Official Luthiers Forum!

Do any of you ship your handmade guitars Fedex? Anytime I have to ship a guitar I've been using Fedex. I've been putting in a declared value of $3000.00 and thinking it was insured for $3000.00. I decided to read up on the fine print about their insurance policy to make sure. And unless I'm missing something their terms and conditions exclude a handmade guitar from being insured for more than $500.00. Here is some info I copied and pasted from there site. The link to this info is also at the bottom.

The declared value of any package represents our maximum liability in connection with a shipment of that package, including, but not limited to, any loss, damage, delay, misdelivery, nondelivery, misinformation, any failure to provide information, or misdelivery of information relating to the shipment. It is the shipper's responsibility to prove actual damages. Exposure to and risk of any loss in excess of the declared value is assumed by the shipper. You may transfer this risk to an insurance carrier of your choice through the purchase of an insurance policy. Contact an insurance agent or broker if you desire insurance coverage. WE DO NOT PROVIDE INSURANCE COVERAGE OF ANY KIND.

With respect to U.S. express package services, unless a higher value is declared and paid for, our liability for each package is limited to US$100. For each package exceeding US$100 in declared value, an additional amount will be charged. See Rates in the FedEx Service Guide for details.

Shipments (packages or freight) containing all or part of the following items are limited to a maximum declared value of US$500:

1. Artwork, including any work created or developed by the application of skill, taste or creative talent for sale, display or collection. This includes, but is not limited to, items (and their parts) such as paintings, drawings, vases, tapestries, limited-edition prints, fine art, statuary, sculpture and collector's items.
2. Film, photographic images (including photographic negatives), photographic chromes and photographic slides.
3. Any commodity that by its inherent nature is particularly susceptible to damage or the market value of which is particularly variable or difficult to ascertain.
4. Antiques, or any commodity that exhibits the style or fashion of a past era and whose history, age or rarity contributes to its value. These items include, but are not limited to, furniture, tableware and glassware.
5. Glassware, including, but not limited to, signs, mirrors, ceramics, porcelains, china, crystal, glass, framed glass, and any other commodity with similarly fragile qualities.
6. Plasma screens.
7. Jewelry, including, but not limited to, costume jewelry, watches and their parts, mount gems or stones (precious or semiprecious), industrial diamonds, and jewelry made of precious metal.
8. Furs, including, but not limited to, fur clothing, fur-trimmed clothing and fur pelts.
9. Precious metals, including, but not limited to, gold and silver bullion or dust, precipitates, or platinum (except as an integral part of electronic machinery).
10. Stocks, bonds, cash letters or cash equivalents, including, but not limited to, food stamps, postage stamps (not collectible), traveler's checks, lottery tickets, money orders, gift cards and gift certificates, prepaid calling cards (excluding those that require a code for activation), bond coupons, and bearer bonds.
11. Ostrich and emu eggs.
12. Collector's items such as sports cards, souvenirs and memorabilia. (Collector's coins and stamps may not be shipped. See the Prohibited Items section.)
13. Guitars and other musical instruments that are more than 20 years old, and customized or personalized musical instruments.

http://fedex.com/us/services/terms/us.html#liabilitylimits

I wonder if UPS is any better?
I'm just curious about how most of you are shipping your guitars. I know several people on here ship them just to be finished. When I get a custom order for a guitar that's going to run somebody $3,700.00 I want to be sure I'm not taking any risks in shipping.

Get a policy with Heritage Ins.
You'll be all set.

_________________
Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I agree with Lance. Although I have yet to test my heritage policy I know there are several here on the forum who have and I believe they did pass that test.

_________________
Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I have a horror story you would not believe with FedEx driving a forklifts forks through one of my guitars. They had the nerve to originally deny my claim on the basis that my packing was insufficient. Even though it was stung loose, in the case with foam around the peghead and 2” of bubble rap around the case inside a heavy cardboard box. I have photo clearly showing forklift blade holes through the box and case, one each side of the fragile sticker.

The real ticker is they actually delivered the guitar to the client, never called him or me to report the damage.

The way the disclaimer is written now is different than it was then. I don’t know if my case had anything to do with it or not. Back When I went through my issues with them the said they covered the repair cost and sent the guitar to me for a repair quote and I sent back a letter stating that I could not provide the client with a repaired instrument. They sent it back to again requesting a repair quote. So I sent them one for the same cost as the guitar plus a handling fee. It took 3 months, two letters form my attorney and filing a suite for arbitration but they finally paid the full price.

This hole incident is in the forum archive I am sure.

Since then I have a policy with Heritage and ship everything USPS

UPS, last time I inquired (about a year and a half ago), did not have a declared value limit for guitars.

Most people think they are buying insurance when they pay for declared value (I've even heard FedEx and UPS employees call it insurance). It is not insurance, as the Fedex policy states. UPS does not sell insurance either. The shipping agreement with either company limits their liability to you, no matter whether they lose the item or drive a forklift through it. What you pay extra for is an increased limit on what they will pay for damage or loss after you prove that it was their fault. That's not insurance--insurance pays you for your loss, regardless of how it happened and whose fault it was. If you want to be safe, carry your own insurance.

What I'm worried about now is my shipments of emu eggs.

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

They have very strange wording.

"13. Guitars and other musical instruments that are more than 20 years old, and customized or personalized musical instruments. "

Writen this way this doesn't mean new guitars. ( They may claim is does ) A customized guitar means a guitar was changed in some way, like adding flames or racing stripes. A personalized guitar would imply you put someones likeness or name on it somewhere. This also implies that you could ship a new (or less than 20 year old guitar ) uncustomized or un-personalized guitar and be covered. What is the difference between someone making guitars full time and and Collings or Santa Cruz ? Can they ship standard models but not anything that was "customized ?

All my questions are rhetorical and my point is the poor use of langage and the ambiguous nature of their wording.
Perhaps intentional.
Link

_________________
Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

Thanks for all the input.

Can anybody tell me a little more about Heritage? What does it generally run?

I have had one claim with FedEx in 12 years of shipping. I "used" to increase the "Declared Value" on the shipping airbill and that, fortunately, covered the damage on the one shipment. Since then I have gotten a Heritage policy that covers instruments in transit above a $500 deductible. So, I go with the basic $500 Declared Value on FedEx and would use the Heritage coverage for all loss above the $500.
By the way, FedEx settled my one claim in less than 10 days, so I have no complaints. But I have heard worse, as the "forklift through the guitar" proves.
Heritage (my policy) covers instruments in transit, at shows or on consignment. Also tools and inventory to a significant level as well as customer instruments on my premises for repair, etc. My Homeowner's policy covers the building and other miscellaneous things (liability, etc) as I work out of my shop at home. My annual premium is $540 and that is more than covered by NOT paying the surcharges to FedEx for increases Declared Valuation. Plus I get all the added benefits that FedEx doesn't provide at my shop!
Call Heritage and talk to Joan Gallo after you get an idea of your investment in tools, woods, etc and the typical "value" level of instruments you may ship and/or have on the premises. You will sleep easier at night, especially when a guitar is in transit.

_________________
Hank Mauel