Grateful Dead Music Forum

Gang, just a heads up to some good vs. bad experiences with shipping lately. I do a fair amount of buying and selling of gear plus I do all my band's marketing and promotional stuff. In the past I've shipped alot via UPS and USPS. My results are varied from poor quality to mediocre. UPS has gone from bad to worse with tracking and timing and damaged. USPS doesn't guarantee a damn thing and their tracking numbers don't always match up nor do they update their site regularly.

New server = FEDEX

So far with them I've setup and account, printed my own labels, received shipping discounts, setup pickups, for all gear going in an out which has gone well. Tracking is good and customer support is quick. And this is with a discount from setting up an account! Most times I just walk into my local FEDEX Kinkos with the printed label and the box and they immediately take the package and pop the shipping sheet in a sticky pocket and away it goes! Thumbs up so far!

Now this is where it gets slick... A few places we play now say they want to put up flyers not the bands. Fine. Just last night I sent over my PDF to FEDEX Kinkos they printed my copies, put them in an envelope and FEDEX'd them without me having to move an inch all for like $4 plus printing! Awesome!

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Current rants:
- UPS cannot deliver a wah pedal after 1 attempt, wouldn't leave without a sig, the sender doesn't require a sig, couldn't hold it at their hub as requested and 2 days of "driver error" which equates to them not even attempting to deliver.

- USPS is overinflated with prices from paypal then at their auto-ship kiosk gives me a tracking number which never hit their system!

I just this morning received and email concering FedEx:

Current Status: Ready to Ship
Ship Method: FedEx 2nd Day
The Texas T7 (this is just a stock pic, not my guit):


I too have all good expieriences with FedEx. They have an office a mile from my home.
the JBL-E120's I had to return couldn't have been easier using "charge to recipients account".
Also, the FedEx driver for my neigborhood is a cute gal with big bubs who likes to chat.

Pete B. wrote: The Texas T7

Nice!

Pete B. wrote: the JBL-E120's I had to return couldn't have been easier using "charge to recipients account".

Nicer!!

Pete B. wrote: Also, the FedEx driver for my neigborhood is a cute gal with big bubs who likes to chat.

Nicest!!!

Can't wait to try out their pickup feature where I send their truck to somebody to pickup a box for me and deliver it to my house!

There is a reason why UPS and DHL are cheaper than FEDEX. They suck.

FEDEX rocks.

Crazy 9.5 Fingers wrote:There is a reason why UPS and DHL are cheaper than FEDEX. They suck.

FEDEX rocks.

Actually DHL has shipped me a few amps and cabs before with GREAT results. Even the boxes still looked newish when they delivered. Sadly, they are like the BETAMAX tapes of the shipping industry - lost in the marketing.

Six you wouldn't believe the DHL stories if I told you.

And speaking of marketing and shipping co's, can that white board guy from the UPS ads be a bigger douche?

Crazy 9.5 Fingers wrote:Six you wouldn't believe the DHL stories if I told you.

And speaking of marketing and shipping co's, can that white board guy from the UPS ads be a bigger douche?

Funny! Just got back from lunch with my father and we spoke about shipping - he had the worst horror stories about DHL.

Total d-bag!