Shipping an oasys?

jayS · Post by **jayS** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:41 pm

Hey everyone, need some solid advice here. I'm having an oasys shipped to me and am handling the shipping for obvious reasons. When I speak to the ups store, how should I instruct them to package it. Factory package not available. I figured you guys had some hands on experience.

Thanks a bunch,

JayS

Ultimate Dj · Post by **Ultimate Dj** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 7:11 pm

oh jeez dude. UPS shipping an OASYS? I would first off say DON"T!!!!
but if you must, package it with a two 6 feet golden pillows and a red carpet. No for real, UPS is known for its reckless handling (my dad worked for UPS

) so do what it takes to get well protected. get the little pink squeeshys and all the foam it can handle. also be sure to get it insured just incase. I've heard some terrible horror stories of Oasys and UPS.

puravida
Dj

tpantano · Post by **tpantano** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:22 pm

Ultimate Dj wrote:oh jeez dude. UPS shipping an OASYS? I would first off say DON"T!!!!

A computer enthusiast named CyberDruid was building someone a $9000 PC. He made a custom case for the PC for an extra $400 or so- one that a hammer wouldn't punch through. He put locks on the case approved of by the agency I forget the name of for international shipping (TSA?) Finally, he was going to ship it off with FedEx. However, the person he had to ship the package accidentally got a UPS label.

Now, UPS doesn't exactly have the highest rating amongst shippers. However, the package was already sent, so CyberDruid decided to let it go.

He gets a call from the buyer.

The package arrived with his custom case heavily scratched from abuse, almost as if they had dropped it off the shipping trailer while driving. The locks he had put on were missing. The computer case itself was heavily dented, with the parts inside dented.

In addition, UPS would not refund the customer his full $9400. They wouldn't give him half. I believe they eventually gave him $2500 for his troubles.

I wish I still had the link to all of this.

Anyways, I tell you this because shipping with UPS is a bad idea. All of my packages from them arrive worn and dented; Luckily the contents inside are packaged well enough that they are usually intact. Yet, they're are cases like CyberDruids; where multihundred dollar custom protective cases don't hold up.

I'd ship with FedEx; it may cost you more, maybe even double the price, but it's worth the security.

Ultimate Dj · Post by **Ultimate Dj** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 4:53 pm

tpantano wrote:
Ultimate Dj wrote:oh jeez dude. UPS shipping an OASYS? I would first off say DON"T!!!!
A computer enthusiast named CyberDruid was building someone a $9000 PC. He made a custom case for the PC for an extra $400 or so- one that a hammer wouldn't punch through. He put locks on the case approved of by the agency I forget the name of for international shipping (TSA?) Finally, he was going to ship it off with FedEx. However, the person he had to ship the package accidentally got a UPS label.

Now, UPS doesn't exactly have the highest rating amongst shippers. However, the package was already sent, so CyberDruid decided to let it go.

He gets a call from the buyer.

The package arrived with his custom case heavily scratched from abuse, almost as if they had dropped it off the shipping trailer while driving. The locks he had put on were missing. The computer case itself was heavily dented, with the parts inside dented.

In addition, UPS would not refund the customer his full $9400. They wouldn't give him half. I believe they eventually gave him $2500 for his troubles.

I wish I still had the link to all of this.

Anyways, I tell you this because shipping with UPS is a bad idea. All of my packages from them arrive worn and dented; Luckily the contents inside are packaged well enough that they are usually intact. Yet, they're are cases like CyberDruids; where multihundred dollar custom protective cases don't hold up.

I'd ship with FedEx; it may cost you more, maybe even double the price, but it's worth the security.

wow thats like tragic!

. But it sad is how common it is. Like I said I've heard of plenty of horror stories with UPS and Oasys as well coming to the buyer in terrible condition and no help from UPS at all.
I totally second the notion NOT TO SHIP with UPS. maybe USPS would be better. or heck get plane ticket and get it yourself. Could save you some money in the end.

pruavida
DJ

Gargamel314 · Post by **Gargamel314** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:04 pm

I sold a 61-key Triton Extreme this past summer. UPS refused to ship it because according to the shipping center in Wilmington, DE, "almost every piece of high-end electronics we ship ends up getting damaged."

So i sent it via Fed Ex. and they lost it (how you lose a 4-foot long box that weighs 45 pounds is beyond me) but at least they paid me the full amount of the price the buyer was paying after like two months.

Buy the insurance, and make sure you keep a copy of sales receipts, invoices, packing list, pictures and ANY kind of documentation you can before you ship your OASYS off. This stuff happens!

