Shipping via UPS.

I have read a fair amount of problems about UPS at different audio forums.As I know somewhat how UPS operates from speaking to different levels of employees. Yes a certain amount of damage will occur, and to a lesser degree mistakes.I have shipped and recieved dozens of packages containing audio products and have had no problems with deliveries or damage since they were all packed and taped well.I have also recieved many more packages for my carpet cleaning business over the last 10 years,many with bottles of liquid and have not had any problem as as of yet.Those who have had problems will call this luck.I represent the silent majority who has not had the level of bad luck that others have had.Proper packaging is the secret to minimizing and even eliminating problems. Overkill is the best packing method by using extreme amounts of protective packing and loads of tape,too much is better then not enough.Many do not grasp this concept and do a substandard packing job,and then it's every body elses fault. As far as a cod package being delivered with out cod.If the sender's receipt has cod written on it this is an open and shut case of UPS being totally at fault.The downside of UPS is that it can take an average of 2 weeks to get paid from a cod.Certain items that cannot hold up to rough handling such as audio speakers or other delicate items should be sent by an alternative method.I will agree that Fed Ex has been a preferrable way to ship for many and if their prices fit into ones shipping budget then this is the way to go,and you get paid within a few days not 2 weeks or in some cases even longer as with UPS.

I am in the group that has terrible luck with UPS. I think that it would be safe to say that some level of damage has occurred on about every type of audio product I have ever dealt with. I once shipped a transistor amp, a small one, about the size of a Sony DVD or Pioneer Laser player. When It arrived, the torrodial transformer that was attached to the steel chassis with a 3/8" bolt, was sheared completely off. The transformer was free to slide about during the shipment, and needless to say, there was hardly a part inside the chassis that was recognizable. The explanation from UPS was that on some of the shipping facilities, the parcel ramps go as high as a two story building, and netting along the side "stops" the parcels from falling off. Well, mine must have fallen to the concrete below to shear off that steel bolt and all the components inside. This is only one of about 15 instances with UPS in the past years. I now have Federal Express ship on my computer, and only unbreakable things get shipped via UPS. Actually, no one has mentioned the US Post Office. I have better luck (identical packing) with the Post Office than UPS. By the way, I agree with hellohifi on DHL. I just got two 135 Lb crates with very expensive amps inside (yesterday) and the runner rails on the bottom are not even splintered! Must have had some TLC to avoid that.

I had Dell ship me a 21" Trinitron computer monitor by UPS. It arrived with a big purple spot. I called Dell, and they said it must have been dropped in shipping. They sent me the new one by Airborn Express. They Dell tech support said they had many damaged monitor's by UPS, but not with Airborne Express. I also note that UPS DOES NOT DELIVER on Saturday nor do they have a Service Center open. This is in the Portland Oregon metro area ! About 2.5 million.

Do the smart thing and ship via Fed Ex. Lower shipping costs are not always a bargain. Always be sure to insure the item you are shipping, because it is not insured for its value unless you specify the amount.

I just received a CAL DX-2 via UPS yesterday. It arrived in fine condition, but they left it on my front porch! No one signed for it. I live in a good neighborhood, but jeez, it was sitting there all day long. I thought UPS was required to collect a signature to verify delivery. If it had been stolen, and even though it was insured, I couldn't prove it had never been delivered! Grrrr!!!!

I'll never use UPS, that's for sure.