Best courier service for high value guitars?

musicman100

If your buying in the uk and want 100% piece of mind collection is the only way too go imo.
If collection isn't an option then I guess any postage has its risks.

streethawk

I use parcelforce. Never once had a problem.

The insurance thing is only useful for loss, which is unlikely but I assume you're covered if it does go missing.

Damage insurance is all down to proper packing - they won't pay out if it breaks. 

IvisonGuitars

ourmaninthenorth said:

miserneil said:

ourmaninthenorth said:

miserneil said:

UPS every time for me.

Did the "long term on approval, no money will ever change hands, cos you're a fookin lovely bloke Paul " delivery of theTV yellow go by another company then Neil....?? the bastids, it's not arrived...

Have you still not got it mate?? Buggers...I'll chase 'em up......

Fookin wrong 'uns mate.....

All well Pal? 

Tip Top thanks Buddy, you? :-)

ourmaninthenorth

miserneil said:

ourmaninthenorth said:

miserneil said:

ourmaninthenorth said:

miserneil said:

UPS every time for me.

Did the "long term on approval, no money will ever change hands, cos you're a fookin lovely bloke Paul " delivery of theTV yellow go by another company then Neil....?? the bastids, it's not arrived...

Have you still not got it mate?? Buggers...I'll chase 'em up......

Fookin wrong 'uns mate.....

All well Pal? 

Tip Top thanks Buddy, you? :-)

Yep, sound Mate. 

Take care, see you next time

Fellix

DPD and UPS have been the best service and condition of packages and guitars I've both sent and received in the last few years. DPD have a really good tracking service. 

To be fair, Royal Mail and/or Parcel Force have both been really quick and you can see in great detail where your package is and even give you a very narrow window of ETA. So you don't need to be waiting in all day so you don't miss the delivery driver.

moogie72

I always use parcel force , do it on a speed delivery i.e. 24 hour, less time for it to be hanging around depots etc. Never had an issue once. 

Its all to to do with your packing, don't ever skimp on it, give the box a shake before you seal up, if it rattles then there is space for more packing. Also, take photos of all of your work as you packing up to the point of sealing it. I sometimes even send them to the buyer, so we both know a proper job was done before sending, saves any 'accusations' and is evidence to hit the courier with 

robmac5150

I agree. No problems here with anyone. I pack them within an inch of their life and for the price of a roll of parcel tape or two and some FRAGILE! tape makes all the difference imho

Chalky

Parcelforce main depot dropoff between 6-7pm, and I know it leaves on a truck between 8-9pm, gets processed at the hub about 4-5am and on a van for delivery at 8am.  It just aint standing still long enough to be messed with. Never had a problem.

ac30man

I wouldn't trust UPS after watching them roll my apple imac corner to corner across the van floor when they delivered it. It was clear from the box it was a computer and fragile. It weighed next to nothing too. I suppose there is good and bad delivery drivers in all companies. It's pot luck. I don't think you can beat meeting face to face when buying a guitar. You can meet some great people along the way too! 

I do agree with other posts saying about getting 24 hr delivery if you need to post though. The less time they have it, the better

RoadStar666

Another vote for UPS

Danny1969

If it's high value and within 200 miles or so then the best option is to deliver it in person or use a same day courier. Most of the times I've used a same day courier it's been about £110 plus the diesel so not too bad 

It's almost a wast of time recommending couriers as they all have good and bad ... a lot of them use sub contractors anyway and the stuff often has to go through the central hub and be handled by other people anyway. For example City-link used to get vilified on here but I sent over 50,000 packages with them and only had about 6 instances where I needed to make a claim 

Be careful about insurance, it can be very difficult to claim insurance if there's a breakage as if it's possible for them to break it you probably haven't packed it right. If it disappears completely then a successful payout depends on you having the right paperwork to prove it was worth what your claiming. 

adamm82

I had a guitar delivered on Tuesday by UPS the box seemed fine but I think it's taken a whack somewhere as the neck has small crack but luckily it's not a bad one.