Ultimate Dj · Post by **Ultimate Dj** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 12:12 am

Gargamel314 wrote:I sold a 61-key Triton Extreme this past summer. UPS refused to ship it because according to the shipping center in Wilmington, DE, "almost every piece of high-end electronics we ship ends up getting damaged."

well god forbid you do anything about it!

are you kidding me?

Thats what they said? "everything we shipped is damaged and well obviously thats just the way it is" . outrageous!

puravida
DJ

jayS · Post by **jayS** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 2:49 am

I'm considering UPS LTL freight. It'll cost a hundred bucks, plus about 200 to package it but I think that would be pretty safe. It'll take two days, but freight should be safer, right?

Thoughts? Thanks so far. I really want to go FedEx, but I don't want to pay literally three times as much.

MrT-Man · Post by **MrT-Man** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 3:28 am

I'd order a flight case (from Calzone or whomever) and have it shipped to the sender, to put it in... not sure how else you'd safely package an Oasys if the factory packaging isn't available. It's an extra expense, but it's useful to have anyway.

SCHWEATS · Post by **SCHWEATS** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 5:33 am

Where is the Oasys coming from ?

If it's within 1 days drive , drive to the seller's location and pick it up yourself.
If it is further , exchange pics with the seller to verify your identities to each other and try and pick a location that might be half way between your locations.Beg, borrow, rent a small pickup or minivan that will accomodate the
Oasys and that would hopefully get decent gas mileage …Just ideas

3.5 years ago I did exactly what I described … I'm in central Illinois and I drove to Cincinnati, OH to pick mine up - approx 6 hrs 1 way

HTH - Schweats

Gargamel314 · Post by **Gargamel314** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 8:32 am

jayS wrote:I'm considering UPS LTL freight. It'll cost a hundred bucks, plus about 200 to package it but I think that would be pretty safe. It'll take two days, but freight should be safer, right?

Thoughts? Thanks so far. I really want to go FedEx, but I don't want to pay literally three times as much.

When i sold my Triton Extreme, Fed Ex packed it for free, and shipping cost was about $25...was being sent from Wilmington, DE to Florida. While I'm sure your OASYS would cost more to ship & pack... 300 for shipping and packing sounds way too high unless you're getting some kind of special service.

I had a Korg N364 packaged at Mailboxes, Etc. and they packed it for $35.00... can't remember how much shipping was.

jayS · Post by **jayS** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 1:07 am

Thanks for the responses everyone!

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 2:20 am

for comparison's sake, I had a 1935 Ford Fordor delivered to me in an enclosed trailer buy a professional car shipping company. They use a semi with a covered trailer that can hold 3 cars. Shipped across the US cost me:

$500

$300 sounds quite high.

And I have similar stories - Only ship with FedEx (unless you actually WANT it damaged in shipping, then go UPS).

-Mc

MartinHines · Post by **MartinHines** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 4:32 am

Absolutely, positively make sure you get the item insured for the full amount at the UPS store. As I understand it, UPS stores are independent franchises, and the franchisee insures it themselves (if you buy insurance).

The risk you have is not having the factory packaging. With the factory packaging, you could ship UPS/FedEx/whatever and they are unable to claim "insufficient packaging" since the factory packaging is how units are shipped around the world. With any other type of packaging the shipper can ALWAYS claim insufficient packaging.

Therefore, you want the UPS Store to be held liable for their own packaging, not you.

jayS · Post by **jayS** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 4:39 am

McHale,

I definitely agree that $300 is a little high, but I'm asking for crazy amounts of packing.

Martin, thanks for that tidbit. I asked for the factory packaging first thing assuming the same thing that you mentioned. And for what it's worth, The UPS Store is actually owned by Mailboxes Etc. Random fact there. My fiance worked for UPS for a little while.

Turns out I'm using FedEx freight overnight. I think that freight will be the safest way out, and overnight insures the least amount of truck changes and time in the truck.

What do you guys think? It'll go out tomorrow.

Sagittarius-A · Post by **Sagittarius-A** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 3:38 pm

Hi JayS,

I know the problem of shipping an OASYS (88 keys).
I ordered mine from a US (CA) online shop and they sent it via USPS in a simple box. The result wasn't that great. The OASYS wasn't safe, the metallic structure was bumped and some keys were stuck in lower position as soon as they were played.
I had to unscrew unplug and do terrible things with a hammer to my beloved new keyboard to make the keyboard functional again !!!
So first of all i would say : never use a standard box shipment.
Then i shipped the OASYS from US to France via FEDEX freight using a very good (but expensive) flightcase.... The result wasn't great neither !!!! 2 big scratches holes trough the flightcase.... BUT THE OASYS Was safe!!!

So i wish you good luck. I still don't know the perfect way to ship a so heavy instrument. But I can say that this Beast is very well manufactured what thankfully makes it impossible to destroy !!!
So don't be too worried !