they were a little more cautious than usual. Full cost of shipping with insurance was $260; w/o insurance it was about $215.

I did get the packing materials for free but it could not have been more than $40-$50 so total shipping this way is about $300. And that's with a tracking number and, to give you an idea, it shipped from Houston to Chicago in about 3 days.

Overall, UPS still isn't my first choice but if you take the proper steps and source out a shipping company that can provide these services/materials UPS might be a viable option.

-CT

[Donn]

After packing the bag, I put together a DOUBLE WALLED cardboard box.

Do you mean you made the box? or bought it? What size?

I've been idly thinking about making a box for my little Eb tuba, and at the moment I like the somewhat rigid pink Owens Corning insulation foam (I guess the blue stuff is basically the same, I believe it's similar to expanded polystyrene but without the bead structure.) I'd line a cardboard box with it and try to glue the corners for more rigidity. Is your shipping foam like that, or is it the more resilient open cell white foam I've seen in packaging, more or less unbreakable but not very rigid?

[pgym]

through his company we were able to insure the horn for $9k.

Did his company's insurer provide the coverage, or did you pay for excess Declared Value Coverage?

It's worth noting that UPS Declared Value Coverage is NOT insurance:

UPS Terms and Conditions of Service, ¶51:

When a shipper declares a value in excess of $100, it does not receive any form of insurance. Shippers desiring cargo insurance, all risk insurance, or another form of insurance should purchase such insurance from a third party.

And if you REALLY want a laugh, check out the sections on Maximum Declared Values, Liability Limits, and Liability Exclusions. A couple of highlights:

Declaring a value in the declared value field of the UPS Source Document or UPS Automated Shipping System used does not increase UPS’s limitations of liability

Any declared value in excess of the maximums allowed in the applicable Terms or Service Guide is null and void. Acceptance for carriage of any package or shipment bearing a declared value in excess of the allowed maximums does not constitute a waiver of any provisions of the Terms or Service Guide limiting UPS’s liability or responsibility for any such package or shipment.

UPS’s maximum liability for loss or damage to each UPS domestic package or international shipment, or to each pallet in a UPS Worldwide Express Freight® shipment, shall not exceed the lesser of: ...

Net/net: just because you declare and pay for excess declared value doesn't mean your shipment is covered for that amount.

[Casey Tucker]

donn, the box was already put together/folded. It had to be folded like any other box you buy from a shipping supply. the double wall just means that it has two layers of cardboard sandwiched together to become more rigid. re: the foam, it's the white shipping foam you mentioned. it comes in a sheet roughly 10'x4'x1" and we cut it to fit.

pgym, thank you for bringing that to my attention. I'm assuming he insured it through his company instead of UPS because if the declared value was not insurance i would not have taken that risk. I'll have to ask and update. Thanks though.

-CT