johntaylor333

I recently had an evaluation loan of a couple of ultrawide zooms from Canon (CPS).

When I went to return them, I was required to pay for shipping and $4,500 of insurance. No problem, right?

First I tried UPS and they required me to drive 30 (difficult) miles to drop off at their regional center. I live in the MD state capital and find this amazing - they don't trust their own UPS Store staff and drivers to handle items worth more than $1,000!!

Then I tried FedEx - they won't allow you to buy more than $1,000 of insurance!!!

Finally I had to go to USPS where the insurance cost was $25 higher but you are 'allowed ' to buy up to $5,000 of it.

It really shouldn't be so difficult ……...

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Yes, it is a risky world... Last year we shipped $6000 worth of wheelie bars to Michigan via FedEx and you can't insure them for anywhere near that. The local FedEx store messed up and sent them to Texas where we had 2 other packages being shipped at the same time. Once we found out the mistake a few days later it was very stressful. Fortunately the people who received them in Texas were honest and of course FedEx had the tracking showing that they had delivered the package to that address. But it could have been ugly too... Then FedEx tried to say that we had put the wrong address on the package so it was our fault. Wrong. We had the people who received it send us a photo if the address we had on the package...and this package was 6x24x87 inches, not anything small. Then FedEx demanded that we pay another $167 to ship the package from Texas to Michigan...until they could research it and determine if it was their mistake. So, our package finally got to Michigan a week or so late. And FedEx finally decided that they had messed up. But it was very stressful for a few days... I don't know the answer to these issues, maybe someone else does. I have learned that you can ship larger and heavy items through your local Fastenal store. They ship store to store through their distribution network. I don't know what their policy is on insurance though. And you have to drop off and pick up at their store.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Nothing is simple and straight forward as it was many years ago. Bring back Pony Express.

DAN Phillips Loc: Graysville, GA

USPS is the pits. They lost a 32X36X32 box of a full set of Peterons Filed Guides for me! I'm not sure about the box size but it was big. How do you loose a box? I'm sure someone in Atlanta wound up with a prime condition set of books, some were 1st edition. I ship nothing by Post Office anymore. They are lucky if I buy a stamp! I hope they go out of business today. Most inefficient, costly and inept service in the world. Fortunately, the insurance paid off, but I can never replace the books. I hope UPS/Fed Ex take over.
May the united States Postal service rot in Hades!

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Actually I thought that most of the USPS packages are hauled by FedEx today. Perhaps that is only for Priority Mail and not all packages. I agree that the USPS is not great in many ways. But I have had issues with all of them and the prices to ship stuff are out of hand in my opinion... Cant the books be found on the used market or did you have the last set...

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I've never had good luck with the USPS. They are, in my opinion, the most over paid and think that they are entitled of any group in or near the federal employment system. Oh, their excuse is either they are or are NOT federal employees depending on what they did wrong. I had an overnight package that I sent to the Connecticut DMV a couple of years ago and had a return overnight envelop inside so that they could reply. I tracked the package to them and it arrived on time... I talked to the person that I sent it to in their capitol and it was returned that day. I tracked it back to Philly and it was in their system for 4 days. I called and their excuse was that since I was living in Warminster PA. they didn't overnight to it and the package had to wait on a normal delivery. When I explained that I mailed if overnight from Warminster, he just said, "Well, we are the Government, so sue us."

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Actually, the way that works is that FedEx, and UPS have a certain rate that a package goes from shipper to your nearest "receiving center, UPS or FedEx, then they drop it in the US mail for final delivery. I've had several packages from B&H, J&P Cycle and others that tracked to the local UPS or FedEx system overnight or in 2 days then went into the US Postal system for the last 2 miles and took an additional 4 days (not counting weekends) to be delivered. I now do NOT take the "least expensive" shipping methods but pay additional for UPS or FedEx all of the way.

