Graham Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Any good ones that don't cost a fortune? I'm trying to get a price for shipping a bass within the UK (Sussex to Edinburgh) and all the couriers I've spoken to are either expensive or don't offer enough insurance: DHL - expensive (about £85) UPS - not as expensive as DHL, but still high (about £60) and a nightmare on the phone Fedex - don't deal with the general public City Link - only insure up to £100 for damage and £1000 for loss Parcelforce - not spoken to them, but I believe don't insure musical instruments My Hermes - don't ship musical instrument Any other suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Rider Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 (edited) I use parcelforce & have never had any problems, i have sent basses in a hardcase but if that's not possible then I've removed the neck from the body where possible. If its a fixed neck then a hardcase is a must IMO You could try www.interparcel.com Edited October 14, 2013 by Ghost Rider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 (edited) UPS via Interparcel (take their "Interparcel UK Standard" or "Interparcel Premium" options). My go-to solution and never had a bad experience yet. [url="http://www.interparcel.com/"]http://www.interparcel.com/[/url] ParcelForce are to be avoided because their insurance is unsuitable for any musical instruments worth over £50-200 depending on the service you pick (the faster/more expensive the service, the more inclusive insurance you get). You cannot increase this for musical instruments. Well you can, but it won't pay out. Inclusive insurance as detailed here: [url="http://www.parcelforce.com/help-information/compensation-refunds-and-claims/inclusive-compensation"]http://www.parcelforce.com/help-information/compensation-refunds-and-claims/inclusive-compensation[/url] Quoted from [url="http://www.parcelforce.com/help-information/compensation-refunds-and-claims/items-we-exclude-compensation"]http://www.parcelforce.com/help-information/compensation-refunds-and-claims/items-we-exclude-compensation[/url] : "Musical instruments - no enhanced compensation is available" Edited October 14, 2013 by neepheid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 How much insurance do you need? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 interparcel have always done alright for me, not too expensive and you can pay for the right amount of insurance! PArcelfarce don't allow musical instruments in their 'terms n conditions' so if it goes belly up you're stuffed...I avoid them unless it's pedals etc! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Generally it is fine to go for the cheapest one.... unless there is a problem! There are loads of people (myself included) who have shipped stuff all over the country and never had a problem. But, there are some people who have had a total nightmare where things have been damaged or not turned up at all. That's where the insurance comes in I guess... I wonder if there is a foolproof way to insure a package? Maybe on house contents of something like that? All the bubblewrap and cardboard in the world won't help you if the package is nicked. There are existing threads on here about couriers and general shipping stuff... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted October 14, 2013 Author Share Posted October 14, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1381758967' post='2243216'] How much insurance do you need? [/quote] About £1400 to cover my and the buyer's losses if it all goes belly-up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 [quote name='Graham' timestamp='1381759998' post='2243233'] About £1400 to cover my and the buyer's losses if it all goes belly-up [/quote] I don't think any of the Interparcel insurances go above £1000. TBH for an item worth that much I'd be looking at transporting to the buyer in person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1381760121' post='2243237'] TBH for an item worth that much I'd be looking at transporting to the buyer in person. [/quote] That is always another option - especially with expensive items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Indeed: "We do not recommend sending any item over £1000 as it cannot be covered for more than this value in transit." - from [url="http://www.interparcel.com/help/faq.php"]http://www.interparcel.com/help/faq.php[/url] OK, to rephrase - for a cheapskate like me who has frequently dealt in sub £1000 basses, I have found Interparcel to be brilliant The last time I had a high-ish value trade (Guild B402-A for a G&L El Toro), I did it in person. Approx 400 mile round trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 I'm finding Interparcel's website reluctant to tell me whether they collect on Saturdays... do they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 [quote name='ras52' timestamp='1381762412' post='2243289'] I'm finding Interparcel's website reluctant to tell me whether they collect on Saturdays... do they? [/quote] Depends on the service you book. Most of them don't though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted October 14, 2013 Author Share Posted October 14, 2013 I've spoken to the courier we use at work and they've sorted me out a good price via TNT, if I didn't have access to this though I'd be seriously considering saying collection/meet only for any bass over £500.00 in future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Protium Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Whoever you choose, never use XDP for anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 http://www.directcouriersolutions.co.uk/musical-instruments.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 [quote name='dood' timestamp='1381781227' post='2243762'] [url="http://www.directcouriersolutions.co.uk/musical-instruments.php"]http://www.directcou...instruments.php[/url] [/quote] They sound almost too good to be true! Have you used them? What is their insurance like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1381828658' post='2244154'] They sound almost too good to be true! Have you used them? What is their insurance like? [/quote] Yup, I have and have nothing bad to report so far. The insurance as an example is £7.50 for £1000 worth of kit. The T&C's look ok too and I'd recommend both buyer and seller read them to ensure they are covered properly. (But then again, I'd expect that with anyone using any courier for kit of a high value). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leroydiamond Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1381828658' post='2244154'] They sound almost too good to be true! Have you used them? What is their insurance like? [/quote]They are too good to be true IME. Failed to pick up on agreed date and took 6 business days to deliver from Ireland to the UK rather than 2-3 days as advertised on their website. poor, very poor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 [quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1381837936' post='2244322'] They are too good to be true IME. Failed to pick up on agreed date and took 6 business days to deliver from Ireland to the UK rather than 2-3 days as advertised on their website. poor, very poor [/quote] Bugger. Back to square one then Although hopefully this is not their usual practise... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 The problem with insurance for courier services, is that you can never tell how good it's going to be until you have to use it, and if it turns out to be crap, it's then too late... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1381841494' post='2244382'] The problem with insurance for courier services, is that you can never tell how good it's going to be until you have to use it, and if it turns out to be crap, it's then too late... [/quote] Yep. Nail on the head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mybass Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 [quote name='Graham' timestamp='1381756873' post='2243184'] Any good ones that don't cost a fortune? I'm trying to get a price for shipping a bass within the UK (Sussex to Edinburgh) and all the couriers I've spoken to are either expensive or don't offer enough insurance: DHL - expensive (about £85) UPS - not as expensive as DHL, but still high (about £60) and a nightmare on the phone Fedex - don't deal with the general public City Link - only insure up to £100 for damage and £1000 for loss Parcelforce - not spoken to them, but I believe don't insure musical instruments My Hermes - don't ship musical instrument Any other suggestions? [/quote] Look at Interlink. Excellent delivery and email updates to me on a delivered (£120) parcel. So I used them to collect a 2x10 cabinet at 23kg weight. Collected and delivered to my buyer within 22 hours at £250 insurance cost £26 minus a fiver for first time customer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1381828658' post='2244154'] They sound almost too good to be true! Have you used them? What is their insurance like? [/quote] Further to my last comment... they didn't bother to pick up yesterday or let me know why. Lets see what happens today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 [quote name='ras52' timestamp='1381762412' post='2243289'] I'm finding Interparcel's website reluctant to tell me whether they collect on Saturdays... do they? [/quote] They don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 (edited) Getting a Thomann order delivered today... the last one was delivered by UPS with no issues but as far as I can tell, this time the delivery is in the grubby hands of ParcelFarce... so understandably I'm just a little anxious about it. Was ParcelFarce included in the Royal Mail sell-off? I know the staff voted overwhelmingly against it, but of course that means nothing. Edited October 16, 2013 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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