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  3. 159379-115924

Shipping. Hard Lesson.

I'm selling some high end audio gear for the estate of a relative who passed away. I've never done this before. I'm using C's List, eBay and A'gon. It has been a lot of work and not a lot of fun.

Tons of scammers on C's list but excellent experience selling to a local audiophile.

Got a sale pending here at A'gon. Not too bad.

One good experience on eBay.

But then the Bryston 9B SST2 amp sold on eBay. I had actually about decided to purchase it myself when it sold via eBay. Super nice, experienced buyer.

Took the amp to UPS. It weighs 65 pounds. Asked them to double box and was ready to pay the price but the clerk convinced me that there was no need. They would wrap it well and the box she chose was supposed to handle 85 pounds.

Well, it gets to the buyer and he sends me a picture and it looks like the box has rolled down a mountain. The handles are broken off of the amp and it is dinged all up. Have no idea if it works or not. I'm not sure double boxing would have mattered in this case.

We insured it for the price paid. Buyer was very understanding but disappointed of course. I will get paid (by UPS) what I was going to get paid anyway but both the buyer and I commiserated over a fine piece of equipment destroyed. Or at least marred.

Anyway, sorry about the long sad sop story but I will probably have other gear to ship in the near future possible even the gorgeous Aerial Acoustics 5Ts which, even thought they are bookshelf speakers, are large and heavy.

So all of this is basically to ask: Who do you use for shipping large heavy delicate audio gear?
n80

Showing 1 response by clearthinker

clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 
ALWAYS keep the manufacturer's original packaging with the piece.
The manufacturer had the packaging developed and proved fit for purpose and shipped hundreds of pieced to prove it.
I have original packaging for pieces I bought in the 1980s.  Kept in a very dry place.

Many amps are very heavy.  When the package is thrown around the weight will generate large forces against any packaging.  No use packing a 200lb amp in cardboard, even three-box.  It will smash it up if (when) handled carelessly.

My Krell KRS200s are 185lb a side and came in huge reinforced wooden shipping crates lined with foam.  It's tough but I've stored them since 1989.  They have been used more than once, for servicing and then a full rebuild with Absolute Sounds.

One good thing about very heavy amps; shippers aren't big or strong enough to throw them around!!
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