Sending hire kit via courier

[partyadz]

Hi guys

 

Looking for any thoughts / past experience on this. We've sent road cases etc before on pallets with somebody like TNT.

 

However, we need to courier a 4u and 8u rack cases to a client. Now there's obviously loads of couriers out there, my main worry is the security of the kit inside (radio mic receivers, and draw with the transmitters etc). Has anybody dealt with this before? My current thoughts are to cable tie the lids shut, and when it arrives with the client they can just snip them off. To return, they simply need to put on a new set. Another thought was to use small combination lock pad lock, and email them the code. However, these are fairly easy to break off and also draw attention to there maybe be something valuable in there.

 

Any advice? Do you think I'm panicking too much and they'd be fine just sent as they are? Look forward to hearing from you!

 

Adam

[Paul TC]

In another thread some one (Paulears ?) has mentioned that damage to a flight case will not be covered by the couriers unless there is an additional layer of packing material over it.

[simontaylor]

When I send my video mixer via courier to a client, I use cable ties to secure the flight case (Pelicase). Usually send it with TNT next day - not had any problems. I put two extra cable ties in the case so the hirer can secure it shut again when sending it back.

[paulears]

I was a bit surprised by that - when I got the information. I didn't know that, but the TNT driver, and the people I was sending to confirmed that insurance is for contents, not the packaging.

 

I use cable ties - it defeats the casual nosey person, but as a real crook would soon remove a proper lock if they were criminally minded - there seems little point in using proper locks, which would have to be small, and therefore weak.

[Ashley R]

I would Use cable ties. Then wrap the case in black pallet wrap. (Or whatever you have handy)

 

Ensures a more water tight case, and better security (And also removes some of the scuffs that the case receives when in transit).

 

Might also serve as "Packaging" so that the case is then also covered by insurance?

[scjb]

Another vote for cable ties and pallet wrap. Touch wood, we've not had a problem yet.

[eski]

If your worried about it in transit you can always use TNT sameday service, it's not cheap but it does come with a guaranteed safe delivery

Disclaimer, I do freelance for TNT sameday when works quiet

[Jivemaster]

I'd be concerned who is liable for the value at each stage, client, carrier or owner.

[Cerbertech]

Regularly recieve PEL cases of Motorola radios on hire all over the country just sealed by cable ties, mainly on Citylink but other couriers as time and cost dictates. Cases contain ties to return, so far everything ordered has arrived in tact (including the sweets - may give the supplier away to those that also use them) with no shortages and no queries of non returned kit.

[Pete McCrea]

Depends on what you're shipping and the distance, but it might be worth using a reputable same day courier.

 

And it was muggins that first mentioned the packaging of a flightcase, so that both the flight case and it's contents, then become insured.

[partyadz]

Nice one guys - thanks so much for your comments :-)

[dbuckley]

Slightly humour:

 

A couple of years back I hired a couple of PCC160s from t'other end of the country, which the hireco packed in a Shure plastic snap-closed mic box, and squeezed the box into an A4 courier envelope.

 

When it got to my place, the courier driver then inserted said package into my mailbox, writing the mailbox off in the process.

 

Ended up quite an expensive hire.

 

I hate to think what this driver would have done with a 19" box...

 

E2A - of course those mics were sitting in my written off mailbox all day, exposed to the world...

[timsabre]

When I ran a hire co a few years ago we used to do this with TNT, until one day they crushed a flight case full of cables (apparently by reversing a truck onto it though we never really found out). They completely refused to pay out for the damage claiming that the flight case was packaging which was not covered, and as we could not provide purchase invoices for the contents (because we'd fabricated them ourselves) they would not pay for those either.

 

I later had a similar experience with Amtrak only this time they dropped it off a tail lift while unloading. Again they refused to pay.

 

The moral of the story being, courier insurance is not worth the paper it is written on.

[Brian]

The moral of the story being, courier insurance is not worth the paper it is written on.

Indeed. Which is why hire companies have insurance to cover these things :)

[mjriley]

Slightly OT but had a terrible experience with TNT approx 6 months ago.

Fairly large hire of lighting was being delivered to a venue on my behalf.

Staff on front desk signed for delivery without a second thought.

When I arrived at the venue later that day turned out 2 packages hadn't actually been delivered however delivery slip from TNT said all packages had been delivered and signed for.

Even rang TNT and they repeatedly said all packages had been delivered, however the NEXT day one of the 2 packages turned up with another delivery slip, completely contradictory to the information I had been given.

Still to this day 1 package missing however as they had all been signed for I was invoiced for the cost of the item - over £500!!

After extended, heated communications with the hire company and them speaking to TNT and getting completely fobbed off with conflicting information from them it was eventually written off.

Just goes to show the extremely poor systems in place at these courier companies, purely profit driven with no concern for the value or importance of what is being delivered or the service provided.

 

Rant over