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I need shipping advice

I have a very heavy item to ship to CA. The item is only selling for $150.00. The item weighs in at about 100Lbs packed. UPS is the least expensive shipper. From the east it will cost about $80.00 to ship COD per the buyers request. We have talked and I have good references on him. The item is crated well enough to survive, I hope. The problem is how can I insure this package to protect me from loss of the item plus shipping? Can I insure for more than a COD amount on an item? I'm guessing that I would need to cover the cost of the item plus shipping both ways. That's $310 of insurance on a $230.00 COD. Or is the easiest way around this to just insist on prepayment and insure to cover my butt? Or does UPS pay for the return?
mrderrick
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
FedEx isn't that more expencive but sometimes cheaper than UPS and their service is much more reliable. The dowside is that FedEx doesn't have any option for COD. It is easy to fool arround with COD by placing bricks or something instead of component inside the package. FedEx is considered to have a "shortest path" service which means that your package doesn't go trhough the bunch of scanning stations instead of going non-stop directly to the destination. I always use FedEx. Yes it is always possible to insure the item for more than you've sold it.
tok20000's avatar
tok20000
608 posts
 
Fedex DOES have COD. If I do COD it is by FEDEX ONLY. Frankly it is the best form of COD for the seller because you get your money/check overnighted back to you.

Peace.

Keith
glen's avatar
glen
714 posts
 
I just received a 130lb amp from across the country UPS ground. It arrived damaged. I have entered the collection process my fingers are crossed that I will recover my losses. Fortunately the seller was a saint and has picked up all the cost without batting an eye. Try a freight service or someone else like fed-ex.
piezo
304 posts
 
I've had both UPS and Fed-ex destroy things and they tended to be heavy amps in 2 out of 3 tries. I recieved a set of large floor standing speakers by using a trucking company that had room on a normal run. the price was reasonable, they did cod, and they were more careful with the gear. The guys in UPS and fed-ex are driven like slaves to make production and if something hits the ground...oh well. It may be worth it to make a few calls. I had to pay up front for round trip shipping costs, maybe you should ask the same. good luck
mrderrick OP
292 posts
 
Thanks everybody for the advice. Any shipper can be rough. I lost a 90 pound Thiel 2.2 to FedEx. Piezo is right, they drive their workers like slaves to off load and load. Common carrier may be a better choice.
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