Serge L.:
<br>
<br>We ship about one mast per week and it is our policy to use CIF freight (Yes
<br>I know, somewhat redundant phrase). This simply means that the freight is
<br>insured to $10 per pound with most carriers. This is pretty standard and I would surprised if
<br>the shipping company you are filing with didn't include that insurance on all
<br>packages.
<br>
<br>For those of you thinking about shipping masts:
<br>
<br>#1: The mast should be wrapped end to end in tube plastic at a bare minimum.
<br>It's our experience that if you don't do this the mast gets brutally
<br>scratched in transit. Some folks like to go with a square corrugated box in
<br>addition to this ($50.00) or a HD shipping tube ($95) but we have also found
<br>that over packaging them gives the freight companies license to thrash the
<br>package. (At least in their minds)
<br>
<br>#2 The mast should say in BIG YELLOW OR RED letters: "TOP LOAD ONLY" all over
<br>it. This ensures they don't stack (at least in theory) stuff on top of the
<br>mast.
<br>
<br>#3 Pay by credit card on all purchases. This leaves you at least some
<br>recourse to recover your funds if the mast doesn't arrive and meet the
<br>description the vendor gave you when you ordered it.
<br>
<br>It doesn't happen often but when we do have a claim on a mast we either:
<br>A) prevail on insurance or
<br>B) Find a way to work with the freight company to get another mast to the
<br>customer at NO EXTRA charge. Yes, we do lose money sometimes. That's
<br>business.
<br>
<br>There's my $1.02 worth....
<br>
<br>MM
<br>www.sailingproshop.com
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<br><br><br>Mark Michaelsen
<br>www.sailingproshop.com
<br>(800) 354-7245