UPS and Fishing Rods (A Nasty Combo)

[Jimzee]

Every Rod I have ever ordered has come by way of UPS. As a matter of fact, getting two Kistlers delivered tomorrow. I think it must vary from place to place. I haven't had a problem yet with this company, besides I think the delivery guy must be a fisherman because every time we talk we always get on the topic of fishing. I think he knows what is in those tubes....LOL ;D ;D ;D

[HappyHooker]

Well, I hate to say it but ive been an employee at ups for 4 years now unfortunatly and i have seen my share of smashed rods, trolling motors, bulk line spools, etc.  if at all possible i would say to save yourself the greif and agonny of your fishin goodies if its within reason  to drive to the destination to pick up your product.  If not i would track the progress on you product via internet and once you see that it has reached the terminal closest to you to go pick it up because that is one less ride it has to take to your house in the little brown truck and one less chance to be broken.  Ive done it with all my purchases that have gone through that place and ive had seen so people do some nasty things to boxes.  I also work for an LTL company and it brings a tear to my eye when you get brand new mercury outboards going to your local boat dealer with giant forklift holes in the side of the crate  :'(.  Its not a pretty picture. It is nice to see the skids of senkos and lucky crafts that fall over though because you get to test out all the new products before they hit the stores hehe.  heres a pretty funny site to check out for all you haters of ups.  www.unitedpackagesmashers.com

[Jimzee]

Well one of my Kistler rods (He2 7' MHC) came by way of UPS just 10 minutes ago and guess what? The tube was bent in half!!! >

I took the rod out in front of the UPS guy and he said, "Is it a two piece?" I said," It is now!" He took the rod back and I guess I will have to file a claim or something. I really wanted to fish this rod this weekend. :-/ Oh well.......Doo Doo Happens!!

[=Matt 5.0=]

U.S.P.S (post office) and Fishing Reels

Just got an email from a member here that I bought a reel from in the flea market section. He said that he sent it out through the Post Office the other day, and today it was returned to him. He states that the box was crushed and the reel was folded in half like a pretzel. Please don't blame all of us who wear Brown  8-)

[dollarbill]

I am going to lake wylie in 2 weeks and I was going to ship my rods down there with UPS.  They wanted over 70 bucks just to ship 3 rods.  I also wasn't sure how safe it would be.  Today, I decided to buy a plano airliner telescoping rod case and take that with me to the airport. I will be flying out of newark, nj.  Hopefully nothing bad will happen.  It is supposed to be airline approved, but someone told me I will not be able to lock it.

[burleytog]

It is a crapshoot with all of the shipping companies.  I've gotten packages from all three major (FedEx, UPS, USPS) shipping companies that were in bad shape.  Heck, I once had a set of golf clubs shipped from Chile.  They came via DHL and were in darn good shape when they got to me.

I guess my worst experience was getting two canoe paddles in a long box via UPS.  How those paddles stayed in one piece is beyond me.  There was barely a box left.

[GAMEOVER]

Now that is scary, I just recieved an F4-610XDti (600 dollar) rod from UPS it traveled from MA to MI and it was only in what looked cardboard like tube with a 3rd of another tube connected to it and the caps stapled by think brass staples. I open the tube up yesterday (day I recieved it) and was shocked to see only about an 8 or 9 inch foam tube that was held by tape only covering the top 4 guides. The SIC guides seem to look okay, some minimal bending nothing more then youd get from a good day on the lake so I gently bent them back as directed and considered myself lucky. Whenever you guys get a rod through UPS always run part of a panty hose through your guides to make sure their okay and look for any hairline cracks near the guides. Hairline cracks may sound like their small but they are very obvious on a dark graphite blank when bending the rod gently in all directions.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

MAKE SURE YOUR GIRL FRIEND IS OUT OF HER PANTY HOSE BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS ;D

[justfishin]

Man, with the girls I date a pair of their panty hose would never fit through the line eyes. Maybe on a BIG saltwater rod.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Dollar- I sent 10 rods yesterday from Providence, RI to Dallas Tx. Packed in a Flambeau bazooka pro. Dimensions were 93x8x8. Insured for $2000, and it only cost me $50.49.  Many airlines hit you an extra $50 for the tubes and they don't guarentee (like a delivery service does) that it will be there when you are,lol.  Last yr I had a direct flight so I took them with me (American Airlines-no charge).  This yr we have a connector so we sent the rods ahead to Dallas to avoid them getting lost.  Well worth the $50 IMO.

