Let's start thinking a little, folks.
- Thread starter caprae
- Start date
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: Let's start thinking a little, folks.
I always do delivery confirmation because:
A. It cost like a dollar thru USPS. You get it automatically with UPS/Fed Ex.
B. Keeps me out of hot water with the buyer, because they can see when it was shipped, and that I did what I said I would do. Then there are no stupid questions like "did you really ship it you arsehole", when it's delayed or lost by the delivery service.
Insurance is at the buyers request. If they do not specifically ask for it, I ask if they want it.
However, it's not hard to get a shipping estimate for a guitar. If you have any experience, you know insurance on a $1000 guitar isn't going to run more than $10-15 bucks usually. Shipping a guitar on it's own is generally $25-40 depending on weight, and assuming you don't bend over and let the "U-Ship It Rip Off Store" box and pack it for $100.
What I'm saying is, know your shipping price and build it in. $50 usually covers a standard guitar in the lower 48 with delivery confirmation and insurance. So say shipping is $50, and if the seller doesn't want insurance, either knock some money off shipping if you want to be a nice guy (or for a forum bro), or just pocket the difference.
Conversely, if shipping cost's me an extra $5-10 bucks over what I charged and I do insurance and delivery confirmation, I just don't sweat it and I sleep better. If $10 kills the deal for you, I think you have bigger issues.
I always do delivery confirmation because:
A. It cost like a dollar thru USPS. You get it automatically with UPS/Fed Ex.
B. Keeps me out of hot water with the buyer, because they can see when it was shipped, and that I did what I said I would do. Then there are no stupid questions like "did you really ship it you arsehole", when it's delayed or lost by the delivery service.
Insurance is at the buyers request. If they do not specifically ask for it, I ask if they want it.
However, it's not hard to get a shipping estimate for a guitar. If you have any experience, you know insurance on a $1000 guitar isn't going to run more than $10-15 bucks usually. Shipping a guitar on it's own is generally $25-40 depending on weight, and assuming you don't bend over and let the "U-Ship It Rip Off Store" box and pack it for $100.
What I'm saying is, know your shipping price and build it in. $50 usually covers a standard guitar in the lower 48 with delivery confirmation and insurance. So say shipping is $50, and if the seller doesn't want insurance, either knock some money off shipping if you want to be a nice guy (or for a forum bro), or just pocket the difference.
Conversely, if shipping cost's me an extra $5-10 bucks over what I charged and I do insurance and delivery confirmation, I just don't sweat it and I sleep better. If $10 kills the deal for you, I think you have bigger issues.
GuitarGuy503
New member
Re: Let's start thinking a little, folks.
Never assume. If you are truely that worried about shipping insurance you should have contacted the seller and made sure it was going to be insured and for what amount. Eventhough it probably wouldn't have costed much extra to insure the guitar it still shouldn't be on the sellers dime. You are the buyer and with the product also comes actual shipping and additional postage charges (signature confirmation,etc). It seems to me that you are trying to push the blame off on someone else because you screwed up and assumed. Think ahead and communicate and you won't find yourself in these kind of situations.
Never assume. If you are truely that worried about shipping insurance you should have contacted the seller and made sure it was going to be insured and for what amount. Eventhough it probably wouldn't have costed much extra to insure the guitar it still shouldn't be on the sellers dime. You are the buyer and with the product also comes actual shipping and additional postage charges (signature confirmation,etc). It seems to me that you are trying to push the blame off on someone else because you screwed up and assumed. Think ahead and communicate and you won't find yourself in these kind of situations.
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GuitarGuy503
New member
caprae
New member
Re: Let's start thinking a little, folks.
Points well taken and as pointed out, I didn't mention names because this wasn't all about one deal.
So who is this pompous a** that goes by caprae? I practice what I preach. I've sold/traded three guitars through other forums.
