2. amps-preamps
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Question about shipping damage

I recently sold an amp and when the buyer received it he contacted me stating that the "speaker a" binding post were broken but the smp powered up and worked fine. Then I received another message from the buyer stating that one channel went out and the other was distorting.

I had taken the amp to a UPS store to have it packed and I watched the attendant pack it. She did a really good job of packing it with several sheets of bubble wrap and foam and then double boxed it (packing peanuts in the outer box).

The buyer even commented on how well it was packed. I insured it for more than the value so I think I'm covered.

My question is how to proceed from here. The buyer said the box was undamaged so I am mystified as to how the binding posts could get damaged and further more what could cause the amp to distort.

Has any one ever had this happen? If so what course of action did you take with UPS. Should I have the amp sent back and file the claim or contact UPS immediately and then have a pick-up scheduled.

Any direction or words of wisdom are greatly appreciated. Thanks.
chrshanl37
isochronism
2,893 posts
 
Those old Motobecane frames sure were beautifully built!! I had an old Dawes like that. I also had a Motobecane Prolight with the Vitus aluminum frame. Image a frame and forks that are just glued together!!!
jwm
918 posts
 
Franks, I wonder if Fed Ex has a better track record.
franks
151 posts
 
JWM, don't know but that's who I've been using since this occurred.
knghifi
1,668 posts
 
Reynold 531 brings back many fond memories. I had a Raleigh with Reynold 531 double butted and Campy. Later when I moved to So. Cal, bought a custom DeRosa with Columbus SLX and DuraAce. DeRosa has 30K+ miles and just collecting dusk in the basement now. Still have 5 brand new sew-ups ... just lost interest after moving back to MA.
mcintech
128 posts
 
As a former US Service manager for two EU HiFi Brands, we American employees were astonished by the feedback from EU every time we requested heavier, better packing for our multi-thousand dollar amps. Our amps were constantly damaged in shipping in the US, and could never understand why they said "we never have damage claims inside Continental Europe using either UPS or FedEx".
Doing some digging we discovered that overseas, the actual DELIVERY DRIVERS ARE PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ITEMS DELIVERED! Each driver may even be self-insured! No wonder they don't have damage claims there. Our UPS and FedEx drivers are obviously former airline baggage handlers, tossing 100lb amps off the backs of the trucks.

Most times the exteriors of our boxes were unscathed, so NO CLAIMS were ever allowed (if the exterior of the box is intact, the only explanation for damage is insufficient packing), although the amps had taken enough G's to dislodge the transformers off their bolts or the guts of the 845 tubes were rattling around inside the glass envelopes!

(I remember we had a brand new, heavy tube amp we needed to ship to a reviewer, and upon pickup, the petite FedEx driver proceeded to roll the box end over end to the truck since it was too big to fit on her hand truck).

ARCAM used to print USELESS IF DROPPED on their boxes in huge letters...
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