doc40hz Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Hi there, Just wondering who people would recommend for sending a bass around the country - cost is not too much of an issue, don't mind paying a bit more. I have JayDee Supernatural that needs a re-fret and am thinking of sending it down to JayDee in Birmingham rather than letting the local guy do it. Any suggestions? I know some companies insurance doesn't cover musical instruments. Cheers guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorick Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 The music company I work for use Interlink and dpd to ship our stuff. Don't usually have any problems, apart from oversized/overweight stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 I usually use the interparcel.com site and usually book UPS. They insure for musical instruments and seem really reliable. You can also log in and see a signature of the person who signed for the delivery. I used DPD for sending some books to France. It took them 3 days to come and collect. Then it only happened because I phoned and complained. Won't use them again in a hurry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 (edited) Having had bad experiences with DPD and several others, I always use Parcelforce with whom I have only had one poor experience of lateness and then they refunded. I never waste money on 'probably will never pay out' insurance. Others will tell you how useless Parcelforce are. Oh well. Edited November 17, 2015 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 UPS via Interparcel for me. Whilst I agree that many of the companies will probably try and not pay out on an insured item, I`d much rather not send something that was specifically listed as prohibited for insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buff Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Ive always used my local APC depot for anything ive sold on here, or stuff ive bought to be collected. Never had any problems and always turned up the next day. My feedback will back this up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1447800813' post='2910616'] UPS via Interparcel for me. [/quote] Most basses I've either bought or sold on here were shipped the same way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planer Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 I use APC for all my mainland UK shipping, never had any problems (except they've just closed my local depot). Outside the UK I book UPS or Parcel Force via Parcel Monkey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Never had a problem with DPD, wouldn't touch Parcelforce with a JayDee because the insurance would be invalid. Personally with a JayDee I'd plan well ahead and get a cheap train ticket and hotel (if necessary) and make the trip with it myself, John's always very welcoming to customers. I've done that from Edinburgh when JayDee rewired my John Birch. One time I went Mark King "popped in" and if I'd been there two days before John told me I'd have met Tony Iommi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Interparcel, as most others say...I prefer Parcelforce personally - their depot is 10 minutes up the road so I can collect if I miss the delivery. I've had bad experiences with UPS so would give them another penny of my money. As others have said don't bother with Insurance as musical instruments are always exempt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyV Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Another vote for UPS via Interparcel.com. Have shipped several basses and a head without any issues whatsoever. Reliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 (edited) As I've said before, a delivery service is only as good as its weakest link. I can't buy stuff from Bass Direct any more because they will only use APC the ship the large items and the APC depot in Nottingham is totally useless - one collection that never turned up to collect and two deliveries that stuck cards through my door when I was in, rather than actually deliver the parcels. IME unless you are shipping something fairly small but very expensive, UPS via Interparcel always works out cheaper than Parcel Force. And Interparcel's insurance does work. I've had to make two claims (over 5 years and several hundred parcels sent) and both were paid without any fuss. One was for a parcel that went missing, and the other was for an item that was damaged in transit. So insurance is worth paying for. What I will say it that you should make sure that anything you send is well packed. That means if you don't have a hard case for your bass then it needs to be double-boxed and well padded inside both boxes, and if you do have a hard case, bubble-wrap it and pad it inside the delivery box. HTH. Edited November 18, 2015 by BigRedX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Another satisfied Interparcel/UPS customer here. Between 10 and 20 basses sent over the last few years, no mishaps, no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 (edited) UPS for me... Although I find it ridiculous that I have to pay extra for insurance incase they are so incompetent that they manage to break the contents of my parcel, at least they offer said insurance.. unline some others. Edited November 18, 2015 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 It really depends on where you're shipping it to. Since I moved to Perth 8 1/2 years ago, I've never had parcel farce deliver to my door yet. Phoned them & complained several times. Had cards through my door telling me the parcel is at the local post office, only to go there & be informed that they've no idea what I'm talking about & then found out that it's actually back at the farce's sorting office (on more than 1 occasion). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc40hz Posted November 18, 2015 Author Share Posted November 18, 2015 Thanks guys, UPS it seems! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ribbetingfrog Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 UPS is definitely the way to go. Cheapest if booked through interparcel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Another to have a look at is ipostparcels.com I've used them many times & they've been excellent. Very cheap too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 I always used to use Direct Courier Solutions (they supposedly specialize in shipping guitars and the like but in reality you get interlink express turn up to collect your parcel and they ram it in the van any old how) but they smashed up a bass I was sending and then refused to pay out insurance and got really sh*tty via email when I complained I think UPS seems to get the best reviews but IMO I think they all try and worm the way out of paying out claims. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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