Got the great news that the full set I ordered a few years back is finished and ready to post. However, there is a bit of an issue that I hope some of you can help me out with- the postal companies I’ve looked into aren’t willing to insure for the full amount. The maker (Joe Kennedy) suggested insuring the set for the full retail amount the set is worth, but that price is well above the maximum amount of insurance offered for a single parcel- even through independent parcel insurers.
Now, personally, my guess is that good packing, taking the maximum allowable insurance ($1K-$2.5K depending on the company), opting for tracking of the parcel and rapid shipping (overnight or 2-3 day) will likely be OK in terms of the package arriving safe and sound. BUT, if something were to go wrong…ouch.
You have outlined what I have always done. As long as they are well packed, and you are using a premium shipping method, things have always gone well for me, but as you note, there are no guarantees. Even if you were to fly over and bring them back yorself, you still couldn’t guarantee what the airlines would do to them as luggage, carry-on or otherwise. At some point you have to say “This is as much as I can do” and take the plunge.
Why not have Joe ship the set in two boxes? You could insure the individual boxes for the needed amount, and if one box (Heaven, forbid) was lost, you would collect sufficient funds to order a replacement. This is not fraud, just distributing the value of the set.
This issue recently came up for me also. My pipe maker was relieved to hear that my new set arrived in good condition because he could not insure the set for the full amount. He said that he was looking for other shipping providers.
The set was shipping from Ireland to the USA, so that probably leaves out UPS in this case.
Packaging is everything. The best idea is a box within a box.
If you’re shipping within the USA ( I know you’re not). The only way to ship high-dollar fragile stuff IMO is USPS registered mail. You can insure for over $25000 and they are extremely gentle. Everything is hand delivered from registered guy to registered guy across the country. No machinery.
UPS and FedEx are staffed by Oran-u-tans on steroids. If they have a chance to damage a parcel they will. Believe, me I have ample experience.
I recently recieved a Gallagher 1/2 set that had the misfortune of passing through their hands. But, at least they take ages to settle their insurance claims.
All of the ideas are here. Double boxing and protection (bubble wrap) is best. If sent via regular air post (about 1 week), insure for the max should be adequate. Everything is risk/reward but careful boxing up is the part that you and the seller can control.
DHL owns its remote operations (mostly). FedEx, UPS use independent agents (mostly). For Customs clearance, DHL is slightly easier then (especially if issues emerge).
When I started out in the late 1970s, no one would ship pipes from Ireland. You had to pick them up or have someone collect them for you.
I have had experience with UPS and fedex. UPS will destroy and loose things but I haven’t had the same experience with fedex (and they have a better tracking system). Also fedex will give you a type of insurance to the value of the shipped item if it is lost or dammaged which, if it is pipes and packed well, should be impossible to damage (even by orangutangs on steroids) unless they drive over the package.
I make things out of glass and ship them all over the world, sometimes with fedex. I have had UPS loose something of mine to be never seen again and delay stuff for no reason etc etc, and heard of bad damage with UPS from my assosciates but have not had this experience from fedex(there is always a first time though). I would ship with fedex.
This is just my experience and my opinion based on this experience.
One thing to consider is that your home owners policy may cover the pipes in transit. If you tell them that you will be accepting the shipment FOB Origin, this means that title passes to you when the carrier accepts the shipment - they become your proprety and sould be covered, but check with the insurance company first. All you need to do then is to cover your excess with the carrier’s insurance.
