EssentialTension Posted May 9, 2014 Share Posted May 9, 2014 [quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1399564096' post='2445396'] I've experienced DPD and they are the best courier out there. I only get things like ASOS clothing delivered but they are the first courier to go properly 'modern'. You get a one hour window by email/text, you can trace the van on a map, and you can even see what number yor delivery is and if its getting closer. If you know you aren't in, you just change it online. No additional charges. It's the way the ALL should be by now. [/quote] I've had to pay additional charges with DPD. I particularly hate them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted May 9, 2014 Share Posted May 9, 2014 And CityLink once put a 'you were not at home and we could not deliver' card through my letterbox while I was standing in my hall. By the time I had opened the door the guy was speeding off down the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsmedunc Posted May 9, 2014 Author Share Posted May 9, 2014 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1399663446' post='2446517'] And CityLink once put a 'you were not at home and we could not deliver' card through my letterbox while I was standing in my hall. By the time I had opened the door the guy was speeding off down the road. [/quote] Ah ha! Your Avatar! The first time that I ever saw that pic was today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 The only really reliable ones I have found are DPD and DHL. Both German. I'm saying nothing.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkgod Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 (edited) seems the norm for them, i have had 2 problems also. 1 i had a roland rack mixer collected by the winning bidder with them. and it was packed very well with polystyrene all round. when he got it they had managed to bend the plate on the front with the controls and bend 2 corners to almost 90 deg, which means they would of had to throw it at least twice ! 2 i had a new cast iron chimninea delivered by them and because of the first incident i asked to look at it before i signed,Driver said " he has no time he is on a tight schedule" ! ! and was arsey. i did look and sure enough it was cracked, he said "if i sign for it he will get it picked up" i said no just take it back now, if i had signed for it i would of been stuck with it, anway was refunded by the seller. the moral is always pay for things to be signed for and if receiving CHECK before you sign. if damaged do not let them leave without it. On saying all this i have had damaged good from other couriers as well, so its all a bit of a chance. i still maintain if buying a bass in the uk or something fragile over say £500 i always go and collect it. Edited May 10, 2014 by funkgod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 Sent a pedal to a basschatter, learnt only just a minute ago that myHerpes had left the package outside his property - he wasn't there - yet had told me through their website that he had signed for it!! What's the point of tracking info if it's in no way accurate?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stompbox Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 I've used MyHermes OK lots of times but I know they don't cover instruments, & was suprised to hear all of the above - it's a really handy service in that you can take the parcel when it suits you to a local My Hermes Parcelshop rather than waiting for it to be picked up. So it's Parcelforce 48 for me with extra insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 [quote name='Stompbox' timestamp='1399722126' post='2446981'] I've used MyHermes OK lots of times but I know they don't cover instruments, & was suprised to hear all of the above - it's a really handy service in that you can take the parcel when it suits you to a local My Hermes Parcelshop rather than waiting for it to be picked up. So it's Parcelforce 48 for me with extra insurance. [/quote] I suggest you look here, 10th one down. [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] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 [quote name='itsmedunc' timestamp='1399670141' post='2446626'] Ah ha! Your Avatar! The first time that I ever saw that pic was today! [/quote] Er ... I don't quite get your point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 (edited) [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1399724932' post='2447041'] Er ... I don't quite get your point. [/quote] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/236463-elvis-on-bass-well-i-never/page__view__findpost__p__2446088"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/236463-elvis-on-bass-well-i-never/page__view__findpost__p__2446088[/url] Edited May 10, 2014 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1399725098' post='2447047'] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/236463-elvis-on-bass-well-i-never/page__view__findpost__p__2446088"]http://basschat.co.u...ost__p__2446088[/url] [/quote] Ah ... thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1399728292' post='2447082'] Ah ... thank you. [/quote] Yooouuu'reee welcome. I used to think that people who sold gear 'collection only' were just being lazy and feckless about not posting, but after recent experiences with couriers I've changed my attitude somewhat... you can see why people wouldn't want to send expensive basses and valve amps through the post for example - it's a real lottery regardless of which company you use. The point that most companies won't properly insure musical instruments (yet will take a hefty premium for pretending to do so) is another factor which may put people off sending things through the post. What this country needs is a proper courier company who are prepared to insure instruments properly and take responsibility for their actions when they make mistakes! It can be done, I'm sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 (edited) I know it's probably a time thing for a lot of people. But if you can spare the time, you can get to most areas of the UK pretty cheaply by train or coach. It's certainly cheaper than being out of pocket by several hundred pounds when a courier has lost or broken your instrument and won't pay out. Treat it as a day out, or maybe even a weekend away . OK, so I have a YP railcard, but 2 weeks ago I travelled by train to Manchester to deliver a cab, then caught a train to Bristol