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 5 responses by northman

I've followed this story and so ... congratulations! You ended up with the money (for an aunt?), an amp, and a renewed appreciation for your patient wife! 
n80, I'm sorry that you've gone through this huge hassle. I sure wish we could find out how the Bryston amp made out during the ordeal. They don't exactly make fragile equipment. (Do you guys remember those old Volvo commercials?) I'd be very curious to know if the amp is working--in fact, I hope you get a check for your wife's aunt *and* an amp for you!
No need to apologize at all; I asked! I'm sorry that you've had such a time with all this. Despite all the criticism of UPS out here, I'm still surprised that they are proving so hard to work with. That's unacceptable. You are absolutely right to let it go, with thanks to your wife; it's not worth all the outrage. 

I know this doesn't apply to your situation at all but I've struggled with the economics of "letting it go." Part of me feels that this is a hobby and if I can't afford to lose a piece of equipment (including to cat pee!) then I shouldn't have bought it in the first place. The other part of me wants to reach as far as I can into my bank account/credit card, risk be damned. 

In any case, I'm sorry for your experience, which sounds like no fun, all around.
I'm sorry about the check but that's great news about the amp! I've owned Bryston amps and I'm not surprised. They're built like tanks, as you say. No reason for it to go into a landfill; it probably has twenty years left on it.

Good luck to your wife dealing with UPS.