(PS-If the airlines lose that tube, I'm SURE they wouldn't hand me 2k like UPS will if they lose it.  Just a thought.)(they also broke the clasp off my bazooka )

Panty hose comment- Cotton balls work also.

Again, every company is going to have damages. It's the nature of the business. Some facilities process up to 2 million pkgs per day. Miles of conveyor systems and so on. My point is that of the 4 major competitors, UPS has the lowest percentage of damages. This is the reason many of you are getting your rods via UPS, the companies that sold them to you know this. UPS buildings are set up better to handle "bulk" as opposed to "letters" unlike the other companies. Fedex makes it's money on their overnight business (next day air letters). It has always been their niche and their buildings equipment reflects this. Same with the post office (everyday letters). UPS has always had it's roots in maintaining the lions share of parcel or bulk post packages, therefor, the buildings design and equipment cater to this type of volume.

I've been lucky, I get rods all the time, from most of the carriers (UPS, USPS and Fedex so far) and have yet to have an incident.

[susQbassman]

i had a rod shipped to my place of work by UPS it was a 6'6" all star one piece. but when UPS

was done the shipping tube was broke in half.  TWO 39" ice fishing rods nice!susQbassman  

[Jimzee]

Hey LBH I'm with ya on the UPS thing. I was just looking forward to getting this rod and then I get it delivered yesterday in that kind of condition. Luck of the draw sometimes, can happen to any company or individual. At least the UPS guy was in good humor about it! :)

[llPa1nll]

Well I filed the paper work as well as some Photos of the rods and tube. I know its inevitable but just s@#ks when it happens thats all. Its not like I am never going to order rods and have them shipped I guess the lesson learned here is Insure away and keep your receipts, or have some friends behind the counter of your favorite tackle store.

[llPa1nll]

Well I just wanted to keep all of you updated on the claim process. I have been told that there is a +$300 check going to be waiting for me soon at my local UPS store where I shipped the Rods from. So I guess all in all it ended in a positive light and I will be upgrading to a Gloomis jig rod courtesy of UPS. I did ask my local driver how he would have shipped the rods and when I showed him the broken end of the rod tube he was surprised/amazed that they could have broken it.

[SBM-RL]

I hate how people dont take care of customer searvice i work in a deli but run the seafod department i inform people in the seafood department with facts i know my job very well I work at leominster's Marketbasket and I am able to help customers with any question they have.

[cart7t]

I asked about why the price of shipping a rod skyrockets so much even though the weight of rod and tube isn't all that much.

I was told that since the package is over 6' long, the thing can't go down the usual conveyor belt system and must be "hand carried".  OK, I'm paying more for something to be hand carried but if that's the case, why should a hand carried package get damaged easier than something rumbling down a converyor belt system?

[llPa1nll]

I asked about why the price of shipping a rod skyrockets so much even though the weight of rod and tube isn't all that much.

I was told that since the package is over 6' long, the thing can't go down the usual conveyor belt system and must be "hand carried".  OK, I'm paying more for something to be hand carried but if that's the case, why should a hand carried package get damaged easier than something rumbling down a converyor belt system?

It defies logic doesnt it. I cant complain UPS is making it right by me, just dont know what I could have done to prevent that.

[Jimzee]

Well one of my Kistler rods (He2 7' MHC) came by way of UPS just 10 minutes ago and guess what? The tube was bent in half!!! >

I took the rod out in front of the UPS guy and he said, "Is it a two piece?" I said," It is now!" He took the rod back and I guess I will have to file a claim or something. I really wanted to fish this rod this weekend. :-/ Oh well.......Doo Doo Happens!!

I received one of my rods today by way of UPS and all was fine.  I still have to receive the other,  just thought I would give an update on the situation.

[dollarbill]

I shipped my rods down to NC with UPS and they made it there with no problem at all....