One to England - I weighed it and didn't like the close to $200 shipping UPS and FedEx wanted, so I asked my wife to kindly use an hour of her time take it to the Post Office and ended up with a price around $75 (shipped/insured/signature/box/bubblewrap/outer box). I then decided to give them a L.N. Musician's Friend gig bag (which clearly wasn't part of the initial offer). After payment I took it to the post office and the extra weight jumped it up another $13. I paid it without complaint.
Another guy I traded guitars with straight up. Again I packed it in a gig bag (which wasn't part of the initial deal), carton, bubble wrap around the carton, outer box - FedEx ground insured/direct signature required. Overkill? Yes. Cost me more? Yes. Peace of mind for both of us? Priceless.
There are other ways to sell including Craig's List, local adds and other forums. If a guitar isn't moving and you've listed it in numerous places...I've held on to guitars for six months trying to sell them.
Stop insisting that I low-balled krank - if you back out the PayPal fees that were saved, his counter offer was less than 3% lower than his last asking price.
(Edited for typos)
Points well taken and as pointed out, I didn't mention names because this wasn't all about one deal.
So who is this pompous a** that goes by caprae? I practice what I preach. I've sold/traded three guitars through other forums.
One to England - I weighed it and didn't like the close to $200 shipping UPS and FedEx wanted, so I asked my wife to kindly use an hour of her time take it to the Post Office and ended up with a price around $75 (shipped/insured/signature/box/bubblewrap/outer box). I then decided to give them a L.N. Musician's Friend gig bag (which clearly wasn't part of the initial offer). After payment I took it to the post office and the extra weight jumped it up another $13. I paid it without complaint.
Another guy I traded guitars with straight up. Again I packed it in a gig bag (which wasn't part of the initial deal), carton, bubble wrap around the carton, outer box - FedEx ground insured/direct signature required. Overkill? Yes. Cost me more? Yes. Peace of mind for both of us? Priceless.
There are other ways to sell including Craig's List, local adds and other forums. If a guitar isn't moving and you've listed it in numerous places...I've held on to guitars for six months trying to sell them.
Stop insisting that I low-balled krank - if you back out the PayPal fees that were saved, his counter offer was less than 3% lower than his last asking price.
(Edited for typos)
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JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Let's start thinking a little, folks.
Regardless, he insulted him. If I go around saying "Forum members from Europe are jerks", if it was proved untrue, I'd still owe the dudes from EU an apology, whether I named anybody or not.
Regardless, he insulted him. If I go around saying "Forum members from Europe are jerks", if it was proved untrue, I'd still owe the dudes from EU an apology, whether I named anybody or not.
Lu_B
New member
Re: Let's start thinking a little, folks.
Be a sensible buyer and ask for insurance it only costs a couple of extra $. Maturity works both ways!
Be a sensible buyer and ask for insurance it only costs a couple of extra $. Maturity works both ways!
BadJaxx
New member
Re: Let's start thinking a little, folks.
i ALWAYS ship with UPS tracking or USPS deliver confirmation (c'mon...it's 60 cents) for smaller items...AND a minimum of full price plus shipping charge insurance....and it's all included in whatever i charge for shipping, be it flat rate or actual...
i've shipped guitars all over the country, several to Canada and 1 to Australia...
i've shipped heavy amps as well...
i've lost a few extra bucks here and there and gained a couple bucks here and there....figure it all works out pretty even...
i'm not a dealer or even an individual who tries to break even...with a couple exceptions, i've always taken a loss on stuff i've sold....i figure that's the name of the game....you try gear....you keep it or sell it...
i tend to overinsure a little to cover the hassle of filing a claim and the time it would take to get my (or the buyer's) money...
i've only had 1 guitar damaged in shipping and it happened to be the best packing job i'd ever done....the buyer was still happy and didn't want to bother with a claim...
this is my belief on how to conduct business on ebay or forums and i think not doing similar shows a lack of respect for a buyer...
i conduct myself according to 2 rules...
