Missing Tuba and Greyhound package service

[bloke]

' just no faith in the prudence nor honor of UPS/FedEx here...

bloke "What good is 'insurance' if legitimate claims are nearly always refused, and what good is 'tracking' if the non-trackers mess up (but eventually deliver) no more often than do the trackers?"

[TubaTinker]

There has been some wrong information posted in this thread. (imagine that!)

'Priority' means nothing other that 'next bus out'. The Terms and Conditions does not address the issue but I'll bet it only applies to the FIRST LEG of the journey. ALL Greyhound shipments over 650 miles go 'Standard'.

The liability limit of $1,000 is the cap within a certain number of Greyhound 'zones'. This seems to be about 1,000 miles. Everything outside a certain number of 'zones' is $300.

Go to Greyhound Package Express web site and read the 'terms and conditions'.

I've been using Greyhound for tubas and such for over ten years. Prior to that... I used Greyhound for machine-tool parts and engineering related things. Never had a problem. But.... it is what it is.

[MikeMilnarik]

Hi Dan,

This is helpful information. I've had priority explained to me differently, as well as the liability amounts. Knowing the low standards that the majority of employees hired at the Boston location have - I would trust you over what I've been told by them.

Also, I have never read the terms on the website. I have always been extremely frustrated with the Greyhound website - in regard to both transportation information, and also shipping information. The Boston location has their hours posted on the website and they do not stick to them. So I have actually avoided trying to find anything there. So again, I trust your information and appreciate knowing this.

Thank you for this information.

Mike Milnarik

[TubaTinker]

Hi Dan,

This is helpful information. I've had priority explained to me differently, as well as the liability amounts. Knowing the low standards that the majority of employees hired at the Boston location have - I would trust you over what I've been told by them.....

I've been told that 'Priority' means nothing when the bus if loaded with passengers and stuffed with their personal belongings.

It is sort of a 'moving target'. I trust the guy who runs the Evansville terminal. I think he's been there for at least 25 years and really seems to know what he's doing. But... that's not to say and the next terminal clerk will abide by 'his' thinking.

I've been at his desk while he was obviously talking with law enforcement folks who were looking for someone. He explained that Greyhound does not even ask for ID when they sell a ticket so Greyhound has no idea of who is really riding the buses.... or what is in the packages they handle. Interesting organization to say the least!

Their reliability is good enough that I do not worry about their liability limits.

[Northernlb]

I have been reading this thread and thought I would share what I have had experieneces with over the last year. I have personally shipped ten tuba's in the last year through UPS, two have arrived damaged both times the boxes were also ripped or showed signs of damage. Both times I filed claims I have won and been paid the money for repairs. This last time I also disputed the shipping charges with my credit card and won that also. So will I contine to use UPS yes they have stood my their claims and are quick, easy, provide tracking, and insurance to the actual cost of the tuba.

I have used Fed ex only twice only recieving instruments and both times so far both times they arrived damaged, I am in the claim process now for the second one, first one was an easy fix so I did not bother. I have also shipped and recieved using greyhound and the servie is fine but a pain to load everything up drive it there, carry it in, and then drive home. UPS picks up at my door which is easier then the greyhound option. it is more expensive, but if the buyer wants to pay for the door to door service than that is fine by me. Most people I deal with do not want the greyhound shipping due to the hassle of picking it up.

[keegan watson]

In the last six months I have sold two tubas. I ended up shipping them both with FedEx and both arrived without harm. For one of the tubas that I sold, the buyer shipped me a flight case to ship the tuba back in. They sent the flight case through Greyhound and it arrived quickly. As soon as the case arrived, I received a phone call about the arrival. I was very pleased with the service and thought that it was reasonably priced and time efficient (the two destinations were Indianapolis and Washington DC so both are large cities, maybe helping with the speed of delivery.) After receiving the case, I put the tuba in and took it back to the Greyhound station to ship to the buyer. When I arrived the lady at the counter said that "Greyhound was not supposed to ship instruments at all and the stations that do send out instruments aren't doing their job." However, I have read here on the forum that many people have used Greyhound with success and so I inquired as to why this was the case. Apparently, sometime recently, "there was a shipping incident with an instrument with a claim of several thousand dollars that the corporate office is sorting out" - from the Package Express personnel. I have since looked through the terms and conditions of Greyhound's shipping policies and there is nothing prohibiting instruments from shipment, however, if the package is valued at $1,000 or more, Greyhound is not supposed to ship that package.

All that being said, ship at your own risk. It seems that regardless of what company you use for shipping, there is no guarantee about the condition of your instrument upon arrival. The best thing to do is to plan for the worst case scenario and be redundant about your packing methods; say a prayer to whatever entity you observe and hope for the best.

[bloke]

once again:

FedEx/UPS - will pick up, will track, will sell you "insurance" which they will NOT honor, will possibly set VERY heavy cartons ON TOP OF your precious tuba carton, OR might put you carton on the very TOP of the very BACK of the truck whereas it might FALL on the ground (from 12 feet up in the air) when the truck is opened

Greyhound - will not pick up, will be around shady passengers, might (due to lazy work ethic) sit in a depot for several days, no tracking, VERY LITTLE offered insurance, BUT (potentially/often) VERY fast shipping, and NOTHING is EVER more than 2 feet off the ground

[roughrider]

I recently purchased a horn from another member of this site. The horn travelled 18OO miles by Greyhound Package Service and arrived in two days! While the horn was well packed, I received excellent service from the staff at the local bus station. They directed me into the bus area and had the box on a cart ready to go. The employee helped me fit the box into the back of the van and we were on our way home. I have no complaints with Greyhound and I really like the fact that my new horn rode so close to the ground on its journey here from Vancouver!

[MikeMilnarik]

Even though I've had issues with Greyhound - I end up shipping through them from time to time because, although frustrating at times, the horns arrive (at some point) "uninjured."

My personal philosophy is that whether UPS and FedEx will honor the insurance claims or not, nothing is better than having an instrument arrive in one piece, unscathed - that does not have to go in for repairs, even if the insurance company is paying for it.

I agree, be redundant in your packing. The few extra dollars can save a lot headaches.

Mike Milnarik