[pianotech] Ship via US Post Office, Not UPS Store or UPS

[Debbie Legg]

After nearly 20 years of offering key service to the trade, I've 
received and shipped, well gee, I guess thousands of boxes!  While USPS 
may seem less expensive, I believe (I may be wrong) that you pay extra 
for tracking.  Anyway, pricing aside, I have never received a damaged 
package from either UPS or FedEx.  With USPS, many boxes look like they 
tried to accordion fold them!  One shipment with USPS from only a couple 
hours driving time from where the tech shipped, to my door, had been 
re-boxed along its journey. The keys had been, literally, thrown in the 
box haphazardly and one sharp was missing.  The tech had not insured the 
shipment.  Just my experience...

My local Mailboxes, Etc. did not become a UPS Store.  The owner of the 
franchise fought UPS in court over the issue as many of his customers 
wanted to ship with different carriers than UPS and had been able to do 
so through him.  We are in an area where, for more than 30 miles round 
trip, his M,E was the only alternative to the Post Office.  He lost his 
court case and has stayed in business under a different name without 
offering UPS.  I've always had fantastic service through him and will 
continue to ship FedEx through him.

If my opinion on shipping options is requested when I am contacted about 
keywork, I always recommend either UPS or FedEX over USPS. For peace of 
mind, I also recommend tracking on every shipment no matter the 
carrier.  FYI...UPS routinely delivers Mon - Fri.  FedEx delivers to 
business addresses Mon - Fri, residential addresses Tuesday - Saturday.  
So, if possible and need be, work the system.

Oh and no matter what shipper you use, always verify the shipping 
address label that they affix to your package!

Debbie Legg
Rockport, MA