to collect my new Chapman stick, then caught a train back home, all in a day, all for less than £30. Maybe meet someone halfway, or split the train/coach fare ? Virgin were offering London to Edinburgh for £12 each way 2 weeks ago ! Edited May 10, 2014 by ambient Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsmedunc Posted May 10, 2014 Author Share Posted May 10, 2014 (edited) Found these. Dont know anything about them but they claim to be specialists - [url="http://www.directcouriersolutions.co.uk/musical-instruments.php"]http://www.directcou...instruments.php[/url] On the face of it they sound reasonable prices too... Must be shipped in customised hard cases or if not at customers own risk. Whatever that means... Edited May 10, 2014 by itsmedunc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 (edited) [quote name='itsmedunc' timestamp='1399731556' post='2447123'] Found these. Dont know anything about them but they claim to be specialists... [/quote] If you look hard enough... though to be fair - as one of the reviewers pointed out - you tend only to get bad reviews posted about courier companies when they fail - you get very few reviews when they succeed, which is why there are generally only bad reviews! [url="http://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(direct-courier-solutions)_239772.htm"]http://www.freeindex...ons)_239772.htm[/url] Edited May 10, 2014 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Arkadin Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 (edited) [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1399731387' post='2447121'] I know it's probably a time thing for a lot of people. But if you can spare the time, you can get to most areas of the UK pretty cheaply by train or coach. It's certainly cheaper than being out of pocket by several hundred pounds when a courier has lost or broken your instrument and won't pay out. Treat it as a day out, or maybe even a weekend away . OK, so I have a YP railcard, but 2 weeks ago I travelled by train to Manchester to deliver a cab, then caught a train to Bristol to collect my new Chapman stick, then caught a train back home, all in a day, all for less than £30. Maybe meet someone halfway, or split the train/coach fare ? Virgin were offering London to Edinburgh for £12 each way 2 weeks ago ! [/quote] You know, that's not a bad idea. If you factor in that it may cost £30 to courier a bigger piece of kit, and that you'll be given a time slot of 8.00am - 6.00pm then you're wasting the day anyway. I have done this sometimes. Went to Bedford (from London) to pick up the guitar that's in my avatar and got my dad to meet someone at a service station near Derby (he's in Brum) to pick up my Rickenbacker 4003. Probably looked like some dodgy drug deal going down but at least it was safe - and it was an eBay purchase paid through PayPal so there was some protection if it turned out to be a cardboard cut-out in the case. Actually my dad also picked up my Marshall DBS head from an eBay purchase in Brum too. Thumbs up for dads. Edited August 13, 2014 by Mr Arkadin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 [quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1399641197' post='2446204'] I tried to send an amp to someone via CityLink. It never got collected by them, but they did try to deliver a large retail display unit on a palate, which my buyer declined. Another courier sorted my amp in the end, and as a bonus, I had a large retail display unit on a palate 'returned' to me. It's still here, and CityLink showed no interest in returning it to its rightful owner. They still insist that it's mine. [/quote] On a palate?, I wonder how you eat...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkgod Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 talking of cheap travel. my friend comes from glasgow to warrington to visit he gets it dirt cheap ( times and days pending) iv just checked if he comes tomorow and goes back tuesday its £3..... yep £3 and its all of Europe. https://uk.megabus.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 [quote name='funkgod' timestamp='1399756897' post='2447436'] [url="https://uk.megabus.com/"]https://uk.megabus.com/[/url] [/quote] Wow, that's... affordable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samashton12 Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Bought a relatively cheap Dano OD pedal off eBay, They managed to lose it.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsmedunc Posted May 13, 2014 Author Share Posted May 13, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Samashton12' timestamp='1399996734' post='2449735'] Bought a relatively cheap Dano OD pedal off eBay, They managed to lose it.. [/quote] It wont be insured then... But at least the seller should foot the bill if they used them... Edited May 13, 2014 by itsmedunc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Sold a rare Unibass pedal on eBay recently with the original box. Wrapped it in bubble wrap, put it in a big jiify bag and took it down the post office. Arrived in Northern Ireland next day for the princely sum of £6:50 recorded delivery. No drama, no issues. It does happen folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 [quote name='KevB' timestamp='1400068475' post='2450374'] Sold a rare Unibass pedal on eBay recently with the original box. Wrapped it in bubble wrap, put it in a big jiify bag and took it down the post office. Arrived in Northern Ireland next day for the princely sum of £6:50 recorded delivery. No drama, no issues. It does happen folks. [/quote] Liar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 I thought I'd dreamed it too until I saw my latest bank statement....phew! Then of course I'll have the obligatory rant about thieving [email="b@stard"]b@stard[/email] ebay fees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 The best courier is the one that gets your item there safely and on time and the worst courier is the one that delivers your item damaged or it goes missing. They are all much about the same and i've used them all. I have had great and appalling results with Interparcel for example where they have delivered on time and also where the item went 'missing' only for it to turn up SEVENTEEN days later! They are all as good and bad as each other. All you can do is keep your fingers crossed and hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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