'Treat others as you would like to be treated'
'What goes around, comes around'
i ALWAYS ship with UPS tracking or USPS deliver confirmation (c'mon...it's 60 cents) for smaller items...AND a minimum of full price plus shipping charge insurance....and it's all included in whatever i charge for shipping, be it flat rate or actual...
i've shipped guitars all over the country, several to Canada and 1 to Australia...
i've shipped heavy amps as well...
i've lost a few extra bucks here and there and gained a couple bucks here and there....figure it all works out pretty even...
i'm not a dealer or even an individual who tries to break even...with a couple exceptions, i've always taken a loss on stuff i've sold....i figure that's the name of the game....you try gear....you keep it or sell it...
i tend to overinsure a little to cover the hassle of filing a claim and the time it would take to get my (or the buyer's) money...
i've only had 1 guitar damaged in shipping and it happened to be the best packing job i'd ever done....the buyer was still happy and didn't want to bother with a claim...
this is my belief on how to conduct business on ebay or forums and i think not doing similar shows a lack of respect for a buyer...
i conduct myself according to 2 rules...
'Treat others as you would like to be treated'
'What goes around, comes around'
Fusion1
Active member
Re: Let's start thinking a little, folks.
I guess I should rethink my strategery in regards to selling. I shipped a guitar and paid for insurance automatically and so glad I did, as it got damaged in transit. Buyer sends me pictures of the broken headstock. I called him up asking him what he wanted to do, (giving him every imaginable scenario available to him) he wanted a refund and I will be sending one once the shipping company has it in their possession.
Usually when I am the buyer I always get screwed and the process is a b*tch to get involved with the damage claim as a buyer and usually because I want to fix the broken neck or whatever and either A) not get $$$ compensation and I am the one that got burned not the seller; B) not get the damaged item back OR the $$$$; C) get the item back further damaged or an item like a tremelo bar is missing from when I first had it. Typically when I am the buyer of something that got damaged the seller usually is hard to reach, and I am always doing the legwork with the claim not them, and yet they still give the refund and item back to the shipper and then I'd have to fork over more $$$ to have it shipped back to me, as well as the cash settlement they received.
I pretty much with no questions asked offered the guy a refund and even apologized for Fed Ex's screw up, but now I will have the burden of getting Fed Ex to pay me back or else it's like I had to pay someone to get my own guitar back damaged.
I guess I should rethink my strategery in regards to selling. I shipped a guitar and paid for insurance automatically and so glad I did, as it got damaged in transit. Buyer sends me pictures of the broken headstock. I called him up asking him what he wanted to do, (giving him every imaginable scenario available to him) he wanted a refund and I will be sending one once the shipping company has it in their possession.
Usually when I am the buyer I always get screwed and the process is a b*tch to get involved with the damage claim as a buyer and usually because I want to fix the broken neck or whatever and either A) not get $$$ compensation and I am the one that got burned not the seller; B) not get the damaged item back OR the $$$$; C) get the item back further damaged or an item like a tremelo bar is missing from when I first had it. Typically when I am the buyer of something that got damaged the seller usually is hard to reach, and I am always doing the legwork with the claim not them, and yet they still give the refund and item back to the shipper and then I'd have to fork over more $$$ to have it shipped back to me, as well as the cash settlement they received.
I pretty much with no questions asked offered the guy a refund and even apologized for Fed Ex's screw up, but now I will have the burden of getting Fed Ex to pay me back or else it's like I had to pay someone to get my own guitar back damaged.
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DWVINKY
New member
Re: Let's start thinking a little, folks.
I've shipped several guitars using the Post office. Its actually cheaper and faster than other carriers. I ALWAYS ship delivery confirmation on anything sent by the post office. I also insure items. Sometimes i pay for it myself. Delivery confirmation cost an extra 50 cents and saves one hell of a lot of hassle on both ends if something gets lost. I see it as a common courtesy to the buyer. Its not gonna break the bank one way or the other.
I've shipped several guitars using the Post office. Its actually cheaper and faster than other carriers. I ALWAYS ship delivery confirmation on anything sent by the post office. I also insure items. Sometimes i pay for it myself. Delivery confirmation cost an extra 50 cents and saves one hell of a lot of hassle on both ends if something gets lost. I see it as a common courtesy to the buyer. Its not gonna break the bank one way or the other.
caprae
New member
Re: Let's start thinking a little, folks.
