Shipping Canon 800L ?

Hello,

I have the Canon 800/5.6L and I am sending it in for service. I just bought the CPS Platinum Package, and had Canon make the shipping label for me (free shipping both ways). Problem is, I was going to ship them the lens inside the original hard case for added protection BUT the shipping label they made has the weight listed as twelve pounds (the lens weighs ten on its own). So I guess I cannot use the hard case then? How should I send this lens? I don't want it getting damaged in shipment. Suggestions?

birder_herper wrote in post #19359720
Hello,

I have the Canon 800/5.6L and I am sending it in for service. I just bought the CPS Platinum Package, and had Canon make the shipping label for me (free shipping both ways). Problem is, I was going to ship them the lens inside the original hard case for added protection BUT the shipping label they made has the weight listed as twelve pounds (the lens weighs ten on its own). So I guess I cannot use the hard case then? How should I send this lens? I don't want it getting damaged in shipment. Suggestions?

Have you contacted Canon about prepaid shipping at a higher weight? And if they won’t authorize it, then ask them how to ship it.

Personally I would be a bit leery about shipping a $13000 lens except in its original shipping case. If you use something else, and Canon claims damage upon receipt, who is to blame? I would also ask about what insurance is included? Document your concerns, just in case.

I'm with John and would check with Canon. This can't be the first time for them for this question.

I've sent some small items to them in the past and (I think?) I was told that the box I sent would not necessarily be the one used for returns. But that was for a body here-and-there and a 10-22 lens. And I can't imagine that applying in this situation. If I had to send in my 600/4, there's no way I'd ship it other than in its case.

In addition to the lens case, I would want to put another layer of cardboard around it. So the total weight might be a tad more.

Canon's own spec on shipping weight is 17 pounds. What were they thinking?

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #19367649
Canon's own spec on shipping weight is 17 pounds. What were they thinking?

Unless the reason for sending it in is that the several elements have been smashed out. Can a lens lose 5 lbs in glass alone?

It would be interesting to know if the OP has sent the lens into Canon yet?

He has not responded to this thread since his initial posting 23 days ago.

My experience with shipping (FedEx) is that weight and dimension errors are corrected when they receive the package. If I make a shipping label for 40 pounds 12x12x12 and the package is actually 45 pounds 13x13x13 when they scan it in, they update the info and I get billed according to that. That is how the people at the counter explained it to me. It sounds like there's almost no point in my being accurate unless I want to bill my customer accurately. If you are sending with a prepaid label, it seems that there is some room for abuse here (disgruntled customer returns a cinder block instead of the bad $5 SD card) but it still might work the same way.

I can see wanting to make sure everything is exactly right for such an expensive object, of course, but if the shipper receives it they will deliver it even with a bad weight (especially if it's insured for $13,000!).

Probably just a simple error on the part of someone at Canon.

AntonLargiader wrote in post #19367967
My experience with shipping (FedEx) is that weight and dimension errors are corrected when they receive the package...

This is correct. (I work for FedEx.) The cost shouldn't be at issue. I'm still curious about the understanding or assumptions about shipping with the case and another layer of something.

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19367902
It would be interesting to know if the OP has sent the lens into Canon yet?

He has not responded to this thread since his initial posting 23 days ago.

The OP was on the forum in the early morning hours of April 18th so perhaps we will hear from him or her.

Ahh, I am here.

I shipped via FedEx and the weight certainly was above what my prepaid label suggested. When I paid for my repair, I noticed there was a shipping charge of $27. According to the CPS site, Platinum members get free overnight return shipping, so maybe I paid for the extra shipping charges TO Canon? I am not complaining; the cost to replace the IS unit was many times that! And my platinum membership means I got 30% off repairs and cleaning PLUS I only paid $27 for OVERNIGHT shipping TO and FROM Canon, and I got a gift for signing onto CPS Platinum (a TurnStyle Sling Bag).

But best of all, the lens seems to work very well; IS works, images are sharp...Thank you, Canon!

birder_herper wrote in post #19368517
Ahh, I am here.

I shipped via FedEx and the weight certainly was above what my prepaid label suggested. When I paid for my repair, I noticed there was a shipping charge of $27. According to the CPS site, Platinum members get free overnight return shipping, so maybe I paid for the extra shipping charges TO Canon? I am not complaining; the cost to replace the IS unit was many times that! And my platinum membership means I got 30% off repairs and cleaning PLUS I only paid $27 for OVERNIGHT shipping TO and FROM Canon, and I got a gift for signing onto CPS Platinum (a TurnStyle Sling Bag).

But best of all, the lens seems to work very well; IS works, images are sharp...Thank you, Canon!

That is very good news! Congratulation!!

It's too late now, but I would have just shipped it in the original case and any additional charges would be billed to Canon since they created the label.