Feel your pain kingbr. A 110lb amp? If it's working fine, I'd be more than happy to do nothing but glow in the joy in knowing I'd bought a fine component that the company tells me is still supported. As I age, small components just seem so much more appealing! I've wrestled with some humungous gear in my time but I'll never buy a component I can't lift and pack easily on my own ever again. |
Send an email to Simaudio asking them how and who they use to ship to their US dealers.
They are wonderful folks that build some kick ass gear. I am a owner and huge fan. |
Only you can decide if it’s worth it to you. I have no experience with service from that specific company so can’t comment there. Maybe others can. If they have a good track record servicing their older gear that would be a plus. |
Millercarbon is spot on. You are just inviting a host of gremlins to come in and mess with you. |
The first response is exactly the method I would use except I would use a rubber foam. The minimum thickness completely surrounding the product is 1" or 25 mm. I have the same experiences and I do world wide shipping for about the same period. |
At that weight, you will want at least partially wood crates/boxes. The originals for my cj Premier 8a monoblocks (114# each) had a wooden bottom. Also, many shippers will only insure if they packed it. You might want to find the shipper first. Or driving is good. |
Sim may be able to sell you the original packing materials if you can’t find them. Some companies keep these in stock forever. I think Pass does. Is there a dealer near you that can handle it. I try to let someone else do it. If Sim recommended it... I would do it. They will probably check everything and replace if necessary. Original packaging is typically very safe as containers. |
FedEx LTL or something of the sort. Box it and strap it to a pallet.
If you’re in AZ I may be able to help. |
MC crack me up.
The 4 hour thing is good.. Day Trip..
I been putting of a trip that maybe 1.5 hours and 35 lbs.. LOL What’s that say about me.. AND it is broke..
C2500.. 6 month wait too boot then they look, Mcintosh is WAY behind on parts supply too.. 1 year on some amp builds... I may have to change brands.. But I like tone control.. Maybe a newer one.. |
it will take you and a friend about 15 minutes to unhook it, pack it up, and put it in the car...do you plan on keeping it long ? do you trust Sim ? do you like driving? |
Call the maker.
McIntosh sells you a proper box, sends it to you, you pack and send. Worth the mnoney |
housecall.....better booze also, ya gotta sell the sizzle..
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HILARIOUS!!!! Thanks MC, great way to talk me out of doing this, LOL! Believe me I was trying not to even let this get into my head because as I stated above my back hurts just thinking about it. I remember carrying this in literally 1 step at a time and needing a rest - and I'm in pretty damn good shape but this is the beast man!
This all just started out because I was wondering what the typical lifespan of a unit like this was (I just got it 1 year ago used) and I run it every day. I just wondered if having it "tuned up" would help extend its lifespan. And I waited almost 20 years to get my hands on this thing (could not afford it new but always wanted this unit) so I figure I want to make it last man...
If it ain't broke don't fix it...true words to live by thanks for putting that into perspective @stereo5
I did just find out that they are within driving distance of where I live actually
(4 hrs and some change),does this change things? LOL! |
If the amp is performing well, then what's the problem? Is this some sort of preventative maintenance? That's not inherently a bad idea, but if there's no compelling reason to send it in, then why do it?
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For once, I agree with MC. Who would have thought? Take whatever money you were going to waste sending it back to Sim Audio and either save it, donate it or buy more new music. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. |
First I would go up to the attic or wherever you stored all your original packing. Look it over real good. Are all the cardboard corners in perfect condition? Styrofoam? All the plastic and stuff? Great.
Imagine all the work getting the amp back in that box packed up all nice and perfect like it was when you brought it home.
Then go back down to your listening room, home theater, whatever you call it where the amp is now. Bend over and pick it up. Just an inch or so. Just enough to aggravate your sciatica without totally blowing a disk. Grab a chair, kick back, give this a good long think.
It works fine. Not hardly even a speck of dust on the outside. Even less inside. Not one damn thing to "calibrate". $500 shipping round trip. The Percocet you need for your back after loading it up. The Xanax you need after filing the damage claim. The delays. Not being able to enjoy music or movies for a solid month. Having to deal with emails and phone calls, all the reasons and excuses why it is not done when it was supposed to be, why even the manufacturer can’t find the part, how FedEx managed to lose it. Where you are gonna find another one now?
Give yourself a good ten, fifteen minutes to ponder all this. Pour yourself a nice tall adult beverage. Sit down at the keyboard. Write Millercarbon a really nice heartfelt Thank You for talking you out of this boondoggle of a a bad idea. |
Whatever you do, don't ship in on the Ever Given. |
Hi Folks,
GREAT advice - thank you All for taking the time to respond!
@jayrossi13 even if Fed Ex (UPS is every bit as bad) offered to come pick it up and ship for free I wouldn't do it, LOL!
@oldhvymec great call. I will either go freight and wrap/strap/pack the pi$$ out of it, or road trip depending on where they are. I'm waiting to hear back from them on this. That would actually be my first choice! And thanks great call reaching out to Simaudio and asking for a shipping carton. I do have the original box and packing but at this point it's like a Rubik's Cube to put back together and I just don't want to play with that.
Christ the thought of disconnecting, packing, shipping and most of all being without this for weeks is giving me pause. I know it'd be worth it but damn! |
I received a 93 pound amp via FedEx, no issues, sent in my 70 pound trade in the same way.
In both cases, original packing and double boxed, clearly marked. If you don't have the original packaging, the idea of getting advice from manufacturer a good one: maybe they can send you boxes.
I had a bad experience when someone sent me an amp via UPS -- face plate of amp looked like it had been hit by an axe. UPS came out took pictures, and disappeared. I won't use them now, and have had good luck with FedEx, but jayrossi had bad luck with FedEx.
So, maybe on a pallet with freight company is safest. I shipped a pair of speakers that totaled #300 with Bax Global that way. Went smoothy, and I thought the $300 cost reasonable-- interfacing with such outfits can be a bit less user friendly than the usual suspects, though.
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Based upon my ongoing headaches with FedEx damaging packages (and then refusing to pay the insurance), I’d strongly recommend avoiding FedEx and shipping via a freight carrier with the amp strapped on it’s own pallet.
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Send it and you will love it more upon its return. |
I use to lug my gear all over in packing crates. Mac C20 GLASS face.
and 2 MC30 valve amps. Sea to shining Sea.. 4 year of traveling. I Never had a problem.
If you don't have the original packing, tell the manufacture to send you one THEY approve. Sounds like freight to me, need to get a small pallet and shrink it to the pallet inside the recommended shipping container.
LABLE IT.. Don't wonder why it gets treated like a sack of potatoes if you don't label it correctly..
HEAVY, FRAGILE, HANDLE WITH CARE, THIS SIDEUP, DO NOT TURN OVER, GLASS INSIDE (put a tube in a box and bubble wrap it put it inside the shipping container) Do not get wet.... You name it, you label it.
IF YOU don't pack it TIGHT in the box it will get destroyed. NO MOVEMENT, double sides. No peanuts, no bubble wrap. tight in styrofoam. IT CANNOT MOVE in it's packing.. PEPIOD.
Double boxed. The inside CANNOT meet the outside. EVER..
49 yeas of shipping NEVER a packing problem, MILLIONS of dollars of equipment to and from all over the UK. to anywhere in the Americas, North or South.
Big Red Letters. BIG RED LETTERS, BIG RED ARROWS..
Or don't ship it.. and carry it in... :-) ROAD TRIP!!!!
Regards |
