This post was submitted at the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum (UMGF), and is something that I thought should be passed along here. I was a recent victim of a
high-dollar vintage instrument being returned to the dealer which was damaged during shipment. Although it was insured for the full purchase price,
there's no guarantee that FedEx's inspectors (who work for FedEx) will find in my favor. Only time will tell. In the mean time, take note:
(1) Do not depend on the insurance offered by the shipping company. The shipping companies attempt to avoid responsibility for damages which occur during shipment, and few losses result in a fair settlement. If you examine the policy manuals and contracts of the shipping carriers, and certain legal statutes, you will understand how they avoid liability so well. If you are shipping an instrument, or have purchased one being shipped to you, make certain that functional shipment insurance is in place, written by a specialist to the musical instrument trade, but not the shipping company. Make certain it will cover not only cost of repair, but devaluation of the instrument. If your shipment is international, make certain that the coverage is broad enough to cover it. Many policies are limited to the US and Canada . Do not depend on another person or entity to insure your instrument in shipment unless you are satisfied with quality of their insurance.
(2) Packing, packing, and more packing. While non-delivery and disappearance of a shipped package occasionally occurs, the primary loss caused during shipment is damage to the instrument. Improper or inadequate packing is the cause of many, if not most, of the losses we see. If the instrument is entering a war zone (being shipped), then it needs special protection to survive.
3) Use Expedited or overnight shipment, but not ground shipment. Expedited or overnight shipments produce significantly less loss activity than ground shipment. Packages should always be sent using the shortest delivery time available, and they should not be shipped on a Friday, or in such a way as to be warehoused over the weekend.
(4) Control Delivery and Shipment - Arrangements should be made so that the package is received personally by the recipient, or their agent, and that they will be available at time of delivery. Require that the package be signed for by the recipient. Mark your address and the recipients on the carton directly, as well as on the shipping slip.
(5) Documentation of Shipment - Retain copies of shipment receipts and sales receipts (if any). Take digital photos of the instrument prior to shipment to show condition and/or authenticity.
Shipping valuable instruments--the insurer's perspective:
Those of us who insure with Heritage got an email newsletter from them this week. Here's advice they had about shipping musical instruments. They want to cut claims, but we want to avoid having to make them ourselves and avoid having our premiums go up to pay others' claims, so I think that the company's and our interests line up pretty well. Sorry for the spacing and formatting:
We estimate that over 50% of the losses paid by Heritage are the result of the shipping process.
Instruments, especially wooden ones, are intrinsically delicate. When an instrument is shipped, it enters a battle zone, and casualties are much greater
than when it is being played or walked down main street under the owner's arm. Regardless of which carrier is used to transport the instruments, the
loss frequency, type of loss and severity remains constant. One carrier is as good or as bad as another, depending on how you look at it.
Here are some suggestions to improve the situation:
(1) Do not depend on the insurance offered by the shipping company. The shipping companies attempt to avoid responsibility for damages which occur during shipment, and few losses result in a fair settlement. If you examine the policy manuals and contracts of the shipping carriers, and certain legal statutes, you will understand how they avoid liability so well. If you are shipping an instrument, or have purchased one being shipped to you, make certain that functional shipment insurance is in place, written by a specialist to the musical instrument trade, but not the shipping company. Make certain it will cover not only cost of repair, but devaluation of the instrument. If your shipment is international, make certain that the coverage is broad enough to cover it. Many policies are limited to the US and Canada . Do not depend on another person or entity to insure your instrument in shipment unless you are satisfied with quality of their insurance.
(2) Packing, packing, and more packing. While non-delivery and disappearance of a shipped package occasionally occurs, the primary loss caused during shipment is damage to the instrument. Improper or inadequate packing is the cause of many, if not most, of the losses we see. If the instrument is entering a war zone (being shipped), then it needs special protection to survive.
3) Use Expedited or overnight shipment, but not ground shipment. Expedited or overnight shipments produce significantly less loss activity than ground shipment. Packages should always be sent using the shortest delivery time available, and they should not be shipped on a Friday, or in such a way as to be warehoused over the weekend.
(4) Control Delivery and Shipment - Arrangements should be made so that the package is received personally by the recipient, or their agent, and that they will be available at time of delivery. Require that the package be signed for by the recipient. Mark your address and the recipients on the carton directly, as well as on the shipping slip.
(5) Documentation of Shipment - Retain copies of shipment receipts and sales receipts (if any). Take digital photos of the instrument prior to shipment to show condition and/or authenticity.