Like I said before, Lesson Learned. Don't take anything for granted.
Like I said before, Lesson Learned. Don't take anything for granted.
Re: Let's start thinking a little, folks.
I agree with the general premise that seller/shippers ought to insure guitars (and pack them well) for shipping...no-brainer, IMO. At least that's the way I function. I don't want a buyer to be left out in the cold in the event something happens in shipping. It's just good gear community spirit.
Greg
I agree with the general premise that seller/shippers ought to insure guitars (and pack them well) for shipping...no-brainer, IMO. At least that's the way I function. I don't want a buyer to be left out in the cold in the event something happens in shipping. It's just good gear community spirit.
Greg
Fiesta Red
Member
Re: Let's start thinking a little, folks.
I think a lack of maturity can be found in, rather than addressing those posters specifically with their individual transactions, posting a general complaint about how you've been wronged guised as a 'lets think about this' admonition. Address the specific members and their transgressions directly and head-on. Please don't save it all up for a passive-aggressive 'I'm just sayin' without mentioning any names.....' attack where you can hide behind the fact that you didn't intentionally name names. That's called lobbing grenades, and it is really the spineless way out.:smack:
-Mark
I think a lack of maturity can be found in, rather than addressing those posters specifically with their individual transactions, posting a general complaint about how you've been wronged guised as a 'lets think about this' admonition. Address the specific members and their transgressions directly and head-on. Please don't save it all up for a passive-aggressive 'I'm just sayin' without mentioning any names.....' attack where you can hide behind the fact that you didn't intentionally name names. That's called lobbing grenades, and it is really the spineless way out.:smack:
-Mark
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krankguitarist
Krankitupologist
Re: Let's start thinking a little, folks.
*sigh*, not that it really matters at all, but that last bit is wrong. It was actually closer to 6% lower.
The initial price was 700 shipped, the original offer was 650, and the counter-offer was 660. 700 X .03 = 21.
That is, unless you mean that the counter offer was less than 3% lower than what my gains would have been after paypal. Then you would be correct. Your statement would seem slightly misleading though.
Thats all a moot point next to the fact that I wasn't intending to accept paypal on the guitar in the first place. On more expensive items I like to use money orders instead.
I'm not complaining though. Not at all. Just stating the facts.
I have definitely learned a lesson from this transaction, and that is to always ship with delivery confirmation. I should have done that this time, and I apologize for not doing so.
Still, I don't believe that it is an unreasonable business practice to provide extra mailing services only upon the buyer's request. That is, of course, when none are spoken of nor implied by the seller. That is what I practice, and that is where I stand.
*sigh*, not that it really matters at all, but that last bit is wrong. It was actually closer to 6% lower.
The initial price was 700 shipped, the original offer was 650, and the counter-offer was 660. 700 X .03 = 21.
That is, unless you mean that the counter offer was less than 3% lower than what my gains would have been after paypal. Then you would be correct. Your statement would seem slightly misleading though.
Thats all a moot point next to the fact that I wasn't intending to accept paypal on the guitar in the first place. On more expensive items I like to use money orders instead.
I'm not complaining though. Not at all. Just stating the facts.
I have definitely learned a lesson from this transaction, and that is to always ship with delivery confirmation. I should have done that this time, and I apologize for not doing so.
Still, I don't believe that it is an unreasonable business practice to provide extra mailing services only upon the buyer's request. That is, of course, when none are spoken of nor implied by the seller. That is what I practice, and that is where I stand.
krankguitarist
Krankitupologist
Re: Let's start thinking a little, folks.
Nah, Its still in transit. I sent it parcel post on the 17th. I don't expect it to be there till at least the 23rd or the 24th.
Nah, Its still in transit. I sent it parcel post on the 17th. I don't expect it to be there till at least the 23rd or the 24th.
