Beware of UPS when shipping rods....

[Gomer Pyle]

I just returned home from a trip to Dallas to see the lil bro and fish Lake Fork. The trip didn't start off to good. I decided to ship all my poles to Dallas via UPS ground prior to my departure. I checked out the telescoping fishing rod tube sold at BPS to ship rods in, it felt rather flimsy and thin walled for the price they were asking. I decided to build my own out of PVC from Home Depot. I chose to use 3" dia. thick walled PVC cut to 86" in length. I cemented a thick end cap on one end with a threaded female cap with removable screw in access cap on the other. Needless to say, this was a very stiff and secure shipping container. I even stood on the tube and bounced and it wouldn't flex at all. I wrapped all four of my rods in bubble wrap followed by a thick towel. The package was not able to shift within the tube whatsoever. My lil bro received the package and noticed there was a crease in the tube..ruh roh! I opened the end game and pulled out the package to find all the rods had been broken clean in half at the crease in the tube. :'( I wasn't sure if I should cry or scream :-/ I called UPS, they sent a driver the following day to pick up the package and deliver it to their inspector for assessment and decision on whether or not to honor a damage claim and reimburse my losses. To make a already long story short, the inspector initially denied my claim finding the package was "improperly shipped". After many phone calls to corporate and threats of a small claims suit, the inspectors decision was overturned in my favor. UPS will reimburse me for the cost of the goods. My question for those in the know, how would I place a value on 3 of the rods that are at least 15-20 yrs of age? My newest rod was purchased at BPS ( 7' Extreme). I'm thinking that I will only be covered for the purchase of the newer rod? Any ideas?

[Five-Alive]

First, I am terribly sorry for your loss. Just my opinion but I would seek replacement value of equivalent rods. I hope it works out for you.

[roadwarrior]

Just try to get "replacement cost" for comparable

new rods. That's the best you can do. Although

I'm sure your old rods had some sentimental value,

15-20 year old rods aren't worth anything from a

purely fishing point of view.

>

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I'm actually surprised they insured the PVC tube, have heard on here they will not

[Tin]

You would be amazed what we ship and how easy things can break, I remember 140 pound drums and safes in the trucks I would load so it is very easy to see how they are broken. On the other hand, they are 15-20 year old rods. :

[Gomer Pyle]

Just try to get "replacement cost" for comparable

new rods. That's the best you can do. Although

I'm sure your old rods had some sentimental value,

15-20 year old rods aren't worth anything from a

purely fishing point of view.

You are correct in that those rods did have sentimental value, as a matter of fact the 5'6" Shimano Bantam GTX graphite rod was my absolute favorite worm rod. I also had a graphite Kunnan pistol grip 5'6"rod I was fond of. I just got off the phone to Shimano in Ca., customer support supervisor told me that those rods were in the $49-69 range. I'm going to ask for $50 for the Shimano and Kunnan, and $90 for the current price of the BPS Extreme rod. Thanks for the reply RW, I enjoy reading your posts, always insightful and informative

>

[luz2blaze]

I'm very sorry to hear about your rods. Buying new rods is not as fun when you have to. >

Just a thought, was there some type of vent on your

rod tube? Airtight,glue,hot,cold....maybe???

[Kowen117]

KUNNAN dude my uncle has one of those and that is his got rod when he cant catch fish (ha ha confidence builder i guess) but they don't even make those even more do they?

[cart7t]

I'm actually surprised they insured the PVC tube, have heard on here they will not

They know it's too much temptation for workers in the sorting facilities to use them for javelin throwing contests.

My brother worked in a UPS sorting facility for quite a few years.  He always said if it absolutely has to get there in one piece, don't use UPS.   ;D

[daviscw]

Tin broke it himself. Don't let him convince you otherwise....

[Long Mike]

Gomer, I can't speak for any other the other members, but I feel that your use of large, bold text is unnecessary and very distracting from other posts on the thread.  If you would revert to standard text, I for one, would very much appreciate it.

[Big Tom]

Gomer, I can't speak for any other the other members, but I feel that your use of large, bold text is unnecessary and very distracting from other posts on the thread. If you would revert to standard text, I for one, would very much appreciate it.

Somehow, I knew this was coming.

[The Rooster]

You would be amazed what we ship and how easy things can break, I remember 140 pound drums and safes in the trucks I would load so it is very easy to see how they are broken. On the other hand, they are 15-20 year old rods. :

Can't see how this even comes close to mattering.  : :

[The Rooster]

Gomer, I can't speak for any other the other members, but I feel that your use of large, bold text is unnecessary and very distracting from other posts on the thread. If you would revert to standard text, I for one, would very much appreciate it.