markmmmm

I have no experience trying to do an insurance collect from the USPS so I can't speak to that. I have had experience with UPS and Fedex. I have shipped lots and lots of expensive stereo equipment over the past 20 years. Trying to collect from UPS is just not going to happen unless, they have a crash and ruin your item. Fedex is almost as bad but not quite the same. So with both companies, you need to be 100% sure that receiver of the package (you or who you are sending to) is there and greets the driver face to face. If there is damage take pictures with the driver of the package in the picture w the damage. Try to get the driver in the picture acknowledging the damage. Get the drivers name, etc and tell them to file a report of damage. DO NOT accept the package. You will also need to file a claim. What happens is both companies have their inspectors look at the package. In most cases the inspectors will say that the package was not packaged correctly and will refuse to cover it. Believe me, I know. Fedex acts within about 2 - 3 weeks. UPS drags the process out. You will not be kept in the loop during the inspection and return of the package. It is almost always sent back to the shipper (who also has the payment for the item). The good news is reliable businesses usual pack exceptionally well and take ownership of the delivery. If a problem, they will make it right. Bad businesses do not. Some will ignore the whole thing and put the burden on you. Some will also say, we shipped it unbroken, you need to talk to the shipping company. BAD COMPANY. Usually there are no problems - reliable companies package correctly and cover the losses. Buying from individuals, like on ebay can really be a nightmare if there is damage. Someone ends up losing. My experience is that if you cannot 100% prove the shipping company damaged the package, someone ends up losing....not the shipping company. Curious if anyone has ever got the fedex or UPS to pay for damage

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

This is an interesting subject to me because I am considering shipping a lens to the east coast later this year. I know of at least one professional photographer that ships his gear and apparently has no problem doing so. Just out of curiosity, I wonder how B&H does it. When I purchased my 600mm lens, at a price of over $11,000, I am sure it was insured. B&H ships expensive gear every day...... with no problems?

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Thanks for the information...that sounds right to me too...

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I suspect that a company the size of B&H either has their own insurance to cover any business loss or is self insured. If they buy a policy they can let their insurance carrier fight it out with the shipping company. Just another cost of doing business for them...

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I did get UPS to pay a claim for a few hundred dollars about 40 years ago...but times have changed... It was not much of a hassle at all back then.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

I made an interesting discovery a few months ago about UPS Store's pricing. I had an item I needed to ship back east that needed packing and shipping. I first went to the UPS Store one block from my house and they wanted $128.00 for an outer carton, packing, $1,500 insurance and shipping. I then went to the small independent shipping store a mile from my house that can ship UPS or FedEx. For the same outer carton, packing, $1,500 insurance and shipping it cost only $75! It seams that the UPS Stores charge premium prices compared to business pickup prices for shipping and can charge excessively for other services as compared to competitors because of their name recognition and people's assumption that they are dealing with the shipper directly and therefore getting the best deal.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

I have received several lens over the years that arrived damaged (EBAY or private sales) - in each case the seller claimed perfect condition when sent, "file a claim". Here is what probably has brought us to the current scenario - in each case the lens was shipped damaged - seller was just looking for easy way out of loss. Lens # 1 - Tamron 28-200 looked fine taking out of box (like the picture), but look inside, half the guts were missing (jokes on me!!) the seller, a slickster going by xxxbourne camera swore I was a liar, said to file a claim. I didn't, I just trashed him on eb ratings and sought their help, they fixed it. Lens # 2 - a little Nikkor 18-55 that the mounting tabs are broke off (2 out of 3)….seller claimed bs and said file a claim. I told them that there are no tabs in the package, and it was wrapped in a 6" ball of bubble wrap, in a box that looked perfect.....we are trying to work that one out now....stuff like this has probably had an effect on the insured package game. Makes it tuff for honest folks.

Cookie223 Loc: New Jersey

For me the USPS in my area is the worse one of all. They have lost and misdelivered more packages than one would expect. On 2 separate occasions they delivered my item to the wrong address, when I advised them I never got the package the claimed that as far as they were concerned the package was delivered. Even though they couldn’t prove the address, they wouldn’t accept responsibility. They also make the process to file a claim so difficult that I feel it’s intended to discourage one from filing a claim. They also had a package that started in Virginia, went past my state (NJ)went to New England, then back and forth between 3 post offices in NJ, then to New Mexico! This took almost a month before i recieved it. They claimed it had the wrong address on it which it didn’t.
I’ve never had any issues with UPS, or FedEx until recently. I dropped my camera at the Canon repair center in Jamesburg NJ for needed service. (I couldn’t get the insurance to ship it)When Canon was done they shipped it via FedEx, who unfortunately lost it. It took 3 weeks for Canon to replace it. Luckily either Canon, or FedEx paid for the replacement.