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

Showing 2 responses by germanboxers

germanboxers's avatar
germanboxers
241 posts
 
Geez, like a carbon fiber bike frame really needs a forklift to pick it up. I won't ship my vintage Cinelli!!!
Iso - yeah, I don't blame you. Is it Reynolds steel or True Temper? I owned a vintage Motobecane with Reynolds 531 steel frame and some of the most ornate lugs. Picked it up at a garage sale, paid $100 for it and it had Campy Grand Record group. Loved that bike, but regrettably sold it when I started racing to fund a more appropriate race bike. If I had a little more disposable income at the time, I would have kept it.
germanboxers's avatar
germanboxers
241 posts
 
When I shipped a bike frame, UPS drove a forklift blade through the box and snapped the carbon fiber chain stay right off. They denied my claim through three appeals. Their (the outside company UPS contracts to deny...errr...process claims) reasoning was that I packed the bike myself and it was inadequate. Never mind that I used an original Competitive Cyclist heavy duty box, zipped tied the frame to an internal full size, heavy duty cardboard plate in 10 different places, and placed foam around frame, stays, and forks.

I have purchased/received/shipped many frames and the only way this frame could have been damaged is if they ran a forklift though it or possibly drove over it with a semi-truck. Since there was a big hole in the box right where the chain stay was snapped, I would say any rational human being would acknowledge that UPS was responsible. Unfortunately, UPS looks at claims purely as a cost to be minimized by denying and stalling, rather than an element of customer service.

Advice: find a way to punch out of the contracted company that is processing the claim. I tried three times and was unsuccessful. Eventually, by dumb luck, I managed to contact a high level UPS executive through business contacts, explained it was a personal shipment, but that I was very frustrated with the claims process and the outcome. He took my info, told me someone would contact me in 30 min, and they would help resolve it. In 3 days we got it resolved to my satisfaction.
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