I gotta say the bold text makes it hard to read.  Sorry man. :-[

[Grey Wolf]

Gomer just wants to be heard above all the chatter on this site.

[Gomer Pyle]

Alright...alright....no more bold font.

[Tin]

You would be amazed what we ship and how easy things can break, I remember 140 pound drums and safes in the trucks I would load so it is very easy to see how they are broken. On the other hand, they are 15-20 year old rods. :

Can't see how this even comes close to mattering. : :

As things get older, they have then tendency to break. And I know this is not the first thread about UPS breaking rods in "unbreakable" tubes. Sad to say, but it should have been expected.

[The Rooster]

You know I could see age taking a toll on items over time with wear and fatigue of materials and small cracks in the materials forming unknown to us as time goes by. But considering how well he packed it, bubble wrap and heavy towel, plus being in the heavy walled PVC tubing.....that's the kind of pipe that is schedule 80 and should withstand being buried in the ground under driveways where cars can drive over it without doing damage.....then it shows up at the destination BENT in the MIDDLE?? There's just no excuse for that to have happened and I completely disagree that he should have expected it.

Now if you're saying it should have been expected due to UPS's poor service then I will agree with you there.   

[Tin]

You know I could see age taking a toll on items over time with wear and fatigue of materials and small cracks in the materials forming unknown to us as time goes by.  But considering how well he packed it, bubble wrap and heavy towel, plus being in the heavy walled PVC tubing.....that's the kind of pipe that is schedule 80 and should withstand being buried in the ground under driveways where cars can drive over it without doing damage.....then it shows up at the destination BENT in the MIDDLE??  There's just no excuse for that to have happened and I completely disagree that he should have expected it. 

Now if you're saying it should have been expected due to UPS's poor service then I will agree with you there.   

I have had new Loomis rods break in Bazooka tubes that were all packed up tight in newspaper and bubble wrap on flights.

Tips and rods always break, they are getting stuff pilled on top of them and heavier things crashing into them. I don't get the shock of the fact that you had older more fragile rods break while shipping them. While shipping them through a company that is known for having it's parcels damaged. Just do a search on here or other websites. It happens. When I left UPS a few months ago they were starting to really cut down the delivery and shipping of damaged parcels. So even they knew they had a problem.

I would be ticked off more about the guy denying my claim and have to threaten them to get my way. But do a search and get some info before putting your trust in a company.

[-nick-]

You know I could see age taking a toll on items over time with wear and fatigue of materials and small cracks in the materials forming unknown to us as time goes by. But considering how well he packed it, bubble wrap and heavy towel, plus being in the heavy walled PVC tubing.....that's the kind of pipe that is schedule 80 and should withstand being buried in the ground under driveways where cars can drive over it without doing damage.....then it shows up at the destination BENT in the MIDDLE?? There's just no excuse for that to have happened and I completely disagree that he should have expected it.

Now if you're saying it should have been expected due to UPS's poor service then I will agree with you there.

x2 that's just insane to expect poor service. I don't see why anyone would ship ups no matter what it is they need delivered that's just ridiculous.

[Glenn]

So does anyone have recommendations, or does this happen with all carriers? I've heard horror stories about USPS too.

[Tin]

So does anyone have recommendations, or does this happen with all carriers? I've heard horror stories about USPS too.

The only person I know who can pack rods to the point of being unbreakable is 5BL. The few he sent me have taken hours to get apart. Ask him how he does it.

[flechero]

So does anyone have recommendations, or does this happen with all carriers? I've heard horror stories about USPS too.

Without question fedex is the best carrier to ship rods. This from my own experience as well as friends and family.   No one is perfect but they break a fraction of what the others do.

Tips and rods always break, they are getting stuff pilled on top of them and heavier things crashing into them. I don't get the shock of the fact that you had older more fragile rods break while shipping them.

I think the shock is that the schedule 40 pvc is broken, not the rods... I do realize that you can break pvc with a truck or forklift but that's not something that happens typically happens when a person drops it accidentally. :-?

[MSPbass]

Just last week I was psyched to find a warranty replacement Fenwick at my door. As I approached, however, I knew there was a problem. There was a crease in the middle of the triangular box and then one about a foot from the top. It was leaning against the wall and when I picked it up, the top part almost fell off. I instantly knew the rod inside was snapped. I went straight to the local FedEx site and they were so lame I couldn't believe it. They said they only ship out and couldn't handle claims. I was told to call the 800 number and they wouldn't even let me use their phone. So I stood at the counter and called on my cell. They looked at me like I was the one being a jerk. Fenwick, on the other hand, was awesome and I expect a replacement rod any day. I still can't believe FedEx left this package at my door in such an obviously damaged state though. And then I get static from staff at the store? We understand is their current motto. BS.